The Use of Potential Nonrespondents for Studying Nonresponse Bias

Few engaged in survey research ever succeed in avoiding the problem of nonresponse. Yet, its occurrence, as Deming (1960) has warned, can be "devastating and discouraging"; for there is ample evidence to suggest that individuals who do not take part in surveys are likely to differ from those who do on a wide range of variables, including those that are often most germane to the study at hand. In principle, at least, the estimation of nonresponse bias offers no problem. The degree of bias present in any given survey can be shown to be a function of (a) the proportion of nonrespondents in the total sample and (b) the extent o which there is a systematic discrepancy between respondents and nonrespondents on variables relevant o the inquiry (See Cochran, 1953: 292-304; Deming, 1960: 66-67; Kish, 1965: 532-571; Moser, 1959: 127-144, 178-184).1 In practice, however, the measurement of nonresponse bias proves more difficult. It confronts the researcher with the basic paradox that the variables to be used for analysis require information which the subjects, by not participating, fail to make available.

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