Self/Proxy Respondent Rules and Data Quality - ARCHIVED

This paper, as part of the design development process for the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), examines the implications for data quality of accepting proxy responses. While it is apparent that rules that minimize proxy responses add to data collection costs, a review of the existing evidence suggests the effects of proxy reporting on data quality are less clear. The general conclusions of this review are that proxy respondents tended to underestimate participation in government income support programs, be subject to higher item non-response rates and lower rates of personal and household interviews, offer more consistent responses to sensitive subject matter and have greater difficulty in reporting detail and events of short duration. As a result of shortcomings in the design of the research into this question, the evidence is not conclusive. While there is no firm basis for the rejection of proxy responses, the maintenance of some control over proxy responses would be a reasonable strategy.