Investigations reveal careless responding affects data quality in online student learning surveys, suggesting the need for improved detection methods.
Investigations into the prevalence of careless responding (CR) in online student learning survey research are scarce, and little to no information is present about the impact on data quality. This study illustrates how an unobtrusive post hoc method of CR detection can be applied using four indices, which can be calculated in most student learning surveys. By applying latent profile analyses in an exemplary sample of 1,111 first-year university students, different responder profiles are identified, showing the presence of careful and careless responder profiles. The study further examines the impact of CR on data quality, raising concerns about reliability and validity. The study calls for more attention to the presence of CR when analysing data in online student learning survey research. CR detection is also valuable for practice, specifically when online survey-based feedback is provided to learners with more questionable responding behaviour.
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Donche et al. (2026) studied this question.
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