Abstract:
The standard weighting approach (SWA) for the treatment of unit non-response,
being based on general variables for the whole sample, dose not take into account
possible differences in response propensity in different sub-groups in the sample a
thing that may lead to bias in estimates.
In this research, the possibility of reducing bias in survey-based estimates has been
investigated by using variables correlated with the non-response propensity in the subgroup
on which analysis is to be conducted.
This approach called “Subgroup-Tailored Weighting Approach (S-TWA) " led, in
general, to estimates of propensity in sub-groups similar to those obtained for the
whole sample by the SWA. However some of the estimates in sub-groups obtained by
the S-TWA approach turned out to be superior to those obtained by the SWA approach
as reflected in smaller standard errors.
The S-TWA seems to perform best when the sample consist of sub-groups that vary
drastically with respect to non-response propensity.
