Web Survey Bibliography
Title Influence of Importance Statements and Box Size on Response Rate and Response Quality of Open-Ended Questions in Web/mail Mixed-Mode Surveys
Author Kumar Chaudhary, A.; Israel, G. D.
Source Journal of Rural Social Sciences; 31, 3, pp. 140-159
Year 2016
Access date 25.08.2017
Abstract To understand the thinking behind respondents’ answers, researchers occasionally use open-ended questions. Getting a quality response to open-ended questions can be challenging but attending to the visual design of the question and using a motivational statement in the question can increase item response and data quality. To understand the use of open-ended questions in surveys further, we designed an experiment testing the effect of an importance statement (present/absent) and box size (large/small) on item response rate and response quality in a mixed-mode (web and mail modes) survey. Data for the study came from a survey of Florida Cooperative Extension Service (FCES) clients. The results showed that item response was improved with the importance prompt, irrespective of box size. The combination of importance statement and larger answer box also resulted in more words. Web responses produced more words than those on paper and words counts were significantly improved with an importance prompt for web responses. Overall, the combination of importance prompt, larger box size and web mode was most important in producing the best item response rate and response quality in our mixed-mode survey.
Access/Direct link Journal Homepage (abstract) / (full text)
Year of publication2016
Bibliographic typeJournal article
Web survey bibliography - Israel, G. D. (9)
- Influence of Importance Statements and Box Size on Response Rate and Response Quality of Open-Ended...; 2016; Kumar Chaudhary, A.; Israel, G. D.
- Effect of Clarifying Instructions on Response to Numerical Open-ended Questions in Self-administered...; 2016; Kumar Chaudhary, A.; Israel, G. D.
- Can An Importance Prompt Reduce Item Nonresponse For Demographic Items Across Web and Mail Modes?; 2015; Israel, G. D.
- Using Mixed-Mode Contacts in Client Surveys: Getting More Bang for Your Buck; 2013; Israel, G. D.
- Using Motivating Prompts to Increase Responses to Open-ended Questions in Mixed-mode Surveys: Where...; 2013; Israel, G. D.
- Combining Mail and E-Mail Contacts to Facilitate Participation in Mixed-Mode Surveys; 2013; Israel, G. D.
- Using Mixed-Mode Contacts to Facilitate Participation in Public Agency Client Surveys; 2012; Israel, G. D.
- Item Nonresponse in a Client Survey of the General Public; 2012; Israel, G. D., Lamm, A. J.
- Using Web-Hosted Surveys to Obtain Responses from Extension Clients: A Cautionary Tale.; 2010; Israel, G. D.