The article addresses the problem of refusals in survey interviews, a persistent issue that can negatively impact the final sample composition and lead to errors in the extrapolation of conclusions. In this context, information regarding the reasons for declining to participate in surveys, as collected by interviewers in the culturally diverse community of the border town of Cieszyn, was analysed. The research project’s terrain and concept were outlined, existing typologies of refusals were reviewed, the results of own research were presented, and conclusions were summarised. Given the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, one might have expected an increase in the frequency of health-related concerns and safety worries as reasons for refusal. Although these hypotheses could not be confirmed on a micro scale, further investigation on a nationwide level would be worthwhile.
