The nonresponse problem - ARCHIVED

This paper presents an outline of the nonresponse research which is carried out at the Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics. The phenomenon of nonresponse is put into a general frame-work. The extent of nonresponse is indicated with figures from a number of CBS-surveys. The use of auxiliary variables is discussed as a means for obtaining information about nonrespondents. These variables can be used either to characterize nonrespondents or as stratification variables in adjustment procedures.

Adjustment for nonresponse bias by means of subgroup weighting is considered in more detail. Finally, the last section lists a number of other methods which also aim at reduction of the bias.