Randomized Response Techniques: Its Development in Six Decades
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Authors
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Raghunath Arnab
University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Keywords:
Crosswise model; Complex survey; Direct response; Forced RR Model; Maximum likelihood; Multiple randomized response, Non randomized response; Parallel model; Triangular Model; Primary protection.Abstract
Randomized response techniques (RR) are used to collect data relating to sensitive, personal, and /or stigmatizing characteristics. The direct method
(DR) of interview cannot be applied in such situations because the respondents generally do not reveal the true information due to the social stigma
and /or fear. So, the respondents often provide socially approved or untrue responses. As a result, DR suffers from inaccurate data and a high rate of
nonresponse. To overcome such difficulties, Warner (1965) introduced an ingenious method of data collection, known as the randomized response
(RR) technique, where respondents need not provide the true response but only to provide the outcome of a random experiment. Respondents’
privacy is maintained, as the interviewer will not identify whether the submitted response is true or masked. A chronological development of the RR
techniques for the last six decades is provided, starting with the pioneering RR model provided by Warner. Detailed developments of the RR models
for the qualitative and quantitative characteristics are provided along with the applications for the complex survey designs. Methods of estimation
of the population characteristics from the multiple randomized response techniques are presented. The methods of estimations of the proportions
of overlaps of multiple characteristics are presented. The optional randomized response techniques (ORT) are also discussed. Finally, some of the
nonrandomized response techniques (NRR) and the measures of privacy protection are presented.
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