The survey literature decomposes nonsampling errors into five general sources or types:
specification error, frame error, nonresponse error,
measurement error, and processing error. •
Specification error occurs when the concept implied by the survey question differs from the concept meant to be measured in the survey. Specification error is often caused by poor communication between the researcher, data analyst, or survey sponsor and the questionnaire designer. •
Frame error typically results from the frame construction process. For example, some units may be omitted or duplicated an unknown number of times, or some ineligible units may be included on the frame, such as businesses that are not farms in a farm survey. •
Nonresponse error encompasses both unit nonresponse (sampling unit does not respond to any part of the questionnaire) and item nonresponse (the questionnaire is partially completed). When the reason for nonresponse is related to the missing value, parameter estimates can be biased when nonresponse is not accounted for. •
Measurement error occurs when the method of obtaining the measurement affects the recorded value, often involving simultaneously the respondent, the interviewer, and the survey questionnaire. Measurement error has been studied and reported extensively in the survey methods literature, perhaps more than any other source of nonsampling error.() • Finally,
processing error refers to errors that arise during the data processing stage, including errors in the editing of the data, data encoding, the assignment of survey weights, and tabulation of the survey data. ==References==