Nonresponse to a Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (CASI) Module

• Activity Number: 36
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 6, 2006 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Mick Couper*+ and Eleanor Singer and John Van Hoewyk
• Companies: University of Michigan and University of Michigan and University of Michigan
• Keywords: nonresponse ; CASI ; self-administration

Abstract

The 2004 GSS included a self-administered module with a series of vignettes eliciting attitudes toward genetic versus environmental influences on various attributes and behaviors. Of 2,812 respondents, 15% did not complete the CASI module, while a further 26% completed it with interviewer assistance. All respondents were also asked a series of general questions about genetics in the interviewer-administered part of the survey, allowing us to explore possible nonresponse bias or self-administration effects in the CASI module. We examine the correlates of nonresponse to the CASI module, and fit a series of multinomial logistic regression models to explore the differences between those who self-completed, those whom the interviewer assisted, and those who did not complete the module. We also examine substantive differences between self-completers and those assisted by the interviewer.