Conducting research on the response process in business surveys

Abstract

Measurement errors in business surveys can be a serious obstacle to achieving accuracy in economic data, yet knowledge about such errors is relatively modest. It is thus not surprising that approaches to gain this knowledge remain inconsistent and have been rarely discussed. Research into the response process has proved beneficial in revealing and evaluating the sources of measurement errors in surveys of individuals. This article proposes a blueprint for conducting research into the response process in business surveys in line with modern quality thinking. It analyzes the methodological and practical challenges of such research and illustrates them with an empirical study of the response process in a business survey conducted in cooperation with the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.