Nonresponse Bias occurs when individuals who do not respond to a survey or study systematically differ from those who do.
- Refusal to participate: People may decline to participate due to privacy concerns, lack of interest, or time constraints.
- Inability to participate: Participants might be unreachable or unable to complete the survey due to language barriers, physical limitations, or other factors.
Consequences:
- Biased results: The sample becomes unrepresentative of the population.
- Underestimation or overestimation of effects: The results may not accurately reflect the true situation.
- Reduced confidence in findings: The credibility of the research is compromised.
Nonresponse Bias is a significant threat to the validity of research findings. Researchers must take steps to minimize its impact to ensure accurate and reliable results.