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Non-response biases in surveys of school children: the case of the English PISA samples

Author

Listed:
  • John Micklewright

    (Depatment of Quantitative Social Science - Institute of Education, University of London.)

  • Sylke V. Schnepf

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.)

  • Chris Skinner

    (School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.)

Abstract

We analyse response patterns to an important survey of school children, exploiting rich auxiliary information on respondents’ and non-respondents’ cognitive ability that is correlated both with response and the learning achievement that the survey aims to measure. The survey is the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which sets response thresholds in an attempt to control data quality. We analyse the case of England for 2000 when response rates were deemed high enough by the PISA organisers to publish the results, and 2003, when response rates were a little lower and deemed of sufficient concern for the results not to be published. We construct weights that account for the pattern of non-response using two methods, propensity scores and the GREG estimator. There is clear evidence of biases, but there is no indication that the slightly higher response rates in 2000 were associated with higher quality data. This underlines the danger of using response rate thresholds as a guide to data quality.

Suggested Citation

  • John Micklewright & Sylke V. Schnepf & Chris Skinner, 2010. "Non-response biases in surveys of school children: the case of the English PISA samples," DoQSS Working Papers 10-04, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    • Handle: RePEc:qss:dqsswp:1004
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    Cited by:

    1. Parker, Philip D. & Jerrim, John & Schoon, Ingrid & Marsh, Herbert W., 2016. "A multination study of socioeconomic inequality in expectations for progression to higher education: the role of between-school tracking and ability stratification," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 53(1), pages 6-32.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Non-response; bias; school survey; data linkage; PISA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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