A METHOD FOR FORMALIZING SUBJECTIVE NOTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF NON‐RESPONDENTS IN SAMPLE SURVEYS

Abstract

ABSTRACTA method is given for estimating, in a subjective sense, the effect of non‐respondents in a sample survey. The method is based on Bayesian techniques and yields a “confidence interval” for the value of the average response in the survey if all non‐respondents had responded. Background information which is recorded for both respondents and non‐respondents plays an important role although is not needed. The technique is illustrated with real survey data of 660 schools; 488 had 80 dependent variables recorded, 172 had no dependent variables recorded, and all 660 had 35 background variables recorded. On the basis of this example, it appears as if the method can be useful in practical problems. The general idea, of which the method presented here is only a specific example, can be applied to any problem with non‐respondents and/or missing data.