A Diagnostic Mechanism for Assessing Respondent Burden: Sensitive Item Nonresponse Bias in Student Surveys

Abstract

This study evaluates unit and, more narrowly, sensitive item nonresponse to surveys in the university setting. Subgroups within the responding sample of a student survey at a large, public university in the United States are probed for patterns of differential nonresponse, with a focus on assessing sensitive item nonresponse. The standout result is that international students are significantly more likely than domestic students to be sensitive to items involving sexual orientation. This result aligns with literature on cultural differences between domestic and international students in US universities. Additionally, this study found nonsignificant nonresponse to other generally accepted sensitive items.