The attentive and the careless: Examining the relationship between benevolent and malevolent personality traits with careless responding in online surveys. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKay, Alexander S.; Garcia, Donna M.; Clapper, John P.; Shultz, Kenneth S.
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 84(2018)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 303
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Online surveys -- Careless responding -- Insufficient effort responding -- Benevolent personality traits -- Malevolent personality traits; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2018.03.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: Careless responding, in which respondents put forth insufficient effort to properly complete a survey, is a problem for researchers hoping to obtain accurate data in online samples. Recent studies have indicated that Big Five personality traits (particularly agreeableness and conscientiousness) are systematically related to careless responding. We expand on this research by examining the relationship between careless responding and benevolent (i.e., HEXACO personality traits, self-esteem) and malevolent (i.e., psychopathy, Machiavellianism, right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and domain-specific risk taking) traits. Using a large sample of undergraduate students ( N = 905), we found that both benevolent and malevolent traits were related to careless responding, with malevolent traits having a larger effect. These results show that careless responding is influenced by a participant's personality and self-interest motivation. Highlights: Careless responding was negatively related to benevolent personality traits. Careless responding was positively related to malevolent personality traits. Malevolent traits accounted for greater variance in careless responding.