Cumulative Response Rate as Quality Signal

Surveys should present cumulative recruitment and retention metrics (not just survey-level response) as a standard quality signal so consumers of polls can judge nonresponse bias. Reporting both the short-term survey response and the long-term cumulative panel response makes it possible to compare poll credibility across studies and over time. — If mainstream pollsters routinely publish cumulative response rates and related weighting details, public and media use of polls will be better informed and contested claims about public opinion (e.g., on abortion) will be more accurately framed.