Authors
Lara M Greaves, Luke D Oldfield, Martin Von Randow, Chris G Sibley, Barry J Milne
Publication date
2020/9/1
Journal
Political Science
Volume
72
Issue
3
Pages
228-244
Publisher
Routledge
Description
Quality survey research relies on the willingness of the public to participate, but survey response rates are decreasing over time. This research note explores response rate data from several national probability sample mail surveys drawn from a consistent sampling frame (the New Zealand electoral roll) over the past 30 years. The aim of this work is to document the scale of the response rate decline problem in mail survey studies, predict future response rates, and track nonresponse bias through comparing self-reported voter turnout in surveys to official turnout. We use data from the New Zealand Election Study, the International Social Survey Programme, the New Zealand edition of the World Values Survey, and the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. Our findings demonstrate that there has been a consistent downward trend in response rates and an increase in nonresponse bias for self-reported voter …
Total citations
202220232024294
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