Data falsification in market research (‘curbstoning’) considered through historical, psychological and criminological perspectives

This thesis is the most comprehensive set of studies to date into the history, structural causes, and individual-level motivations behind curbstoning (term used to describe data falsification in market research). We used an integrated theoretical model including the rational choice perspective (from criminology) and conservation of resources model (from organisational psychology) to shape empirical investigations of curbstoning. The thesis featured a historical and political analysis of curbstoning and a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies including surveys and grounded theory analysis.