Working paper Understanding Society Working Paper Series
From Standardised to Targeted Survey Procedures for Tackling Non-Response and Attrition
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Abstract
Recent decades have seen a shift away from surveys in which all procedures are standardised towards a variety of approaches (tailored, responsive, adaptive) in which different sample members are treated differently. A particular variant of the non-standardised approach involves applying to each of a number of subgroups targeted design features that are identified in advance of field work and are not subsequently modified. Targeted designs have mainly been implemented on panel surveys and mainly to address non-response and attrition. This article provides a framework for targeted designs, discusses their objectives, reviews their development, and outlines possible future developments.