Replication Data for: Reducing Attrition in Phone-based Panel Surveys

Panel surveys and phone-based data collection are essential tools for survey research and are often used together due to the practical advantages of conducting repeated interviews over the phone. These tools are particularly critical for research in dynamic or high-risk settings, as highlighted by researchers' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, maintaining low attrition is a major challenge in panel surveys. Current solutions in political science focus on statistical fixes to address attrition ex-post but often overlook a preferable solution: minimizing attrition in the first place. Building on a review of political science panel studies and a systematic overview of best practices, we propose a framework for reducing attrition and present an online platform to facilitate the logistics of survey implementation. The web application semi-automates scheduling survey calls and enumerator workflows, which helps reduce panel attrition while also increasing data quality and minimizing enumerator errors. Applying the proposed framework to a panel study of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, we maintained participant retention at 63% four and a half years after the baseline survey. We conclude by offering guidelines for researchers to transparently report panel studies and comprehensively describe their designs.