NonresponseRaten

NonresponseRaten, commonly translated as nonresponse rates, are a statistic used in survey research to describe the portion of sampled units for which no usable data are obtained. They cover two main forms: unit nonresponse, where a selected unit does not participate at all (no interview), and item nonresponse, where the respondent skips or refuses to answer one or more questions. The rate is typically expressed as the complement of the response rate.

Calculation and interpretation: A typical definition defines the nonresponse rate as 1 minus the response rate. The response rate can be calculated in several ways, depending on whether partial interviews or partial data are counted. In many standards, a completed interview divided by the eligible sample equals the response rate, and the nonresponse rate equals 1 minus that value. In reporting, researchers may present separate figures for unit nonresponse and item nonresponse, as well as overall nonresponse.

Impact and methodological considerations: High nonresponse rates reduce the effective sample size and can introduce nonresponse bias if nonrespondents differ from respondents on key variables. The risk of bias depends on whether missingness is random or systematic. Nonresponse is a dominant concern in telephone and mail surveys, online panels, and any mode with contact barriers. Researchers address nonresponse with weighting adjustments, imputation of missing values, follow-ups, and mixed-mode data collection, as well as transparent reporting of response metrics following established guidelines.

References and standards: Guidelines for reporting response and nonresponse vary by field, with organizations like AAPOR providing standard definitions for response rates and nonresponse bias to support comparability across studies.