Examines the effectiveness of the use of monetary incentives in mail survey data collection. Monetary incentives produces higher rates of return compared to mailings in which nonmonetary or no incentives are provided. The use of monetary incentives is more cost effective than other types of incentives and may be particularly valuable when…

A restudy of nonrespondents to a contingent valuation method survey increased the response rate from 59 to 87 percent. The likelihood ratio test was used to determine respondent/nonrespondent differences more precisely. Results indicate that nonresponse bias can be quantified and that personal contacts with nonrespondents can generate crucial…

Explored the assumptions implicit in models reflecting three different approaches to missing survey response data using opinion data collected from Swiss citizens at four time points over nearly 2 years. Results suggest that the latently ignorable model has the least restrictive structural assumptions. Discusses the idea of "durable…

A perennial problem for survey research is achieving adequate response rates. One method for improving rates is to offer multiple modes for response. An associated issue is the effect of differing modes. This research examined both matters using a survey of community college graduates. Fielding consisted of two phases. Phase One offered three…

As states grapple with collecting post-school outcome data, many are seeking guidance on strategies for improving response rates, especially for students who exit school early and informally by dropping out. This practice brief is intended for state and local education agency personnel charged with designing systems to collect post-school outcome…

Discussion of performance technology and training evaluation focuses on a job analysis process in the Coast Guard. Topics include problems with low survey response rates; costs; the need for appropriate software; discussions with stakeholders and subject matter experts; and maximizing worthy performance. (LRW)

Analyzes response rates to e-mail surveys undertaken since 1986. Examines five influences on response rates: year undertaken, number of survey questions, number of pre-notification contacts, number of follow-up contacts, and survey topic salience. Notes response rates to e-mail surveys have significantly decreased. Suggests year the survey was…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of choice factors that were most important to students who decided to matriculate in the field of sport management for a master's degree. A survey questionnaire was mailed to the program or department chairs of 12 randomly selected universities listed on the NASSM web site during…

This report serves as the survey documentation for the design and implementation of the 2003-04 Schools and Staffing Survey. Topics covered include the sample design, survey methodology, data collection procedures, data processing, response rates, imputation procedures, weighting and variance estimation, review of the quality of data, the types of…

In fall 1999, for the seventh time since 1991, all Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), North Carolina, parents were asked to give their opinions on school and district issues. The results are reported in this document by school level: elementary, middle, and high school. Although 25% of Wake County's students are African Americans, only 17%…

Notes that while traditional survey literature has addressed three possible response behaviors (unit nonresponse, item nonresponse, and complete response), Web surveys can capture data about a respondent's answering process. Claims that, based on this data, at least seven response patterns are observable. Describes these seven response patterns in…

Problems associated with low response rates to surveys are considered, drawing from the literature on the methodology of survey research. A series of analyses are presented which were designed to examine the efficacy of Astin and Molm's procedure to adjust for nonresponse biases. Data were obtained form the Cooperative Institutional Research…

The popularity of the sample survey in educational research makes it necessary for consumers to tell a good study from a poor one. Several sources were identified that gave advice on how to evaluate a sample design. The sources are either limited or too extensive to use in a practical sense. The purpose of this paper is to recommend six important…

Responses to a followup request for survey completion provided information about reasons for nonresponse by the target audience. Few studies of nonresponse have relied on reasons given by those who did not choose to respond; although not intentionally gathered, the data provide insights into nonresponse. An electronic mail survey was sent to 452…

This study presents a meta-evaluation of a beta-test of a customer service training program. The initial evaluation showed a low response rate. Therefore, the meta-evaluation focused on issues related to the conduct of the initial evaluation and reasons for nonresponse. The meta-evaluation identified solutions to the nonresponse problem as related…