Conducting Nonresponse Bias Analyses in Federal Surveys

• Activity Number: 492
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics
• Author(s): Brian Harris-Kojetin*+
• Companies: Office of Management and Budget
• Keywords: response rates ; nonresponse bias ; statistical standards

Abstract

In 2006, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget revised and updated their Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys, which document the professional principles and practices and the level of quality and effort expected in all Federal statistical activities. The specific area that has received the greatest attention is the guidance to agencies to conduct nonresponse bias analyses if their survey response rates are less than 80 percent. To help Federal agencies meet the OMB guidance, the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology sponsored a one-day workshop on "How to Do Nonresponse Bias Analyses in Household and Establishment Surveys" that included examples of research done by Federal agencies to examine nonresponse bias. This presentation will review the OMB guidance on response rates and nonresponse bias analyses and discuss the goals and results of the workshop.