Estimating the Reduction in Nonresponse Bias From Using a Mail Survey as a Backup for Nonrespondents to a Telephone Interview Survey

Because low-income population groups are more likely than higher income groups to live in nontelephone households, the use of telephone interviews to survey low-income groups may result in relatively low contact rates. Other sample members may refuse an interview. Such nonresponse typically has an unknown effect on sample estimates. This article attempts to gauge the relative effects on sample estimates from using a mail survey as a supplemental data collection strategy for increasing the response rate of sample members from a low-income population group who either could not be reached by telephone or who refused to participate in a telephone interview. The assessment is conducted by using variables from the sampling frame and an unbiased comparison sample. Although the use of the mail survey increased response rates by 56%, this resulting increase had only a marginal effect on sample estimates. Implications of these findings for social work researchers and practitioners are discussed in the larger context of estimating and adjusting for nonresponse bias in survey research, and recommendations are suggested for further research

Context (archaeology · Current Population Survey · Data collection · Environmental health · Geography · Non-response bias · Population · Sample (material · Sample size determination · Sampling bias · Sampling frame · Sociology · Statistics · Survey data collection · Survey methodology · Survey sampling · Telephone interview · Mathematics · Medicine · Psychology · Survey Methodology and Nonresponse · Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

• Recreation and the Environment as Cultural Dimensions in Contemporary American Society

  H Ken Cordell, Gary T Green et al.•Leisure Sciences•2002

  Añadir item

• Construction and Validation of the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment's Lifestyles Scale

  Gary T Green, H Ken Cordell et al.•Journal of Leisure Research•2006

  Añadir item

• Does the Use of Colored Paper Improve Response Rate to Mail Surveys

  Scott Keeter, J David Kennamer et al.•Journal of Social Service Research•2001

  Añadir item

• Reduction of Low Response Rates in Interview Surveys of Poor African-American Families

  Aurora P Jackson, André Ivanoff•Journal of Social Service Research•1999

  Añadir item

• Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences

  Jacob Cohen•Statistical Power Analysis for…•2013

  Añadir item

• Estimating the Nonresponse Bias Due to Refusals in Telephone Surveys

  Michael J Oʼneil, Michael J O'Neil•Public Opinion Quarterly•1979

  Añadir item

• Random Digit Dialing

  William R Klecka, Alfred J Tuchfarber•Public Opinion Quarterly•1978

  Añadir item