This document summarizes the results of an interview study conducted with 11 non-respondents to government surveys in Sweden. The interviews explored reasons for non-response from a qualitative perspective. Some key findings included: - Some saw value in contributing if they understood how it could make a meaningful difference, while others did not feel it was important or would lead to anything good. - Attitudes toward authorities and power influenced responses, with some expressing mistrust while others believed the government wants to do good. - Experiences and knowledge of statistics varied, with some skeptical due to how questions are asked or outdated data is used to draw conclusions. - Three types of non-respondents were identified based on

1. Non-response from a
qualitative perspective.
An interview study
Lina Fjelkegård, Statistic Sweden,
Unit for cognitive methods
Lina.fjelkegard@scb.se

2. “Why should I spend time on this?
What´s the bloody point?”

3. Non-response work at Statistics Sweden – Umbrella with
different projects.
Non-response from a qualitative perspective. An interview
study.
Objective:
To get an in-depth understanding of why a sample member
becomes a non-respondent.
To get knowledge about aspects that are hard to reach with
other methods.

4. Design
•Eleven in-depth interviews
•Six face to face and five telephone interviews
•The Labor Force Survey, The Living Condition
Survey, or surveys with self-administrated
questionnaires.
•Between 20 and 60 minuets (non-respondent´s
home, café, workplace or at Stat Sweden)
•Interviewed non-respondents vary concerning age,
gender and educational level
Bonus material

5. Design
Content
Semi-structured/standardized
Concrete survey related issues: Incentives, data
collection mode, survey length, survey conductor and
sponsor, confidentiality issues etc.
Wider societal context: Attitudes towards civic
responsibility and attitudes and experiences of
statistics. Societal connection and involvement.

6. Results: Wider societal context
Contribution as motivation
But the point with my life is to have a feeling that
what I do is meaningful. I can´t think that it doesn´t
matter. So if someone would tell me and explain why
this is important and why they want to know things
about me. Then I think I would answer it.
(Women 64 years, university degree)

7. Results: Wider societal context
Contribution as motivation
That is definitely an aspect of it. It is. Because it´s the
state and you believe that it will make a difference.
(Male 28 years, university degree)

8. Results: Wider societal context
Contribution as motivation
I can not see that it will lead to anything good. You
know.
(Interviewer: No, okay… And that it won´t lead to anything good, is that
one of the reasons that you don´t prioritize to attend do you think?)
Yes, probably. It doesn´t feel important to me. It
doesn´t.
(Male 37 years, high school degree)

9. Results: Wider societal context
Authorities and power
It is a part of my personality – to have no trust in
public authorities and to not trust in public
statements. When they say that they don´t want to
take advantage of me, I always think that is just what
they want to do.
(Male, 31 years, university degree)

10. Results: Wider societal context
Authorities and power
Everybody is so tardy. Everything. I mean like The
National Employment Office or The National Social
Insurance Office, something like that. I think they are
all idiots. I think. Stuff like that in general. But I don´t
work with those things so I don´t really know how it
works.
(Male 37 years, high school degree)

11. Results: Wider societal context
Authorities and power
I believe that the government wants to do good.
What they do is good and of high quality. I think it is
about that. I think there are a lot of wise people
working to make things better. I have to think that.
(Woman 64 years, university degree)

12. Results: Wider societal context
Knowledge, experiences and attitudes towards
statistics
But the research was five years old. The statistics
they build the statement on. It was a professor and I
called him and then he referred to an even older
study.
(Male 64 years old, high school degree)

13. Results: Wider societal context
Knowledge, experiences and attitudes towards
statistics
But it is so quick. I mean, for example, when there is
a scandal or something and there is suddenly
statistics on what people think about that, and if
someone should resign. It is so quick. I don´t know
who produce that statistics, maybe it is media.
(Male 37 years, high school degree)

14. Results: Wider societal context
Knowledge, experiences and attitudes towards
statistics
I have a feeling that a lot of statistics are deliberately
produced to show a certain result – ‘if we do it like
this…’. How you write your questions and stuff like
that. To be able to prove your point. That’s why I´m a
bit skeptic against surveys.
(Male 28 years, university degree)

15. Analytical categories: Three different types of
non-respondents
a)Weak attachment to society. Low knowledge.
b)Good knowledge. Mistrust against public authorities.
c)Strong attachment and trust. Good knowledge.

16. What is default? To be a respondent or a non-respondent?
a)Weak attachment to society. Low knowledge.
Non-respondents. We need to explain and/or create benefits.
b)Good knowledge. Mistrust against public authorities.
Non-respondents. Can´t do much.
c)Strong attachment and trust. Good knowledge.
Respondents. We have to minimize the restraints/costs.

17. Can we use results from qualitative
research in the work against non-
response?