Panel Mortality and Panel Bias

Abstract Parts I and II of this paper evaluate "panel mortality" by studying the demographic structure and original interest in the subject matter of the study, at the time of the first and for each of the four subsequent interviews. Because of cancelling variations, the demographic structure of the panel after five rounds of interviewing remained very similar to that of the original panel. There was some tendency, however, for a disproportionate number of renters, low income people, and people not interested in the subject matter of the study to drop out after repeated interviews. The third part of this paper evaluates "repeated interview effects" by comparing the answers of panel members to the answers of members of a new probability sample of the urban, non-institutional population of the United States, who were interviewed at the same time on the same questions. Once the effects of differing income distribution in these groups were eliminated, there was little indication that the attitudes of a panel after four rounds of interviewing differed from those of a random sample. * This study was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation to the Survey Research Center for studies to be carried out under the direction of George Katona on the origin and effects of changes in economic attitudes. The questions asked in the interviews concerned spending and saving by the respondents, and their economic information and attitudes. Notes * This study was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation to the Survey Research Center for studies to be carried out under the direction of George Katona on the origin and effects of changes in economic attitudes. The questions asked in the interviews concerned spending and saving by the respondents, and their economic information and attitudes.