Web Survey Bibliography
Title Navigation Patterns in Web Surveys
Author Ramirez, C. M.
Year 2002
Access date 04.05.2004
Abstract Respondent navigation through web surveys has emerged as an important design consideration. Log files from four web surveys conducted by the U.S. GAO in 2000 and 2001 are analyzed to detect common patterns of navigation through multi-page web surveys. It was hypothesized that some respondents attempt to gauge the length and content of self-administered surveys before deciding to participate. We expected to see many respondents moving quickly through some or all pages of a questionnaire, without answering individual items, before returning to the first page of the questionnaire to begin responding. While this pattern was observed to some extent, other variations in navigational patterns were more common. Navigational behavior of web survey respondents has important ramifications for questionnaire layout, choice of navigational tools, instructions, and information (such as progress indicators) provided to respondents during a survey. If participants confronted with certain survey tasks routinely exhibit navigational behaviors such as jumping back and forth between widely separated questions to ensure consistency with earlier answers, or if they preview the entire questionnaire before responding, survey designers would do well to accommodate those behaviors. The paper also uses the log files to make observations about patterns of abandonment, and concludes by briefly reviewing some findings from usability testing in other computerized self-administered modes, such as audio-CASI, to note similarities and differences.
Year of publication2002
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
Web Survey Bibliography - The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) 57th Annual Conference, 2002 (35)
- Navigating the Rapids of Change: Some Observations on Survey Methodology in the Early 21st Century; 2002; Dillman, D. A.
- Civic Engagement, Social Trust, and Online Deliberation; 2002; Goldthwaite, D., Price, V., Cappella, J. N.
- A Mixed-mode Internet and Telephone Survey in a Technology-rich Environment; 2002; Marton, K., Sumartojo, R. Kosicki, G. M., Horner, L. R.
- Comparison of Response Rates and Quality of Response in a Survey Conducted by Mail, Email and Web; 2002; Lesser, V. M., Newton, L.
- Face-to-Face vs. Web-enabled Panel Interviews on Magazine Reading: A Mode Comparison; 2002; Mattlin, J.
- Internet-based Survey Research in the U.S. Navy; 2002; Olmsted, M. G.
- Statistical Data Validation in Web Instruments:An Empirical Study; 2002; Peytchev, A., Petrova, E.A.
- Transitioning Phone and Mail Studies to an Online Venue: Factors for Consideration; 2002; Park, J. M., Collier, D.
- U.S. Army Web-based, Internet Surveys; 2002; Lynn, M.
- U. S. Air Force Surveys; 2002; Hamilton, C. H., Datko, L. M., Bell, J.
- A Computer Tool that Helps Survey Methodologists Improve the Comprehensibility of Questions; 2002; Graesser, A., Karnavat, A., Daniel, K. F., Cooper, E., Cai, Z., Whitten, S., Louwerse, M., Bartlett,...
- Using the Internet to Reach an Elite Population: What Works, What Doesn't?; 2002; Grigorian, K. H., Rosenlund, A., Sokolowski, J.
- Combining Online and CATI Data Collection Techniques With Web-Based Reporting to Measurably Improve...; 2002; Feld, K. G., Stone, W. K.
- Triangulation: Three Modes Measuring HIV-Related Knowledge and Stigma in the U.S; 2002; Fichtner, R., Knight, S., Lentine, D.
- Navigation Patterns in Web Surveys; 2002; Ramirez, C. M.
- Why Internet Samples Are Inherently Biased; 2002; Neustadtl, A., Kestnbaum, M., Robinson, J. P.
- Methods for Improving Compliance in Exposure Studies; 2002; Dimitropoulos, L., Thalji, L., Weibe, L.
- The Impact of Privacy and Security Concerns on the Willingness to Provide Sensitive Information about...; 2002; Aoki, K., Elasmar, M. G.
- Mode-Effects in Web Surveys?; 2002; Bandilla, W., Bosnjak, M.
- The Prospects for Electronic Mail Surveys; 2002; Groussett, R., Fournier, A., Kalinowski, L., Best, S. J.
- Prepaid and Promised Incentives in Web Surveys: An Experiment; 2002; Bosnjak, M., Tuten, T. L.
- A Nonresponse Analysis of a Mail-Web Mode Comparison; 2002; Boyd, C. J., Crawford, S. D., McCabe, S. E., Couper, M. P.
- An Experimental Comparison of Knowledge Networks and The GSS; 2002; Bradburn, N. M.
- Examining Item Non-Response in a Mixed Mode Customer Satisfaction Study; 2002; Burr, M. A., Famolaro, T., Levin, K.
- Web Survey Nonresponse Among Military Members; 2002; Caplan, J. R.
- Comparing Self-administered Computer Surveys and Auditory Interviews: An Experiment; 2002; Chang, L. C., Krosnick, J. A.
- Paper and Pencil versus Web Survey. Measurement Effects and Mode Differences; 2002; Fuchs, M.
- Usability Testing of Web Data Collection Instruments; 2002; Thalji, L., Antunes, M. J., Wiebe, E. F.
- Nonresponse Error and Mode Effects in the Web-Enabled Survey on Civic Attitudes and Behaviors after...; 2002; Thalji, L., Langer, M., Pulliam, P., Wiebe, E. F.
- Not Sure About "Don't Know"?: Effects of Response Choice in Mixed Mode Surveys; 2002; Terhanian, G., Thomas, R. K., Bremer, J., Smith, R.
- More Is Not Necessarily Better: Effects of Response Categories on Measurement Stability and Validity; 2002; Thomas, R. K., Uldall, B. R., Krosnick, J. A.
- A Web-based Experiment to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Vaccine Information Sheets; 2002; Turner, A., Thalji, L., Wagers, R., Laird, G., Heaps, W.
- Reliability and Validity of Web-based Surveys: Effects of Response Modality, Item Format, and Number...; 2002; Uldall, B. R., Thomas, R. K., Krosnick, J. A.
- Mode Effect in Web Surveys; 2002; Vehovar, V., Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Characteristics of Respondents to a Web Survey of the General Public; 2002; Tarnai, J., Thom, A.