Final answer:
To prevent item omissions in survey research, providing a 'don't know' option can lead to more accurate results by allowing respondents to indicate when they lack knowledge on a subject.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reduce item omissions, it is useful for a researcher to offer the 'don't know' option with questions that require mental effort. Offering a 'don't know' option can help mitigate potential biases that arise when respondents feel compelled to provide an answer despite lacking sufficient knowledge about the topic. In the context of surveys and questionnaires, item omission refers to situations where respondents leave out relevant responses because they feel uninformed or reluctant to admit their lack of knowledge.
Researchers aim to gather that represents a true measure of their subjects' opinions or behaviors. By allowing for the 'don't know' option, participants are less likely to skew their responses - ultimately leading to more accurate and reliable data. This practice is also a component of ethical research design, ensuring that participants are not pressured into providing potentially inaccurate information.
that offering a 'don't know' option can help prevent item omissions and lead to more accurate survey results.