Nonréponse

Nonréponse, also known as nonresponse bias, is a problem that can occur in surveys and studies. It happens when the people who do not respond to a survey or study are systematically different from those who do respond. This difference can lead to inaccurate results because the sample that is analyzed is not representative of the entire population that was intended to be studied.

There are several reasons why nonresponse might occur. Non-availability is one, where potential respondents are simply not reachable or are unavailable during the study period. Refusal is another common reason, where individuals choose not to participate for various personal reasons. Finally, inability to respond can occur if a respondent lacks the necessary skills, such as literacy, or if they have physical or cognitive impairments that prevent them from completing the survey.

The consequences of nonresponse bias can be significant. If the nonrespondents have different characteristics or opinions than the respondents, the findings of the study may be skewed. For example, if a survey about a new product has a high nonresponse rate among older individuals who are less likely to purchase the product, the results might overestimate the product's appeal. Researchers employ various techniques to minimize nonresponse, such as using multiple contact attempts, offering incentives, and employing different survey modes. Despite these efforts, nonresponse bias remains a challenge in data collection.