Differential Nonresponse

Differential nonresponse refers to survey nonresponse that differs across various groups of interest. For example, for many varied reasons, minority members of the general population, including those who do not speak as their first language the dominant language of the country in which the survey is being conducted, are generally more likely to be nonresponders when sampled for participation in a survey. Thus, their response propensity to cooperate in surveys is lower, on average, than that of whites. The same holds true for the young adult cohort (18–29 years of age) compared to older adults. This holds true in all Western societies where surveys are conducted.

Ultimately, the concern a researcher has about this possible phenomenon should rest on whether there is reason to think that ...