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Responses to anonymous questionnaires concerning sexual behavior: a method to examine potential biases
1AIDS Research, Danish Cancer Registry, Copenhagen.
American Journal of Public Health
|November 1, 1992
Summary
This study on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors found that prompting increased survey response rates. Reluctant responders and nonresponders generally did not differ significantly from initial responders in risky behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Social Science Research
Background:
- Low response rates in voluntary surveys can compromise the representativeness of findings.
- Understanding the characteristics of nonresponders is crucial for accurate data interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the behaviors and attitudes of responders (willing and reluctant) and nonresponders to anonymous HIV risk behavior questionnaires.
- To assess the potential biases introduced by low response rates in surveys.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaires on sexual acts and drug use were sent to Danish adults.
- Multiple survey waves and nonresponder probing (telephone interviews) were employed.
- Response rates were analyzed in relation to demographic and behavioral data.
Main Results:
- Prompting significantly increased survey response rates from 52% to 73%.
- Behaviors were generally similar between initial and reluctant responders.
- Reasons for nonresponse did not indicate higher HIV risk among nonresponders.
Conclusions:
- A multi-wave approach with prompting effectively improves survey response rates.
- This method offers an inexpensive way to assess potential biases from nonresponse.
- Findings suggest that nonresponse bias may not significantly affect HIV risk behavior study outcomes.