Reporting Error and Single-Family Home Ownership Norms and Preferences: A Replication

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to further test the hypothesis that apparent differences among income classes in home ownership preferences and reported norms are due to a correctable systematic reporting error supported by Morris, Winter, and Sward in Housing and Society, Volume 11, Number 2. The data are from interviews conducted with 485 households in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area during 1977. The data were analyzed by using a four-step regression procedure. Confirming the findings of Morris, Winter, and Sward, the results indicate that housing needs and preferences for tenure and structure type do not significantly differ by income when “corrected.” As in the original research, actual housing and constraints differ by income. It is the effect of these differences on the reported norms and preferences that produce the systematic measurement error.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Ann Sward

Mary Ann Sward is research assistant and Earl W. Morris is professor in the Department of Family Environment. Journal Paper No. J-12038 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project 2128, a contributing project to North Central Regional Research Project NC-128, Quality of Life as Influenced by Area of Residence, sponsored by the experiment stations of Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas cooperating with the Cooperative State Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. This specific project is a result of close cooperation between Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska. Additional funding for this project was provided by a University Research Grant from the Graduate College, Iowa State University.

Earl W. Morris

Mary Ann Sward is research assistant and Earl W. Morris is professor in the Department of Family Environment. Journal Paper No. J-12038 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project 2128, a contributing project to North Central Regional Research Project NC-128, Quality of Life as Influenced by Area of Residence, sponsored by the experiment stations of Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas cooperating with the Cooperative State Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. This specific project is a result of close cooperation between Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska. Additional funding for this project was provided by a University Research Grant from the Graduate College, Iowa State University.