This study asks whether respondents’ Big Five personality traits predict their propensity to complete surveys, and how such nonresponse could bias estimated links between personality and political behavior. Using a new data collection effort and replication data, the author reports that Agreeableness and Neuroticism are associated with systematic differences in survey completion and shows how these patterns can alter observed relationships between the Big Five and political behavior. The brief highlights a methodological caution for researchers who use very brief personality inventories in political science.
Bold findings: Agreeableness and Neuroticism predict survey completion, Potential selection bias in Big Five–political behavior links
Data and methods
The abstract describes a new data collection effort and accompanying replication data. The study analyzes respondents’ Big Five trait scores from brief inventories (as few as ten questions) alongside indicators of whether subjects completed surveys, using the new dataset to assess patterns of nonresponse.
Main findings
According to the abstract, subjects higher in Agreeableness or Neuroticism showed systematically different propensities to complete surveys. The author then demonstrates that these nonresponse patterns can change estimated relationships between the Big Five traits and political behavior, implying selection bias may affect prior findings in the literature.
- Nonresponse is correlated with specific personality traits (Agreeableness, Neuroticism).
- Such trait-linked nonresponse can alter estimated trait–behavior relationships, creating a potential source of bias.
Cautions and scope
The abstract frames results as a caution rather than definitive claims about all prior studies: findings show how selection linked to personality could bias results, and encourage researchers to account for nonresponse when studying brief personality measures and political behavior.
