A Comparison of Full and Quasi Filters for Autobiographical Questions

Authors

Kristen M. Olson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Megumi Watanabe, Hiroshima UniversityFollow
Jolene Smyth, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Published in Field Methods 2018, vol. 30(4), pp 371-385.

DOI: 10.1177/1525822X18795868

Comments

Copyright © 2018 Kristen Olson, Megumi Watanabe, and Jolene D. Smyth. Published by SAGE Publications. Used by permission.

Abstract

Some survey questions do not apply to all respondents. How to design these questions for both eligible and ineligible respondents is unclear. This article compares full filter (FF) and quasi filter (QF) designs for autobiographical questions in mail surveys. Using data from National Health, Wellbeing, and Perspectives Study, we examine the effect of type of filter on item nonresponse rates, response errors, and response distributions. We find that QF questions are more confusing to respondents, resulting in higher rates of item nonresponse and response errors than FF questions. Additionally, FF questions more successfully identify ineligible respondents, bringing estimates closer to national benchmarks. We recommend that survey designers use FF designs rather than QF designs for autobiographical questions in mail surveys.