Adaptation of the AAPOR Final Disposition Codes for the German Survey Context (Version 1.0)

Abstract

Detailed and precise documentation is the key to scientific research and of particular importance for high-quality data collection. An important parameter for each survey is the response rate. It reflects how many persons initially invited to participate finally took part in a survey interview. In any case, every survey based on a probability sample should report its response rate, since it provides first and easily assessable information about the data collection process. The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) has proposed Standard Definitions that include final disposition codes as guidelines for reporting of response rates. These definitions take various modes of data collection into account. However, the final disposition codes proposed by AAPOR are based on sampling and data collection practices in the context of the United States. To date, there is no clear guidance on how to adapt these definitions in a comparable manner for the German context. This survey guideline aims to close this information gap and offers operational definitions for the AAPOR final disposition codes that are applicable in the German context.