Organizational survey response: previous findings and an integrative framework

Abstract

"This chapter discusses nonresponse to organizational surveys focusing on methodological and theoretical issues related to nonresponse. The first section provides an overview of methodologies for the study of nonresponse, including archival databases, the wave approach, the follow-up approach, and population profiling, as well as a discussion of methodological challenges in nonresponse research. The second section summarizes previous nonresponse research by examining demographics, attitudes, and organizational and survey characteristics as antecedents of nonresponse. The third section provides an integrated framework for the study of survey response. Building on previous research, we develop a model that posits several mechanisms that explain why nonresponse occurs. This model incorporates multiple levels of analysis and acknowledges the role of individual differences and situational characteristics on nonresponse behavior. In addition, we also discuss the future of nonresponse research by exploring the role of narrow personality traits, advances in technology, and organizational and national culture in survey nonresponse." (author's abstract)