Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling nonresponse in multiwave panel studies using discrete-time Markov models

  • Published:
Quality and Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nonresponse is of major concern to social scientists, due to the possibility of selectivity: not all groups in the population are equally represented in the final sample, when some groups have a larger probability to be in the sample than others. It is dangerous to base conclusions on such biased samples. Therefore, it is of importance to study nonresponse patterns. First it is shown that a decreasing nonresponse for every successive wave indicates that nonresponse is selective to a degree. Successively we discuss how Markov models can be used to get some idea of the seriousness of this bias in the sample, by examining how many chains are needed to reproduce the observed pattern of nonresponse acceptably well, and what the probability is that members of these chains will participate in a particular wave of the study. A small application is given, after which the implications of the findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, T.W. (1954). Probability models for analyzing time changes in attitudes, in P.F.Lazarsfeld (ed.), Mathematical Thinking in the Social Sciences, Glencoe, IL: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, D.J. (1981). Mathematical Models in Social Science, New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blumen, I., Kogan, M. & McCarthy, P.J. (1966). Probability models for mobility, in P.F.Lazarsfeld & N.W.Henry (eds.), Readings in Mathematical Social Science, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 318–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, K.L. (1967). Markov Chains with Stationary Transition Matrices, Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J.S. (1968). The mathematical study of change, in H.M.Blalock & A.B.Blalock (eds.), Methodology in Social Research, New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 428–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra, W.D. (ed.) (1993). Het proces van sociale integratie van jong-volwassenen (The process of social integration of young adults), Amsterdam: VU-Uitgeverij.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, D. (1970). Markov Chains, San Francisco: Holden-Day.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyder, J. (1987). The Silent Minority, Cambridge: Blackwell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hox, J.J. & DeLeeuw, E.D. (1993). Nonrespons bij schriftelijke vragenlijsten, telefonische interviews en face-to-face interviews: een vergelijkende meta-analyse (Nonresponse in mail surveys, telephone interviews and face-to-face interviews: A comparative meta-analysis), Kwantitatieve Methoden, 14, 59–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langeheine, R. & Van de Pol, F.J.R. (1989). A unifying framework for Markov modeling in discrete space and discrete time, Sociological Methods & Research, 18.

  • Markus, G.B. (1979). Analyzing Panel Data, Beverly Hills: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, C.S. (1982). Latent Structure Analysis with Choice Modeling Applications, Philadelphia: Wharton School (Unpublished PhD-dissertation).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taris, T.W. (1994). Representativiteit en nonresponse in panel studies: een korte notitie (Representativity and nonresponse in panel studies: A short note). Kwantitatieve Methoden, 16, 41–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taris, T.W. (1995). On Selectivity of Nonresponse in Discrete-Time Multi-Wave Panel Studies. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Taris, T.W., Van derVaart, W. & Dijkstra, W.D. (1993). Nonrespons en de representativiteit van de follow-up metingen (Nonresponse and representativity of the follow-up waves), in W.D.Dijkstra (ed.), Het proces van sociale integratie van jong-volwassenen, Amsterdam: VU-Uitgeverij, pp. 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van dePol, F.J.R. (1989). Issues of Design and Analysis of Panels, Amsterdam: Sociometric Research Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van dePol, F.J.R., DeJong, W. & Langeheine, R. (1990). PANMARK 2.2 User Manual: Panel Analysis using Markov Chains, Voorburg: Netherlands Central Bureau of Statistics CBS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Pol, F.J.R. & Langeheine, R. (1989). Mixed Markov latent class models, from description toward explanation, in C.C. Clog (ed.), Sociological Methodology 1990.

  • Wiggins, L.M. (1973). Panel Analysis, Latent Probability Models for Attitude and Behavior Processes, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Psychology, Kurt Lewin Institute/Free University Amsterdam, van der Boechorst-Straat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Toon W. Taris

Authors
  1. Toon W. Taris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taris, T.W. Modeling nonresponse in multiwave panel studies using discrete-time Markov models. Qual Quant 30, 189–203 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00153987

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00153987

Keywords

Search

Navigation