How accurate are self-selection web surveys?

Authors
Publication date 2008
Series Discussion paper, 08014
Number of pages 24
Publisher The Hague / Heerlen: Statistics Netherlands
Organisations
  • Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) - Amsterdam School of Economics Research Institute (ASE-RI)
Abstract Due to methodological problems, the quality of the outcomes of web surveys may be seriously affected. This paper addresses one of these problems: self-selection of respondents. Self-selection leads to a lack of representativity and thus to biased estimates. It is shown that the bias of estimators in self-selection surveys can be much larger than in surveys based on traditional probability samples. It is explored whether some correction techniques (adjustment weighting and use of reference surveys) can improve the quality of the outcomes. It turns out that there is no guarantee for success.
Document type Working paper
Published at http://www.cbs.nl/NR/rdonlyres/EEC0E15B-76B0-4698-9B26-8FA04D2B3270/0/200814x10pub.pdf
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