Striking the Balance Between Respondent Protection and Ease of Use: Findings from Testing of the Consumer Expenditure Survey's Web Diary Design

• Activity Number: 536
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Nhien To* and Laura Erhard and Brandon Kopp
• Companies: Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Keywords: Data Security ; Web Diary ; Mobile Device ; Survey Redesign

Abstract

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) is exploring options for an Internet-based expenditure diary accessible via a computer or mobile device as a step towards the CE's redesign plan released in 2013. With the introduction of a web interface, the CE will need to incorporate data security requirements for respondents logging in to the survey. In doing so, it will be important to strike a balance between essential security requirements to maintain respondent privacy and trust while making it easy enough for respondents to access without getting frustrated. This paper summarizes the findings related to respondent login procedures from a series of tests conducted using multiple versions of a web diary design. A web diary has security needs distinct from one-time web-based surveys. Respondents will need to access the diary multiple times over the reporting period, multiplying the burden created by login credentials. The focus of this paper will be on the mobile interface as it entails a number of unique device specific characteristics that make logging in more challenging such as smaller screen sizes and distinct keyboards.