Web Survey Bibliography
Title Web Versus Paper Questionnares: A Design and Functionality - Comparison
Author Jones, J., Fraser, C., Dowling, Z.
Source Conference of European Statisticians, Geneva, 13-15 June 2005
Year 2005
Access date 21.12.2005
Full text pdf (247k)
Abstract Every year the number of people who access the web, either at home or at work, increases.
This increase in popularity has led to more survey organizations using the web as a means of
collecting survey data, either as the sole means or in mix-modal data collection. As a result
there are more and more survey questionnaires available on the web. But what are the
questionnaire design implications of this new method of data collection on surveys that are
already well established on paper? Many papers have addressed the quantitative aspects of
paper versus web questionnaires e.g. response rate, data quality etc. (Kwak and Radler, 2002;
Cobanoglu et al., 2001; Couper, 2000; Couper et al., 1999; Schaefer and Dillman, 1998).
However, there is very little literature that specifically addresses design issues between the
two modes. One particular area of concern is the length of the questionnaire; longer
questionnaires can have an increased download time. Any delay in downloading the
questionnaire will lead to an increase in completion time, which will have a detrimental effect
on actual and/or perceived respondent burden. In contrast, the use of routing and the general
functionality options available for web questionnaires can reduce the complexity of the
questionnaire, which can lead to a reduction in respondent burden. The aims of this paper are to
compare and contrast the design and functionality of web and paper questionnaires from the
survey organization and respondent perspectives. In the paper, examples are given from recent
business survey research and Census development work.
This increase in popularity has led to more survey organizations using the web as a means of
collecting survey data, either as the sole means or in mix-modal data collection. As a result
there are more and more survey questionnaires available on the web. But what are the
questionnaire design implications of this new method of data collection on surveys that are
already well established on paper? Many papers have addressed the quantitative aspects of
paper versus web questionnaires e.g. response rate, data quality etc. (Kwak and Radler, 2002;
Cobanoglu et al., 2001; Couper, 2000; Couper et al., 1999; Schaefer and Dillman, 1998).
However, there is very little literature that specifically addresses design issues between the
two modes. One particular area of concern is the length of the questionnaire; longer
questionnaires can have an increased download time. Any delay in downloading the
questionnaire will lead to an increase in completion time, which will have a detrimental effect
on actual and/or perceived respondent burden. In contrast, the use of routing and the general
functionality options available for web questionnaires can reduce the complexity of the
questionnaire, which can lead to a reduction in respondent burden. The aims of this paper are to
compare and contrast the design and functionality of web and paper questionnaires from the
survey organization and respondent perspectives. In the paper, examples are given from recent
business survey research and Census development work.
Access/Direct link UNECE homepage
Year of publication2005
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
Web Survey Bibliography - Research on Internet (644)
- A usability of a new graphical shopping interface through GlobalPark; 2009; Groenen, P. J. F., Kagie, M.
- Effects of data collection technique on the quality of data: A MTMM study of CATI, CAPI and Online interviews...; 2009; Scherpenzeel, A.
- Effectiveness of incentives in mixed-mode systems: An evaluation of errors & costs; 2009; Vehovar, V.; Lozar Manfreda, K.; Berzelak, N.
- Web-based measurement: Effect of completing single or multiple items per webpage; 2009; Thorndike, F. P., Carlbring, P., Smyth, F. L., Magee, J. C., Gonder-Frederick, L., Ost, L. G., Ritterband...
- Mobile phone surveys in mixed mode environment; 2009; Vehovar, V.
- Usability testing; 2008; Roe, D. J.
- Foundation of quality project overview; 2008
- Whose Space? Differences Among Users and Non-Users of Social Network Sites; 2008; Hargittai, E.
- ‘Looking at’, ‘Looking up’ or ‘Keeping up with’ People? Motives...; 2008; Joinson, A. N.
- Objectivity, Reliability, and Validity of Search Engine Count Estimates ; 2008; Janetzko, D.
- More than the digital divide?: Investigating the differences between Internet and non-Internet users; 2008; Zhang, C., Callegaro, M., Thomas, M.
- Internet dating: a British survey; 2008; Gunter, B.
- Social Web Data as a Source for Social Science Research. The Example of a German Online Dating Website...; 2008; Skopek, J., Schmitz, A.
- Use of the Internet as a data collection tool: a methodological investigation of online synchronous...; 2008; Evans, A. R., Elford, J., Wiggins, D.
- The Role of Cash Incentives in Online Panelist Motivations: Experimental Results on Unit Response and...; 2008; Taylor, E.
- Predictors and Barriers to Collecting Data from Early Childhood Educators Using the Web; 2008; Caspe, M., Sonnenfeld, K., Meagher, C., Sprachman, S., Scaturro, G.
- Internet Surveys: Can Statistical Adjustments Eliminate Coverage Bias?; 2008; Dever, J. A., Rafferty, A., Valliant, R. L.
- Eliciting Subjective Expectations in Internet Surveys ; 2008; Delavande, A., Rohwedder, S.
- Internet Research: Developments, problems, and potential; 2008; Welker, M., Matzat, U.
- Response Non-Differentiation and Response Styles in Web-Based Studies: Causes and Consequences ; 2008; Frisina, L. T., Thomas, R. K.
- Cost efficiency in a mixed-mode survey – The Norwegian Rent Marked Survey; 2008; Lagerstrom, B. O.
- Analyzing Social Networks via the Internet; 2008; Hogan, B.
- The effects of incentives in internet panels: a review; 2008; Goeritz, A.
- Asking the age question in mail and online surveys; 2008; Gendall, P., Healey, B.
- Whither statistical metadata?; 2007; Westlake, A.
- Web survey design; 2007; Ma, Q., McCord, M.
- Utility and happiness; 2007; Kimball, M. S., Willis, R.
- The Internet audience. Constitution & measurement; 2007; Bermejo, F.
- Sampling for web surveys; 2007; Rivers, D.
- Research Operations at Yahoo! - transformation of Web interview capabilities; 2007; Cohen, A.
- Reconstructing childhood health histories using internet panels; 2007; Smith, J. P.
- Online market research, 5th Edition; 2007; Comley, P.
- IMRO guidelines for best practices in online sample and panel management; 2007
- Developments in electronic survey design for establishment surveys; 2007; O'Neill, G.
- The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students' use of online...; 2007; Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., Lampe, C.
- Trust and privacy concern within social networking sites: A comparison of Facebook and MySpace ; 2007; Dwyer, R., Passerini , K., Hiltz, S. R.
- Online research ethics; 2007; Madge, C.
- Crypto law survey; 2007; Koops, B. -J.
- Context effects in Internet Surveys: New issues and evidence; 2007; D. Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., Smith, A.Smyth, J. D.
- Technical considerations when implementing online research; 2007; Schmidt, W. C.
- Using online panels in psychological research; 2007; Goeritz, A.
- The Online Measurement of Ego Centered Online Social Networks; 2007; Matzat, U., Snijders, C.
- Using user feedback: Redesigning the "Survey of Industrial production"; 2007; Conrad, A.
- Web Panels: The Future of Survey Research?; 2007; Krotki, K.
- Effects of Answer Space Size on Responses to Open-ended questions in mail surveys; 2007; Israel, G. D.
- "Dirty Politics" Web Experiments on the Effects of Negative Communication Actions ; 2007; Tatzl, G.
- Quality of Online Research: Does it Improve Results? ; 2007; Lindemann, M.
- New Access to Information laws in Germany - a big bang for Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR)? ; 2007; Redelfs, M.
- Online research praxis: the role of online research at Yahoo! ; 2007; Gonzales, R.
- Is Online Deception Really a Threat to Data Quality in Online Studies? Results from a Review; 2007; Stieger, S.

