Minimizing Non-Response in a Survey of New Businesses (Presentation)

Research surveys of establishments such as new businesses face significant challenges. Cooperation rates are generally lower than household surveys because of lack of interest, lack of time, or confidentiality concerns. The Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS), sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, used various techniques to achieve a response rate of 43 percent. The KFS used a multi-mode approach to encourage Web response and reduce telephone interviewing costs. In training telephone interviewers, refusal avoidance was emphasized, including quick response to initial reluctance to participate, and identifying and quickly responding to common reasons for refusal. We also emphasized completing the survey screener quickly to identify eligible businesses, which were about 35 percent of the sample. This paper describes these training methods, outlines other steps to improve response rates, and compares survey results of cases with an initial refusal with results from cases that completed without an initial refusal.