The design and administration of mail surveys (original) (raw)

The Use of Mailed Questionnaires to Conduct Survey Research

Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 1988

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief outline of the methods and procedures needed to design, construct, and conduct a research study using a mailed questionnaire. Particular attention is paid to those details that have an impact on increasing response rates, as this will improve the validity of data collected. In addi tion, the paper focuses on suitability of this method for survey research in psychoanalysis.

How to Do Mail Surveys in the Digital Age: A Practical Guide

Mail surveys present opportunities for reaching out to specific populations in ways not achievable by Internet or telephone, but the logistics of mail surveys can be complex and unclear. This article details the post-design and pre-analysis phase of a mail survey, from printing through distribution, with emphasis on time requirements and cost. Preparing a mailing of 10,000 pieces manually required 240 labor hours, excluding background research, or about 1:25 per unit (pre-printed envelope with pre-printed postage, stuffed with pre-printed and hand-stamped inner envelope, booklet, and folded cover letter). Manual preparation resulted in savings translating to an estimated equivalent hourly wage of US 46,basedoncostsfromasimilarprofessionally−preparedmailing,orashighas46, based on costs from a similar professionally-prepared mailing, or as high as 46,basedoncostsfromasimilarprofessionallypreparedmailing,orashighas142 including the time and costs associated with project management and printing discounts.

Two Attempts to Increase the Response to a Mail Survey

marketing-bulletin.massey.ac.nz

Two measures intended to increase response were tested in a mail survey of members of the New Zealand general public. The first involved an envelope message designed to establish the non-commercial status of the survey and emphasise its importance. The ...

investigating the use of mail questionnaires in underdeveloped areas

Mail surveys are one alternative for satisfying information needs in an international environment. Improving response rates, however, from international mail surveys continues to be a problem for researchers and academicians. To date, minimal empirical research is available to inform researchers of expected response rates when undertaking mail surveys across countries with different cultural and socio economic backgrounds. The impressive response rate from a cross cultural study contacted in forty eight countries suggests that the design of mail surveys have much to gain from the application of communication principles and techniques recommended for increasing the effectiveness of the communication process between a sender and a receiver. Furthermore, the present paper proposes that the use of recipient-centered approach as part of an effective communication in a holistic manner may prove to be an important guideline for academic and business researchers interested in increasing response rate in multi-cultural environments.

A comparison between mail and web surveys: Response pattern, respondent profile, and data quality

With the number of Internet users having increased very rapidly since its introduction, the applicability and signi®cance of this new technology has become of great importance to many public opinion researchers (Couper 2000). Internet-based surveys via email or the web have brought many important advantages, including reduction in research costs and ef®cient survey administration in terms of time and resource management (Kiesler

IMPROVING MAIL SURVEY RESPONSE RATES IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM

smib.vuw.ac.nz

Mail questionnaires are a popular means of surveying diverse groups of subjects when performing marketing research. However, response rates for mail surveys have been declining in recent times. This paper reviews suggested methods for improving response rates from current ...

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

Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association & the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Congress, 2000

The use of email and fax communications has increased dramatically over the last decade. They are now common place 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 these three methods. The results showed that postal mail and email exhibited higher return rates than facsimile sand 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.

Data Quality in Mail Surveys as Compared to Face to Face and Telephone Interviews: a Meta-Analysis of the Research Literature

2020

In order to investigate the data quality in mail surveys a meta analysis of existing research literature was conducted. In total, 28 articles were reviewed in which mail and face to face surveys were compared, and 19 articles in which mail and telephone surveys were compared. It was found that both face to face and telephone surveys give higher response rates and less item non response than mail surveys. However, mail surveys result in more accurate answers. And, in general, mail surveys perform better when sensitive or embarrassing questions are being asked. Department of Research Methods, Free University, Koningslaan 22-24, 1075 AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (0)206647131, EARN: V70UEDIT at HASARA11. Department of Education, University of Amsterdam, Prinsengracht 227, 1015 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (0)20-5253315, EARN: A716H0X at HASARA11. 7 kl/i itudy waA (pantty) made, po aiH-l.e by a g/iant {.nom the Social Cultu/ial Sciences Toundation, which it AubAidized by the. N ethe/...