Exploring the Relationship Between Survey Participation and Survey Sponsorship:
What do Respondents and Nonrespondents Think of Us?
By Jaki Stanley McCarthy, Jay V. Johnson, and Kathleen Ott
National Agricultural Statistics Service
3251 Old Lee Highway, Room 305, Fairfax, VA 22030
International Conference on Survey Nonresponse, October 1999
Key Words:
Agriculture, Establishment Surveys, Nonresponse, Attitudes, Awareness, Recognition
Abstract:
The type or particular organization sponsoring a survey data collection is typically
thought to have an impact on survey response. A series of questions was asked of agricultural
establishments selected for the National Agricultural Statistics Service's quarterly agricultural surveys
state in order to examine the relationship between knowledge and attitudes of respondents toward
NASS survey participation. The questions were about the respondents' identification of the agency,
their perceptions of the agency and its data, the effect of data on respondents, and their opinions
regarding responding to NASS surveys. These questions were asked of both respondents and
non-respondents to the surveys in contacts throughout 1998 and 1999. Results suggest that it is not
recognition of the agency that is related to NASS response rates, but the perceptions of how NASS
reports and services impact farm operators. Distinct differences were found in attitudes of respondents
and non-respondents for some of these measures.
1.
Introduction
Survey methodologists have long speculated about what factors affect survey respondents’
willingness to cooperate when contacted on surveys. Attributes of the interviewer, the particular
respondent, the survey process or the external environment may all impact whether or not an individual
will provide data to survey researchers. (For an extensive review of these factors in household surveys,
see Groves and Couper, 1998.) In telephone or personal interview surveys, the interviewer and how
they interact with the potential respondent is critical to gai