A monetary gratuity's effect on the return rate (RR) of a mail survey was studied. Half of the surveys mailed to 507 librarians in Arizona included a 1.00 dollar gratuity. The RR was 80% among those receiving the gratuity and 59% among controls. A survey's RR and consequent validity may be improved by including a gratuity. (SLD)

Multiple matrix sampling (MMS) as a data collection strategy was examined, and rates of response from 307 public school principals in Virginia were compared when subgroups of items were administered versus an entire instrument. MMS was demonstrated as a viable and reasonable procedure when the mail questionnaire consists of a large number of pages…

The detrimental effects of nonresponse bias are particularly significant given the widespread use of the survey data collection method in educational surveys. Current methods for remediating nonresponse bias in educational surveys are explored and critiqued. (Author/LMO)

Several statistical rational and empirical procedures are presented for dealing with the problems of non-response or low return rates in surveys, namely mail surveys. Advantages and shortcomings of these procedures in educational research are discussed. (SLD)

This study investigated the effects of personalization of cover letter and envelopes and the effect of teacher's sex, grade level taught, and the locale on responses to a mail survey of public school teachers. Significant effects were found for locale but not for personalization, sex, or grade level taught. (Author/JAZ)