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Abstract

Two explanations of differences in undercoverage and nonresponse between neighbourhoods in a telephone survey among the inhabitants of the City of Groningen were studied: differences in population composition between neighbourhoods or in their social disorganization. Logistic multilevel analyses were performed on a sample of 7,000 inhabitants and all 14 city neighbourhoods. Differences in undercoverage and nonresponse between neighbourhoods could be attributed for the greater part to variations in the population composition of the neighbourhoods. Social disorganization had no effect on nonresponse and only a small one on undercoverage: people in neighbourhoods in decay (indicated by prolonged vacancies and relatively frequent criminal offenses) more often had no telephone or an unlisted number than people in other neighbourhoods.

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Differences in Undercoverage and Nonresponse between City Neighbourhoods in a Telephone Survey

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