Estimating non-response bias in a survey on alcohol consumption: comparison of response waves.
OBJECTIVE
According to 'the continuum of resistance model' late respondents can be used as a proxy for non-respondents in estimating non-response bias. In the present study, the validity of this model was explored and tested in three surveys on alcohol consumption.


METHODS
The three studies collected their data by means of mailed questionnaires on alcohol consumption whereby two studies also performed a non-response follow-up.


RESULTS
Comparisons of early respondents, late respondents and non-respondents in one study showed some support for 'the continuum of resistance model', although another study could not confirm this result. Comparison of alcohol consumption between three time response groups showed no significant linear pattern of differences between response waves.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypothesis that late respondents are more similar to non-respondents than early respondents, could not be confirmed or rejected. Repeated mailings are effective in obtaining a greater sample size, but seem ineffective in improving the representativeness of alcohol consumption surveys.
Lahaut
Viviënne M H C J
VM
Addiction Research Institute (IVO), Heemraadssingel 194, 3021 DM Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jansen
Harrie A M
HA
van de Mheen
Dike
D
Garretsen
Henk F L
HF
Verdurmen
Jacqueline E E
JE
van Dijk
Ad
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015982:Bias; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires