Three new procedures were introduced in the 2004 panel SIPP questionnaire in an attempt to reduce asset income amount nonresponse: (1) a flexible approach to the reporting period, which allows respondents to choose the option most convenient for them; (2) an expanded use of closed-ended “range” questions for use as follow-up probes in the event of an initial nonresponse; and (3) the capability to use dependent interviewing procedures for nonresponse follow-up after wave 1. This report summarizes the impact of the new procedures on nonresponse to asset income amount items in waves 1 and 2 of the 2004 SIPP panel, through a comparison with the same estimates from the preceding (2001) SIPP panel. Major findings are as follows:

(1) The introduction of flexible reporting period options in 2004 seems to have had little beneficial impact on item nonresponse for asset income amounts.

(2) Extending the “range”-type follow-ups to cover all assets resulted in major nonresponse benefits. Asset types which acquired the range follow-ups for the first time in 2004 showed substantial declines in final wave 1 item nonresponse in 2004 compared to 2001.

(3) The dependent nonresponse follow-up option added in 2004 wave 2 also had a major positive impact on final nonresponse. On the negative side, however, is evidence of improper use of the dependent follow-up procedures by SIPP interviewers, resulting in very high rates of initial nonresponse.