Researchers sometimes include survey questions that ask about implausible or nonexistent things, like "Were you raised in Pago Pago?" or "Do your eyes twitch when you are near a radio?". Why do researchers do this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Including implausible or nonexistent questions can help researchers identify response sets, which are patterns of responses that are not actually based on the question being asked but rather on the respondent's tendency to always answer in a certain way (e.g. always selecting the same response option). By including questions that are clearly false, researchers can see if respondents are answering truthfully or simply selecting the same response option regardless of the question.

Researchers Sometimes Include Survey Questions That Ask About Implausible or Nonexistent