Download full text
(external source)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.13094/SMIF-2019-00015
Exports for your reference manager
Interviewing elderly in nursing homes: Respondent and survey characteristics as predictors of item nonresponse
[journal article]
Abstract Survey methodology is applied regularly in medical, nursing or social science studies examining elderly populations. Research in nursing home
residents, where age-related or pathological declines in cognitive function are highly prevalent, faces several methodological challenges. The quality of sur... view more
Survey methodology is applied regularly in medical, nursing or social science studies examining elderly populations. Research in nursing home
residents, where age-related or pathological declines in cognitive function are highly prevalent, faces several methodological challenges. The quality of survey data may be subject to population-specific measurement errors. In this article, data of two studies about pain in nursing homes are used to examine which respondent-, survey- and item characteristics predict item nonresponse. Chances for non-substantial answers are higher for older residents, for females and for those with more cognitive impairment. If residents are in pain, valid answers are more likely. Chances for item nonresponse are less if interviewed by interviewers who are familiar to the respondents. Nonresponse increases with question length and order, and in case questions were preceded by a filter. Less nonresponse is observed for dichotomous answer formats and in case more words per answer were used. These effects are considerably influenced by the respondents’ cognitive state and capacity. Results let us assume that respondent, interviewer and item characteristics affect the data quality in nursing home populations significantly.... view less
Keywords
methodology; cognitive factors; retirement home for the elderly; interview; Federal Republic of Germany; data quality; elderly; response behavior
Classification
Methods and Techniques of Data Collection and Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Computer Methods
Free Keywords
Cognitive impairment; elderly populations; item nonresponse; nursing home residents
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
Page/Pages
p. 1-9
Journal
Survey Methods: Insights from the Field (2019)
Issue topic
Probability and Nonprobability Sampling: Sampling of hard-to-reach survey populations
ISSN
2296-4754
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed