Validation of the voluntary participation in online surveys scale (original) (raw)

Individual Differences in Motivation to Participate in Online Panels

International Journal of Market Research, 2011

The majority of online research is now conducted via discontinuous online access panels, which promise high response rates, sampling control, access to populations that are hard to reach, and detailed information about respondents. To sustain a critical mass of respondents, overcome panel attrition and recruit new panel members, marketers must understand how they can predict and explain what motivates people to participate repeatedly in online surveys. Using the newly developed survey participation inventory (SPI) measure, we identify three clusters of participants, characterised as voicing assistants, reward seekers and intrinsics. Our results suggest that most online surveys are filled out by intrinsically motivated respondents that show higher participation rates, response effort and performance; incentives do not offer an important response motive.

In Search of Motivation for the Business Survey Response Task

Increasing reluctance of businesses to participate in surveys often leads to declining or low response rates, poor data quality and burden complaints, and suggests that a driving force, that is, the motivation for participation and accurate and timely response, is insufficient or lacking. Inspiration for ways to remedy this situation has already been sought in the psychological theory of self-determination; previous research has favored enhancement of intrinsic motivation compared to extrinsic motivation. Traditionally however, enhancing extrinsic motivation has been pervasive in business surveys. We therefore review this theory in the context of business surveys using empirical data from the Netherlands and Slovenia, and suggest that extrinsic motivation calls for at least as much attention as intrinsic motivation, that other sources of motivation may be relevant besides those stemming from the three fundamental psychological needs (competence, autonomy and relatedness), and that other approaches may have the potential to better explain some aspects of motivation in business surveys (e.g., implicit motives). We conclude with suggestions that survey organizations can consider when attempting to improve business survey response behavior.

Individual differences in motivation to participate in online panels: the effect on reponse rate and reponse quality perceptions

International Journal of Market Research, 2011

The majority of online research is now conducted via discontinuous online access panels, which promise high response rates, sampling control, access to populations that are hard to reach, and detailed information about respondents. To sustain a critical mass of respondents, overcome panel attrition and recruit new panel members, marketers must understand how they can predict and explain what motivates people to participate repeatedly in online surveys. Using the newly developed survey participation inventory (SPI) measure, we identify three clusters of participants, characterised as voicing assistants, reward seekers and intrinsics. Our results suggest that most online surveys are filled out by intrinsically motivated respondents that show higher participation rates, response effort and performance; incentives do not offer an important response motive.

Motivation in Business Survey Response Behavior. Influencing motivation to improve survey outcome

In this dissertation we show theoretical and empirical insights into the concept of motivation in the context of the business and organizational survey task. The research has led to a number of recommendations on how to improve organizational survey and communication design to enhance motivation and herewith improve response rates and data quality and diminish burden complaints by businesses and other types of organizations. We have also laid the base upon which to continue further research on motivation in organizational surveys, continuing to fill the gap between what is known in other disciplines about motivation and how this can be applied to organizational survey research. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques were used, as well as different types of data. By using different data types and analysis methods complementarity and validation of the results of the different chapters is achieved. Literature research was also part of the endeavor of bringing in more knowledge on motivation into the field of business and organizational survey methodology. To sum up, we conclude, first, regarding types of motivation, from Chapter 2, that extrinsic motivation calls for attention with regards to organizational survey response behavior and that thus extrinsic sources of motivation may be relevant besides those influencing intrinsic motivation. We also propose that other approaches may have the potential to better explain some aspects of motivation in organizational surveys than the self-determination theory framework alone, for instance the dual system approach to motivation that treats implicit motives besides explicit motives, as opposed to previous survey research that has given attention only to intrinsic motivation. Possible ways to enhance extrinsic motivation for the organizational survey response task are, for example, the use of incentives (Chapter 4); or the enhancement of the usefulness of the surveys as perceived by businesses by, for example, the feedback of statistical figures (Chapter 3). Chapter 3 explores more in depth businesses’ use of official statistics and possibilities of enhancing this use. This knowledge can be used to enhance motivation through a survey and communication design. In the context of intrinsic motivation especially important seems to be the relationship between a survey organization such as Statistics Netherlands and the responding organization (for example a business) or an organizational respondent. The effect of survey design and communication instances and strategies on perception and sentiments is explored in Chapter 5. Chapter 5 indicates which kind of actions and communication strategies of the Dutch national statistical institute CBS influence a positive or negative sentiment and perception and herewith also points towards knowledge on how to enhance motivation through a survey and communication design. This chapter makes it especially evident that communication instances are very important in influencing perception and sentiments and should receive due attention when designing a survey. Chapter 6 critically reviews motivation research and theories from different fields of research and concludes with recommendations for the application of these findings on organizational survey design.

Sources of Motivation in Business Surveys.

2012

Survey organizations are typically faced withand burdened because ofnonresponse and measurement errors in business surveys. These errors are assumed not to be so much a result of actual response burden as of perceived burden. This suggests that a driving force, i.e. the motivation for participation, and accurate and timely response, is lacking. Knowledge of sources from which this motivation comes from in business surveys, promises to enhance capabilities of survey organizations to influence the response behavior. This paper seeks to identify these sources of motivation based on motivation theory on the one hand and empirical data from the Netherlands and Slovenia on the other, and suggests recommendations for increasing motivation in business surveys. These recommendations should be a useful asset for survey organizations to develop strategies to improve survey participation and response quality. "I always try to do things in a certain way. If then something changes, yes, that gives me extra work. When there are changes then I have to change my models and that costs extra time. I find it important to get notifications on changes of the questionnaires. I do things automatically, thus I need to know if there are any changes so that I can pay attention to them.

Attitudes toward Surveys: Development of a Measure and Its Relationship to Respondent Behavior

Organizational Research Methods, 2001

Attitudes toward surveys were conceptualized as having two relatively independent components: feelings about the act of completing a survey, called survey enjoyment, and perceptions of the value of survey research, called survey value. After developing a psychometrically sound measure, the authors examined how the measure related to respondent behaviors that directly impact the quality and quantity of data collected in surveys. With the exception of a response distortion index, survey enjoyment was generally related to all the respondent behaviors studied (item response rates, following directions, volunteering to participate in other survey research, timeliness of a response to a survey request, and willingness to participate in additional survey research). Survey value was related to item response rates, following directions, and willingness to participate in additional survey research. A respondent motivation and intentions explanation is provided. Although the identified effect ...

The survey fatigue challenge: understanding young people’s motivation to participate in survey research studies

2015

Survey response rates are declining in most developed countries, and Sweden is no exception. Declining response rates are believed to be due to recent social and tech-nological development in society. Young people are the most difficult to recruit. The increase in nonresponse is often explained by a phenomenon called “survey fatigue” – i.e. that people become overwhelmed by the number of surveys they encounter in daily life and thus become fatigued. The purpose of the study was to investigate and understand whether the explanation of “survey fatigue” is true or if there are other reasons for young people to not respond. Furthermore the purpose was to better un-derstand how people in the age cohorts of 16-34 years can be motivated to partici-pate in survey research. To explore the topic, 18 persons were interviewed in a semi-structured setting. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) was used as a theoretical framework for understanding young people’s motivation. To the extent that the find-...

What Prompts College Students to Participate in Online Surveys

International Education Studies, 2019

Online surveys are frequently used in higher education to collect students' opinions. This study investigated the factors associated with students' willingness to respond to online surveys. Using 540 samples from undergraduate and graduate students in the United States, this study conducted a factor analysis to categorize the reasons that students willingly participate in online surveys. Four factors were identified: Format, Affiliation, Content, and Contact. The regression analysis revealed format was significantly associated with the undergraduate students' online survey participation, while content was significantly related to the graduate students' online survey participation. These findings indicate the behavior of responding to online surveys may vary depending on the participants' educational level. They also suggest a need to develop different strategies when designing online surveys for educational purposes to enhance response rates.

The Value of Online Surveys

Internet Research, 2005

Purpose – To provide a thorough analysis of the role of the internet in survey research and to discuss the implications of online surveys becoming such a major force in research. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is divided into four major sections: an analysis of the strengths and potential weaknesses of online surveys; a comparison of online surveys with other survey formats; a discussion on the best uses for online surveys and how their potential weaknesses may be moderated; and an overview of the online survey services being offered by the world’s largest research firms. Findings – If conducted properly, online surveys have significant advantages over other formats. However, it is imperative that the potential weaknesses of online surveys be mitigated and that online surveys only be used when appropriate. Outsourcing of online survey functions is growing in popularity. Practical implications – The paper provides a very useful source of information and impartial advice for any professional who is considering the use of online surveys. Originality/value – The paper synthesizes the vast literature related to online surveys, presents original material related to survey methodology, and offers a number of recommendations.