The Intersection of Response Propensity and Data Quality in the National Health Interview Survey

• Activity Number: 349
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): James Dahlhamer*+
• Companies: National Center for Health Statistics
• Keywords: nonresponse error ; measurement error ; response propensity ; data quality ; total survey error

Abstract

Research suggests that the factors influencing the decision to participate in a survey may also influence the respondent's motivation and ability to respond to survey questions. If response propensities are positively correlated with respondent effort during the interview, the participation of reluctant respondents may reduce the quality of estimates. Thus, understanding the associations and common causes of nonresponse and measurement error is essential for reducing total survey error and designing high quality surveys.

Using contact history, sample frame, Census 2000, and limited interview data, we estimate a response propensity model for the sample adult module of the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Response propensities from the model are categorized into quintiles. We then present various quality indicators (e.g., item nonresponse, response consistency) by response propensity quintile. Factors that may affect both response propensity and data quality are explored.