Noncontacts

Noncontacts are a disposition that is used in telephone, in-person, mail, and Internet surveys both as a temporary and a final disposition. Two primary types of non-contacts can occur in surveys. The first type occurs when a researcher makes contact with a household or other sampling unit, and no one is present to receive the contact. The second type of noncontact occurs when a researcher makes contact with a household or other sampling unit, but the selected respondent is unavailable to complete the questionnaire.

For example, the first type of noncontact occurs during in-person surveys when an interviewer visits a household unit and finds no one there (but does find clear evidence that the unit is occupied). Noncontacts also occur when contact is made with ...