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In survey practice, online surveys and non-random methods for selecting and recruiting participants (e.g., via advertisements in online magazines) are playing an increasingly important role. But are the results of such surveys less credible in the eyes of the population? This research uses a vignette experiment to explore how the selection process and survey mode affect trust in survey results disseminated by the media. It is also examined how many and which respondents take advantage of the opportunity to read additional information about the survey methodology. Finally, the role of pre-existing attitudes about the survey topic, also in interaction with its methodology, on the credibility of survey results is investigated.

Supplemental Material for Comparing participation motives of professional and non-professional respondents by Henning Silber, Sven Stadtmüller and Alexandru Cerna in International Journal of Market Research

In Germany, the population registers with addresses of individuals can be used for address-based sampling. However, unlike countries with a centralized register, municipalities in Germany administer their registers themselves. This not only makes sampling for a nation­wide survey more costly and cumbersome but may also result in gaps in the gross sample, as selected municipalities may refuse to allow their registers to be used for sampling pur­poses. If substitute municipalities are not available, other sampling methods are required. The present study tested the feasibility of using the address database from Deutsche Post Direkt (ADB-DPD) as an alternative frame for address-based sampling in Germany. We simultaneously conducted two almost identical surveys in the German city of Mannheim with gross samples of equal size (N = 3,000). One sample was drawn from the city’s popu­lation register, the other from the commercial ADB-DPD. Our findings suggest that the ADB-DPD performs well both in terms of survey response and up-to-dateness. Due to relatively low costs and the fast provision of addresses, the ADB-DPD could be particu­larly attractive for survey projects with limited budgets and tight schedules. However, these benefits come at considerable cost. First, the use of the ADB-DPD is limited to self-admin­istered surveys. More importantly, in the net sample of the DPD survey, women and young persons were considerably underrepresented. This indicates coverage issues about which DPD provided no further information. Based on our analyses, we offer practical insights into the feasibility of using the ADB-DPD for sampling purposes and suggest avenues for future research., methods, data, analyses, Online First

In Germany, the population register with individual addresses can be utilized for address-based sampling. However, unlike in countries with a centralized register, local authorities in Germany administer their own registers. This not only makes sampling for a nation-wide survey more costly and cumbersome but may also result in gaps in the gross sample, as selected municipalities can refuse the use of their register for sampling purposes. If alternative municipalities to substitute refusals are not available, different sampling methods are required. With the present study, we aimed at testing the usability of the Address Database of the Deutsche Post Direkt (ADB-DPD) as an alternative frame for address-based sampling in Germany. We simultaneously carried out two surveys in the German city of Mannheim with gross samples of 3,000 each; one drawn from the city’s population register and the other from the ADB-DPD. Our findings suggest that the ADB-DPD performs well, both in terms of survey response and up-to-dateness. Due to relatively low costs and the fast provision of addresses, the ADB-DPD can be particularly attractive for survey projects with limited budgets and tight schedules. However, these benefits come at considerable cost. First, the usage of the ADB-DPD is limited to self-administered surveys. More importantly, in the net sample of the DPD survey, women and young persons were considerably under-represented. This indicates coverage issues for which DPD provided no further information. Based on our analysis, we provide practical remarks on the usability of the ADB-DPD and suggest avenues for future research.

GESIS Survey Guidelines

Poster über dieNutzbarmachung quantitativer Paneldaten im Projekt "Gesundheitsverhalten und Unfallgeschehen im Schulalter" (GUS), präsentiert auf demHeFDI Plenary 2020.

This study provides a synopsis of the current fieldwork monitoring practices of large-scale surveys in Germany. Based on the results of a standardized questionnaire, the study summarizes fieldwork monitoring indicators used and fieldwork measures carried out by 17 large-scale social sciences surveys in Germany. Our descriptive results reveal that a common set of fieldwork indicators and measures exist on which the studied surveys rely. However, it also uncovers the need for additional design-specific indicators. Finally, it underlines the importance of a close cooperation between survey representatives and fieldwork agencies to optimize processes in fieldwork monitoring in the German survey context. The article concludes with implications for fieldwork practice.

This study provides a synopsis of the current fieldwork monitoring practices of large-scale surveys in Germany. Based on the results of a standardized questionnaire, the study summarizes fieldwork monitoring indicators used and fieldwork measures carried out by 17 large-scale social sciences surveys in Germany. Our descriptive results reveal that a common set of fieldwork indicators and measures exist on which the studied surveys rely. However, it also uncovers the need for additional design-specific indicators. Finally, it underlines the importance of a close cooperation between survey representatives and fieldwork agencies to optimize processes in fieldwork monitoring in the German survey-context. The article concludes with implications for fieldwork practice.

GESIS Survey Guidelines

Mixing survey modes for data collection can have positive effects on response rates, sample balance, and survey costs. However, data collected in multiple modes may also suffer from mode measurement effects. In this Survey Guideline, we give an overview of empirical evidence related to the benefits and drawbacks of using multiple modes for data collection and outline some recommendations for the im­plementation of mixed-mode surveys. Finally, we provide a brief outlook on the perspectives of mixed­mode surveys in the survey landscape.

Transparency and reproducibility are key elements of good science, and this also holds for the process of data collection in scientific surveys. To conduct analyses based on survey data collected by others, researchers heavily depend on accurate documentation of all stages in the data collection process, either for generating new scientific evidence or for reviewing previous research findings (e.g., in replication studies). In this contribution, we propose documentation guidelines for mail surveys. In doing this, we not only focus on mail-only surveys but also cover documentation guidelines for self-administered mixed-mode surveys, thus taking into account their growing importance in the survey landscape.