Multilevel modelling of refusal and non‐contact in household surveys: evidence from six UK Government surveys

Summary.  We analyse household unit non‐response in six major UK Government surveys by using a multilevel multinomial modelling approach. The models are guided by current conceptual frameworks and theories of survey participation. One key feature of the analysis is the investigation of the extent to which effects of household characteristics are survey specific. The analysis is based on the 2001 UK Census Link Study, which is a unique source of data containing an unusually rich set of auxiliary variables. The study contains the response outcome of six surveys, linked to census data and interviewer observations for both respondents and non‐respondents.

[1]  William J Browne,et al.  MCMC Estimation in MLwiN (Version 2.13) Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol , 2009 .

[2]  P. Chisnall Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method , 2007, Journal of Advertising Research.

[3]  R. Groves Nonresponse Rates and Nonresponse Bias in Household Surveys , 2006 .

[4]  Risto Lehtonen,et al.  Multilevel Statistical Models , 2005 .

[5]  Sreenivasan Ravi,et al.  Multilevel Statistical Models, 3rd edn , 2005 .

[6]  Geert Loosveldt,et al.  A simultaneous analysis of interviewer effects on various data quality indicators with identification of exceptional interviewers , 2004 .

[7]  J. Rasbash,et al.  A User's Guide to MLwiN version 2.0 , 2004 .

[8]  Bradley P. Carlin,et al.  Bayesian measures of model complexity and fit , 2002 .

[9]  Mick P. Couper,et al.  MEASURING SURVEY QUALITY IN A CASIC ENVIRONMENT , 2002 .

[10]  Joop J. Hox,et al.  The influence of interviewers' attitude and behaviour on household survey nonresponse: an international comparison , 2002 .

[11]  G. Loosveldt,et al.  A Multilevel Multinomial Analysis of Interviewer Effects on Various Components of Unit Nonresponse , 2002 .

[12]  Aki Vehtari Discussion to "Bayesian measures of model complexity and fit" by Spiegelhalter, D.J., Best, N.G., Carlin, B.P., and van der Linde, A. , 2002 .

[13]  Geert Loosveldt,et al.  The Effects of Interviewer and Respondent Characteristics on Response Behavior in Panel Surveys , 2001 .

[14]  C. Steeh,et al.  Are They Really as Bad as They Seem? Nonresponse Rates at the End of the Twentieth Century , 2001 .

[15]  Alison Walker,et al.  Living in Britain : results from the 2001 General Household Survey , 2001 .

[16]  E. Singer,et al.  Leverage-saliency theory of survey participation: description and an illustration. , 2000, Public opinion quarterly.

[17]  Colm O'Muircheartaigh,et al.  A multilevel exploration of the role of interviewers in survey non‐response , 1999 .

[18]  Robert M. Groves,et al.  Nonresponse in Household Interview Surveys: Groves/Nonresponse , 1998 .

[19]  Mick P. Couper,et al.  Participation in the 1990 Decennial Census , 1998 .

[20]  E. Ziegel,et al.  Nonresponse In Household Interview Surveys , 1998 .

[21]  I. Glorieux Social interaction and the social meanings of action: A time budget approach , 1993 .

[22]  N. Krause Neighborhood Deterioration and Social Isolation in Later Life , 1993, The International Journal of Aging & Human Development.

[23]  John O. Brehm The Phantom Respondents: Opinion Surveys and Political Representation , 1993 .

[24]  Robert M. Groves,et al.  UNDERSTANDING THE DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY , 1992 .

[25]  J. Goyder,et al.  The Silent Minority: Nonrespondents on Sample Surveys. , 1989 .

[26]  J. Goyder The Silent Minority , 2019 .

[27]  T. DeMaio Refusals: Who, Where and Why , 1980 .

[28]  G. Comstock,et al.  Characteristics of respondents and nonrespondents to a questionnaire for estimating community mood. , 1973, American journal of epidemiology.