Improving Response to Mail Surveys of Farmers and Ranchers

Raymond R. Bosecker, G. David. Faulkenberry and Robert D. Tortora

No 329251, Economics Statistics and Cooperative Services (ESCS) Reports from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: Excerpts from the report Introduction: The Economics, Statistics, and Cooperatives Service (ESCS) has a vital interest in obtaining and maintaining a high response rate to mail surveys. Each usable questionnaire returned by mail in probability surveys saves money by avoiding a telephone call or personal interview, and higher response rates in nonprobability mail surveys provide more information about the population of interest. This study was designed to continue and expand the research of ESCS into ways for improving mail survey response rates. The survey used for testing alternative approaches was the Fall Acreage and Production (A&P) survey. It is a general purpose, nonprobability survey that provides indications of change in year-to-year crop production and provides information on the distribution of State totals among districts and counties within the State. The success of this survey is dependent upon 1) a group of consistent reporters whose reports can be matched from year to year, and 2) a large number of total reports to provide for small area statistics.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Research Methods/Statistical Methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23
Date: 1978-01
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uerscs:329251

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.329251

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