Web Survey Bibliography
Relevance & research question: Conditional monetary incentives are often seen as a measure to increase initial survey response and reduce attrition in panel surveys. However, they constitute a substantial share of survey costs. To reduce these costs, most panel providers use on demand pay-out options while assuming that not all panelists redeem their incentives. It is common to provide respondents with various redemption options such as cash or coupons.
Our research goal is to investigate in what aspects the respondents who redeem incentives differ from those who do not. For the group of those respondents who redeem their incentives, we analyze respondents’ preferences for redemption options of bank transfer, voucher, and charity donation.
Method & Data: We analyze data from the GESIS Online Panel Pilot study, an offline-recruited probability-based online panel of Internet users. Starting in February 2011, respondents were surveyed every month for 8 months. The amount of incentives was varied experimentally during recruitment, comprising groups of 0, 2, 5 and 10 EUR per survey. Additionally, we have detailed information about patterns of incentive redemption. Panelists could request the payment of their collected incentives at any time such as collecting their money. Participants could mix the options of bank transfer, voucher, and donation.
Results: The analysis indicates that only half of potential incentive recipients use the redemption option. The probability of payment increases with every completed wave and incentive amount. Still among those who completed all 8 waves, about one fifth of panelists never initiate any incentive payment. About 80% of respondents chose only one type of incentive pay-out (among those, 48.75% bank transfer, 36.57% voucher, and 14.68% donation). The other 20% chose more than one incentive option. Further analyses show the type of incentive varies between groups of respondents. For example, men tend to choose the bank transfer option and women have a higher probability of donating the money.
Added value: Our analyses give useful insights into the patterns of incentive redemption and how different respondent groups can be reached by different incentive options.
GOR Homepage (abstract) / (presentation)
Web survey bibliography - Struminskaya, B. (13)
- Article Establishing an Open Probability-Based Mixed-Mode Panel of the General Population in Germany...; 2017; Bosnjak, M.; Dannwolf, T.; Enderle, T.; Schaurer, I.; Struminskaya, B.; Tanner, A.; Weyandt, K.
- Respondent Conditioning in Online Panel Surveys: Results of Two Field Experiments; 2016; Struminskaya, B.
- The Effects of Questionnaire Completion Using Mobile Devices on Data Quality. Evidence from a Probability...; 2015; Bosnjak, M.; Struminskaya, B.; Weyandt, K.
- Mode System Effects in an Online Panel Study: Comparing a Probability-based Online Panel with two Face...; 2015; Struminskaya, B.; De Leeuw, E. D.; Kaczmirek, L.
- Assessing representativeness of a probability-based online panel in Germany; 2014; Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L., Schaurer, I., Bandilla, W.
- Switching the polarity of answer options within the questionnaire and using various numbering schemes...; 2014; Struminskaya, B., Schaurer, I., Bosnjak, M.
- Incentives on demand in a probability-based online panel: redemption and the choice between pay-out...; 2014; Schaurer, I., Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L.
- GESIS Online Panel Pilot: Results from a Probability-Based Online Access Panel; 2013; Kaczmirek, L., Bandilla, W., Schaurer, I., Struminskaya, B., Weyandt, K.
- Effects of incentive reduction after a series of higher incentive waves in a probability-based online...; 2013; Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L., Schaurer, I., Bandilla, W.
- Challenges of assessing the quality of a prerecruited probability-based panel of internet users in...; 2012; Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L.
- Little experience with technology as a cause of nonresponse in online surveys; 2012; Struminskaya, B., Schaurer, I., Kaczmirek, L., Bandilla, W.
- Asking sensitive questions in a recruitment interview for an online panel: the income question; 2011; Schaurer, I., Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L., Bandilla, W.
- Asking Sensitive Questions: Do They Affect Participation In Follow-Up Surveys?; 2011; Schaurer, I., Struminskaya, B., Kaczmirek, L., Bandilla, W.