ANALYSIS OF NON-RESPONSE IN NASS SURVEYS USING THE CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE AND OTHER HISTORICAL SURVEY DATA

Purpose: To determine characteristics of non-respondents in particular NASS surveys by using information collected in previous contacts and from other sources.

To date, there has been very little formal analysis of non-respondents in NASS surveys. However, increased knowledge of non-response is needed to design programs or procedures to increase survey response. In typical NASS surveys, only limited information is known about the characteristics of individual survey non-respondents. The 1997 Census of Agriculture, which carried mandatory reporting authority, and included all known U.S. agricultural operations includes data items related to both the agricultural operation as well as the farm operator. These data will be used to describe survey non-respondents as well as compare them to survey respondents. 

In addition, this project will also analyze response trends over time by examining how respondents and nonrespondents differ relative to the amount of times NASS has contacted them for survey data, the length of time between contacts, the type of survey contacts and other related factors. 

Results of this project may suggest alternative data collection procedures, specific subpopulations that might be targeted for activities designed to increase response, and possible post survey data adjustment strategies. 

Some of this work has been presented at the Annual Conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.