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Related Experiment Videos

A study of mail survey method

C A Newland, W E Waters, A P Standford

    International Journal of Epidemiology
    |March 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Non-response bias in medical mail surveys is a concern. This study found that postage class and envelope color did not significantly impact response rates for a headache and migraine questionnaire, suggesting cost-saving mail methods are viable.

    Area of Science:

    • Medical research methodology
    • Survey research
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Non-response is a significant challenge in mail surveys, potentially introducing bias into medical research findings.
    • Understanding factors influencing survey response rates is crucial for improving data quality and generalizability.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the impact of two simple mailing factors on response rates in a medical survey.
    • To determine if variations in postage class or envelope color affect the likelihood of electors completing a questionnaire on headache and migraine.

    Main Methods:

    • A survey on headache and migraine was distributed to 2,508 electors.
    • The study systematically varied the postage class (e.g., first-class vs. standard) and envelope color (e.g., white vs. colored) for different participant groups.

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  • Response rates were statistically analyzed to assess the significance of these mailing variables.

    • Main Results:

    • Neither the class of postage used nor the color of the envelopes had a statistically significant effect on the survey response rate.
    • The observed variations in response rates across different mailing conditions were minimal and not attributable to the tested factors.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings suggest that standard or cheaper mailing methods are unlikely to compromise response rates in similar medical surveys.
    • Researchers may consider utilizing more cost-effective mailing strategies without jeopardizing participation levels in questionnaire-based studies.