I am currently in the preparation of a mail survey of readers of a journal/magazine. In order to motivate for a high participation rate in the survey an incentive should be reflected in a higher response rate.
In principle, I have to options but I don't know which one is better:
(a) To send a small present enclosed in the envelope with the survey questionnaire.
OR (b) To invite potential respondents to take part n a competition where they have the chance to win one of some gifts. Any tips and ideas?
If you choose the first option of sending a gift, people will feel an incentive to participate in the survey because of reciprocal altruism. Prepaid incentives are most effective.
- Edwards, P., Roberts, I., Clarke, M., DiGuiseppi, C., Pratap, S., Wentz, R. and Kwan, I. (2002) Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires: Systematic review. British Medical Journal 324, 1183
Arbitron sends out a shiny new dollar bill, a practice backed up by the research. See:
Dillman, D. A. (2000). Mail and internet surveys: the tailored design method (2nd ed.). New York: J. Wiley.
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