Web Survey Bibliography
Background: Internet and mobile health (mHealth) apps hold promise for expanding the reach of evidence-based health interventions. Research in this area is rapidly expanding. However, these studies may experience problems with recruitment and retention. Web-based and mHealth studies are in need of a wide-reaching and low-cost method of recruitment that will also effectively retain participants for the duration of the study. Online recruitment may be a low-cost and wide-reaching tool in comparison to traditional recruitment methods, although empirical evidence is limited. Objective: This study aims to review the literature on online recruitment for, and retention in, mHealth studies. Methods: We conducted a review of the literature of studies examining online recruitment methods as a viable means of obtaining mHealth research participants. The data sources used were PubMed, CINAHL, EbscoHost, PyscINFO, and MEDLINE. Studies reporting at least one method of online recruitment were included. A narrative approach enabled the authors to discuss the variability in recruitment results, as well as in recruitment duration and study design. Results: From 550 initial publications, 12 studies were included in this review. The studies reported multiple uses and outcomes for online recruitment methods. Web-based recruitment was the only type of recruitment used in 67% (8/12) of the studies. Online recruitment was used for studies with a variety of health domains: smoking cessation (58%; 7/12) and mental health (17%; 2/12) being the most common. Recruitment duration lasted under a year in 67% (8/12) of the studies, with an average of 5 months spent on recruiting. In those studies that spent over a year (33%; 4/12), an average of 17 months was spent on recruiting. A little less than half (42%; 5/12) of the studies found Facebook ads or newsfeed posts to be an effective method of recruitment, a quarter (25%; 3/12) of the studies found Google ads to be the most effective way to reach participants, and one study showed better outcomes with traditional (eg in-person) methods of recruitment. Only one study recorded retention rates in their results, and half (50%; 6/12) of the studies recorded survey completion rates. Conclusions: Although online methods of recruitment may be promising in experimental research, more empirical evidence is needed to make specific recommendations. Several barriers to using online recruitment were identified, including participant retention. These unique challenges of virtual interventions can affect the generalizability and validity of findings from Web-based and mHealth studies. There is a need for additional research to evaluate the effectiveness of online recruitment methods and participant retention in experimental mHealth studies.
Web survey bibliography - Noncoverage & sampling (851)
- Solving the Nonresponse Problem With Sample Matching?; 2016
- HUFFPOLLSTER: Why Reaching Latinos Is A Challenge For Pollsters; 2016; Jackson, N. M.; Edwards-Levy, A.; Velencia, J.
- Predictive inference for non-probability samples: a simulation study ; 2016; Buelens, B.; Burger, J.; van den Brakel, J.
- Does the Inclusion of Non-Internet Households in a Web Panel Reduce Coverage Bias?; 2016; Eckman, S.
- Quota Controls in Survey Research.; 2016; Gittelman, S. H.; Thomas, R. K.; Lavrakas, P. J.; Lange, V.
- Scientific Surveys Based on Incomplete Sampling Frames and High Rates of Nonresponse; 2016; Fahimi, M.; Barlas, F. M.; Thomas, R. K.; Buttermore, N. R.
- Doing Surveys Online ; 2016; Toepoel, V.
- Doing Online Surveys: Zum Einsatz in der sozialwissenschaftlichen Raumforschung; 2015; Nadler, R.; Petzold, K.; Schoenduwe, R.
- Response Rates and Response Bias in Web Panel Surveys; 2015; Boyle, J.; Berman, L.; Dayton, Ja.; Fakhouri, T.; Iachan, R.; Courtright, M.; Pashupati, K.
- Characteristics of the Population of Internet Panel Members; 2015; Boyle, J; Freedner, N.; Fakhouri, T.
- Internet and Smartphone Coverage in a National Health Survey: Implications for Alternative Modes; 2015; Couper, M. P.; Kelley, J.; Axinn, W.; Guyer, H.; Wagner, J.; West, B. T.
- An Overview of Mobile CATI Issues in Europe; 2015; Slavec, A.; Toninelli, D.
- Using Mobile Phones for High-Frequency Data Collection; 2015; Azevedo, J. P.; Ballivian, A.; Durbin, W.
- Willingness of Online Access Panel Members to Participate in Smartphone Application-Based Research; 2015; Pinter, R.
- Who Has Access to Mobile Devices in an Online Opt-in Panel? An Analysis of Potential Respondents for...; 2015; Revilla, M.; Toninelli, D.; Ochoa, C.; Loewe, G.
- Who Are the Internet Users, Mobile Internet Users, and Mobile-Mostly Internet Users?: Demographic Differences...; 2015; Antoun, C.
- Optimizing the Decennial Census for Mobile – A Case Study; 2015; Nichols, E. M.; Hawala, E. O.; Horwitz, R.; Bentley, M.
- App vs. Web for Surveys of Smartphone Users: Experimenting with mobile apps for signal-contingent experience...; 2015; McGeeney, K.; Keeter, S.; Igielnik, R.; Smith, A.; Rainie, L.
- On the Go: How Mobile Participants Affect Survey Results; 2015; Barlas, F. M.; Thomas, R. K.
- Variance Estimation for Surveys from Internet Panels ; 2015; Rivers, D.
- Sensitivity Analysis of Bias of Estimates from Web Surveys with Nonrandomized Panel Selection; 2015; Beresovsky, V.
- Detecting Fraud in a Survey Sample Recruited Online; 2015; Brown, D.; Dever, J. A.; Augustson, E.; Squiers, L.
- On Climbing Stairs Many Steps at a Time: The New Normal in Survey Methodology; 2015; Dillman, D. A.
- Mobile Research Methods: Opportunities and challenges of mobile research methodologies. ; 2015; Toninelli, D. (Ed.); Pinter, R.; de Pedraza, P.
- Explorations in Non - Probability Sampling Using the Web; 2015; Brick, J. M.
- On Bias Adjustments for Web Surveys; 2015; Fan, L.; Lou, W.; Landsman, V.
- Web panel surveys – a challenge for official statistics; 2015; Svensson, J.
- Estimation with Non-probability Surveys and the Question of External Validity; 2015; Dever, J. A.; Valliant, R. L.
- Can Non-full-probability Internet Surveys Yield Useful Data? A Comparison with Full-probability Face...; 2015; Simmons, A.D.; Bobo, L. D.
- The Cathie Marsh lecture: What does the failure of the polls tell us about the future of survey research...; 2015; Sturgis, P., Matheson, J.
- Hidden Populations, Online Purposive Sampling, and External Validity: Taking off the Blindfold; 2015; Barrat, M. J.; Ferris, J. A.; Lenton, S.
- Mixed Mode Design Considerations; 2015; Hupp, A.
- Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys 2015; 2015
- Analysis of four recruitment methods for obtaining normative data through a Web-based questionnaire:...; 2015; Nolte, M. T.; Shauver, M. J.; Chung, K. C.
- Doing online research involving university students with disabilities: Methodological issues; 2015; De Cesarei, A.; Baldaro, B.
- Understanding Society Innovation Panel Wave 7: Results from Methodological Experiments; 2015; Blom, A. G.; Burton, J.; Booker, C. L.; Cernat, A.; Fairbrother, M.; Jaeckle, A.; Kaminska, O.; Keusch...
- Correcting for non-response bias in contingent valuation surveys concerning environmental non-market...; 2015; Bonnichsen, O.; Boye Olsen, S.
- An Introduction to Survey Research; 2015; Cowles, E. L.; Nelson, E.
- HUFFPOLLSTER: Pollsters Debate If Modern Surveys Can Be Trusted; 2015; Blumenthal, M.; Edwards-Levy, A.; Velencia, J.
- Using Internet to Recruit Immigrants with Language and Culture Barriers for Tobacco and Alcohol Use...; 2015; Carlini, B. H.; Safioti, L.; Rue, T. C.; Miles, L.
- Online Recruitment Methods for Web-Based and Mobile Health Studies: A Review of the Literature; 2015; Lane, T. S.; Armin, J.; Gordon, Ju. S.
- iTunes Song-Gifting is a Low-Cost, Efficient Recruitment Tool to Engage High-Risk MSM in Internet Research...; 2015; Holland, C. M.; Ritchie, N. D.; Du Bois, S. N.
- Comparing the Similarity of Responses Received from Studies in Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to Studies...; 2015; Bartneck, C.; Duenser, A.; Moltchanova, E.; Zawieska, K.
- Recruiting Online: Lessons From a Longitudinal Survey of Contraception and Pregnancy Intentions of Young...; 2015; Harris, M. L.; Loxton, D.; Wigginton, B.; Lucke, J. C.
- Recruiting for addiction research via Facebook; 2015; Thornton, L. K.; Harris, K.; Baker, A.; Johnson, M.; Kay-Lambkin, F. J.
- Can a non-probabilistic online panel achieve question quality similar to that of the European Social...; 2015; Revilla, M.; Saris, W. E.; Loewe, G.; Ochoa, C.
- Innovative Recruitment Using Online Networks: Lessons Learned From an Online Study of Alcohol and Other...; 2015; Bauermeister, J. A.; Zimmerman, M. A.; Johns, M. M.; Glowacki, P. F.; Stoddard, S. A.; Volz, E. M.
- Probabilistic Web Survey Methodology in Education Centers: An Example in Spanish Schools; 2015; Tapia, J. A., Menendez, J. A.
- Understanding Participation in a Web-Based Measurement Burst Design: Response Metrics and Predictors...; 2015; Griffin, J., Patrick, M. E.
- Facebook as a Tool for Respondent Tracing; 2015; Schneider, S. J., Burke-Garcia, A., Thomas, G.