Effects of screening questionnaires on response in a two-phase postal survey. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Douglas; Brick, J. Michael; Montaquila, Jill M.; Han, Daifeng
• Is Part Of: International journal of social research methodology. Volume 19:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: nonresponse follow-up -- sensitive items -- tailoring; Sociology -- Research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1080/13645579.2014.950786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-5579

Abstract

Abstract : For surveys targeting specific population groups, the two-phase postal approach (screener followed by a topical survey sent to eligible households) has been demonstrated to be more effective at identifying population domains of interest than random digit dial telephone methods considering cost, coverage, and response. An important question is how best to motivate screener response from eligible households. In 2011, we conducted a large-scale field test to empirically test a number of methods for motivating response. We fielded screening surveys that varied content-influencing relevance, and also switched screener questionnaires for following up nonrespondents to the initial postal survey – an approach we have labeled responsive tailoring. In another experiment, we tested the effect of asking for first names in the screener questionnaire. In this article, we describe the effects of these experimental treatments on response to both the screener and the topical survey.