Web Survey Bibliography
Title Achieving high response rates on web-based surveys of post-secondary students
Author Nichols, L.B., Ghadialy, R.
Year 2003
Access date 07.05.2004
Abstract For years, the Internet has intrigued survey researchers for its potential to overcome historic obstacles associated with self-administered (SAQ), paper-and-pencil (PAPI) surveys. Losing surveys in the mail and costly reliance on data entry programming, training, and staffing are two key hurdles that all SAQ, PAPI surveys encounter. The challenge, then, is to use this technology in a way that is scientifically rigorous and employs the best features of the Internet, namely the inherent democratic nature of the tool, improved sample monitoring capabilities, the relative ease of data transmission, minimal case costs, and improved data quality. The most daunting of all the challenges that Internet surveys face is achieving high response rates.
In 2002, NORC launched a web-based survey of over 9,000 minority students who received scholarships to attend the colleges or universities of their choice. This was the base year of a five-year longitudinal survey designed to measure the life outcomes of the scholarship recipients and a sample of scholarship non-recipients. The study will track the students over the next five years and gather information related to their college experiences, civic engagement and professional lives.
This paper will show that it is possible to launch a large-scale, web-based survey of post-secondary students that garners high response by using the Dillman Method. The paper will review NORC’s history of launching web surveys and provide information from other web surveys to contextualize NORC’s specific experience on the scholarship study. The paper will then go on to present response rates, respondent contact methods and special treatments used during data collection to boost response rates. Through this, we hope to sketch a framework for successfully implementing large-scale, web-based surveys and achieving high response rates with student populations.
In 2002, NORC launched a web-based survey of over 9,000 minority students who received scholarships to attend the colleges or universities of their choice. This was the base year of a five-year longitudinal survey designed to measure the life outcomes of the scholarship recipients and a sample of scholarship non-recipients. The study will track the students over the next five years and gather information related to their college experiences, civic engagement and professional lives.
This paper will show that it is possible to launch a large-scale, web-based survey of post-secondary students that garners high response by using the Dillman Method. The paper will review NORC’s history of launching web surveys and provide information from other web surveys to contextualize NORC’s specific experience on the scholarship study. The paper will then go on to present response rates, respondent contact methods and special treatments used during data collection to boost response rates. Through this, we hope to sketch a framework for successfully implementing large-scale, web-based surveys and achieving high response rates with student populations.
Access/Direct link
Homepage - conference (abstract)
Year of publication2004
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
Web Survey Bibliography - Canada (111)
- Recruiting Probability-Based Web Panel Members Using an Address-Based Sample Frame: Results from a Pilot...; 2009; DiSogra, C., Callegaro, M., Hendarwan, E.
- Can a moral reasoning exercise improve response quality to surveys of healthcare priorities?; 2009; Johri, M.
- The Multi-Modal Future of Mobile Research: A Holistic Viewpoint; 2009; Cameron, M. R.
- Design Variations in Adaptive Web Sampling; 2008; Vincent, K. S.
- Effects of Pre-coding Response Options for Five Point Satisfaction Scale in Web Surveys; 2008; Callegaro, M., Wells, T., Kruse, Y.
- National Surveys Via RDD Telephone Interviewing vs. the Internet: Comparing Sample Representativeness...; 2008; Chang, L. C., Krosnick, J. A.
- Enhancing the Travel Survey Process and Data Using the CATI System ; 2008; Morency, C.
- Between random samples and online panels; 2008; Crassweller, A., Rogers, J.
- Client run panels & web 2.0; 2008; Byam, A., Smith, J., Sykes, E.
- Use of a website to evaluate quality of work-life and quality of life among community workers helping...; 2008; Dupuis, G.
- 2006 Canadian Census Internet Mode Effect Study; 2008; Grondin, C., Sun, L.,
- Response Audit of an Internet Survey of Health Care Providers and Administrators: Implications for Determination...; 2008; Dobrow, M. J., Orchard, M. C., Golden, B.; Holowaty, E., Paszat, L., Brown, A. D., Sullivan, T.
- Web survey and representativeness: Close to three in ten Canadians do not have access to the Internet...; 2007; Bourque, C., Lafrance, S.
- An Internet-Based Stated Choices Household Survey for Alternative Fuelled Vehicles ; 2007; Potoglou, D., Kanaroglou, P. S.
- ONLINE DATA COLLECTION – SOLUTION OR BAND-AID?; 2007; Crassweller, A., Williams, D., Thompson, I.
- An Approach to Compare Online Survey Generating Tools; 2007; Zhang, J., Zhao, N.
- Internet and written respiratory questionnaires yield equivalent results for adolescents; 2007; Raat, H.,Mangunkusumo, R. T., Mohangoo, A. D., Juniper, E. F., Van Der Lei, J.
- What Difference Do Guidelines Make? An Observational Study of Online-questionnaire Design Guidelines...; 2006; Lumsden, J., Flinn, S., Anderson, M., Morgan, W.
- Privacy laws, internet scams and other challenges affecting panel research Strategies to mitigate risk...; 2006; Stark, D.
- Efficient Multimode Data Collection; 2006; Dolson, D.
- Formative Evaluation and Three-Month Follow-Up of an Online Personalized Assessment Feedback Intervention...; 2006; Cunningham, J. A., Humphreys, K., Kypri, K., van Mierlo, T.
- Online-Questionnaire Design: Establishing Guidelines and Evaluating Existing Support; 2005; Lumsden, J., Morgan, W.
- Sex, gender and self-concept: Understanding Internet usage rates for relationship-building applications...; 2005; Hupfer, M. E., Detlor, B.
- Challenges of Internet Recruitment: A Case Study with Disappointing Results; 2005; Koo, M., Skinner, H.
- Understanding the question-answer process; 2004; Bradburn, N. M.
- Internet Versus Mailed Questionnaires: A Randomized Comparison (2); 2004; Leece, P., Bhandari, M., Swiontkowski, M., Schemitsch, E., Tornetta, P., Devereaux, P. J., Guyatt, G...
- Conducting market research using the Internet: the case of Xenon Laboratories; 2004; Lockett, A., Blackman, I.
- Nurses' autonomy: influence of nurse managers' actions; 2004; Mrayyan, M. T.
- Comparison of the quality of qualitative data obtained through telephone, postal and email surveys; 2004; Coderre, F., St-Laurent, N., Mathieu, A.
- Web/Electronic Surveys: Description of Electronic Data Reporting Processes at Statistics Canada (Past...; 2004; Dubois, M. A.
- Applying New Methodologies in a Longitudinal Study of Young Conservative Jews; 2004; Keysar, A., Kosmin, B.
- Ethical Dilemmas in Research on Internet Communities; 2004; Flicker, S., Haans, D., Skinner, H.
- Hotlists and Web browsing behavior - an empirical investigation; 2004; Thakor, M. V., Borsuk, W., Kalamas, M.
- The Canadian experience in developing an outdoor reach & frequency model. Getting from there to here...; 2003; Falbo, M. E., van der Burgt, J.
- First installation of a virtual CATI phone room with full telephony integration; 2003; Tanguay, L.
- Achieving high response rates on web-based surveys of post-secondary students; 2003; Nichols, L.B., Ghadialy, R.
- The Effects of Cash, Electronic, and Paper Gift Certificates as Respondent Incentives for a Web-Based...; 2003; Birnholtz, J. P., Horn, D. B., Finholt, T. A., Bae, S. J.
- Comparing Internet “River,” Internet; 2003; Feld, K. G.
- Design implementation of a Multimode Web Survey; 2003; Wine, S.J., Cominole, M.B., Carwile, D.S., Perry, K.
- Partnering with a Newspaper to Assess Community Opinion Online; 2003; Downs, E.P., Lindley, A.M.
- Implementing a Web Survey Administration System at the GAO; 2003; Feldesman, A.G.
- Using Internet-Based Surveys With Physicians, What Works and What Doesn't Work; 2003; Schneiderman, M., Thran, S., Adams, C., Lerner, B.
- Using RGI (Respondent Generated Interval) to gather factual information in a web survey; 2003; Lusinchi, P.D.
- Can What We Don’t Know (about “Don’t Know”) Hurt Us?: Effects of Item Non-response...; 2003; Krosnick, J. A., Behnke, C. S., Lafond, C.R., Thomas, R. K.
- Web-Based Surveys for Data Gathering from Medical Educators: An Exploration of the Efficacy and Impact...; 2002; Lee, C., Frank, J. R., Cole, G., Mikhael, N. Z., Miles, C. A.
- An Evaluation of Nonresponse Bias in Internet Surveys Conducted Using the Knowledge Networks Panel; 2002; Seryakova, K., Dennis, J. M., Huggins, V. J.
- Assessment of Mode-Effects in a Web-enabled Study of Civic Attitudes; 2002; Laird, G., Wiebe, E. F., Thalji, L., Pulliam, P.
- Government Perspective on Data Stewardship for Statistical Data; 2002; Brackstone, G., White, P.
- The Internet and Time Displacement: A Canadian Perspective; 2002; Pronovost, G.
- Privacy Perceptions and Online Practices; 2002; Viseu, A., Clement, A., Aspinall, J.