Studying Citizen Participation in Attitudinal Surveys. An Analysis of the European Social Survey (8th ed.).

The aim of the European Social Survey (ESS) is to further the existing knowledge about the attitudes, values, behaviours and sociodemographic characteristics of the population in different European countries. Using data from the ESS (Round 8) for Spain only, this paper analyses how the sample units were contacted and interviewed. The results indicate that contact rates were higher among those aged between 55 and 64 years old, and those that were visited to be interviewed on a Monday. It was also found that higher interview rates were obtained among young people (15-24 years old), those who reside in farms, people who lack access control systems in their homes (such as entry phones or fences), and those that reside in vandalism-free areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]