Web Survey Bibliography
Title The Mobile Web Only Population: Socio-demographic Characteristics and Potential Bias
Author Fuchs, M.; Metzler, A.
Year 2016
Access date 03.06.2016
Abstract
In recent years the use of mobile devices such as smart phones or tablet PCs to complete Web surveys has grown steadily. Thus, survey researchers are facing new challenges when designing Web survey questionnaires. Among others, screen sizes are considerably smaller for mobile devices as compared to desktop PC or notebooks. Also, mobile W
eb respondents are using touch screen data entry instead of a mouse. Accordingly, the question arises whether Web survey questionnaires should be optimized for mobile devices in order to avoid under representation of respondents using mobile devicesdue to difficulty arising from the small screen size and touch screen technology. Since most Web survey respondents still have a desktop PC or notebook available to access the internet optimizing questionnaires for mobile devices may not be necessary avoiding potential differential measurement error. In this paper we assess the so-called mobile Web only respondents who no longer have access to the internet using a desktop PC or notebook. It is assumed that this group is most likely underrepresented in Web surveys not optimized for mobile devises resulting in a potential bias. Using Eurobarometer data from 2012 to 2014 across 27 European countries we estimated the size of the mobile Web only population. Results indicate that the percentage of mobile Web onlys increased from 1.5 percent in 2012 to 6.2 percent in 2014 across Europe. A more detailed analysis indicated that the mobile Web only population is younger, more likely female, less educated, more often living in small or middle sized towns and more often single. Overall, results suggest that Web survey questionnaires should be optimized for mobile devices since exclusion or underrepresentation of the mobile Web onlys may cause considerable bias.
eb respondents are using touch screen data entry instead of a mouse. Accordingly, the question arises whether Web survey questionnaires should be optimized for mobile devices in order to avoid under representation of respondents using mobile devicesdue to difficulty arising from the small screen size and touch screen technology. Since most Web survey respondents still have a desktop PC or notebook available to access the internet optimizing questionnaires for mobile devices may not be necessary avoiding potential differential measurement error. In this paper we assess the so-called mobile Web only respondents who no longer have access to the internet using a desktop PC or notebook. It is assumed that this group is most likely underrepresented in Web surveys not optimized for mobile devises resulting in a potential bias. Using Eurobarometer data from 2012 to 2014 across 27 European countries we estimated the size of the mobile Web only population. Results indicate that the percentage of mobile Web onlys increased from 1.5 percent in 2012 to 6.2 percent in 2014 across Europe. A more detailed analysis indicated that the mobile Web only population is younger, more likely female, less educated, more often living in small or middle sized towns and more often single. Overall, results suggest that Web survey questionnaires should be optimized for mobile devices since exclusion or underrepresentation of the mobile Web onlys may cause considerable bias.
Access/Direct link Conference Homepage (abstract)
Year of publication2016
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
Web survey bibliography - Fuchs, M. (33)
- Dynamic Instructions in Check-All-That-Apply Questions ; 2016; Kunz, T.; Fuchs, M.
- The Mobile Web Only Population: Socio-demographic Characteristics and Potential Bias ; 2016; Fuchs, M.; Metzler, A.
- The use and positioning of clarification features in web surveys; 2016; Metzler, A., Kunz, T., Fuchs, M.
- Recruiting Respondents for a Mobile Phone Panel: The Impact of Recruitment Question Wording on Cooperation...; 2015; Busse, B.; Fuchs, M.
- Nonresponse and Measurement Bias in Web surveys ; 2015; Metzler, A.; Fuchs, M.
- Positioning of Clarification Features in Open Frequency and Open Narrative Questions; 2015; Fuchs, M.; Metzler, A.
- Instant Interactive Feedback in Grid Questions: Reminding Web Survey; 2014; Kunz, T., Fuchs, M.
- Respondent Choice of Survey Mode; 2013; Fuchs, M.
- Using Eye Tracking Data to Understand Respondent's Processing of Rating Scales; 2013; Kunz, T., Fuchs, M.
- Dynamic Visual Design for List-Style Open-Ended Questions in Web Surveys; 2013; Fuchs, M.
- Using interactive feedback to enhance response quality in Web surveys. The case of open-ended questions...; 2013; Emde, M., Fuchs, M.
- Reducing Response Order Effects in Check-All-That-Apply Questions by Use of Dynamic Tooltip Instructions...; 2013; Kunz, T., Fuchs, M.
- Effects of Static versus Dynamic Formatting Instructions for Open-Ended Numerical Questions in Web Surveys...; 2012; Kunz, T., Fuchs, M.
- Exploring Animated Faces Scales in Web Surveys: Drawbacks and Prospects; 2012; Emde, M., Fuchs, M.
- Video enhanced web survey; 2011; Fuchs, M., Kunz, T., Gebhard, F.
- The Coverage Bias of Mobile Web Surveys; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- The Coverage Bias of Mobile Web Surveys Across European Countries ; 2009; Fuchs, M., Busse, B.
- Are people sharing their mobile phones? Selection probabilities in cellular telephone surveys; 2009; Fuchs, M., Busse, B.
- Is a cell phone really a personal device? Results from the first wave of a mobile phone panel on sharing...; 2009; Fuchs, M., Busse, B.
- Are Respondents Sharing their Mobile Phones? Preliminary results based on a mobile phone panel in Germany...; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- Dynamic feedback in open-ended questions: Experiments on the visual design language of Web surveys; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- The relative coverage bias caused by the mobile-only population across Europe; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- The Video-Enhanced Web Survey Data Quality and Cognitive Processing of Questions; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- Gender-of-Interviewer Effects in a Video-Enhanced Web Survey: Results from a Randomized Field Experiment...; 2009; Fuchs, M.
- Mobile web surveys: A preliminary discussion of methodological implications; 2008; Fuchs, M.
- Response Effects in Video-enhanced Web Surveys; 2008; Fuchs, M.
- The relative Coverage Error in Telephone Surveys caused by Mobile-Only Populations across Europe; 2008; Fuchs, M.
- Communicative Channels, Cognitive Processes and Question Understanding: Results from a Randomized Field...; 2008; Fuchs, M.
- Gender-of-Interviewer Effects in Video-Enhanced Web Surveys. Results from a Randomized Field-Experiment...; 2008; Fuchs, M.
- Using Audio and Video Clips in Web Surveys — Feasibility and Impact on Data Quality; 2007; Fuchs, M., Funke, F.
- Cognitive processes when answering online questionnaires; 2002; Fuchs, M.
- Cognitive processes in Web Surveys; 2002; Fuchs, M.
- Technology Effects: Do CAPI or PAPI Interviews Take Longer?; 2000; Fuchs, M., Couper, M. P., Hansen, S. E.