Much of the research RTI has conducted over the last 10 years has focused on sensitive behaviors. During this period, we have conducted surveys concerning HIV risk behaviors, sexual activity, illicit drug use, abusive situations, and abortion. We have found that respondents to questions on sensitive topics are concerned about the confidentiality of their responses, about reporting their behaviors to an interviewer, and about reporting their behaviors in their homes, where other household members might overhear. We have used the findings of these and other studies to improve the quality of the data we collect on sensitive topics. Since 1990, we have conducted over 100,000 interviews involving sensitive topics and have used our research to develop and implement methodologies designed to obtain complete and accurate data.
Respondents key their answers directly into the computer.
After a response is entered, the computer, following a predetermined skip pattern, selects the next question to be administered. We recently used this technology in a clinic setting with a low literacy population. Because respondents do not have to report to an interviewer and can self-administer the survey in privacy, they are more likely to accurately report sensitive behaviors. Another method RTI has successfully used to administer surveys on sensitive topics is neutral-site interviews, where respondents are asked to go to a prearranged neutral site to be inter viewed. Copyright 2000 Research Triangle Institute.