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How to make internet surveys representative: A case study of a two-step weighting procedure

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  • Börsch-Supan, Axel
  • Winter, Joachim

    (Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA))

Abstract

Internet surveys are becoming increasingly popular. Concerns about the representativeness of online samples, however, frequently cast doubts on the validity of conclusions derived from internet survey data. These doubts rest on the fact that not all persons have internet access and on the premise that people are more likely to participate in a survey if the subject matter interests them. This paper presents a two-step procedure for weighting data from online surveys that is based on an explicit behavioral model of internet access and survey participation decisions. We illustrate the application of this scheme in a case study of Perspektive Deutschland, a very large online survey that was conducted in Germany in 2001 with almost 170,000 online respondents. We discuss practical aspects of weighting procedures such as problems caused by large weights as well as theoretical aspects such as the statistical implications of weighting.

Suggested Citation

  • Börsch-Supan, Axel & Winter, Joachim, 2004. "How to make internet surveys representative: A case study of a two-step weighting procedure," MEA discussion paper series 04067, Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (MEA) at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:mea:meawpa:04067
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard Valliant & Jill A. Dever, 2011. "Estimating Propensity Adjustments for Volunteer Web Surveys," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 40(1), pages 105-137, February.
    2. Rösch, Christine & Varela Villarreal, Jessica, 2021. "Perception of EU citizens on engineered biocatalytic solar fuels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Hudomiet, Péter & Hurd, Michael D. & Parker, Andrew M. & Rohwedder, Susann, 2021. "The effects of job characteristics on retirement," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 357-373, July.
    4. Anna Schwarz & Philipp Warum, 2023. "Don't Stop Believin'. Heterogeneous Updating of Intergenerational Mobility Perceptions across Income Groups," WIFO Working Papers 665, WIFO.
    5. Anna Schwarz & Philipp Warum, 2023. "Don’t Stop Believin’ – Heterogeneous Updating of Intergenerational Mobility Perceptions across Income Groups," CESifo Working Paper Series 10592, CESifo.

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