Title: Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust” | Alan Cooperman | First Things
Headings: Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust”
Response from Pew Research Center to “In Polls We Trust”
Articles by Alan Cooperman

Content: An extensive body of academic research has examined the impact of non-response in surveys, and the basic conclusion is this: Non-response can produce biases but does not always do so, and it can affect some measures in a survey but not others. This research ultimately shows that response rate is not a reliable indicator of survey quality. The not-for-profit Pew Research Center has conducted three major studies of the impact of declining response rates. The most recent study, from 2012, demonstrates that telephone surveys that include landlines and cell phones and are weighted to match the demographic composition of the population continue to provide accurate data on most political, social and economic measures. In most ways, the people interviewed in telephone polls with relatively low response rates closely resemble those who participate in government surveys with high response rates. O ur studies also show, however, that declining response rates are not without consequence. As we stated in the aforementioned study, “One significant area of potential non-response bias . . . is that survey participants tend to be significantly more engaged in civic activity than those who do not participate.” The report acknowledges that this may lead to overestimates of behaviors such as contacting elected officials, attending campaign events and attending worship services, since these are closely related to civic activity.