A Comparison of Mail, Fax and Web-Based Survey Methods

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cihan Cobanoglu ◽  
Patrick J Moreo ◽  
Bill Warde
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Response Speed ◽  
Data Consistency ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
University Setting ◽  
Speed Response

This study compares mail, fax and web-based surveys in a university setting for response speed, response rate and costs. The survey was distributed to 300 hospitality professors randomly chosen from the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education members listed in the organisation's online directory as of April 2000. It was found that the fastest method was fax, with an average of 4.0 days to respond, followed by web surveys with 5.97 days. The slowest method, as expected, was mail surveys, with 16.46 days to respond. On average, the response rate was 28.91%: 26.27% for mail, 17.0% for fax, and 44.21% for web surveys. An LSD-type z-test shows significant differences between mail and email/web and between fax and email/web, but no significant difference between mail and fax. In addition, data were analysed for data consistency and cost.

scholarly journals Moving on From Representativeness: Testing the Utility of the Global Drug Survey

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117822181771639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica J Barratt ◽  
Jason A Ferris ◽  
Renee Zahnow ◽  
Joseph J Palamar ◽  
Larissa J Maier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Methods ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Web Survey ◽  
Sampling Frame ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Probability Methods ◽  
Age And Sex

A decline in response rates in traditional household surveys, combined with increased internet coverage and decreased research budgets, has resulted in increased attractiveness of web survey research designs based on purposive and voluntary opt-in sampling strategies. In the study of hidden or stigmatised behaviours, such as cannabis use, web survey methods are increasingly common. However, opt-in web surveys are often heavily criticised due to their lack of sampling frame and unknown representativeness. In this article, we outline the current state of the debate about the relevance of pursuing representativeness, the state of probability sampling methods, and the utility of non-probability, web survey methods especially for accessing hidden or minority populations. Our article has two aims: (1) to present a comprehensive description of the methodology we use at Global Drug Survey (GDS), an annual cross-sectional web survey and (2) to compare the age and sex distributions of cannabis users who voluntarily completed (a) a household survey or (b) a large web-based purposive survey (GDS), across three countries: Australia, the United States, and Switzerland. We find that within each set of country comparisons, the demographic distributions among recent cannabis users are broadly similar, demonstrating that the age and sex distributions of those who volunteer to be surveyed are not vastly different between these non-probability and probability methods. We conclude that opt-in web surveys of hard-to-reach populations are an efficient way of gaining in-depth understanding of stigmatised behaviours and are appropriate, as long as they are not used to estimate drug use prevalence of the general population.

scholarly journals Effect of Recruitment Methods on Response Rate in a Web-Based Study for Primary Care Physicians: Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuhei So ◽  
Kiyomi Shinohara ◽  
Takuya Aoki ◽  
Yasushi Tsujimoto ◽  
Aya M Suganuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Risk Difference ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Subject Line ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Subject

BACKGROUND Low participation rates are one of the most serious disadvantages of Web-based studies. It is necessary to develop effective strategies to improve participation rates to obtain sufficient data. OBJECTIVE The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of emphasizing the incentive in the subject line of the invitation email and the day of the week of sending the invitation email on the participation rate in a Web-based trial. METHODS We conducted a 2×2 factorial design randomized controlled trial. We contacted 2000 primary care physicians from members of the Japan Primary Care Association in January 2017 and randomly allocated them to 1 of 4 combinations of 2 subject lines (presence or absence of an emphasis on a lottery for an Amazon gift card worth 3000 yen or approximately US $30) and 2 delivery days (sending the invitation email on Tuesday or Friday). The primary outcome was the response rate defined as the number of participants answering the first page of the questionnaire divided by the number of invitation emails delivered. All outcomes were collected between January 17, 2017, and February 8, 2017. RESULTS We analyzed data from 1943 out of 2000 participants after excluding those whose email addresses were invalid. The overall response rate was 6.3% (123/1943). There was no significant difference in the response rates between the 2 groups regarding incentive in the subject line: the risk ratio was 1.12 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.58) and the risk difference was 0.7% (95% CI –1.5% to 2.9%). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the response rates between the 2 groups regarding sending the email on Tuesday or Friday: the risk ratio was 0.98 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.38) and the risk difference was –0.1% (95% CI –2.3% to 2.1%). CONCLUSIONS Neither emphasizing the incentive in the subject line of the invitation email nor varying the day of the week the invitation email was sent led to a meaningful increase in response rates in a Web-based trial with primary care physicians. CLINICALTRIAL University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000025317; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000029121 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation. org/6wOo1jl9t)

scholarly journals Implementation of the OSTRC Handball Injury Prevention Exercises in Professional Handball

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-141
Author(s):  
Wesam Saleh A. Al Attar ◽  
Nawaf Al Masoudi ◽  
Ali Al Zubeadi ◽  
Ahmed Qasem
Keyword(s):  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
P Value ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Trauma Research ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Survey Response Rate ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Implementation Level

Purpose. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) handball injury prevention exercise is an evidence-based injury prevention exercise designed to prevent handball injury. This study aimed to assess the implementation of the OSTRC handball injury prevention exercises among professional handball players in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Materials and methods. A web-based survey to acquire information regarding the implementation of OSTRC handball injury prevention exercises was distributed to 267 professional handball players in six GCC countries.  Results. A total of 250 handball players from the GCC countries responded to the survey (response rate 93.6%). The mean (±SD (Standard Deviation)) of the total implementation score was 13 (±2.558), with no statistically significant difference between the GCC countries, with a P-value of 0.123. The highest mean score was shown from Bahrain at 13.60 (±2.614), while the lowest was from Qatar at 12.10 (±2.427). Conclusions. A low implementation level of the OSTRC handball prevention exercises among the handball players in the GCC countries was reported in the current study.

Addressing Data Collection Problems in Web-Mediated Surveys

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Meese ◽  
Juani Swart ◽  
Richard Vidgen ◽  
Philip Powell ◽  
Chris McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Telephone Surveys ◽  
Sustainable Engineering ◽  
Coverage Measurement ◽  
Original Survey

Web-based approaches are increasingly being used for carrying out surveys, for example in research or to obtain user feedback in product and systems development. However, the drawbacks of web surveying are often overlooked. Errors in web surveys can be related to sampling, coverage, measurement, and non-response issues. Low response rates and non-response bias are particularly important for web-based surveys. This paper reports on a web-based survey in an international engineering consultancy, aimed at eliciting feedback on the development of systems to support sustainable engineering, that produced a low response rate. To investigate the reasons for this, a follow-up survey was conducted by telephone. The majority of those questioned were unaware of the original survey. The telephone survey showed that reasons for non-completion by those who were aware may be categorized as resources issues, relevance, and fatigue. Differences between those who were aware of the original survey and those who were not are explored and a gap is found between action and intention, i.e. good intentions to complete a survey are very unlikely to translate into action and completed surveys. The paper concludes with practical guidance for administering web-based surveys and observations on the merits of telephone surveys.

Broadening the Scope of Methodological Research on Mail Surveys

1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Houston ◽  
Neil M. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Speed ◽  
Variable Response ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Methodological Research ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Methodological Studies

Methodological studies on mail surveys typically assess the effectiveness of a device with respect to only one dependent variable—response rate. Other factors in the use of mail surveys, i.e. response speed and quality, also require methodological research. This report includes a discussion of these factors and a review of the findings of studies that have included them as dependent variables.

Response Rates and Perceived Questionnaire Length in Mail Surveys

1979 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry L. Childers ◽  
O. C. Ferrell
Keyword(s):  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Survey Response ◽  
Factorial Experiment ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Survey Response Rate ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was designed to test the impact on mail survey response rate resulting from variations in paper trim size and number of printed pages in the questionnaire. ANOVA findings suggest 8½ × 11″ paper trim size produces a better response rate than an 8½ × 14″ paper trim size. Use of a one-sheet (front and back) versus a two-sheet (front only) questionnaire did not cause a significant difference in response rate; a hypothesized interaction effect was not found to be statistically significant.

scholarly journals MEDICAL EDUCATOR'S NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anbreen Aziz ◽  
Farzana Majeed ◽  
Saadia Muneer Malik
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Nonverbal Behavior ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Happy Mood ◽  
Medical Educators

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Nonverbal communication has been overlooked in medical education. The purpose of this study was to explore student-teacher perceptions regarding impact of nonverbal behavior of medical educators on educational environment. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted among purposively chosen final year students (n=150) and medical teachers (n=73) from three dental colleges of Islamabad. A web-based survey concerning three domains of kinesics (Facial expressions, Gestures, Head movement and postures) was developed and validated before execution. Comparison of participant’s responses to closed-ended questions was done by applying Fisher’s Exact Test and open-ended questions were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Response rate of students and teachers was 46% and 63% respectively. Five out of nine closed-ended questions gave statistically significant difference among student’s and teacher’s responses (p≤0.05). Twenty-seven subthemes emerged from three domains of kinesics. Students revealed that happy mood of their teachers reduces boredom in the classroom and a teacher’s smile lets them freely express anything, whereas anger produces fear among them. According to the educators a happy instructor inspires students to study and makes the environment friendly and an undemanding smile helps build a rapport with students. Moreover, positive gestures used by teachers encourage students to clarify concepts and upright posture brings energy and motivation to the classroom. CONCLUSION: A teacher’s nonverbal behavior has a profound effect on educational environment. A smile on a teacher’s face creates a friendly and fearless environment whereas anger creates barriers to communication. A happy teacher can generate a pleasant and motivating learning environment.

Effects of Four Instrumental Variables on Survey Response

1994 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 895-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Pourjalali ◽  
Janet Kimbrell
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
African American Female ◽  
Covering Letter ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Significant Difference

The response rate in mail surveys has been steadily declining. This decline has led those who perform surveys to look for more cost-effective methods to increase response rates. Previous research has shown that a number of factors can influence the respondents and their response to survey questionnaires. This research extends the previous research by presenting the effect of a set of variables and their interactions on the response rate of a mail survey. These variables were perceived ethnicity and sex of the investigator, the formality of the covering letter, and the order of questions in the questionnaire. As in previous studies, findings suggest that the response rate increases when an informal letter is written to solicit the response and questions easier to respond to are first. This study yielded no significant difference in the response rate, however, when perceived race of investigator was African-American, white, or other than Spanish. The best response rate was obtained when an informal request covering letter was signed by an African-American female investigator and was accompanied by a questionnaire in which questions easier to respond to were put first.

Effectiveness of “Begging” as a Persuasive Tactic for Improving Response Rate on a Client/Agency Mail Survey

1996 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 204-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Maynard
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Job Function

This experimental study tested the assumption that ingratiation through the researcher's frank request for compliance yields higher response rates to mail surveys. The hypothesis was tested by inserting a cartoon of the researcher “begging” the recipient within the treatment group to respond. Results suggest that begging achieved a reduction in nonresponse within the treatment group ( n = 116). Also, begging made no significant difference along the dimensions of job function, gender, or seniority.

Remind Me Again: Physician Response to Web Surveys: The Effect of Email Reminders Across 11 Opinion Survey Efforts at the American Board of Internal Medicine from 2017 to 2019

2021 ◽  
pp. 016327872110194
Author(s):  
Brendan J. Barnhart ◽  
Siddharta G. Reddy ◽  
Gerald K. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
The United States ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Second Period ◽  
Physician Response ◽  
Different Levels

For survey researchers, physicians in the United States are a difficult-to-reach subgroup. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effect of email reminders on web-based survey response rates targeting physicians. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 11 American Board of Internal Medicine surveys from 2017 to 2019. We compute aggregate response rates for the periods between weekly email contacts across the 11 surveys, while controlling for survey time to complete, physician age, gender, region, board certification status, and initial exam performance. The overall predicted response rate after six weekly email contacts was 23.7%, 95% CI: (17.1%, 33.0%). Across the 11 surveys, we found response rate for the first period to be 8.9%, 95% CI: (6.5%, 12.2%). We observed a 50% decrease in response from the first to the second period, which had a 4.4%, 95% CI: (3.2%, 6.2%), response rate. The third and fourth response periods yielded similar response rates of 3.0%, 95% CI: (2.3%, 3.9%) and 3.3%, 95%CI: (2.4%, 4.6%), respectively. The fifth and sixth response periods yielded similar response rates of 2.2%, 95%CI: (1.5%, 3.3%) and 1.9%, 95% CI: (1.3%, 2.7%), respectively. The results were further stratified into different levels of participant survey interest, and are helpful for cost and sample size considerations when designing a physician survey.

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