Partial Completion

The partial completion survey disposition is used in all types of surveys, regardless of mode. In a telephone or in-person interview, a partial completion results when the respondent provides answers for some of the questions on the survey questionnaire that were asked by the interviewer but is unable or unwilling to allow the interviewer to administer all of the questions in the interview (item nonresponse). Partial completions in telephone or in-person surveys can occur when an appointment or other commitment prevents the respondent from completing the interview or when the respondent begins the interview but then refuses to complete the entire interview process (called a "break-off"). In a mail survey, a partial completion results when the respondent receives a paper-and-pencil survey questionnaire, answers only some ...