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Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences pp 297–311Cite as

Mail Survey in Social Research

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Abstract

This chapter begins with a concise overview of the long history of the use of mail survey in the Western civilization. Then it examines the three main stages in the administration of mail survey: pre-notification, the survey packet, and the follow-up correspondence. The design of the basic components such as the outer envelope, the cover letter, the questionnaire, the return of the survey, and the assembly of the survey packet is discussed at length. A review of the methodological literature provides the basis for an empirical review of the strengths and weaknesses of this data collection method and related issues of validity and reliability. The entire presentation is aimed at providing a set of practical and tested guidelines for the planning and implementation of effective mail survey.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Alana Henninger

  2. Department of Criminal Justice, John Jay College of Criminal, Justice, 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY, 10019, USA

    Hung-En Sung

Authors
  1. Alana Henninger
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  2. Hung-En Sung
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Correspondence to Hung-En Sung .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, Tenth Ave. 899, New York, 10019, New York, USA

    Lior Gideon

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Henninger, A., Sung, HE. (2012). Mail Survey in Social Research. In: Gideon, L. (eds) Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3876-2_17

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