vastamismäära

Vastamismäära, a term of Estonian origin, translates to "response rate" in English. It is a metric used to measure the proportion of individuals who respond to a survey, poll, or other form of data collection out of the total number of individuals who were invited to participate. This metric is crucial in evaluating the effectiveness and reliability of research studies and surveys. A high vastamismäära generally indicates a greater level of engagement and a potentially more representative sample, while a low vastamismäära can raise concerns about potential non-response bias, where the characteristics of those who did not respond may differ significantly from those who did.

Calculating vastamismäära is typically done by dividing the number of completed responses by the total number of eligible individuals who were contacted. Different methodologies exist for defining the "total number of eligible individuals," which can influence the final calculated rate. Factors such as the complexity of the survey, the perceived relevance of the topic, the method of distribution (e.g., online, mail, phone), and the incentives offered can all impact the vastamismäära. Researchers strive to maximize this rate to ensure the validity and generalizability of their findings. Low rates can necessitate more advanced statistical techniques to account for potential biases.