BACKGROUND
The assessment of relationship quality is a key construct in family research and relies on several indicators. As answer behavior for sensitive and subjective questions can be biased by the interview situation, the emerging switch from face-to-face mode to web or mixed mode in surveys challenges the comparability of measurements.

OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the impact of two modes of data collection – face-to-face mode and web mode – on central measurements of relationship quality in quantitative family research.

METHODS
In a German experimental pilot study (2018) within the Generations and Gender Programme, target persons were randomly assigned to face-to-face or online interviews. Mode differences are assessed by comparing distributions for various indicators of relationship quality. To adjust for confounders, post-stratification weighting and multivariate regression analysis are applied.

RESULTS
Findings reveal consistent mode effects for almost all indicators of relationship quality even after adjusting for confounders. Respondents in web mode assess their relationship quality substantially lower than respondents in face-to-face mode, thinking more often about breaking up and reporting lower satisfaction and more conflicts.

CONCLUSIONS
Web mode seems to support less socially desirable reflections on respondents’ relationships compared to face-to-face mode. Family researchers should consider survey design decisions when evaluating intimate relationships, particularly in longitudinal and cross-national studies.



中文翻译：

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当涉及亲密关系时最好在线询问？关系质量评估中的调查模式差异（Almut Schumann，Detlev Lück）

背景
关系质量的评估是家庭研究中的一个关键结构，依赖于几个指标。由于敏感和主观问题的回答行为可能会因访谈情况而产生偏差，调查中从面对面模式向网络或混合模式的新兴转变挑战了测量的可比性。

目标
本研究调查了两种数据收集模式（面对面模式和网络模式）对定量家庭研究中关系质量中心测量的影响。

方法
在世代与性别计划的一项德国实验性试点研究（2018 年）中，目标人群被随机分配到面对面或在线访谈中。通过比较各种关系质量指标的分布来评估模式差异。为了调整混杂因素，应用了分层后加权和多元回归分析。

结果
即使在针对混杂因素进行调整后，调查结果也揭示了几乎所有关系质量指标的一致模式效应。网络模式的受访者评估他们的关系质量大大低于面对面模式的受访者，他们更经常考虑分手并报告较低的满意度和更多的冲突。

结论
与面对面模式相比，网络模式似乎支持对受访者关系的社会期望较低的反映。家庭研究人员在评估亲密关系时应考虑调查设计决策，尤其是在纵向和跨国研究中。