Not-at-home

Source of nonsampling error that arises when replies are not secured from some designated sampling units because the respondents are not at home when the interviewer calls. In telephone and in-home personal interviews, low response rates can result if the potential respondents are not at home when a contact is attempted. Employing a series of callbacks or periodic follow-up attempts to contact non-respondents can ubstantially reduce the percentage of not-at-home.