Responsive survey design – a technique for managing nonresponse during the data collection stage

Abstract

The risks and uncertainty associated with non-response justify the implementation of preventive measures to manage it from the survey design and data collection phase. Responsive design is a preventive technique that increases survey efficiency by using information obtained in the early stages. The paper aims to demonstrate how responsive design can be used to manage non-response during the data collection stage in order to ensure a representative sample size in this particular study. During the study planning, the calculated sample size was adjusted for a 25% non-response rate. At the initial stage, a two-phase responsive design was developed. The main priority was to obtain a representative sample, with the associated risk being a high total non-response rate (>25%). The monitored risk indicator was the total nonresponse rate across geographic regions. During data collection, a total nonresponse rate greater than 25% was recorded in 14 geographic regions, with an average of 66%. In the first phase of the responsive design, two reminder phone calls were made at a two-week interval. For regions that continued to show high non-response rates, the sample size was expanded by recalculating the number of questionnaires based on the 66% rate and by including institutions other than those initially selected. The application of the responsive design allowed the collection of a sufficient number of valid questionnaires. The application of responsive design made it possible to collect a sufficient number of valid questionnaires, enabling early risk management and compensation for non-response, and contributing to obtaining a representative sample for an accurate analysis of the studied phenomenon.