Ring-no-answer A common form of nonresponse in telephone surveys is “ring-no-answer.” That is, a call is made to an active number but no one answers.

The Italian National Statistical Institute looked at nonresponse to a government survey of households in Italy during the periods January 1 to Easter and July 1 to August 31. All calls were made between 7 and 10 p.m., but 21.4% gave “ring-no-answer” in one period versus 41.5% “ring-no-answer” in the other period.16 Which period do you think had the higher rate of no answers? Why? Explain why a high rate of nonresponse makes sample results less reliable.