Web Survey Bibliography
As technological advances continue to foster the move from paper based survey administration to computer based administration, consideration must be given to the potential effect that switching modes may have on a given questionnaire. Issues related to mode and method effect, usability issues, adjustments to question wording and response formats are well documented. However, less documentation exists on the operational considerations for converting an entire study protocol from paper-based to computer-based administration. These are particularly complex issues for establishment surveys, where issues of case ownership, building consistent rapport with respondents, and managing multiple points of contact present additional challenges beyond those that are common to household and individual surveys. Sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is a set of large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their medical providers, and employers across the United States. MEPS is the most complete source of data on the cost and use of health care and health insurance coverage. In 2010, the Medical Provider Component (MPC) of MEPS, which covers hospitals, physicians, home health care providers, and pharmacies identified by respondents in the MEPS Household Component, will undergo a major change from paper based administration to computer based administration. This change not only affects the way data will be collected via instrumentation, but also how sample records, case level details, points of contact, problems during data collection, issues of nonresponse and interviewer productivity are managed and tracked. This presentation will share information on some of the challenges presented by such a conversion, along with the unique and customized solutions developed in order to prepare the MEPS-MPC for data collection in 2010.
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