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Applying Responsive Survey Design to Small-Scale Surveys: Campus Surveys of Sexual Misconduct

Author

Listed:
  • William G. Axinn
  • James Wagner
  • Mick Couper
  • Scott Crawford

Abstract

Responsive survey design is a technique aimed at improving the efficiency or quality of surveys by using incoming data from the field to make design changes. The technique was pioneered on large national surveys, but the tools can also be applied on the smaller-scale surveys most commonly used by sociologists. We demonstrate responsive survey design in a small-scale, list-based sample survey of students on the topic of sexual misconduct. We investigate the impact of individual incentive levels and a two-phase responsive design with changes to mode of contact as approaches for limiting the potential of nonresponse bias in data from such surveys. Our analyses demonstrate that a two-phase design introducing telephone and face-to-face reminders to complete the survey can produce stronger change in response rates and characteristics of those who respond than higher incentive levels. These findings offer tools for sociologists designing smaller-scale surveys of special populations or sensitive topics.

Suggested Citation

  • William G. Axinn & James Wagner & Mick Couper & Scott Crawford, 2023. "Applying Responsive Survey Design to Small-Scale Surveys: Campus Surveys of Sexual Misconduct," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 52(4), pages 1916-1946, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:52:y:2023:i:4:p:1916-1946
    DOI: 10.1177/00491241211031270
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lundquist Peter & Särndal Carl-Erik, 2013. "Aspects of Responsive Design with Applications to the Swedish Living Conditions Survey," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 29(4), pages 557-582, December.
    2. Barry Schouten & Fannie Cobben & Peter Lundquist & James Wagner, 2016. "Does more balanced survey response imply less non-response bias?," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 179(3), pages 727-748, June.
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