Noncooperation Rate

Noncooperation occurs when a research unit is able to cooperate but clearly demonstrates that it will not take required steps to complete the research process. The [Page 518]noncooperation rate compares the number of research units that refuse to cooperate to the number of all potentially eligible units. Noncooperation, along with noncontacts, compromises the majority of survey non-response. In survey research, noncooperation often takes three basic forms:

• 1.
  Household refusals refer to the refusals that occur shortly after the household has been requested to participate in the research and before a designated respondent has been selected from within the household. The reasons of household refusals often involve “Not interested,” “Don't have time,” and “Don't do surveys.” No comment hang-ups during a telephone interviewer's introduction of the survey often ...