HANDLING NONRESPONSE IN LOGISTICS RESEARCH

Assessing and controlling for nonresponse bias is critical for the validity and reliability of survey‐based logistics research. In order to gain a better understanding of how researchers assess and report nonresponse bias in their studies, we analyzed articles published from 1998 through 2007 in three top logistics journals (International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Journal of Business Logistics, Transportation Journal). We describe and explore how nonresponse has been handled in these articles. Our findings show that first, survey response rates have declined over time; this influences the generalizability of survey results in case of nonresponse. Second, an average of 44% of published mail survey articles does not mention tests for detecting nonresponse bias.     

西盟：佤族最后的精神据点

去西盟之前，我就听说过许多佤族的故事了。有人认为他们是云南最原始的文化，过去曾经种植过罂粟，而如今缅甸的佤族仍然还在从事这个古老的行业。特别令人惊奇的是，据说他们过去曾经有用人头祭谷子的习俗，所以佤族的“佤”字对孩子最具震撼力。听到了这些后，我急不可耐地希望亲眼看一看这个传奇神秘的民族。