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In times of declining response rates and over-surveying, improving our understanding of why people participate in surveys is more important than ever. Previous research showed that online panel participants have intrinsic (e.g., topic interest, altruism) and extrinsic (e.g., incentives) participation reasons. Our study expands this research by implementing an experiment using two common forms of survey measurement: ranking and rating. The experiment was fielded in a professional respondents' sample from a German online panel (n = 407) and in an address-based sample (mail and online) of German non-professional respondents (n = 1,137). Besides extrinsic and intrinsic motivations, the experiment included various study design features (i.e., mode, length, data security) and the mood during the time of contact as possible reasons for participation. The results confirm previous findings regarding the motivations of online panelists but also show important differences between professional and non-professional respondents. Specifically, the main participation reasons of professionals are topic interest (intrinsic) and incentives (extrinsic), while non-professionals are primarily motivated by intrinsic reasons (topic interest and purpose of study). This notion is also supported by the Latent Class Analyses, which showed that three of the four classes for professional respondents had a high probability of naming incentives as one of their main reasons for survey participation, whereas none of the four non-professional clusters rated incentives highly. The differences between the two samples highlight that professional panel members have different motivation structures than participants in general population surveys. This may undermine generalizability, but it also provides opportunities for targeted recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since cash lotteries are frequently employed to stimulate participation in web surveys sampled from online access panels, the present study assesses the research gap concerning the relevance of respondents knowing their odds of winning these cash lotteries. Prior studies on the use of cash lotteries have not provided the odds of winning to respondents, which may have obscured their effects. Based on an experiment in which we varied the number of prizes, the size of prizes, and whether respondents knew the odds of winning, we replicated the findings of prior studies on the use of cash lotteries. Most importantly, our findings show that knowing the odds of winning cash lotteries did not affect the participation in our survey and did not influence the effects of other survey design elements. In our study, we provide survey practitioners with recommendations on the use of cash lotteries in online access panels and close with an outlook for future research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining written consent prior to any study enrolment is an ethical issue and especially important when a study focuses on vulnerable population groups, such as children. However, parental willingness to participate in a study focused on children can significantly distort findings and lead to false conclusions. This is especially important for inflating childhood obesity rates, when interventions rely on such results could fail greatly. We compared state of nourishment (based on IOTF criteria) and cardiometabolic risk of 226 children for which parental active consent (45.1%) or passive consent (54.9%) was provided. In the active consent group, state of nourishment for boys was underestimated, while for girls, underweight and normal weight were overestimated, and overweight and obesity were underestimated. Parents with obese children (p=0.019) and parents of a male child (p=0.017) were more likely to provide passive consent. In the passive consent group, children had higher cardiometabolic risk (p=0.017). Unemployment (p<0.001) and high-school diploma, especially for mothers were indicators of passive consent. Interestingly, all parents with the lowest and the highest education level provided passive consent. Our findings clearly show distorted prevalence rates of overweight/obesity in children as a result of parental willingness to participate in the study, which are mediated with parental education and employment status. More effort is needed to obtain representative data on such an important public health problem like childhood obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In times of decreasing response rates and survey participation, many 'best-practices' have been developed for increasing survey recruitment. However, most of these have never been adequately and experimentally scrutinized for their efficacy. Therefore, in this research note, we draw on probability-based data of an online panel and experimentally examine whether it is possible to increase survey participation behavior by communicating a deadline extension. Overall, our results show that it is possible to influence participation behavior by deadline communication. While overall response speed was significantly faster when a deadline extension was communicated, the overall response rate was slightly lower, compared to scenarios in which no deadline extension was communicated. Thus, we refrain from recommending a deadline extension unless there are specific reasons to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As response rates continue to decline, the need to learn more about the survey participation process remains an important task for survey researchers. Search engine data may be one possible source for learning about what information some potential respondents are looking up about a survey when they are making a participation decision. In the present study, we explored the potential of search engine data for learning about survey participation and how it can inform survey design decisions. We drew on freely available Google Trends (GT) data to learn about the use of Google Search with respect to our case study: participation in the Family Research and Demographic Analysis (FReDA) panel survey. Our results showed that some potential respondents were using Google Search to gather information on the FReDA survey. We also showed that the additional data obtained via GT can help survey researchers to discover topics of interest to respondents and geographically stratified search patterns. Moreover, we introduced different approaches for obtaining data via GT, discussed the challenges that come with these data, and closed with practical recommendations on how survey researchers might utilize GT data to learn about survey participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in web survey methodology were motivated by the observation that respondents increasingly use mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to participate in web surveys. Even though we do not doubt this general observation, we argue that the claim is lacking a solid empirical basis. Most research on increasing mobile device use in web surveys covers limited periods of time and/or analyzes data from only one study or panel. There is a surprising lack of comprehensive overviews on the magnitude of mobile device use in web surveys. In the present study, we explored this research gap by analyzing data from 128 web surveys collected in four different academic studies in Germany between 2012 and 2020. Overall, we found strong empirical evidence for an increase in smartphone use, a stagnation in tablet use, and a decrease in desktop PC use. There was no evidence that the increase in smartphone use will slow down any time soon. Thus, we recommend that survey researchers prepare for a device change in web surveys that may enable new applications in web surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low survey participation from online panel members is a key challenge for market and social researchers. We identify 10 key drivers of panel members' online survey participation from a qualitative study and then determine empirically using a stated choice experiment the relative importance of each of those drivers at aggregate and segment levels. We contribute to knowledge on survey participation by (a) eliciting key drivers of survey participation by online panel members, (b) determining the relative importance of each driver, and (c) accounting for heterogeneity across panel members in the importance assigned to drivers. Findings offer immediate practical guidance to market and social researchers on how to increase participation in surveys using online panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millennials have been the focus of quite some research because of their differences with older cohorts. Besides, young respondents have been considered as a hard target population for surveys. However, to our knowledge, no research has compared the levels and types of survey participation of the Millennials versus the older generations. Using a dataset of 1,570,301 panelists of an opt-in online panel in eight countries from Europe, Latin America, and North America, we show that Millennials differ from older cohorts in terms of survey participation. Millennials show lower participation rates than older cohorts. Moreover, they present significantly higher proportions of surveys answered using smartphones. However, differences across cohorts in terms of break-offs and survey evaluation are mainly nonsignificant and/or nonmeaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large-scale crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, has the potential to affect nonresponse in cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys. This study utilises a longitudinal survey, conducted prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, to examine the factors associated with participation in longitudinal surveys during the COVID-19 period, and how this has changed from prior to the pandemic. We find that a number of demographic groups are more likely to be non-responders to COVID-19 surveys, despite having completed pre-COVID surveys, as well as a number of other economic and personality factors. Reassuringly though, there were many more factors that did not have an association. The findings also highlight that two simple questions (with a low time cost) on subjective survey experience early in the pandemic were highly useful in predicting future survey participation. These findings can help to support survey practitioners and data collection companies to develop more robust response improvement strategies during the COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The healthy donor effect (HDE) is a selection bias caused by the health criteria blood donors must meet. It obscures investigations of beneficial/adverse health effects of blood donation and complicates the generalizability of findings from blood donor cohorts. To further characterize the HDE we investigated how self‐reported health and lifestyle are associated with becoming a blood donor, lapsing, and donation intensity. Furthermore, we examined differences in mortality based on donor status. Study Design and Methods: The Danish National Health Survey was linked to the Scandinavian Donations and Transfusions (SCANDAT) database and Danish register data. Logistic‐ and normal regression was used to compare baseline characteristics and participation. Poisson regression was used to investigate future donation choices. Donation intensity was explored by the Anderson‐Gill model and Poisson regression. Mortality was investigated using Poisson regression. Results: Blood donors were more likely to participate in the surveys, OR = 2.45 95% confidence interval (2.40–2.49) than non‐donors. Among survey participants, better self‐reported health and healthier lifestyle were associated with being or becoming a blood donor, donor retention, and to some extent donation intensity, for example, current smoking conveyed lower likelihood of becoming a donor, OR = 0.70 (0.66–0.75). We observed lower mortality for donors and survey participants, respectively, compared with non‐participating non‐donors. Conclusion: We provide evidence that blood donation is associated with increased likelihood to participate in health surveys, possibly a manifestation of the HDE. Furthermore, becoming a blood donor, donor retention, and donation intensity was associated with better self‐reported health and healthier lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining participation in voluntary establishment surveys poses a risk of increasing non‐response bias over time. In this paper, response rates and non‐response bias are examined for the 2010–2019 IAB Job Vacancy Survey. Using comprehensive administrative data, we formulate and test several theory‐driven hypotheses on survey participation and evaluate the potential of various machine learning algorithms for non‐response bias adjustment. The analysis revealed that while the response rate decreased during the decade, no concomitant increase in aggregate non‐response bias was observed. Several hypotheses of participation were at least partially supported. Lastly, the expanded use of administrative data reduced non‐response bias over the standard weighting variables, but only limited evidence was found for further non‐response bias reduction through the use of machine learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite high infant mortality rates in the United States relative to other developed countries, little is known about survey participation among mothers of deceased infants. Objective: To assess differences in survey response, contact and cooperation rates for mothers of deceased versus. living infants at the time of survey mailing (approximately 2–6 months postpartum), overall and by select maternal and infant characteristics. Methods: We analysed 2016–2019 data for 50 sites from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a site‐specific, population‐based surveillance system of mothers with a recent live birth. We assessed differences in survey participation between mothers of deceased and living infants. Using American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) standard definitions and terminology, we calculated proportions of mothers who participated and were successfully contacted among sampled mothers (weighted response and contact rates, respectively), and who participated among contacted mothers (weighted cooperation rate). We then constructed multivariable survey‐weighted logistic regression models to examine the adjusted association between infant vital status and weighted response, contact and cooperation rates, within strata of maternal and infant characteristics. Results: Among sampled mothers, 0.3% (weighted percentage, n = 2795) of infants had records indicating they were deceased at the time of survey mailing and 99.7% (weighted percentage, n = 344,379) did not. Mothers of deceased infants had lower unadjusted weighted response (48.3% vs. 56.2%), contact (67.9% vs. 74.3%) and cooperation rates (71.1% vs. 75.6%). However, after adjusting for covariates, differences in survey participation by infant vital status were reduced. Conclusions: After covariate adjustment, differences in PRAMS participation rates were attenuated. However, participation rates among mothers of deceased infants remain two to four percentage points lower compared with mothers of living infants. Strategies to increase PRAMS participation could inform knowledge about experiences and behaviours before, during and shortly after pregnancy to help reduce infant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone apps are increasingly being used for population-based survey research. Recruiting people to sign up for an app-based survey is, however, less straightforward compared to traditional surveys, which risks inflating nonresponse as well as the potential for nonresponse bias. By means of an experiment with over 44,000 recently registered job seekers, we present causal evidence on the effects of using different contact modes (email, postal letter, or preannouncement letter and email) on participation rates in an app-based panel survey. Further, using detailed administrative register data, we investigate whether contact modes differentially affect nonresponse bias. We also examine whether the mode of making contact has a lasting effect on panel participation rates and participation rates in momentary assessments collected using the experience sampling method (ESM). Overall, the preannouncement letter and email invitation strategy maximizes participation compared to stand-alone letters and emails, which do not differ significantly in terms of participation rates. Stand-alone letters and the preannouncement approach perform better than emails when it comes to panel participation and submitted ESM episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cross-sectional surveys, as well as in longitudinal panel studies, systematic gender differences in survey participation are routinely observed. Since there has been little research on this issue, this study seeks to reveal this association for web-based online surveys and computer-assisted telephone interviews in the context of a sequential mixed-mode design with a push-to-web method. Based on diverse versions of benefit--cost theories relating to deliberative and heuristic decision-making, several hypotheses are deduced and then tested by longitudinal data in the context of a multi-wave panel study on the educational and occupational trajectories of juveniles. Employing event history data on the survey participation of young panelists living in German-speaking cantons in Switzerland and matching them with geographical data at the macro level and panel characteristics at the meso level, none of the hypotheses is confirmed empirically. It is concluded that indirect measures of an individual's perceptions of a situation, and of the benefits and costs as well as the process and mechanisms of the decision relating to survey participation, are insufficient to explain this gender difference. Direct tests of these theoretical approaches are needed in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence from the household survey literature shows a declining response rate trend in recent decades, but whether a similar trend exists for voluntary establishment surveys is an understudied issue. This article examines trends in nonresponse rates and nonresponse bias over a period of 17 years in the annual cross-sectional refreshment samples of the IAB Establishment Panel in Germany. In addition, rich administrative data about the establishment and employee composition are used to examine changes in nonresponse bias and its two main components, refusal and noncontact, over time. Our findings show that response rates dropped by nearly a third: from 50.2% in 2001 to 34.5% in 2017. Simultaneously, nonresponse bias increased over this period, which was mainly driven by increasing refusal bias whereas noncontact bias fluctuated relatively evenly over the same period. Nonresponse biases for individual establishment and employee characteristics did not show a distinct pattern over time with few exceptions. Notably, larger establishments participated less frequently than smaller establishments over the entire period. This implies that survey organizations may need to put more effort into recruiting larger establishments to counteract nonresponse bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals throughout the world are being recruited into studies to examine the social impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While previous literature has illustrated how research participation can impact distress and wellbeing, to the authors' best knowledge no study has examined this in the COVID-19 context. Using an innovative approach, this study analyses the impacts of participation in a COVID-19 survey in Australia on subjective wellbeing through a survey experiment. At a population level, we find no evidence that participation impacts subjective wellbeing. However, this may not hold for those with mental health concerns and those living in financial insecurity. These findings provide the research community with a deeper understanding of the potential wellbeing impacts from COVID-19-related research participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical study examines, whether the weather situations during the different seasons in which panel surveys are carried out have an impact on the timing and extent of survey participation. Based on considerations regarding the panellists’ habits and their assessment of a participation's benefits and costs compared to alternative action, it is assumed that ‘pleasant’ weather diverts them from immediately completing the questionnaire while ‘unpleasant’ weather results in a higher degree of participation right after survey launch. The results of event history analysis based on longitudinal data from a multi-wave panel confirm these assumptions. Additionally, there seems to be an interaction between the season and the weather situation: ‘Pleasant’ weather in spring results in a lower participation rate compared to surveys in summer while, given the same weather situation, the participation rate is higher in autumn. Finally, it is evident that regardless of the season, heavy rainfall at the beginning of the field period is most beneficial for conducting an online survey in terms of both rapid response and high participation rates.

The increasing use of mobile devices in the frame of online surveys has been accompanied by the development of research apps. These research apps have the potential to facilitate the process for respondents (e.g. being able to complete surveys when Internet is not available provides more freedom on when and where participants can participate) and fieldwork companies (e.g. the possibility to use push notifications could lead to higher participation rates). However, previous research suggests that panelists may also be reluctant to install an app. In this study, we answer research questions related to the knowledge and use of the Netquest app. We found that a majority of panelist did not know about the app and although sending invitations significantly increased its installation, the overall total of respondents installing the app remained low. Furthermore, the profile of those who installed the app differs from those who did not. The participation of panelists after they installed the app seems stable. The main reason for installing the app is comfort while the main reason for not installing relates to space/battery usage. Most of those who did not install could accept to install the app. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survey non-response is a relevant but under-researched topic in a pandemic setting, which merits investigation for the unexpected consequences it can produce on the reliability of the survey results. In this paper we investigate non-response error, using data collected at the turn of the pandemic on a known sample of 5,605 individuals first involved in the Italian Lives panel (ITA.LI) and then invited to join an ad hoc survey on the health crisis (ITA.LI Covid-19). We compare respondents and non-respondents to ITA.LI Covid-19, using the multivariate logistic regression technique to estimate variations in the probability of taking part in the survey attributable to specific characteristics of the sample members. Our results highlight that highly-educated people, those who live alone, and people living in municipalities experiencing a higher growth of mortality rates after the pandemic outbreak are more likely to take part in the survey, while full-time workers are still less likely to participate. Based on these results, we formulate general recommendations on how to minimise non-response error when sampling frame data are available, both at the survey design stage and at the data management stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigates the extent to which participation of secondary respondents (SRs), here mothers, in a multi‐actor study is cross‐sectionally and longitudinally biased regarding relationship characteristics with the primary respondent (PR) of the same study. Background: Family research emphasizes the importance of analyzing family relations over time and from the perspectives of several family members. Following the leverage‐salience theory, selective (re‐)participation of PRs and SRs might bias a sample toward certain relationship characteristics, in particular over time. Method: For 8,579 PRs of the German Family Panel Study (www.pairfam.de/en/), it is analyzed whether or not their mothers as SRs participated in Wave 2 and 4. A latent class analysis identifies relationship types based on the PR's evaluation of "intergenerational solidarity and conflict". Their influence on the respondents' probability of (re‐)participation is examined using simultaneously estimated linear probability models. Results: Each of the four identified relationship types exhibited a particular but constant pattern of SR survey participation. This resulted in an overrepresentation of structurally and functionally closer relationships at each observation. This bias is mostly based on the PR's selectively given consent to interview her/his SR and to a smaller extent on the selective (re‐)participation of the SR or PR themselves. Conclusion: SR data are selective, but the degree of selectivity remains rather stable over time. We discuss these findings with respect to both data users and future data collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health expectancies are widely used by policymakers and scholars to analyse the number of years a person can expect to live in good health. Their calculation requires life tables in combination with prevalence rates of good or bad health from survey data. The structure of typical survey data, however, rarely resembles the education distribution in the general population. Specifically, low-educated individuals are frequently underrepresented in surveys, which is crucial given the strong positive correlation between educational attainment and good health. This is the first study to evaluate if and how health expectancies for 13 European countries are biased by educational differences in survey participation. To this end, calibrated weights that consider the education structure in the 2011 censuses are applied to measures of activity limitation in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The results show that health expectancies at age 50 are substantially biased by an average of 0.3 years when the education distribution in the general population is ignored. For most countries, health expectancies are overestimated; yet remarkably, the measure underestimates health for many Central and Eastern European countries by up to 0.9 years. These findings highlight the need to adjust for distortion in health expectancies, especially when the measure serves as a base for health-related policy targets or policy changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal surveys of older people are very powerful research resources to study social inequalities and monitor older people's health conditions. However, these surveys pose specific methodological challenges. Response at Wave 1 is a very serious issue; when respondents differ from non-respondents on the variables of interest, research findings may not be accurate. There is currently little knowledge on the processes that drive Wave 1 survey participation in longitudinal surveys of older people. Using a rich set of administrative and survey data from an Italian longitudinal study of older people, we explore the determinants of Wave 1 response and investigate the reasons for refusing to participate. Key findings are that (1) individuals whose partners took part in the survey are nearly four times more likely to participate than those whose partners did not, (2) older men and women show different response patterns, with widowers and women from deprived areas being less likely to respond, (3) the main reason for refusing survey participation is lack of interest in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survey researchers are actively seeking powerful auxiliary data sources capable of correcting for possible nonresponse bias in survey estimates of the general population. While several auxiliary data options exist, concerns about their usefulness for addressing nonresponse bias remain. One underutilized—but potentially rich—source of auxiliary data for nonresponse bias adjustment is federal administrative records. While federal records are routinely used to study nonresponse in countries where it is possible to directly link them (via a unique identifier) to population-based samples, such records are not widely used for this purpose in countries which lack a unique identifier to facilitate direct linkage. In this article, we examine the utility of indirectly linked administrative data from a federal employment database for nonresponse bias adjustment in a general population survey in Germany. In short, we find that the linked administrative variables have stronger correlations with the substantive survey variables than do standard paradata variables and that incorporating linked administrative data in nonresponse weighting adjustments reduces relative nonresponse bias to a greater extent than paradata-only weighting adjustments. However, for the majority of weighted survey estimates, including the administrative variables in the weighting adjustment procedure has minimal impact on the point estimates and their variances. We conclude with a general discussion of these findings and comment on the logistical issues associated with this type of linkage relevant to survey practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We studied associations between personality traits and longitudinal study attrition. • Higher extraversion and neuroticism were related to an increased risk for attrition. • Higher agreeableness was associated with a decreased attrition risk. Abstract Participation attrition is a major problem in longitudinal studies. Systematic attrition can lead to selection biases, incorrect inferences, and erroneous conclusions. The aim of this study was to investigate systematic attrition related to personality traits in the longitudinal population-based HEalth, Ageing and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study (N = 5913). Longitudinal study attrition was predicted by the Big Five personality traits, i.e., openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, using logistic regression. Results revealed that higher extraversion and neuroticism, and lower agreeableness were independently associated with an increased risk for attrition at one and two year follow-up. Our findings suggest that personality can be a valuable source of information when accounting for systematic attrition in analyzes of longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web surveys are commonly used in social research because they are usually cheaper, faster, and simpler to conduct than other modes. They also enable researchers to capture paradata such as response times. Particularly, the determination of proper values to define outliers in response time analyses has proven to be an intricate challenge. In fact, to a certain degree, researchers determine them arbitrarily. In this study, we use “SurveyFocus (SF)”—a paradata tool that records the activity of the web-survey pages—to assess outlier definitions based on response time distributions. Our analyses reveal that these common procedures provide relatively sufficient results. However, they are unable to detect all respondents who temporarily leave the survey, causing bias in the response times. Therefore, we recommend a two-step procedure consisting of the utilization of SF and a common outlier definition to attain a more appropriate analysis and interpretation of response times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone travel surveys are becoming of central importance in collecting detailed, accurate data of people’s travel activities. As with their conventional survey counterparts, the quality of data collected through these surveys is adversely affected by participants’ non-response and resulting biases. However, little is known about the factors affecting people’s perceptions and intentions to continue participating in such surveys. Although literature has investigated the associations between individuals’ socio-demographic attributes and their likelihood of survey participation, the impact of their subjective perceptions and attitudes on their survey participation intentions and behaviour is underexplored. Hence, through a model of participants’ perceptions of smartphone travel survey applications (survey apps), this study aims to reveal such impacts and how they affect the participants’ intentions to continue participating in these surveys. In this study, a survey is designed and used to collect data in a smartphone travel survey before the participants are asked about their personal perceptions and attitudes. Partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) is applied to analyse the data, as it allows simultaneous estimation of the relationships between multiple latent constructs as well as the indicators of each construct. The results showed a significant, positive impact of the perceived “ease of use” and “usefulness” of the survey app as the technological medium of data collection on the participants’ “satisfaction” and “intention” to continue participating in the corresponding survey. The study also found that participants’ perceived “risk” associated with privacy concerns did not have any significant impact on their intention to continue participating in the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work–family balance is a frequently studied topic, often examined using survey data. Yet studies have shown that work–family imbalance can lead to survey non-response. Missing people experiencing (more) problems with juggling work and family demands in surveys on work and family life is problematic as it can lead to biased results. Therefore, it is important to know whether some respondents are 'harder to get' in work-related and family-related surveys. This study investigates whether combined workloads of work and family life affect the ease of contact, the necessary precondition for survey participation, in face-to-face surveys on work and family life. Moreover, it tests whether it leads to a greater need for rescheduling the actual interview – an additional, often overlooked cost in the contact process. Using indicators of combined workloads and contact history data of two Belgian surveys on work and family life, differences in ease of contact and rescheduling needs are found according to employment status and family composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perceptions and sentiments of business respondents are considered important for statistical bureaus. As perceptions and sentiments are related to the behavior of the people expressing them, gaining insights into the perceptions and sentiments of business respondents is of interest to understand business survey response. In this article we present an exploratory analysis of expressions in the social media regarding Statistics Netherlands. In recent years, social media have become an important infrastructure for communication flows and thus an essential network in our social structure. Within that network participants are actively involved in expressing sentiments and perceptions. The results of our analysis provide insights into the perceptions and sentiments that business respondents have of this national statistical institute and specifically its business surveys. They point towards the specific causes that have led to a positive or a negative sentiment. Based on these results, recommendations aimed at influencing the perceptions and sentiments will be discussed, with the ultimate goal of stimulating survey participation. We also suggest recommendations regarding social media studies on sentiments and perceptions of survey respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing reluctance of businesses to participate in surveys often leads to declining or low response rates, poor data quality and burden complaints, and suggests that a driving force, that is, the motivation for participation and accurate and timely response, is insufficient or lacking. Inspiration for ways to remedy this situation has already been sought in the psychological theory of self-determination; previous research has favored enhancement of intrinsic motivation compared to extrinsic motivation. Traditionally however, enhancing extrinsic motivation has been pervasive in business surveys. We therefore review this theory in the context of business surveys using empirical data from the Netherlands and Slovenia, and suggest that extrinsic motivation calls for at least as much attention as intrinsic motivation, that other sources of motivation may be relevant besides those stemming from the three fundamental psychological needs (competence, autonomy and relatedness), and that other approaches may have the potential to better explain some aspects of motivation in business surveys (e.g., implicit motives). We conclude with suggestions that survey organizations can consider when attempting to improve business survey response behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘I am too busy’ is one of the most commonly cited reasons for people not to participate in survey research. Yet, empirical data on the association between ‘busyness’ and survey participation are scarce, due to a lack of data on busyness or time pressure among the non-respondents. This article sets off with an overview of the strategies and types ofauxiliary datathat can be used to assess the effects of busyness on survey participation. Then, using data of a two-wave SCV/ISSP-survey of 2002 that includes an elaborate section on time use and combining work and family life, we employ survey variables of the first wave to investigate effects of busyness on survey participation in the second wave. Interestingly, we find that the subjective experience of busyness –feelingtoo busy – has a significant effect on participation, whereas more objective measures of busyness do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Drawing on prior theoretical and empirical work on survey participation, this study develops one potential method for increasing response rates and response quality in correctional surveys. Specifically, we hypothesize that providing inmates with a superficial survey choice (SSC)-that is, a choice between completing either of two voluntary surveys that are actually differently ordered versions of the same questionnaire-will increase their motivation both to participate in a given survey and to respond thoughtfully to the questions asked therein. Methods: We test the effectiveness of this method by evaluating its impact on unit nonresponse, item nonresponse, and answer reliability. To do this, we analyze experimental data from a recent survey of male inmates incarcerated in a medium security, private prison. Results: Findings indicate that the overall response rate is higher among inmates who are provided a survey choice. In addition, the evidence shows that the SSC method increases the percentage of individual items completed, the number of demanding questions completed, and the reliability of reported responses. Conclusion: The results from the analyses are consistent with the hypotheses that motivated this study and suggest that the SSC method holds promise as a tool for correctional researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tracing mail survey responses is useful for the management of reminders but may cause concerns about anonymity among prospective participants. We examined the impact of numbering return envelopes on the participation and the results of a survey on a sensitive topic among hospital staff. Methods In a survey about regrets associated with providing healthcare conducted among hospitalbased 10doctors and nurses, two randomly drawn subsamples were provided numbered (N = 1100) and non-numbered (N = 500) envelopes for the return of completed questionnaires. Participation, explicit refusals, and item responses were compared. We also conducted a meta-analysis of the effect of questionnaire/envelope numbering on participation in health surveys. Results The participation rate was lower in the "numbered" group than in the "non-numbered" group (30.3% vs. 35.0%, p = 0.073), the proportion of explicit refusals was higher in the "numbered" group (23.1% vs 17.5%, p = 0.016), and the proportion of those who never returned the questionnaire was similar (46.6% vs 47.5%, p = 0.78). The means of responses differed significantly for 12 of 105 items (11.4%), which did not differ significantly from the expected frequency of type 1 errors, i.e., 5% (permutation test, p = 0.078). The meta-analysis of 7 experimental surveys (including this one) indicated that numbering is associated with a 2.4% decrease in the survey response rate (95% confidence interval 0.3% to 4.4%). Conclusions Numbered return envelopes may reduce the response rate and increase explicit refusals to participate in a sensitive survey. Reduced participation was confirmed by a meta-analysis of randomized health surveys. There was no strong evidence of bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Those who use the internet more frequently are more likely to notice a request to participate in a survey than less frequent users. The frequency of internet use is thus likely to affect the likelihood of participation in internet-based surveys. If frequent and infrequent users are different in relevant features, this could influence survey estimates. This study aims to identify which demographic characteristics most differentiate frequent and infrequent users of the internet and whether those distinctions have an influence on substantive responses. The effect of internet usage frequency when conducting internet-based surveys on specific subgroups of the population is also examined. Results suggest that frequent and infrequent users are different both in demographic characteristics and substantive estimates. Differences in substantive estimates are also found when comparing frequent and infrequent users in the 15-24 years subgroup. Weighting can reduce the discrepancies found for most of the substantive estimates, but the differences between frequent and infrequent users remain statistically significant for some specific items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2009-2010 school year, the Ohio Department of Health conducted a statewide oral health and body mass index (BMI) screening survey among 3rd grade children. This marked the fifth school-based survey regarding the oral health of Ohio children since 1987. At 50 %, the participation rate of the 2009-2010 oral health and BMI survey was at the lowest level ever experienced. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with participation rates in a school-based survey. A stratified, random sample of 377 schools was drawn from the list of 1,742 Ohio public elementary schools with third grade students. All third grade children in the sampled schools with parent or guardian consent received an oral health screening and height/weight measurement by trained health professionals. Participation rates at the school level were then combined with data on school characteristics and survey implementation. Predictors of school form return, participation, and refusal rates were assessed by generalized linear modeling (GLM). High student mobility and larger school size were associated with lower form return ( p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively) and lower participation rates ( p = 0.000 and p = 0.005, respectively). Surveying in the fall or spring (as opposed to winter) significantly decreased form return ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively) and participation rates ( p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively), while being surveyed by internal staff (versus external screeners) significantly increased form return ( p = 0.003) and participation rates ( p = 0.001). Efforts to increase participation should focus more on schools with higher student mobility and larger size. Additionally, participation could be improved by using internal staff and surveying during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the interactions between researchers and potential respondents when recruiting for a door-to-door survey. Researchers' reflective accounts suggest a range of tactics used to influence potential participation in research that draws upon contrasting identities and roles for researchers and participants. In examining these roles, the paper demonstrates the ways in which, while fleeting, the interactions between researcher and respondents involve impression management strategies and are entangled in negotiations of power and status. In reflecting on some of the practices behind door-step recruiting in survey research, we show how gaining consent to participate is about negotiating researcher and respondent roles. In doing so, we hope to encourage debate about the importance of identity, the ethics of consent and issues of reflexivity in survey-based research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00540.x Assessing the oral health of an ageing population: methods, challenges and predictors of survey participation Objectives: To examine predictors of participation and to describe the methodological considerations of conducting a two-stage population-based oral health survey. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional survey (telephone interview and clinical oral examination) of community-dwelling adults aged 45-64 and ≥65 living in Nova Scotia, Canada was conducted. Results: The survey response rate was 21% for the interview and 13.5% for the examination. A total of 1141 participants completed one or both components of the survey. Both age groups had higher levels of education than the target population; the age 45-64 sample also had a higher proportion of females and lower levels of employment than the target population. Completers (participants who completed interview and examination) were compared with partial completers (who completed only the interview), and stepwise logistic regression was performed to examine predictors of completion. Identified predictors were as follows: not working, post-secondary education and frequent dental visits. Conclusion: Recruitment, communications and logistics present challenges in conducting a province-wide survey. Identification of employment, education and dental visit frequency as predictors of survey participation provide insight into possible non-response bias and suggest potential for underestimation of oral disease prevalence in this and similar surveys. This potential must be considered in analysis and in future recruitment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International research shows that both work–family conflict and time pressure are increasing in Western societies. With these increased pressures, precisely those people who are combining work and family obligations may be missing from survey estimates. This study investigates whether the measurement of work–family conflict (WFC) and time pressure is influenced by nonresponse bias. Using the Flemish “Work, Family and Time use in Flanders”-survey and the Basic Question survey for nonrespondents of this survey, we investigate whether nonrespondents score higher on subjective and objective indicators of WFC and time pressure than respondents. Results show that nonrespondents are indeed those sample units who experience significantly more WFC and time pressure, demonstrating that WFC and time pressure related nonresponse biases exist. Implications and suggestions to reduce bias in data collections are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Prior work has shown that effective survey nonresponse adjustment variables should be highly correlated with both the propensity to respond to a survey and the survey variables of interest. In practice, propensity models are often used for nonresponse adjustment with multiple auxiliary variables as predictors. These auxiliary variables may be positively or negatively associated with survey participation, they may be correlated with each other, and can have positive or negative relationships with the survey variables. Yet the consequences for nonresponse adjustment of these conditions are not known to survey practitioners. Simulations are used here to examine the effects of multiple auxiliary variables with opposite relationships with survey participation and the survey variables. The results show that bias and mean square error of adjusted respondent means are substantially different when the predictors have relationships of the same directions compared to when they have opposite directions with either propensity or the survey variables. Implications for nonresponse adjustment and responsive designs will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Refusals and noncontacts generally make up the two most important components of unit nonresponse. It is important to separate noncontacts from refusals when examining survey participation, a simultaneously analysis of both components seems relevant when assessing interviewer effects. Using data from a survey of the German Youth Institute Munich, this paper presents an application of the hierarchical regression model, which offers a comprehensive way of analyzing the simultaneous effects of specific interviewer and respondent characteristics. The results provide evidence that the participation on panel surveys is subject to interviewer, respondent as well as area characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the role of quantitative literacy or numeracy in respondents' comprehension of disclosure risk in surveys as well as their sensitivity to disclosure risk manipulations. It reveals that less numerate persons are sensitive in a lesser extent to extreme differences in the disclosure risk. The result of the examination also demonstrates that quantitative literacy may go beyond its function in disclosure risk in medical decision making.

Copyright of Društvena Istraživanja is the property of Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article addresses the issue of falling response rates in telephone surveys. To better understand and maintain respondent goodwill, concepts of psychological contract and respondent expectations are introduced and explored. Results of the qualitative study show that respondent expectations are not only socially contingent but also ego-expressive, utilitarian, pleasurable, and epistemic by nature. Although results are reassuring in terms of commercialization of the psychological contract, they indicate some radical changes that are needed for the respondents to accept its continuation. The article discusses several practical and theoretical implications of such changes and suggests a series of corresponding propositions aimed at facilitating and inspiring future developments in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visitor studies using standardized questionnaires are popular in marketing-oriented research. Yet these surveys often contend with high nonresponse rates because of the peculiarity of the survey context. Spectators are contacted and persuaded to participate in a survey when they are attending--sometimes en masse---an event outdoors. In this article, the particular correlates of contactability in visitor studies are explored. More specifically, correlates of contactability in audience research in cultural institutions staging music, theater, opera, and dance are analyzed. The resulting model offers practical guidelines for conducting arts-related research in terms of the number of interviewers required to achieve a desired contact rate--given an expected audience size and a planned method for data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leverage-saliency theory provides a seminal basis for research on the differential effects of response-facilitating techniques in surveys. In this article, a quasi-experimental design is applied to analyze the effect of follow-up procedures, taking into account the sample persons' interest in the survey topic. The authors use multilevel logistic regression to map response on a mail questionnaire in the second step of a two-step data collection procedure. It is found that alter controlling for the effects of sociodemographic and performance-related covariates--the effect of follow up procedures is larger for those less interested in the survey topic. As such, these findings are an empirical confirmation of the leverage-saliency theory. Some implications for survey research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A field study investigated cross-cultural differences in choice-congruent behavior and its impact on compliance. U.S. and Asian participants received a request to complete an online survey and a month later they were approached with a larger, related request. Compliance with the initial request had a stronger impact on subsequent compliance among the U.S. participants than among the Asian participants. Despite their lower rate of compliance with the initial request, the U.S. participants who chose to comply were more likely than their Asian counterparts to agree to the subsequent request. Further analyses revealed that this effect was driven by differences in the individualistic/collectivistic orientation of the participants from the two cultures. Within both cultures, the more individualistic participants showed stronger consistency with their earlier compliance than the more collectivistically oriented participants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Numerous experts have demonstrated that the increase in the number of contacts produces a “lengthening” of the field work, although this lag in the analysis of the data is “compensated” by the increase in the response rate that is achieved through this second, third, and successive “contacts”. However, can it be said that these interviewees respond with the same dedication as those who responded from the initial contact? Or could it be that they will try to respond “hastily” so as not to be “harassed” further? The aim of this study is to try to find some answers to these questions by giving the results of the first ever research carried out in Spain using the TDM of Dillman in mail surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Studies in Population is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)