title: Assessing and adjusting for non-response in the Millennium Cohort Family Study.
abstract: In conducting population-based surveys, it is important to thoroughly examine and adjust for potential non-response bias to improve the representativeness of the sample prior to conducting analyses of the data and reporting findings. This paper examines factors contributing to second stage survey non-response during the baseline data collection for the Millennium Cohort Family Study, a large longitudinal study of US service members and their spouses from all branches of the military.
  
  
  
  Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a comprehensive response propensity model.
  
  
  
  Results showed the majority of service member sociodemographic, military, and administrative variables were significantly associated with non-response, along with various health behaviours, mental health indices, and financial and social issues. However, effects were quite small for many factors, with a few demographic and survey administrative variables accounting for the most substantial variance.
  
  
  
  The Millennium Cohort Family Study was impacted by a number of non-response factors that commonly affect survey research. In particular, recruitment of young, male, and minority populations, as well as junior ranking personnel, was challenging. Despite this, our results suggest the success of representative population sampling can be effectively augmented through targeted oversampling and recruitment, as well as a comprehensive survey weighting strategy.
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Central Park West, Suite 210, 5001 South Miami Boulevard, 27703, Durham, NC, USA. nida_corry@abtassoc.com.
authors.forename: Nida H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Central Park West, Suite 210, 5001 South Miami Boulevard, 27703, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Christianna S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates Inc., Central Park West, Suite 210, 5001 South Miami Boulevard, 27703, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Military Population Health Directorate at the Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, 92106, San Diego, CA, USA.|Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Suite 100, 20817, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Hope Seib
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.affiliation: Military Population Health Directorate at the Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, 92106, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015983:Selection Bias; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dyadic recruitment; Nonresponse bias; Propensity score modeling; Survey weighting; US military