Modeling Response Rates for Telephone Surveys

• Activity Number: 185
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, July 30, 2012 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): N. Ganesh*+ and Santanu Pramanik
• Companies: NORC and NORC
• Keywords: Response Rate ; Small Area Estimation ; Sample Survey ; Prediction

Abstract

We discuss results and methods used to estimate anticipated survey response rates for a future landline or cell-phone survey. In order to estimate the anticipated survey response rates, we develop models for each of the components (resolution rate, working residential number rate, screener completion rate, interview completion rate) of the survey response rate. For each of the components, an extensive set of data from past surveys were modeled with the idea of using "similar" past surveys to estimate each of the components of the survey response rate for a future telephone survey. Moreover, in addition to using similar surveys, our approach takes into account state-level socio-demographic information from the American Community Survey, and survey administrative procedures (length of data collection period, number of call attempts, use of advance letter, incentives, etc.). Using our model-based estimates for each of the components, we can derive an estimate for the anticipated survey response rate. We also discuss limitations of our approach, and potential applications.