Population survey features and response rates: A randomized experiment

Y. Guo, J.A. Kopec, J. Cibere, L.C. Li and C.H. Goldsmith

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 8, 1422-1426

Abstract: Objectives. To study the effects of several survey features on response rates in a general population health survey. Methods. In 2012 and 2013, 8000 households in British Columbia, Canada, were randomly allocated to 1 of 7 survey variants, each containing a different combination of survey features. Features compared included administration modes (paper vs online), prepaid incentive ($2 coin vs none), lottery incentive (instant vs end-of-study), questionnaire length (10minutes vs 30minutes), and sampling frame (InfoCanada vs Canada Post). Results. The overall response rate across the 7 groups was 27.9% (range = 17.1-43.4). All survey features except the sampling frame were associated with statistically significant differences in response rates. The survey mode elicited the largest effect on the odds of response (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61, 2.59), whereas the sampling frame showed the least effect (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.98, 1.34).The highest response was achieved by mailing a short paper survey with a prepaid incentive. Conclusions. In a mailed general population health survey in Canada, a 40% to 50% response rate can be expected. Questionnaire administration mode, survey length, and type of incentive affect response rates. © 2013 American Public Health Association.

Keywords: British Columbia; confidence interval; controlled clinical trial; health survey; household; human; odds ratio; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial; sampling; adult; aged; controlled study; female; male; methodology; middle aged; motivation; postal mail; procedures; statistics and numerical data; time factor, Adult; Aged; British Columbia; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Odds Ratio; Postal Service; Research Design; Time Factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303198_7

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303198

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