Systems and methods for detection of satisficing in surveys

Abstract

A system can include a satisfication detection server to receive from a network-enabled device questionnaire responses corresponding to an online questionnaire. The satisfication detection server can determine for each questionnaire response a probability that the questionnaire response represent satisficing. The satisfication detection server can also output a data file that includes results of the determining. A satisfication detection database can store the data file.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a satisfication detection server configured to receive from at least one network-enabled device a plurality of questionnaire responses corresponding to an online questionnaire, wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to determine for each of the plurality of questionnaire responses a probability that the questionnaire response represent satisficing, and wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to output at least one data file comprising results of the determining; and   a satisfication detection database configured to store the at least one data file.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network-enabled device is configured to receive the plurality of questionnaire responses from a survey conductor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network-enabled device comprises at least one of the following: a personal computer, a tablet computing device, and a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the satisfication detection server, satisfication detection database, or both are managed by a survey services provider. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the satisfication detection server is configured to receive the plurality of questionnaire responses from the at least one network-enabled device over a network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to determine whether each of the plurality of questionnaire responses is identified as an outlier based on the probability that the questionnaire response represent satisficing. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to automatically reject each of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to cause each of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier to be displayed to a user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the satisfication detection server is further configured to reject at least one of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier responsive to an input received from the user. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-controlled method, comprising:
 a computer receiving a plurality of questionnaire responses corresponding to an online questionnaire;   the computer determining for each of the plurality of questionnaire responses a probability that the questionnaire response represent satisficing; and   the computer outputting at least one data file comprising results of the determining.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , further comprising the computer receiving an input data model representing a structure of the questionnaire. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the plurality of questionnaire responses comprises inputting the plurality of questionnaire responses using the input data model. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , further comprising the computer creating a questionnaire response model based on the plurality of questionnaire responses. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 14 , wherein the computer uses the questionnaire response model in determining the probability that individual ones of the plurality of questionnaire responses represent satisficing. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining whether each of the plurality of questionnaire responses is identified as an outlier based on the probability that the questionnaire response represent satisficing. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 16 , further comprising the computer automatically rejecting each of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 16 , further comprising the computer causing each of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier to be displayed to a user. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 18 , further comprising the computer rejecting each of the plurality of questionnaire responses identified as an outlier responsive to an input received from the user. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer receives the plurality of questionnaire responses from a survey conductor via at least one Internet-enabled device. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer comprises at least one satisfication detection server. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-controlled method of  claim 11 , further comprising a satisfication detection server storing the at least one data file.