Nonresponse Rates to Organic Questionnaire Items as Evidence of Parallel Processes during Organizational Diagnosis

Using the concept of parallel processes, this study frames nonresponse rates to organic questionnaire items as indicators of authority relations within the organization. Based on information obtained during entry, an eight-person team conducting an organizational diagnosis with a state agency measured employee attitudes toward management training, their own supervisory relationship, and senior management. Consistent with the hypotheses, the study found nonresponse rates varied by respondents’ hierarchical level and questionnaire topic. There also was an interaction between employee job level and questionnaire item response rate. Highest nonresponse rates occurred among hourly employees addressing questions about senior management. In parallel fashion, higher ranking employees showed more favorable attitudes toward management training, supervision, and senior management. The findings point to the potential scientific benefit of treating nonresponses to measuring instruments as information about the organization rather than just as methodological artifacts affecting the validity of the findings.