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Infrequent Identity Signals, Multiple Correspondence, and Detection Risks in Audit Correspondence Studies

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Title: Infrequent Identity Signals, Multiple Correspondence, and Detection Risks in Audit Correspondence Studies
Language: English
Authors: Balfe, Catherine, Button, Patrick, Penn, Mary, Schwegman, David J. (ORCID 0000-0001-8254-7111)
Source: Field Methods. Feb 2023 35(1):3-17.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2023
Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Contract Number: 5T32AG00024423
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Field Studies, Experiments, Audits (Verification), Researchers, Research Problems, Risk, Bias, Identification, Research Design, Discriminant Analysis
DOI: 10.1177/1525822X211057623
ISSN: 1525-822X
1552-3969
Abstract: Audit correspondence studies are field experiments that test for discriminatory behavior in active markets. Researchers measure discrimination by comparing how responsive individuals ("audited units") are to correspondences from different types of people. This article elaborates on the tradeoffs researchers face between sending audited units only one correspondence and sending them multiple correspondences, especially when including less common identity signals in the correspondences. We argue that when researchers use audit correspondence studies to measure discrimination against individuals that infrequently interact with audited units, they raise the risk that these audited units become aware they are being studied or otherwise act differently. We also argue that sending multiple pieces of correspondence can increase detection risk. We present the result of an audit correspondence study that demonstrates how detection can occur for these reasons, leading to significantly attenuated (biased toward zero) estimates of discrimination.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1360964
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Infrequent Identity Signals, Multiple Correspondence, and Detection Risks in Audit Correspondence Studies
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Audit correspondence studies are field experiments that test for discriminatory behavior in active markets. Researchers measure discrimination by comparing how responsive individuals ("audited units") are to correspondences from different types of people. This article elaborates on the tradeoffs researchers face between sending audited units only one correspondence and sending them multiple correspondences, especially when including less common identity signals in the correspondences. We argue that when researchers use audit correspondence studies to measure discrimination against individuals that infrequently interact with audited units, they raise the risk that these audited units become aware they are being studied or otherwise act differently. We also argue that sending multiple pieces of correspondence can increase detection risk. We present the result of an audit correspondence study that demonstrates how detection can occur for these reasons, leading to significantly attenuated (biased toward zero) estimates of discrimination.
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        Value: 10.1177/1525822X211057623
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