When a person responds the same way to just about every item on a rating scale, this respondent is engaging in

The correct answer is - Nondifferentiation

Key Points

• Nondifferentiation
  • Occurs when a respondent gives the same response across different items on a rating scale.
  • It indicates a lack of careful consideration of each item, leading to uniform responses.
  • This behavior can introduce bias into survey results, reducing the validity of the data.
  • Common in long or complex surveys where respondents may become fatigued or disinterested.

Additional Information

• Telescoping
  • Refers to the tendency to recall events as occurring more recently than they actually did.
  • This cognitive bias can affect the accuracy of self-reported data, especially in surveys that ask about past events.
• Satisficing
  • Occurs when respondents select the first acceptable response rather than the optimal one.
  • Often a result of respondent fatigue or disinterest, leading to less accurate data.
• Optimizing
  • Involves respondents making an effort to provide the most accurate and thoughtful responses to survey questions.
  • This behavior is desirable as it enhances the reliability and validity of the survey data.