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Response Burden and Data Quality in Business Surveys

Author

Listed:
  • Bottone Marco
  • Modugno Lucia
  • Neri Andrea

    (Bank of Italy, Via Nazionale, 91, Rome, 00184, Italy.)

Abstract

Response burden has long been a concern for data producers. In this article, we investigate the relationship between some measures of actual and perceived burden and we provide empirical evidence of their association with data quality. We draw on two business surveys conducted by Banca d’Italia since 1970, which provide a very rich and unique source of information. We find evidence that the perceived burden is affected by actual burden but the latter is not the only driver. Our results also show a clear link between a respondent’s perceived effort and the probability of not answering some important questions (such as those relating to expectations of future investments and turnover) or of dropping out of the survey. On the contrary, we do not find significant effects on the quality of answers to quantitative questions such as business turnover and investments. Overall, these findings have implications for data producers that should target the perceived burden, besides the actual burden, to increase data quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Bottone Marco & Modugno Lucia & Neri Andrea, 2021. "Response Burden and Data Quality in Business Surveys," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 37(4), pages 811-836, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:offsta:v:37:y:2021:i:4:p:811-836:n:8
    DOI: 10.2478/jos-2021-0036
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    Cited by:

    1. Corinna König & Joseph W. Sakshaug, 2023. "Nonresponse trends in establishment panel surveys: findings from the 2001–2017 IAB establishment panel," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 57(1), pages 1-17, December.

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