This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (22) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Goyder, J. Articles by Leiper, J. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Decline in Survey Response: A Social Values Interpretation

Jean McKenzie Leiper

Theoretical understanding of survey nonresponse is implicitly heavily behaviourist, concentrating upon researchers' inputs such as follow-up arrangements, and predetermining social role characteristics of sample listings. With the decline over time in response rates, however, the possible importance of social values concerning privacy invasion has been more seriously entertained by methodologists. The paper describes evidence indicating that, in both the USA and Canada, the post-1960's decline in response is not accounted for simply by input explanations. A privacy index is generated by content analyzing British, Canadian, and American newspapers for privacy-related objections to the decennial census. Decade and country, scored according to the privacy index, are then entered into an empirical model for predicting response rate on a survey.

Sociology, Vol. 19, No. 1, 55-71 (1985)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038585019001006


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Pan Online Travel Surveys and Response Patterns Journal of Travel Research, February 1, 2010; 49(1): 121 - 135. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Heerwegh and G. Loosveldt Face-to-Face versus Web Surveying in a High-Internet-Coverage Population: Differences in Response Quality Public Opin Q, December 1, 2008; 72(5): 836 - 846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Thomas, M. Bloor, and J. Frankland The process of sample recruitment: an ethnostatistical perspective Qualitative Research, November 1, 2007; 7(4): 429 - 446. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Wells, W. Petralia, D. de Vaus, and H. Kendig Recruitment for a Panel Study of Australian Retirees: Issues in Recruiting from Rare and Nonenumerated Populations Research on Aging, January 1, 2003; 25(1): 36 - 64. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Jansen and T. Hak Nonresponse To Mail Surveys in a Lower-Class Urban Area - a Two-Stage Exploration of Access Failure and Refusal Bulletin de Méthodologie Sociologique, April 1, 1999; 62(1): 5 - 27. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Low, S. King, and T. Wilkie Genetic discrimination in life insurance: empirical evidence from a cross sectional survey of genetic support groups in the United Kingdom BMJ, December 12, 1998; 317(7173): 1632 - 1635. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. P. Couper, E. Singer, and R. A. Kulka Participation in the 1990 Decennial Census: Politics, Privacy, Pressures American Politics Research, January 1, 1998; 26(1): 59 - 80. [Abstract]

				E. Novek, N. Sinha, and O. Gandy The value of your name Media Culture Society, October 1, 1990; 12(4): 525 - 543.

				A. Bryman The Value of Re-Studies in Sociology: The Case of Clergy and Ministers, 1971 to 1985 Sociology, February 1, 1989; 23(1): 31 - 53. [Abstract] [PDF]