Understanding Voluntary-Response Bias in Surveys

What is a survey susceptible to if it includes only people who choose to respond?

When a survey only includes people who choose to respond, it is susceptible to voluntary-response bias. This bias occurs when individuals self-select into the survey sample. Those who choose to respond may have different characteristics or opinions than those who choose not to respond. This can lead to skewed results that do not accurately represent the population as a whole.

Question-Wording Bias: This occurs when the way a question is phrased influences the responses given. It can lead to inaccurate or misleading results if respondents interpret the question differently.

Coding Errors: Coding errors can occur during data entry or analysis, leading to inaccurate or incomplete data. These errors can affect the validity of survey results.

Interviewer-Induced Bias: This bias occurs when the interviewer's behavior or characteristics influence the respondent's answers. It can lead to biased or unreliable data if the interviewer's actions impact the respondent's responses.

In conclusion, voluntary-response bias is a potential issue in surveys that only include people who choose to respond. It is important for researchers to be aware of this bias and take steps to minimize its impact on survey results.