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The effects of question, respondent and interviewer characteristics on two types of item nonresponse
Author(s) -
Silber Henning,
Roßmann Joss,
Gummer Tobias,
Zins Stefan,
Weyandt Kai Willem
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the royal statistical society: series a (statistics in society)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.103
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1467-985X
pISSN - 0964-1998
DOI - 10.1111/rssa.12703
Subject(s) - respondent , interview , satisficing , psychology , item response theory , social psychology , population , psychometrics , clinical psychology , computer science , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , political science , law
In this article, we examine two types of item nonresponse in a face‐to‐face population survey: ‘don’t know’ (DK) and ‘item refusal’ (REF). Based on the cognitive model of survey response, the theory of survey satisficing and previous research, we derive explanatory variables on three levels: question, respondent and interviewer characteristics. The results of our cross‐classified model show that while the two levels question and respondents’ characteristics affected both types of item nonresponse, interviewer characteristics affected only DK answers. Our results also confirm that DK and REF are substantially different item nonresponse types resulting from distinguishable disruptions of the cognitive response process. Since most results are in line with prior theoretical predictions, they suggest that survey practitioners are well‐advised by continuing to follow the large body of practical guidance derived from the theories tested here.