title: Evaluating survey quality in health services research: a decision framework for assessing nonresponse bias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To address the issue of nonresponse as problematic and offer appropriate strategies for assessing nonresponse bias.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of current strategies used to assess the quality of survey data and the challenges associated with these strategies is provided along with appropriate post-data collection techniques that researchers should consider.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates are an incomplete assessment of survey data quality, and quick reactions to response rate should be avoided. Based on a five-question decision making framework, we offer potential ways to assess nonresponse bias, along with a description of the advantages and disadvantages to each.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that the quality of survey data be considered to assess the relative contribution to the literature of a given study. Authors and funding agencies should consider the potential effects of nonresponse bias both before and after survey administration and report the results of assessments of nonresponse bias in addition to response rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management & Marketing, Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathon R B
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Halbesleben
authors.forename: Marilyn V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Whitman
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires