Telephone Sample Surveys: Dearly Beloved or Nearly Departed? Trends in Survey Errors in the Era of Declining Response Rates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dutwin ◽  
Trent D Buskirk
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
General Role ◽  
Telephone Surveys ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fit For Purpose

Abstract Telephone surveys have become much maligned in the past few years, considering recent failures to correctly predict elections worldwide, response rates declining into the single digits, and the rise of low-cost, nonprobabilistic alternatives. Yet there is no study assessing the degree to which data attained via modern-day telephone interviewing has or has not significantly declined in terms of data quality. Utilizing an elemental approach, we evaluate the bias of various cross-tabulations of core demographics from a collection of surveys collected over the past two decades. Results indicate that (1) there has been a modest increase in bias over the past two decades but a downward trend in the past five years; (2) the share of cell phone interviews in samples has a significant impact on the bias; (3) traditional weighting largely mitigates the linear trend in bias; and (4), once weighted, telephone samples are nearly on par in data quality to higher response rate unweighted in-person data. Implications for the “fit for purpose” of telephone data and its general role in the future of survey research are discussed given our findings.

scholarly journals Reporting Response Rates for Telephone Surveys Used In Agricultural Economics Research

1994 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon I. Gripp ◽  
A.E. Luloff ◽  
Robert D. Yonkers
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Agricultural Economics ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Telephone Surveys ◽  
Economics Research

Response rates are one indicator of a survey's data quality, as a great deal of importance has been placed on the mail survey's response rate. However, a telephone survey's response rate usually is not reported. Even if one is reported, the numbers used in the calculation are rarely defined making the response rate interpretation unclear. Using a recent telephone survey of Pennsylvania dairy managers, this paper demonstrates how telephone survey data should be reported. Essentially, every research report should include a discussion of how the survey was conducted, a disposition table, and well-defined formulas used to calculate response rates.

Encouraging Physicians to Respond to Surveys through the Use of Fax Technology

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly Y. Lensing ◽  
Stephen R. Gillaspy ◽  
Pippa M. Simpson ◽  
Stacie M. Jones ◽  
John M. James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Pediatric Asthma ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Survey Response ◽  
Telephone Surveys ◽  
Survey Response Rate ◽  
Survey Participation

High response rates to surveys of physicians are difficult to achieve. One possible strategy to improve physicians’ survey participation is to offer the option of receiving and returning the survey by fax. This study describes the success of the option of fax communication in a survey of general practitioners, family physicians, and pediatricians in Arkansas with regard to pediatric asthma. Eligible physicians were given the choice of receiving the survey by telephone, mail, or fax. In this observational study, physicians’ preferences, response rates, and biases for surveys administered by fax were compared with mail and telephone surveys. The overall survey response rate was 59%. For the 96 physicians completing an eligibility screener survey, the largest percentage requested to be surveyed by fax (47%) rather than by telephone (28%) or mail (25%). Faxing may be one strategy to add to the arsenal of tools to increase response rates in surveying physicians.

Promised Incentives in Media Research: A Look at Data Quality, Sample Representativeness, and Response Rate

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward G. Goetz ◽  
Tom R. Tyler ◽  
Fay Lomax Cook
Keyword(s):  
Data Quality ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Response Quality ◽  
Sample Representativeness ◽  
Media Research ◽  
The Impact

The authors examine the effects of using promised incentives to increase respondent compliance in media research. The impact of promised incentives on data quality, sample representativeness, and response rate is studied. The use of promised incentives is found to increase response rates without lessening sample representativeness or response quality. In fact, the data suggest that incentives heighten response quality because they increase the attention respondents devote to the task for which they are being paid.

scholarly journals Response Rates in National Panel Surveys

2012 ◽  
Vol 645 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F. Schoeni ◽  
Frank Stafford ◽  
Katherine A. Mcgonagle ◽  
Patricia Andreski
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Panel Surveys ◽  
Longitudinal Surveys ◽  
The Past ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

It has been well documented that response rates to cross-sectional surveys have declined over the past few decades. It is less clear whether response rates to longitudinal surveys have experienced similar changes over time. This article examines trends in response rates in several major, national longitudinal surveys in the United States and abroad. The authors find that for most of these surveys, the wave-to-wave response rate has not declined. This article also describes the various approaches that these surveys use to minimize attrition.

scholarly journals Recruiting general practitioners as participants for qualitative and experimental primary care studies in Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon McKinn ◽  
Carissa Bonner ◽  
Jesse Jansen ◽  
Kirsten McCaffery
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Qualitative Interview ◽  
Primary Care Research ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Mailing Lists ◽  
Interview Studies

Recruiting general practitioners (GPs) for participation in primary care research is vitally important, but it can be very difficult for researchers to engage time-poor GPs. This paper describes six different strategies used by a research team recruiting Australian GPs for three qualitative interview studies and one experimental study, and reports the response rates and costs incurred. Strategies included: (1) mailed invitations via Divisions of General Practice; (2) electronic newsletters; (3) combining mailed invitations and newsletter; (4) in-person recruitment at GP conferences; (5) conference satchel inserts; and (6) combining in-person recruitment and satchel inserts. Response rates ranged from 0 (newsletter) to 30% (in-person recruitment). Recruitment costs per participant ranged from A$83 (in-person recruitment) to A$232 (satchel inserts). Mailed invitations can be viable for qualitative studies, especially when free/low-cost mailing lists are used, if the response rate is less important. In-person recruitment at GP conferences can be effective for short quantitative studies, where a higher response rate is important. Newsletters and conference satchel inserts were expensive and ineffective.

The Evolution of Augmentative Communication and the Importance of Alternate Access

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chapple
Keyword(s):  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Access Methods ◽  
The Past ◽  
Communication Device ◽  
Internet Browser ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Development Of Language

Abstract Over the past 20 years, there have been many advances in the computer industry as well as in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Computers are becoming more compact and have multiple purposes, such as the iPhone, which is a cell phone, mp3 player, and an Internet browser. AAC devices also have evolved to become multi-purpose devices; the most sophisticated devices have functionality similar to the iPhone and iPod. Recently, the idea of having the iPhone and iPad as a communication device was initiated with the development of language applications specifically for this format. It might be true that this idea could become the future of AAC devices; however, there are major access issues to overcome before the idea is a reality. This article will chronicle advancements in AAC devices, specifically on access methods, throughout the years, towards the transition to handheld devices. The newest technologies hold much promise with both features and affordability factors being highly attractive. Yet, these technologies must be made to incorporate alternate access if they are to meet their fullest potential as AAC tools.

Cross-culture outcomes of a brazilian professor Fulbright in the USA

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (50) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Marcelo Da Silva Leite ◽  
Celeste Gaia
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
College And University ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
University Curriculum ◽  
Fulbright Scholar ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Higher Education Costs

Over the past decade due the expansion of globalization there has been an increasing emphasis on internationalization among faculty, administration and accrediting agencies in the Higher Education.  Although to promote internationalization in the Higher Education, costs are a big challenge, one way to have the international actions with low cost, it is seeking for grants from different governmental agencies and foundations.The Fulbright Scholar program provides a long-standing and externally-funded means for internationalizing college and university curriculum. This article is going to share the perspective   of a Brazilian Fulbright Scholar at an American college and the institution perspective of the Fulbright scholar participation at the College.

ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE AND PREDICTION OF HIV INFECTION INCIDENCE IN THE VORONEZH REGION

2020 ◽  
pp. 147-152
Author(s):  
Евгений Николаевич Коровин ◽  
Юлия Викторовна Сиромашенко ◽  
Владимир Николаевич Коровин
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Graphical Representation ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Extrapolation Methods ◽  
The Past ◽  
Voronezh Region ◽  
The Future ◽  
Dynamic Series ◽  
Exponential Smoothing Method

В статье приведены анализ и прогнозирование основных статистических показателей, характеризующих развитие эпидемической ситуации по вирусу иммунодефицита человека (ВИЧ) в Воронежской области, а именно распределение по путям инфицирования. В качестве данных для прогнозирования были использованы показатели заболеваемости прошлых лет. Применяемый метод прогнозирования основан на методах экстраполяции. Все методы экстраполяции объединяет то, что они проецируют на будущее ход событий, сложившийся в прошлом. При этом не устанавливаются никакие причинные связи - принимается, что действующие в прошлом силы без существенных изменений будут действовать и в будущем. При формировании прогнозов с помощью экстраполяции исходят из статистически складывающихся тенденций изменения тех или иных количественных характеристик объекта за определённый период. Прогнозирование заболеваемости ВИЧ осуществляется с помощью метода экспоненциального сглаживания с использованием линейного тренда и выбором оптимальных параметров сглаживания. Трендом называют аналитическое или графическое представление изменения переменной во времени, полученное в результате выделения регулярной (систематической) составляющей динамического ряда. Основной целью анализа и прогнозирования является выявление основных тенденций по распространению ВИЧ-инфекции, определение основных путей инфицирование, а также выделение ключевых групп риска среди населения Воронежской области The article analyzes and predicts the main statistical indicators that characterize the development of the epidemic situation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Voronezh region, namely, the distribution by infection pathways. Previous years ' morbidity rates were used as data for forecasting. The applied forecasting method is based on extrapolation methods. What all extrapolation methods have in common is that they project the course of events in the past into the future. At the same time, no causal relationships are established - it is assumed that the forces operating in the past will continue to operate in the future without significant changes. When forming forecasts using extrapolation, they are based on statistically developing trends in changes in certain quantitative characteristics of an object over a certain period. Predicting the incidence of HIV is carried out using the exponential smoothing method using a linear trend and choosing the optimal smoothing parameters. A trend is an analytical or graphical representation of changes in a variable over time, resulting from the allocation of a regular (systematic) component of a dynamic series. The main goal of the analysis and forecasting is to identify the main trends in the spread of HIV infection, identify the main routes of infection, and identify key risk groups among the population of the Voronezh region

An Assessment of a Low-Cost Wastewater Disposal System after Twenty-Five Years of Operation

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 701-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Reidy ◽  
G. W. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wastewater Disposal ◽  
Industrial Base ◽  
Industrial Wastewaters ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gasification Process ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Coal Resource

A low-cost wastewater disposal system was commissioned in 1959 to treat domestic and industrial wastewaters generated in the Latrobe River valley in the province of Gippsland, within the State of Victoria, Australia (Figure 1). The Latrobe Valley is the centre for large-scale generation of electricity and for the production of pulp and paper. In addition other industries have utilized the brown coal resource of the region e.g. gasification process and char production. Consequently, industrial wastewaters have been dominant in the disposal system for the past twenty-five years. The mixed industrial-domestic wastewaters were to be transported some eighty kilometres to be treated and disposed of by irrigation to land. Several important lessons have been learnt during twenty-five years of operating this system. Firstly the composition of the mixed waste stream has varied significantly with the passage of time and the development of the industrial base in the Valley, so that what was appropriate treatment in 1959 is not necessarily acceptable in 1985. Secondly the magnitude of adverse environmental impacts engendered by this low-cost disposal procedure was not imagined when the proposal was implemented. As a consequence, clean-up procedures which could remedy the adverse effects of twenty-five years of impact are likely to be costly. The question then may be asked - when the total costs including rehabilitation are considered, is there really a low-cost solution for environmentally safe disposal of complex wastewater streams?

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