What concern arises from a low response rate in survey studies?

A low response rate in survey studies can create concern primarily because the participants who choose to respond may differ significantly in characteristics or opinions from those who do not respond. This potential difference can lead to a biased sample, which in turn affects the generalizability and validity of the study’s findings. If the responding group does not adequately represent the larger population, the results may fail to reflect the true sentiments or behaviors of all individuals within that population.

The risk is that certain demographic groups or opinions may be underrepresented or overrepresented simply because they were more likely to respond to the survey. Consequently, researchers must be cautious when interpreting responses since they may not accurately depict the views of the entirety of those being studied.

While concerns like homogeneity or extreme views may arise in different contexts, the primary issue linked to low response rates is the difference between the participants and non-respondents, which can skew the study's results.