Subjective assessments of problems with moving around : Use of the parametric model of the anchoring vignette method
Abstract
In survey research, respondents ’ self-assessment is often used to compare the objective state across different groups. The problem is that self-assessments may depend on both the respondents’ objective situation and the way in which they interpret scale categories.
The anchoring vignette method offers a solution of this problem. Using evaluation of hypothetic persons in short stories (anchoring vignettes) the heterogeneity of the scale use is identified and used for correction of the response scale differences.
This article aims at identification of heterogeneity in scale use, when respondents’ problems with moving around are being studied. The sample consists of people aged fifty or older from ten European countries.
Data collection was done in 2006−2007. It is shown that Belgian and Italian respondents are more optimistic when evaluating problems with moving around.
Czech and Dutch respondents use the end points of the scale less often. After the correction for heterogeneity in reporting behavior, the best actual situation is found in Denmark, France and Sweden, while Czech and Polish seniors are the least mobile.
Younger men with higher education have less problems with moving around. After the correction of reporting behavior the differences between both men and women and respondents with higher and lower education increase because men and respondents with higher education perceive a given problem as worse with higher probability.