Effects of Type of Postage and Covering Envelope on Response Rates in a Mail Survey

1986 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Elkind ◽  
Georgiana Shick Tryon ◽  
Anthony J. De Vito
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Postage Stamp ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Return Envelope

Two variables thought to influence return rates for mail surveys, type of covering envelope (plain or university printed) and type of return envelope (postage stamp or business reply) produced no statistically significant differences in return rates. Therefore, anticipated response rates and cost-effectiveness become important considerations when choosing methods for mail survey.

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

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.

SME Survey Methodology: Response Rates, Data Quality, and Cost Effectiveness

2003 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Newby ◽  
John Watson ◽  
David Woodliff
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Methodological Issue ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
Quality Response

Cost effective data collection is an important methodological issue for small and medium enterprise (SME) researchers. There is a generally held view that mail surveys are the most efficient means of collecting empirical data, despite the potential difficulties associated with low response rates. To enhance the usefulness of mail surveys, researchers have suggested a variety of strategies aimed at improving response rates. While previous studies have examined the effect on response rates of many of these strategies, their impact on data quality and on the cost effectiveness of data collection is less well understood. This study evaluates four response–inducing strategies (printing the survey instrument on colored paper, telephone pre–notification, payment of a monetary incentive, and a follow–up mailing) in terms of their effect on data quality, response rates, and cost effectiveness for a population of SMEs.

scholarly journals Response Bias in a Mail Survey: An Example from a Land Use Study

1980 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Gregory K. White
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Response Bias ◽  
Unit Cost ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
The University

Researchers are well aware that each technique for administering surveys has its own advantages and disadvantages. Direct interviews, either by telephone or in person, have a relatively high cost per contact but usually result in a higher percentage of questionnaire completions and greater control of the response quality. Mail surveys can be conducted at a lower per unit cost but are often characterized by lower response rates and an overall poorer quality of completed questionnaires. Even with follow-up mailings, recent studies at the University of Maine suggest that response rates of 35 to 45 percent can be expected on general land use surveys or recreation studies.

A Methodological Note on Mail Survey Response Rates

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1273-1274
Author(s):  
Jeremy H. Lipschultz ◽  
Michael L. Hilt ◽  
Christine R. Mixan
Keyword(s):  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Survey Response ◽  
Mail Surveys

Five mail surveys of broadcast managers during the 1990s yielded consistently low response rates. Implications for research are discussed.

A Methodological Note on Mail Survey Response Rates

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3_part_2) ◽  
pp. 1273-1274
Author(s):  
Jeremy H. Lipschultz ◽  
Michael L. Hilt ◽  
Christine R. Mixan
Keyword(s):  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Survey Response ◽  
Mail Surveys

Five mail surveys of broadcast managers during the 1990s yielded consistently low response rates. Implications for research are discussed.

Improving Survey Response Rates with Visible Money

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 821-831
Author(s):  
Matthew Debell ◽  
Natalya Maisel ◽  
Brad Edwards ◽  
Michelle Amsbary ◽  
Vanessa Meldener
Keyword(s):  
Representative Sample ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Survey Response ◽  
Research Note ◽  
Significant Cost ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract In mail surveys and in advance letters for surveys in other modes, it is common to include a prepaid incentive of a small amount such as $5. However, when letters are addressed generically (such as to “Resident”), advance letters may be thrown away without being opened, so the enclosed cash is wasted and the invitation or advance letter is ineffective. This research note describes results of an experiment using a nationally representative sample of 4,725 residential addresses to test a new way of letting mail recipients know their letter contains cash and is therefore worth opening: an envelope with a window revealing $5, so the cash is clearly visible from outside the sealed envelope. We also tested the USPS for evidence of theft, and we compared First Class and Priority Mail postage. We found no evidence of theft. We found no difference in response rates between Priority Mail and First Class, making First Class much more cost-effective, and we found that visible money increased the response rate to a mail survey from 42.6 to 46.9 percent, at no significant cost.

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 What’s in a Name? Effects of Alternative Forms of Addressing Households on Response Rates and Data Quality in an Address-based Mail Survey

Field Methods ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Dykema ◽  
Nadia Assad ◽  
Griselle Sanchez-Diettert ◽  
Kelly Elver ◽  
John Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Postal Service ◽  
Item Nonresponse ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Impact

Best practices in mail survey design advise personalizing correspondence, but most research predates the use of address-based sampling (ABS) in which a householder’s name either cannot be matched to an address or may be matched incorrectly. Further, recent evidence casts doubt on the effectiveness of personalization. The current study examines the impact of using a personalized versus a generic salutation on response rates and data quality in an ABS mail survey of the general population. A sample of 2,000 household addresses in Wisconsin was randomly selected from the U.S. Postal Service Delivery Sequence File. For households in the personalized salutation group, all materials used the surname of the household; cases in the generic salutation group referred to the state conducting the survey. While personalization was not related to response rates, it was associated with higher levels of item nonresponse. Findings support current recommendations not to use names in ABS mail surveys.

Can Follow-up Response Rates to a Mail Survey Be Increased by Including Another Copy of the Questionnaire?

1980 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Swan ◽  
Donald E. Epley ◽  
William L. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Return Rates

In a mail survey of business respondents, this experiment tested the hypothesis that return rates from follow-ups which included another copy of the questionnaire would be more effective than letter-only follow-ups. Sending another copy of the questionnaire in the follow-up could increase returns for a number of reasons, such as providing another questionnaire for respondents who had discarded the original. The two methods were equally effective in the first follow-up, however, in the second follow-up returns from the letter-plus-questionnaire were almost twice that of the letter-only group. The results suggest that in planning a mail survey, it may be appropriate to consider a letter-only first follow-up and a letter-plus-questionnaire second follow-up.

Effect on Survey Return Rates of Having a Signed or Unsigned Postcard as the Third-Wave Mailing

2003 ◽  
Vol 92 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1099-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Price ◽  
Sutoidem Akpanudo ◽  
Joseph A. Dake ◽  
Joann Kleinfelder
Keyword(s):  
Mail Survey ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
The Third ◽  
Chi Square Test

This study assessed differences in response rates to a three-wave mail survey when signed or unsigned postcards were the third wave of the mailing (after two mailings of the questionnaire). A total of 259 signed postcards and 259 unsigned postcards were mailed as the third-wave mailing. There were 34 signed postcards and 30 unsigned postcards returned, a not significantly different distribution by chi-square test.

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