Web Survey Bibliography
A long-standing notion within survey research is that most respondents have a preference for a particular survey mode. Shortly after the development of telephone data collection methods, Groves and Kahn (1979) found that respondents tend to prefer one data collection mode over another. Because respondents may prefer one mode to another, many survey researchers have assumed that response rates, and general goodwill and attitudes about the questionnaire, can be improved by catering to the preferences of potential respondents, oftentimes by providing a choice between different modes (see Shih and Fan 2007; Dillman, West, and Clark 1994; Diment and Garrett-Jones 2007; de Leeuw, Hox, and Dillman 2008). In recent years, the Internet has become an increasingly more enticing medium for survey research. Switching mail or telephone surveys to the web has many benefits; web questionnaires are significantly less costly for researchers and could potentially reduce the burden put on respondents. More surveys are now conducted using the web, with varying results. However, web surveys of the general public have not yet effectively achieved response rates that are equivalent to those of mail questionnaires or other forms of surveying (Manfreda et al. 2008; Shih and Fan 2007) and coverage is limited. When given a choice, it appears that most respondents still prefer other modes of response to the Internet (Shih and Fan 2007; Diment and Garrett-Jones 2007). Thus, in order to achieve the best response rates, some prior research suggests surveyors should continue to cater to people’s preference for mail questionnaires. The analyses presented in this report address the issue of mode preference and its implications for survey response rates. This research utilized a mixed-mode web and mail survey experiment. One purpose of this study was to develop methods for improving response rates for web surveys. The experiment results imply that it is possible to achieve relatively high web response rates using several techniques. In this report we discuss these methods and the results of the experimental treatments included in this study. Additionally, our data reveal some surprising effects of survey mode on respondents’ mode preference, which suggest that relying on people’s stated preferences may not be a necessary or important method for deciding which survey mode to utilize. In light of these findings, we believe the web is a viable option for conducting certain surveys of the general public. To further understand the usefulness of web surveys, we also examine factors that may influence the likelihood of respondents choosing a web questionnaire over another option. We conclude by summarizing what this research tells us about effectively implementing web surveys.
Homepage - Don A. Dillman (abstarct)/(full text)
Web survey bibliography - Dillman, D. A. (52)
- Improving the Effectiveness of Online Data Collection by Mixing Survey Modes; 2017; Dillman, D. A.; Hao, F.; Millar, M. M.
- On Climbing Stairs Many Steps at a Time: The New Normal in Survey Methodology; 2015; Dillman, D. A.
- Improving Response to Household Surveys Using Mail Contact to Request Responses over the Internet: Results...; 2015; Dillman, D. A.
- Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method, 4th Edition; 2014; Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., Christian, L. M.
- Achieving Synergy Across Survey Modes: Mail Contact and Web Responses from Address-Based Samples; 2013; Dillman, D. A.
- An Experimental Evaluation of How Mode Sequence for offering Internet, Mail and Telephone Options Affects...; 2013; Finamore, J., Dillman, D. A.
- Attitudes of Nebraska Residents on Nebraska Water Management; 2013; Dillman, D. A., Edwards, M. L.
- Mode Effects in Mixed-Mode Surveys: Prevention, Diagnostics, and Adjustment 1; 2013; de Leeuw, E. D., Dillman, D. A., Schouten, B.
- Understanding the resilience of mail-back survey methods: An analysis of 20 years of change in response...; 2012; Rookey, B. D., Le, L., Littlejohn, M., Dillman, D. A.
- Intensifying the Request: Results from an Experiment on Improving Internet Response Rates for Address...; 2012; Messer, B. L., Dillman, D. A.
- Do Mail and Internet Surveys Produce Different Item Nonresponse Rates? An Experiment Using Random Mode...; 2012; Millar, M. M., Dillman, D. A.
- Determinants of Item Nonresponse to Web and Mail Respondents in Three Address-Based Mixed-Mode Surveys...; 2012; Messer, B. L., Edwards, M. L., Dillman, D. A.
- How Visual Design Affects the Interpretability of Survey Questions; 2011; Toepoel, V., Dillman, D. A.
- Surveying the General Public over the Internet Using Address-Based Sampling and Mail Contact Procedures...; 2011; Messer, B. L., Dillman, D. A.
- Creating Effective Designs for Mixed-Mode Surveys; 2011; Dillman, D. A.
- In the Face of Declining Budgets: The Student Experience at Washington State University ; 2011; Allen, T., Dillman, D. A., Garza, B., Millar, M. M.
- IVR and web administration in structured interviews utilizing rating scales: exploring the role of motivation...; 2011; Yang, Y., Callegaro, M., Bhola, D. S., Dillman, D. A.
- Research synthesis. AAPOR report on online panels; 2010; Brick, J. M., Baker, R., Blumberg, S. J., Couper, M. P., Courtright, M., Dennis, J. M., Dillman, D....
- Mixed-mode surveys; 2010; Dillman, D. A., Messer, B. L.
- Improving Response to Mail and Web Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Effects of Offering Choice on Survey Response...; 2010; Millar, M. M., Dillman, D. A.
- Questionnaire Design Guidelines for Establishment Surveys; 2010; Morrison, R. L., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M.
- Does Visual Appeal Matter? Effects of Web Survey Aesthetics on Survey Quality; 2010; Mahon-Haft, T., Dillman, D. A.
- Using the Internet to Survey Small Towns and Communities: Limitations and Possibilities in the Early...; 2010; Smyth, J. D., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., O'Neill, A. C.
- Response format effects on measurement of employment; 2009; Thomas, R. K., Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D.
- Words, Numbers and Visual Heuristics in Web Surveys: Is There a Hierarchy of Importance?; 2009; Toepoel, V., Dillman, D. A.
- Improving the Effectiveness of Mail Contact Procedures to Obtain Survey Response Over the Internet for...; 2009; Messer, B. L., Dillman, D. A.
- The Difficult but Essential Challenge of Designing Mixed-Mode Surveys; 2009; Dillman, D. A.
- Using Mail Contact to Sample and Encourage Submission of Questionnaire Answers Over the Internet; 2009; Dillman, D. A., Messer, B. L., Millar, M. M.
- Visual Heuristics and Answer Formats in Rating Scales; 2009; Toepoel, V. Dillman, D. A.
- Open-Ended Questions in Web Surveys: Can Increasing the Size of Answer Boxes and Providing Extra Verbal...; 2009; Smyth, J. D., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., McBride, M.
- Are Mode Preferences Real?; 2009; Millar, M. M., O'Neill, A. C., Dillman, D. A.
- Designing Scalar Questions for Web Surveys; 2009; Christian, L. M., Parsons, N. L., Dillman, D. A.
- Response rate and measurement differences in mixed-mode surveys using mail, telephone, interactive voice...; 2009; Dillman, D. A., Phelps, G., Tortora, R. D., Swift, K., Kohrell, J., Berck, J., Messer, B. L.
- Some consequences of survey mode changes in longitudinal surveys; 2008; Dillman, D. A.
- To Mix or Not To Mix Survey Modes; 2008; Dillman, D. A.
- ...; 2008; Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., Christian, L. M., O'Neill, A. C.
- Internet, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method ; 2008; Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., Smyth, J. D.
- How can we convince the general public to respond to internet surveys?; 2008; Dillman, D. A.
- Combining Mail and Internet Methods to Conduct Household Surveys of the General Public: A New Methodology...; 2008; Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., Christian, L. M., Oneill, A.
- Does the Inclusion of Mail and Web Alternatives in a Probability-Based Household Panel Improve the Accuracy...; 2008; Rookey, B. D., Dillman, D. A., Hanway, S.
- Does a Probability-Based Household Panel Benefit from Assignment to Postal Response as an Alternative...; 2008; Rookey, B. D., Hanway, S., Dillman, D. A.
- Context effects in Internet Surveys: New issues and evidence; 2007; Smyth, J. D., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M.
- Guidelines for Designing Questionnaires for Administration in Different Modes; 2007; Martin, E., Hunter, J. E., DeMaio, T., Hill, Jo., Reiser, C., Gerber, E., Styles, K., Dillman, D. A.
- Is it Possible to Obtain Equivalent Answers to Scalar Questions in Web and Telephone Surveys?; 2006; Christian, L. M., Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D.
- Open-Ended Questions in Web and Telephone Surveys; 2006; Smyth, J. D., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., McBride, M.
- Comparing Check-All and Forced-Choice Question Formats in Web Surveys: The Role of Satisficing, Depth...; 2005; Smyth, J. D., Dillman, D. A., Christian, L. M., Stern, M. J.
- Response latency as an indicator of optimizing. A study comparing job applicants and job incumbents...; 2004; Callegaro, M., Yang, Y., Bhola, D. S., Dillman, D. A.
- The Influence of Graphical and Symbolic Language Manipulations on Responses to Self-Administered Questions...; 2004; Christian, L. M., Dillman, D. A.
- Results from cognitive interviews of nsf earned doctorate Web survey; 2002; Altheimer, I., Dillman, D. A.
- Survey Nonresponse; 2001; Groves, R. M., Dillman, D. A., Eltinge, J. L.