Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment

In Forster and Neugebauer (2024), we examine to what extent a factorial survey (FS) on invitations of fictitious applicants can replicate the findings of a nearly identical field experiment conducted with the same employers. In addition to exploring the conditions under which FSs provide valid beha...

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Main Authors: Andrea G. Forster, Martin Neugebauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society for Sociological Science 2025-01-01
Series:Sociological Science
Online Access:https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12-6-106/
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author Andrea G. Forster
Martin Neugebauer
author_facet Andrea G. Forster
Martin Neugebauer
author_sort Andrea G. Forster
collection DOAJ
description In Forster and Neugebauer (2024), we examine to what extent a factorial survey (FS) on invitations of fictitious applicants can replicate the findings of a nearly identical field experiment conducted with the same employers. In addition to exploring the conditions under which FSs provide valid behavioral predictions, we varied the topic sensitivity and tested whether behavioral predictions were more accurate after filtering out respondents who provided socially desirable answers or did not exert sufficient effort in responding to FS vignettes. Across these conditions, the FS results did not align well with the real-world benchmark. We conclude that researchers must exercise caution when using FSs to study (hiring) behavior. In this rejoinder, we respond to the critique of our study by Pickett (2025).
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spelling doaj-art-ea0b5d15398b4d1eae2e81ab55b443ff2025-01-23T17:00:35ZengSociety for Sociological ScienceSociological Science2330-66962025-01-0112610611410.15195/v12.a6Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to CommentAndrea G. Forster0Martin Neugebauer1Utrecht UniversityKarlsruhe University of EducationIn Forster and Neugebauer (2024), we examine to what extent a factorial survey (FS) on invitations of fictitious applicants can replicate the findings of a nearly identical field experiment conducted with the same employers. In addition to exploring the conditions under which FSs provide valid behavioral predictions, we varied the topic sensitivity and tested whether behavioral predictions were more accurate after filtering out respondents who provided socially desirable answers or did not exert sufficient effort in responding to FS vignettes. Across these conditions, the FS results did not align well with the real-world benchmark. We conclude that researchers must exercise caution when using FSs to study (hiring) behavior. In this rejoinder, we respond to the critique of our study by Pickett (2025).https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12-6-106/
spellingShingle Andrea G. Forster
Martin Neugebauer
Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
Sociological Science
title Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
title_full Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
title_fullStr Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
title_full_unstemmed Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
title_short Validating Factorial Survey Experiments: Response to Comment
title_sort validating factorial survey experiments response to comment
url https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12-6-106/
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