# How to ask sensitive multiple choice questions

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1803.10568 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1803.10568/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 28 Mar 2018.

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [A multi-task network approach for calculating discrimination-free insurance prices](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.02799/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Motivated by recent failures of polling to estimate populist party support, we propose and analyse two methods for asking sensitive multiple choice questions where the respondent retains some privacy and therefore might answer more truthfully. The first method consists of asking for the true choice along with a choice picked at random. The other method presents a list of choices and asks whether the preferred one is on the list or not. Different respondents are shown different lists. The methods are easy to explain, which makes it likely that the respondent understands how her privacy is protected and may thus entice her to participate in the survey and answer truthfully. The methods are also easy to implement and scale up.