Improving postal survey response using behavioural science: a nested randomised control trial

Background Systematic reviews have identified effective strategies for increasing postal response rates to questionnaires; however, most studies have isolated single techniques, testing the effect of each one individually. Despite providing insight into explanatory mechanisms, this approach lacks ecological validity, given that multiple techniques are often combined in routine practice. Methods We used a two-armed parallel randomised controlled trial (n = 2702), nested within a cross-sectional health survey study, to evaluate whether using a pragmatic combination of behavioural science and evidenced-based techniques (e.g., personalisation, social norms messaging) in a study invitation letter increased response to the survey, when compared with a standard invitation letter. Participants and outcome assessors were blinded to group assignment. We tested this in a sample of women testing positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) at cervical cancer screening in England. Results Overall, 646 participants responded to the survey (response rate [RR] = 23.9%). Logistic regression revealed higher odds of response in the intervention arm (n = 357/1353, RR = 26.4%) compared with the control arm (n = 289/1349, RR = 21.4%), while adjusting for age, deprivation, clinical site, and clinical test result (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09–1.55). Conclusion Applying easy-to-implement behavioural science and evidence-based methods to routine invitation letters improved postal response to a health-related survey, whilst adjusting for demographic characteristics. Our findings provide support for the pragmatic adoption of combined techniques in routine research to increase response to postal surveys. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN15113095. Registered 7 May 2019 – retrospectively registered.

Effects of different invitation strategies on participation in a cohort study of Iranian public sector employees: a cluster randomized trial

Background Identifying strategies to optimize participation in health studies is one of the major concerns for researchers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different invitation strategies on participation rate in the Employees’ Health Cohort Study of Iran (EHCSIR). Methods Two cluster-randomized trials were carried out to assess the outcomes of different invitation strategies. In the first phase, 7 units with 1880 employees (3 hospitals, 3 health centers, and 1 office) were assigned to the three parallel modes of invitation: 1) invitation letter, 2) phone call and 3) Short Message Service (SMS). In the second phase, 6 hospitals with 1633 employees were allocated to two invitation methods: 1) invitation letter, 2) invitation letter plus EHCSIR project introduction video. All groups were followed up by phone calls. A logistic mixed-effects model was used to compare the effectiveness of the strategies. The cost-effectiveness of the interventions was also compared. Results In the first phase, the participation rates in the invitation letter, phone call, and SMS groups were 27.04% (182/673), 21.55% (131/608), and 22.54% (135/599), respectively. Using an invitation letter was significantly more successful than SMS (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.80, 95% CI =1.14 to 2.85). Average Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ACER) were $1.37, $1.42, and $1.55 for the invitation letter, phone call, and SMS, respectively. In the second phase, adding a project introduction video to the invitation letter did not significantly influence the participation rate (Adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI =0.24 to 1.36). The ACER was $1.21 for the invitation letter only and $2.01 for the invitation letter plus the introduction video. Conclusions In comparison with the phone call and SMS, the invitation letter is the most effective invitation method for public sector employees to participate in a cohort study. Sending an introduction video did not significantly increase the participation rate compared to sending an invitation letter only.

Improving Postal Survey Response Using Behavioural Science: A Nested Randomised Control Trial

Background Systematic reviews have identified effective strategies for increasing postal response rates to questionnaires; however, most studies have isolated single techniques, testing the effect of each one individually. Despite providing insight into explanatory mechanisms, this approach lacks ecological validity, given that multiple techniques are often combined in routine practice. Methods We used a two-armed randomised controlled trial (N = 2,702), nested within a cross-sectional health survey study, to evaluate whether using a pragmatic combination of behavioural science and evidenced-based techniques (e.g., personalisation, social norms messaging) in a study invitation letter increased response to the survey, when compared with a standard invitation letter. Results Overall, 646 participants responded to the survey (response rate [RR] = 23.9%). Logistic regression revealed higher odds of response in the intervention arm (N = 357/1,353, RR = 26.4%) compared with the control arm (N = 289/1,349, RR = 21.4%), while adjusting for age, deprivation, clinical site, and clinical test result (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09–1.55). Conclusion Applying easy-to-implement behavioural science and evidence-based methods to routine invitation letters improved postal response to a health-related survey, whilst adjusting for demographic characteristics. Our findings provide support for the pragmatic and cost-effective adoption of combined techniques in routine research to increase response to postal surveys. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN15113095. Registered 7 May 2019 – retrospectively registered: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15113095

The Effect of Problem-Posing Learning Method on Students Achievement in Reading Invitation Letter

The aims of this research is to know if there is a significant effect of problem-posing learning method on students’ achievement in reading invitation text of the twelfth grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Sipirok. The population is the twelfth grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Sipirok, which is consist of 190 students. Then, the sample is taken from the population by cluster random sampling technique and the total sample is 79 students. The writer uses experimental method. After calculating the data, it is found that the mean score of students reading invitation letter before taught by Problem Posing learning method is 68; it is categorized “enough”. While the mean score of students reading invitation letter after taught by Problem Posing learning method is 79, it is categorized “good”. After finding the score of ttest and ttable, both of the scores are compared. It is found that ttest is higher than ttable (ttest > ttable = 15.71 > 2.04). It means there is significant effect of Problem Posing learning method on reading invitation letter of the Twelfth grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Sipirok. So, the hypothesis in this research can be accepted

ANALYSIS OF ERRORS ON INVITATION LETTERS: (A CASE STUDY OF WRITING INVITATION LETTER BY TENTH GRADE STUDENTS MAJORING MARKETING AT SMK N 1 SLAWI USED AS WRITING ASSESSMENT)

There are four aspects of English skills should be owned by English learners in order to reach communicative competence, namely Speaking, Listening, Grammar, and Writing. By viewing the facts around, we know that the achievement of writing of Indonesian students are in a shitter, either in structure a word, the use of the term, grammar, or another objectives. They still often do mistakes and errors when they writing. In line with this case, in this article the writer tries to analyze errors in tenth grade students majoring marketing in class A at SMK N 1 Slawi while they were writing invitation letters.

Peningkatan Hasil Belajar Menulis Surat Undangan Menggunakan Model Think Talk Write (TTW) dengan Penguatan Karakter Demokratis pada Siswa Kelas V SDN Kepanjenkidul 1 Kota Blitar

This study aims to describe the application of the TTW model by strengthening democratic character and describing the improvement of student learning outcomes in writing a class V invitation letter Kepanjenkidul 1 SDN Blitar City. The study was conducted with a qualitative approach to the type of classroom action research. In cycle I the percentage of teacher activity was 83 percent and increased in cycle II by 100 percent. The average percentage of student activity in the first cycle was 73 percent and increased in the second cycle by 92 percent. While the completeness of student learning outcomes at the pre-action stage was 42 percent. In cycle I the average completeness of student learning outcomes classically rose to 60.8 percent and increased in cycle II of 86.3 percent. Based on the above results it can be concluded that the application of the TTW model by strengthening democratic character can improve student learning outcomes in the material of writing an invitation letter. Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan penerapan model TTW dengan penguatan karakter demokratis dan mendeskripsikan peningkatan hasil belajar siswa menulis surat undangan kelas V SDN Kepanjenkidul 1 Kota Blitar. Penelitian dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif jenis penelitian tindakan kelas. Pada siklus I persentase aktivitas guru sebesar sebesar 83 persen dan meningkat pada siklus II sebesar 100 persen. Rata-rata persentase aktivitas siswa pada siklus I sebesar 73 persen dan meningkat pada siklus II sebesar 92 persen. Sedangkan ketuntasan hasil belajar siswa pada tahap pratindakansebesar 42 persen. Pada siklus I rata-rata ketuntasan hasil belajar siswa secara klasikal naik menjadi 60,8 persen dan meningkat pada siklus II sebesar 86,3 persen. Berdasarkan hasil di atas dapat disimpulkan bahwa penerapan model TTW dengan penguatan karakter demokratis dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa dalam materi menulis surat undangan.

Two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate strategies for follow-up in a randomised prevention trial

Background Failure to collect outcome data in randomised trials can result in bias and loss of statistical power. Further evaluations of strategies to increase retention are required. We assessed the effectiveness of two strategies for retention in a randomised prevention trial using a two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT). Methods Parents of babies included in the host trial were randomised to (1) Short message service (SMS) notification prior to sending questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months versus no SMS notification and (2) £10 voucher sent with the invitation letter for the primary follow up visit at 24 months or given at the visit. The two co-primary outcomes were collection of host trial (1) questionnaire data at interim follow-up times and (2) primary outcome at 24 months during a home/clinic visit with a research nurse. Results Between November 2014 and November 2016, 1394 participants were randomised: 350 to no SMS + voucher at visit, 345 to SMS + voucher at visit, 352 to no SMS + voucher before visit and 347 to SMS + voucher before visit. Overall questionnaire data was collected at interim follow-up times for 75% in both the group allocated to the prior SMS notification and the group allocated to no SMS notification (odds ratio (OR) SMS v. none 1.02, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.25). Host trial primary outcome data was collected at a visit for 557 (80%) allocated to the voucher before the visit in the invitation letter and for 566 (81%) whose parents were allocated to receive the voucher at the visit (OR before v. at visit 0.89, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.17). Conclusion There was no evidence of a difference in retention according to SMS notification or voucher timing. Future synthesis of SWAT results is required to be able to detect small but important incremental effects of retention strategies. Trial registration: Host trial registration: ISRCTN registry; ID: ISRCTN21528841. Registered on 25 July 2014. SWAT Repository Store ID 25

Two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT) to evaluate strategies for follow-up in a randomised prevention trial

Background Failure to collect outcome data in randomised trials can result in bias and loss of statistical power. Further evaluations of strategies to increase retention are required. We assessed the effectiveness of two strategies for retention in a randomised prevention trial using a two-by-two factorial randomised study within a trial (SWAT). Methods Parents of babies included in the host trial were randomised to (1) Short message service (SMS) notification prior to sending questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months versus no SMS notification and (2) £10 voucher sent with the invitation letter for the primary follow up visit at 24 months or given at the visit. The two co-primary outcomes were collection of host trial (1) questionnaire data at interim follow-up times and (2) primary outcome at 24 months during a home/clinic visit with a research nurse. Results Between November 2014 and November 2016, 1394 participants were randomised: 350 to no SMS + voucher at visit, 345 to SMS + voucher at visit, 352 to no SMS + voucher before visit and 347 to SMS + voucher before visit. Overall questionnaire data was collected at interim follow-up times for 75% in both the group allocated to the prior SMS notification and the group allocated to no SMS notification (odds ratio (OR) SMS v. none 1.02, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.25). Host trial primary outcome data was collected at a visit for 557 (80%) allocated to the voucher before the visit in the invitation letter and for 566 (81%) whose parents were allocated to receive the voucher at the visit (OR before v. at visit 0.89, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.17). Conclusion There was no evidence of a difference in retention according to SMS notification or voucher timing. Future synthesis of SWAT results is required to be able to detect small but important incremental effects of retention strategies. Trial registration: Host trial registration: ISRCTN registry; ID: ISRCTN21528841. Registered on 25 July 2014. SWAT Repository Store ID 25