Summary
The aim of this paper is to analyze unit-nonresponse for establishments surveyed for the first time in the IAB Establishment Panel. This is not only useful to understand nonresponse in this particular survey but to increase knowledge about nonresponse in business surveys overall. Therefore a theoretical framework is presented which helps to explain these processes in establishment surveys. To test this theory additional data from the federal employment agency about the establishments and data about the conducting interviewers is used. Empirical results mainly confirm the theoretical framework. If the respondent has the authority to provide relevant information and is able to give reliable answers to the questions with a justifiable amount of effort, participation is less frequently refused. Both aspects are highly correlated with establishment size and the complexity of the firm. It can also be shown that experienced and professional interviewers are more successful in recruiting firms to take part in the survey. The findings can be used to improve the study design in organizational surveys.
© 2014 by Lucius & Lucius, Stuttgart
