MINI CASE 4.7

It is one thing to note the number of people who do not respond to a survey, but few then go on the ask for reasons. Many people have speculated on the reasons, but one survey which routinely asks is the Family Resources Survey for the UK conducted by the Department of Works and Pensions. The effective sample size for the 2009-10 survey was 43127 households with a 60 per cent response rate. Only 4 per cent of those selected could not be contacted. The following extract is from the 2009-10 survey report:

‘When respondents refuse to participate in the FRS, interviewers record up to three reasons for refusal In Great Britain, the most common reasons given were that ‘‘they couldn't be bothered'' (23 per cent) and that answering questions from the FRS would be an ‘‘invasion of privacy'' (20 per cent). Concerns about confidentiality were raised by only 8 per cent of households. 18 per cent said they were ‘‘genuinely too busy'', and 14 per cent said they ‘‘don't believe in surveys".' p.94

Source: The 2009-10 Family Resources Survey report. © Crown Copyright HMSO, 2011. http://research.dwp.gov. uk/asd/frs/2009_10/frs_2009_10_report.pdf