Web Survey Bibliography
Online questionnaires are not very common yet in academic research, particularly not in middle or large scale surveys – mixed-mode strategies being an exception. This is to some degree due to methodical difficulties which are inherent in online surveys: A rather low response rate, an insufficient reachability of many populations and the non-existence of a reliable internal sampling frame to draw representative samples, e.g. a comprehensive email directory. However, these difficulties can be successfully addressed and resolved by “switching” during the surveying process from one mode to another - in our case from CATI (computer assisted telephone interviewing) to online surveying.
The case of a representative Swiss establishment survey about “cooperations with external training providers” serves as an example to demonstrate this. Online questionnaire and CATI are combined in this survey to overcome some of the weaknesses of the respective techniques. The national establishment register, which covers all active Swiss establishments, was used as sampling frame. The sampled establishments were then contacted by telephone in order to select an appropriate informant and a suitable training cooperation. During this CATI-interview informants received a link to an online questionnaire via email which asked detailed questions about the selected training cooperation. We intended to lead informants directly through the log-in procedure and to introduce them to the online questionnaire at the end of the CATI-interview.
Our procedure combines several advantages. First contact via telephone allows
* the use of an excellent sampling frame which makes a representative sampling possible,
* the controlled criterion-based selection of an appropriate informant by the CATI-interviewees,
* to deal with certain difficult or complex questions on the phone (as in this case the critical selection of a suitable cooperation with an external training provider)
* to increase the willingness to participate in the survey by adopting individual refusal conversion which yields to a higher response rate.
The use of an online questionnaire on the other side
* leads to cost savings,
* improves response quality for certain questions, where a visual representation of the questions and answers is helpful (e.g. rating questions) and
* makes it possible to provide respondents with a short and individually tailored questionnaire by using complex filters.
Experiences with this procedure are described in the presentation and some results concerning important points as online reachability of the establishments or informants, response rate, arising difficulties with the switch from CATI to online questionnaire as well as the evaluation of this procedure by the respondents are presented.
Online-Surveys werden in der wissenschaftlichen Forschung immer noch relativ selten für grössere Umfragen verwendet – und wenn doch, dann im Rahmen von Mixed-Mode-Strategien. Dies ist zum Teil auf einige spezifische methodische Schwierigkeiten von Online-Surveys zurückzuführen: Hierzu zählt vor allem die eher tiefe Rücklaufquote, die eingeschränkte (Online-)Erreichbarkeit je nach Population und das Nicht-Vorhandensein eines verlässlichen internen Sampling-Frames, etwa auf der Basis eines E-Mail-Directories. Diese Schwierigkeiten lassen sich aber gezielt angehen und lösen – indem von einer Datenerhebungsmethode (CATI – computer assisted telephone interviewing) zu einer anderen (Online-Erhebung) gewechselt wird.
Im Beitrag wird dies am Beispiel des Vorgehens bei einer für die Schweiz repräsentativen Unternehmensbefragung zur Zusammenarbeit mit externen Weiterbildungsanbietern aufgezeigt, welche Instrumente der Online-Erhebung mit CATI kombiniert. Dadurch können die Stärken der jeweiligen Methode genutzt und deren Schwächen überwunden werden. Als Sampling-Frame kam bei der Erhebung das nationale Unternehmensregister, welches sämtliche Unternehmen abdeckt, zum Zuge. Im nächsten Schritt wurden die auf dieser Grundlage gesampelten Unternehmen telefonisch kontaktiert, die passende firmeninterne Zielperson eruiert und eine passende Weiterbildungskooperation im Gespräch ausgewählt. Während dem Gespräch wurde den Zielpersonen via E-Mail ein Link zu einem Online-Fragebogen zugestellt, in dem diese ausführlich zur ausgewählten Weiterbildungskooperation befragt wurden. Wenn immer möglich wurden die Personen telefonisch in den Einstieg des Online-Fragebogen begleitet.
Die Vorteile eines Erstkontaktes via CATI sind, dass
* ein Sampling-Frame zur Verfügung steht, welches eine repräsentative Stichprobe ermöglicht,
* die telefonische Kontaktaufnahme eine kontrollierte Auswahl der Zielperson ermöglicht,
* „schwierige“ Fragen bzw. Auswahlentscheide (im vorliegenden Fall ein passende Beziehung zu einem Weiterbildungsanbieter, eine „Weiterbildungskooperation“) durch die CATI-Interviewer am Telefon begleitet durchgeführt werden kann und
* durch die telefonische Kontaktaufnahme die Teilnahmemotivation und damit die Response-Quote deutlich erhöht werden kann.
Auf der anderen Seite werden durch den Einsatz eines Online-Fragebogens
* Interviewer-Zeit und damit Kosten gespart,
* Fragen und Antworten werden den Antwortenden visuell präsentiert (was z.B. bei Beurteilungen oft von Vorteil ist) und
* erhalten die Antwortenden durch die ausgefeilten Filterführungsmöglichkeiten bei Online-Surveys einen individuell angepassten und entsprechend kürzeren Fragebogen. Da Unternehmen relativ heterogene Gebilde sind, ist dies ein unschätzbarer Vorteil.
Im Vortrag sollen die Erfahrungen mit dieser Vorgehensweise dargestellt und Resultate zu ausgewählten wichtigen Punkten präsentiert werden: Der Anteil der via E-Mail erreichbaren Unternehmen bzw. Zielpersonen, die Rücklaufquote, Schwierigkeiten beim Übergang von CATI zum Online-Fragebogen, sowie die Bewertung dieser Vorgehensweise durch die Befragten selbst.
General online research (GOR) 2008 (abstract)
Web survey bibliography (388)
- A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Incentives on Response Rate in Online Survey Studies; 2017; Mohammad Asire, A.
- Fieldwork monitoring and managing with time-related paradata; 2017; Vandenplas, C.
- Push2web or less is more? Experimental evidence from a mixed-mode population survey at the community...; 2017; Neumann, R.; Haeder, M.; Brust, O.; Dittrich, E.; von Hermanni, H.
- Rates, Delays, and Completeness of General Practitioners’ Responses to a Postal Versus Web-Based...; 2017; Sebo, P.; Maisonneuve, H.; Cerutti, B.; Pascal Fournier, J.; Haller, D. M.
- Targeted letters: Effects on sample composition and item non-response; 2017; Bianchi, A.; Biffignandi, S.
- Improving survey response rates: The effect of embedded questions in web survey email Invitations; 2017; Liu, M.; Inchausti, N.
- Enhancing survey participation: Facebook advertisements for recruitment in educational research; 2017; Forgasz, H.; Tan, H.; Leder, G.; McLeod, A.
- Overview: Online Surveys; 2017; Vehovar, V.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- “Better do not touch” and other superstitions concerning melanoma: the cross-sectional web...; 2016; Gajda, M.; Kamińska-Winciorek, G.; Wydmański, J.; Tukiendorf, A.
- Targeted Appeals for Participation in Letters to Panel Survey Members; 2016; Lynn, P.
- Population Survey Features and Response Rates: A Randomized Experiment; 2016; Guo, Y.; Kopec, J.; Cibere, J.; Li, L. C.; Goldsmith, C. H.
- The Effects of a Delayed Incentive on Response Rates, Response Mode, Data Quality, and Sample Bias in...; 2016; McGonagle, K., Freedman, V. A.
- Can Student Populations in Developing Countries Be Reached by Online Surveys? The Case of the National...; 2016; Langer, A., Meuleman, B., Oshodi, A.-G. T., Schroyens, M.
- How to maximize survey response rates ; 2016; DeVall, R.; Colby, C.
- Impact of Field Period Length and Contact Attempts on Representativeness for Web Survey ; 2016; Bertoni, N.; Turakhia, C.; Magaw, R.; Ackermann, A.
- Have You Taken Your Survey Yet? Optimum Interval for Reminders in Web Panel Surveys ; 2016; Kanitkar, K. N.; Liu, D.
- User Experience and Eye-tracking: Results to Optimize Completion of a Web Survey and Website Design ; 2016; Walton, L.; Ricci, K.; Libman Barry, A.; Eiginger, C.; Christian, L. M.
- A Multi-phase Exploration Into Web-based Panel Respondents: Assessing Differences in Recruitment, Respondents...; 2016; Redlawsk, D.; Rogers, K.; Borie-Holtz, D.
- Exploring the Feasibility of Using Facebook for Surveying Special Interest Populations ; 2016; Lee, C.; Jang, S.
- National Estimates of Sexual Minority Women Alcohol Use through Web Based Respondent Driven Sampling...; 2016; Farrell Middleton, D.; Iachan, R.; Freedner-Maguire, N.; Trocki, K.; Evans, C.
- User Experience Considerations for Contextual Product Surveys on Smartphones ; 2016; Sedley, A.; Mueller, H.
- Web Probing for Question Evaluation: The Effects of Probe Placement ; 2016; Fowler, S.; Willis, G. B.; Moser, R. P.; Townsend, R. L. M.; Maitland, A.; Sun, H.; Berrigan, D.
- Early-bird Incentives: Results From an Experiment to Determine Response Rate and Cost Effects ; 2016; De Santis, J.; Callahan, R.; Marsh, S.; Perez-Johnson, I.
- Effects of an Initial Offering of Multiple Survey Response Options on Response Rates; 2016; Steele, E. A.; Marlar, J.; Allen, L.; Kanitkar, K. N.
- How to Invite? Methods for Increasing Internet Surv ey Response Rate ; 2016; Huang, A. R.; Noel, H.; Hargraves, L.
- Reaching the Mobile Generation: Reducing Web Survey Non-response through SMS Reminders ; 2016; Kanitkar, K. N.; Marlar, J.
- "Don't be Afraid ... We're Researchers!": The Impact of Informal Contact Language...; 2016; Foster, K. N.; Hagemeier, N. E.; Alamain, A. A.; Pack, R.; Sevak, R. J.
- Does Embedding a Survey Question in the Survey Invi tation E-mail Affect Response Rates? Evidence from...; 2016; Vannette, D.
- Communication Channels that Predict and Mediate Self-response ; 2016; Walejko, G. K.
- Ballpoint Pens as Incentives with Mail Questionnaires – Results of a Survey Experiment; 2016; Heise, M.
- Non-Observation Bias in an Address-Register-Based CATI/CAPI Mixed Mode Survey; 2016; Lipps, O.
- Pre-Survey Text Messages (SMS) Improve Participation Rate in an Australian Mobile Telephone Survey:...; 2016; Dal Grande, E.; Chittleborough, C. R.; Campostrini, S.; Dollard, M.; Taylor, A. W.
- Effects of Personalization and Invitation Email Length on Web-Based Survey Response Rates; 2016; Trespalacios, J. H.; Perkins, R. A.
- Assessing targeted approach letters: effects in different modes on response rates, response speed and...; 2016; Lynn, P.
- Refining the Web Response Option in the Multiple Mode Collection of the American Community Survey; 2016; Hughes, T.; Tancreto, J.
- Setting Up an Online Panel Representative of the General Population The German Internet Panel; 2016; Blom, A. G.; Gathmann, C.; Krieger, U.
- Sample Representation and Substantive Outcomes Using Web With and Without Incentives Compared to Telephone...; 2016; Lipps, O.; Pekari, N.
- Collecting Data from mHealth Users via SMS Surveys: A Case Study in Kenya; 2016; Johnson, D.
- “Money Will Solve the Problem”: Testing the Effectiveness of Conditional Incentives for...; 2016; DeCamp, W.; Manierre, M. J.
- Effects of Incentive Amount and Type of Web Survey Response Rates; 2016; Coopersmith, J.; Vogel, L. K.; Bruursema, T.; Feeney, K.
- Effect of a Post-paid Incentive on Response to a Web-based Survey; 2016; Brown, J. A.; Serrato, C. A.; Hugh, M.; Kanter, M. H.; A.; Spritzer, K. L.; Hays, R. D.
- Reminder Effect and Data Usability on Web Questionnaire Survey for University Students; 2016; Oishi, T.; Mori, M.; Takata, E.
- Is One More Reminder Worth It? If So, Pick Up the Phone: Findings from a Web Survey; 2016; Lin-Freeman, L.
- Take the money and run? Redemption of a gift card incentive in a clinician survey. ; 2016; Chen, J. S.; Sprague, B. L.; Klabunde, C. N.; Tosteson, A. N. A.; Bitton, A.; Onega, T.; MacLean, C....
- The effect of email invitation elements on response rate in a web survey within an online community; 2016; Petrovcic, A.; Petric, G.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- A reliability analysis of Mechanical Turk data; 2016; Rouse, S. V.
- Doing Surveys Online ; 2016; Toepoel, V.
- A Privacy-Friendly Method to Reward Participants of Online-Surveys; 2015; Herfert, M.; Lange, B.; Selzer, A.; Waldmann, U.
- Incentive Types and Amounts in a Web-based Survey of College Students; 2015; Krebs, C.; Planty, M.; Stroop, J.; Berzofsky, M.; Lindquist, C.
- Using Mobile Phones for High-Frequency Data Collection; 2015; Azevedo, J. P.; Ballivian, A.; Durbin, W.