Call for papers

Journal of Official Statistics

Special Issue on Respondent Burden

Special Issue Guest Editors

Robin Kaplan, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jessica Holzberg, U.S. Census Bureau
Stephanie Eckman, RTI International
Deirdre Giesen, Statistics Netherlands

The aim of this special issue is to explore innovations in the conceptualization and measurement of
respondent burden by official statistical agencies. In an era of declining response rates, increasing use of
multiple survey modes (including web and mobile), and difficulties retaining respondents across multiple
survey waves, the question of how to better understand, measure, and reduce respondent burden is
crucial. We invite submissions related to objective and subjective measures of respondent burden,
burden as it relates to response rates and data quality, the burden associated with different survey
modes, and techniques for reducing burden.

In official statistics, respondent burden is often conceptualized in terms of objective measures, such as
the length of time it takes to complete a survey and the number of questions asked. Bradburn (1978)
posited that in addition to these objective measures, burden can be thought of as a multidimensional
concept that can include respondents’ subjective perceptions of how effortful the survey is, how
sensitive or invasive the questions are, and how long the survey is. The level of burden can also vary by
the mode of data collection, survey topic, demographic characteristics of respondents, and frequency
with which individuals or businesses are sampled. Ultimately, respondent burden is concerning because
of its potential to increase measurement error, attrition in panel surveys, survey nonresponse, and
nonresponse bias, as well as impact data quality. Both objective and subjective burden may have effects
on survey outcomes, but many survey organizations have focused primarily on objective measures of
burden; little research assesses both objective and subjective sources of respondent burden to better
understand the unique contributions each may have. This special issue aims to publish research on new
and innovative methods of measuring both objective and subjective perceptions of respondent burden,
while also assessing and mitigating the impact of respondent burden on survey response and
nonresponse bias. We invite submissions that explore the following topics:

(1) Quantitative research on the relationship between respondent burden, response propensity,
nonresponse bias, response rates, item nonresponse, and other data quality outcomes: We
invite submissions that use quantitative methods (including but not limited to sampling
techniques, survey design, survey paradata, or alternative data sources) to help measure and
reduce respondent burden.

(2) Qualitative research on respondents’ subjective perceptions of survey burden: Much of the
literature focuses on objective features of surveys or respondent self-reports of subjective
 burden. We invite submissions that use qualitative methods, such as focus groups, cognitive
interviews, or exploratory research to better understand how respondents define survey
burden.

(3) Differences in respondent burden across different survey modes: We invite submissions that
explore respondent burden in surveys that use multiple modes or compare respondent burden
across different modes. With more and more surveys moving to web, mobile, or text message
modes, the burden associated with each mode is an important, relatively unexplored question in
the literature.

(4) The effects of objective versus subjective respondent burden and the relationship between
them: Research is mixed as to what impact objective versus subjective burden has on data
quality, response rates, attrition, and other survey outcomes. We invite submissions that parse
out the impact of both objective and subjective burden as well as the relationship between the
two.

(5) The effects of survey design on respondent burden: We invite submissions that explore
respondent burden as it relates to other aspects of data collection procedures, such as the
number of contact attempts, proxy reporting in household surveys, reporting burden for
establishment surveys, and burden experienced by populations that are more frequently
surveyed than others or in longitudinal data collections.

(6) Techniques for reducing respondent burden: We invite submissions that explore the use of
methods to reduce respondent burden, such as by shortening surveys, decreasing the necessary
sample size, minimizing the number of contact attempts, or otherwise attempting to improve
the respondent experience. Recent innovations in this area have included the use of
administrative records, matrix sampling, machine learning, and gamification of surveys.

Submission guidelines and deadlines

Manuscripts should be submitted through the manuscript management portal ScholarOne
https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/joffstats
All manuscripts must adhere to the JOS submission and peer review rules and will go through
the usual JOS review process. Instructions for authors are available at
http://www.degruyter.com/view/supplement/s20017367_Instructions_for_Authors.pdf
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Deadline for submission is January 31, 2021.