Web-based surveys have become more prevalent in areas such as evaluation, research, and marketing research to name a few. The proliferation of these online surveys raises the question, how do response rates compare with traditional surveys and at what cost? This research explored response rates and costs for Web-based surveys, paper surveys, and mixed-mode surveys. The participants included evaluators from the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Results included that mixed-mode, while more expensive, had higher response rates.
Archer, Thomas M.2003. Web-based surveys. Journal of Extension41:1-5.
2.
Carini, Robert M., John Hayek, George Kuh, John Kennedy, and Judith Ouimet.2003. College student responses to web and paper surveys: Does mode matter?Research in Higher Education44:1-19.
3.
Cobanoglu, Cihan, Bill Warde, and Patrick Moreo.2001. A comparison of mail, fax, and web-based survey methods. International Journal of Market Research43:441-52.
4.
Converse, Patrick D., Edward Wolfe, Xiaoting Huang, and Fredrick Oswald .2008. Response rates for mixed-mode surveys using mail and e-mail/web. American Journal of Evaluation29:99-107.
5.
Cook, Colleen, Fred Heath, and Russel L. Thompson .2000. A meta-analysis of response rates in web- or internet-based surveys. Educational and Psychological Measurement60:821-36.
6.
Dillman, Donald A.2000. Mail and internet surveys: The Tailored Design method . 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
7.
Groves, Robert M., Eleanor Singer, and Amy Corning .2000. Leverage-saliency theory of survey participation: Description and an illustration. Public Opinion Quarterly64:299-308.
8.
Groves, Robert M., Stanley Presser, and Sarah Dipko.2004. The role of topic interest in survey participation decisions. Public Opinion Quarterly68:2-31.
9.
Heberlein, Thomas, and Robert Baumgartner .1978. Factors affecting response rates to mailed questionnaires: A quantitative analysis of the published literature . American Sociological Review43:447-62.
10.
Idleman, Lynda.2003. Comparing responses to mail and web-based surveys. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 21-25 in Chicago, IL.
11.
Kaplowitz, Michael, Timothy Hadlock, and Ralph Levine.2004. A comparison of web and mail survey response rates. Public Opinion Quarterly68:94-101.
12.
Kiernan, NancyEllen, Michaela Kiernan, Mary Ann Oyler, and Carolyn Gilles.2005. Is a web survey as effective as a mail survey? A field experiment among computer users. American Journal of Evaluation26:245-52.
13.
Krosnick, Jon A.1999. Survey research. Annual Review of Psychology50:537-67.
14.
McCabe, Sean Esteban.2004. Comparison of web and mail surveys in collecting illicit drug use data: A randomized experiment. Journal of Drug Education34:61-72.
15.
Mertler, Craig.2003. What ... another survey? Patterns of response and nonresponse from teachers to traditional and web surveys. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-Western Educational Research Association, October 15-18 in Columbus, OH.
16.
Occupational Outlook Handbook.2006. Bureau of Labor Statisticshttp://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm (accessed April 2, 2006).
17.
Paolo, Anthony M., Giulia Bonaminio, Cheryl Gibson, Ty Partridge, and Ken Kallail .2000. Response rate comparisons of e-mail and mail-distributed student evaluations. Teaching and Learning in Medicine12:81-4.
18.
Sax, Linda J., Shannon Gillmartin, and Alyssa Bryant.2003. Assessing response rates and nonresponse bias in web and paper surveys. Research in Higher Education44:409-32.
19.
Schonlau, Mathias, Ronald Fricker, and Marc Elliott.2002. Conducting research surveys via e-mail and the web. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.
20.
Shannon, David, and Carol Bradshaw.2002. A comparison of response rate, response time, and costs of mail and electronic surveys. The Journal of Experimental Education70:179-92.
21.
Shannon, David, Todd Johnson, Shelby Searcy, and Alan Lott.2002. Using electronic surveys: Advice from survey professionals. Practical Assessment, Records and Evaluation. http://pareonline.net/htm/v8n/htm (accessed June 19, 2009).
22.
Sheehan, Kim.2001. E-mail survey response rates: A review. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication6:1-20.
23.
Sun, Anji, and Randy McClanahan .2003. Is newer better: A comparison of web and paper-pencil survey administration modes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Research Association , April 21-25, in Chicago, IL.