Improving Mail Survey Response Rates in Japan: Empirical Tests for Envelopes, Request Letters, Questionnaires, and Schedules

Autor/inn/en	Park, Yoosung; Tsuchiya, Takahiro
Titel	Improving Mail Survey Response Rates in Japan: Empirical Tests for Envelopes, Request Letters, Questionnaires, and Schedules
Quelle	In: International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24 (2021) 1, S.15-29 (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1364-5579
DOI	10.1080/13645579.2020.1756618
Schlagwörter	Mail Surveys; Response Rates (Questionnaires); Design; Paper (Material); Delivery Systems; Holidays; Scheduling; Letters (Correspondence); Social Science Research; Community Surveys; Rewards; Costs; Trust (Psychology); Gender Differences; Age Differences; Foreign Countries; Japan (Tokyo) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Erhebungsinstrument; Antwortkontrolle; Papier; Auslieferung; Holiday; Feiertag; Ferien; Disposition; Brief; Social scientific research; Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung; Reward; Belohnung; Cost; Kosten; Geschlechterkonflikt; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Ausland
Abstract	While many studies examine tools and techniques to improve survey response rates, it remains unclear as to which are effective, and response rates continue to decline. In this study, we examine the effect of four variables expected to influence mail survey response rates: (1) the use of semi-transparent envelopes versus ordinary paper envelopes for delivery, (2) the level of content in the request letter (simple or detailed), (3) the length of the questionnaire, and (4) the survey schedule. We found that the total response rate was 45.4%, while those of the experimental conditions were as follows: (1) semi-transparent versus ordinary paper envelopes, 46.2% versus 44.7%; (2) simple versus detailed request letters, 44.7% versus 46.2%; (3) 4-page versus 8-page questionnaires, 46.0%versus 44.8%; and (4) holiday versus ordinary day, 45.6% versus 45.3%.We found no significant differences in response rates for any of the experimental variables; that is, the logistic regression analysis revealed no relationship between the four experimental conditions and the response rate. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01