Mail Surveys for Election Forecasting? An Evaluation of the Columbus Dispatch Poll

AbstractBackgroundPrevious epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.MethodsWe conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40–91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test. The finger-circle test evaluated calf circumference by referring to an illustration printed on the survey form. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) was plotted to evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test for screening sarcopenia and compared to that evaluated by skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using bioimpedance. We also conducted multisite population-based cross-sectional anonymous mail surveys of 9337 adults, who were aged 40–97 years and resided in Settsu and Hannan Cities, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Participants were selected through stratified random sampling by sex and age in the elementary school zones of their respective cities. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to explore associations between characteristics and prevalence of sarcopenia.ResultsSarcopenia, defined by SMI, was moderately predicted by a finger-circle test response showing that the subject’s calf was smaller than their finger-circle (AUROC: 0.729, < 65 years; 0.653, ≥65 years); such subjects were considered to have sarcopenia. In mail surveys, prevalence of sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test was higher in older subjects (approximately 16%) than in middle-aged subjects (approximately 8–9%). In a multiple regression model, the factors associated with sarcopenia were age, body mass index, smoking status, self-reported health, and number of meals in all the participants.ConclusionsSarcopenia, screened by the finger-circle test, was present not only among older adults but also among middle-aged adults. These results may provide useful indications for developing public health programs, not only for the prevention, but especially for the management of sarcopenia.Trial registrationUMIN000036880, registered prospectively May 29, 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042027

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The Long-Term Impact of Different Offline Population Inclusion Strategies in Probability-Based Online Panels: Evidence From the German Internet Panel and the GESIS Panel

Social Science Computer Review ◽

10.1177/0894439320984131 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089443932098413

Author(s):

Carina Cornesse ◽

Ines Schaurer

Keyword(s):

Survey Data ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Alternative Mode ◽

Mail Surveys ◽

Internet Users ◽

Online Panels ◽

Long Term Impact ◽

The Impact ◽

Postal Mail

While online panels offer numerous advantages, they are often criticized for excluding the offline population. Therefore, some probability-based online panels have developed offline population inclusion strategies. Two dominant approaches prevail: providing internet equipment and offering an alternative survey participation mode. We investigate the impact of these approaches on two probability-based online panels in Germany: the German Internet Panel, which provides members of the offline population with internet equipment, and the GESIS Panel, which offers members of the offline population to participate via postal mail surveys. In addition, we explore the impact of offering an alternative mode only to non-internet users versus also offering the alternative mode to internet users who are unwilling to provide survey data online. Albeit lower recruitment and/or panel wave participation probabilities among offliners than onliners, we find that including the offline population has a positive long-term impact on sample accuracy in both panels. In the GESIS Panel, the positive impact is particularly strong when offering the alternative participation mode to non-internet users and internet users who are unwilling to provide survey data online.

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Should Physical Activity Intervention Efforts Take a Whole Population, High-Risk, or Middle Road Strategy?

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2012-0275 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 966-970 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Geeske Peeters ◽

Richard Hockey ◽

Wendy Brown

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

High Risk ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Theoretical Modeling ◽

Actual Distribution ◽

Mail Surveys

Purpose:This study was designed to compare theoretical strategies for changing physical activity (PA) in terms of their potential to reduce the incidence of chronic conditions in midage women: (1) whole population: +30 minutes/week in all, (2) high-risk: +60 minutes/week in the lowest 25% of the PA distribution, and (3) middle road: shift all those not meeting guidelines to a level commensurate with meeting guidelines.Methods:10,854 participants (50–55 years in 2001) in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health completed mail surveys in 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010. PA was calculated as MET·minutes/week spent in walking, moderate and vigorous PA in the previous week. Incidence rates per 1000 person-years for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and depression were calculated for the actual distribution and after modeled shifts in PA.Results:The incidence rates were 10.6 for diabetes, 7.0 for heart disease, 30.7 for hypertension, 8.0 for cancer, and 28.4 for depression. Greater reductions in incidence were found for the middle road strategy than for the whole population and high-risk strategies, with reductions ranging from –6.3% for cancer to –12.3% for diabetes.Discussion:This theoretical modeling showed that a middle road strategy to increasing PA was superior to the whole population and high-risk strategies, in terms of reducing incidence rates of chronic conditions in middle-aged women.

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Methodology Meets Technology: Survey Response Rates Using Mail, Email and Fax

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193120004403709 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 44 (37) ◽

pp. 581-584

Author(s):

Michael S. Wogalter ◽

Meredith F. Yarbrough ◽

David W. Martin

Keyword(s):

Survey Research ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Methodological Issue ◽

Response Rates ◽

Survey Response ◽

Return Rates ◽

Mail Surveys ◽

Low Levels ◽

Postal Mail

The use of email and fax communications has increased dramatically over the last decade. They are now commonplace methods of information exchange. Most research involving questionnaires has used postal mail to deliver and return the surveys from recipients who might not otherwise be reached through live administration. A frequent methodological issue with mail surveys is low levels of return rates. The present research compared the return rates of a survey that was sent by mail, email or fax. Participants could return the survey by any of the same three methods. The results showed that postal mail and email exhibited higher return rates than facsimiles and that the method of return tended to be the same method in which the questionnaire was originally sent. Implications of these results for survey research are discussed.

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