Some Consequences of Measurement Error in Survey Data

Using the 1956-1958-1960 SRC American panel data and the 1965 Jennings-Niemi socialization data, this paper first presents some estimates of the extent of measurement error in several standard face sheet items. After the presence of measurement error is demonstrated, two techniques involving multiple indicators and observations over time are employed to estimate the effects of measurement error on bivariate correlation coefficients with party identification providing the substantive vehicle of the analysis. In general, the analysis suggests that random measurement error may have a major impact on our coefficients and thereby result in misleading inferences.