We conducted an intercept survey with beef cattle farmers using paper and electronic modes to examine administration mode effects. Three outcomes were measured: (1) preferences for H-2A reforms using a discrete choice experiment, (2) responses to closed-ended questions regarding labor, and (3) survey process measures such as completion time and respondent experiences. Results show that closed-ended responses and utility scales were comparable across modes, while mean preference estimates differed. Respondents in the paper mode spent more time, paid closer attention, and reported higher satisfaction. We recommend the paper mode for complex instruments that require greater participant engagement.

Research on citizens’ democratic support predominantly relies on surveys. However, the possibility of social desirability biases (SDBs) raises doubts about whether such instruments capture sincere attitudes. We search for evidence of SDB in measures of democratic attitudes in three studies. The first two leverage variations in survey mode (self-completion vs. face-to-face) in the European Social Survey’s Democracy module, drawing on evidence that interviewer absence encourages voicing socially undesirable opinions. The third uses a double-list experiment to estimate the prevalence of an anti-democratic attitude. Using data from as many as 24 European countries, we find no evidence that SDB inflates survey measures of democratic attitudes. These results contribute to our understanding of democratic attitudes and to methodological toolkit for interested scholars.