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Increasing Response Rate in Web-Based/Internet Surveys

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Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences

Abstract

Web-based surveys have become increasingly popular with researchers. Unfortunately, they are subject to the same response rate issues that plague traditional surveys. This entry briefly reviews some of the theories about why individuals elect or decline to participate in surveys. It then discusses methods that might be considered when a researcher is thinking about how to improve survey responses. The methods are divided into two categories: the first category includes methods adapted from traditional mail surveys such as using incentives, pre-notifications, survey invitations, and reminders. The second category includes methods specific to Web-based surveys, including Web-based survey design and confidentiality issues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cincinnati, 445 Dyer Hall, P.O. Box 210389, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Amber N. Manzo & Jennifer M. Burke

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  1. Amber N. Manzo
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  2. Jennifer M. Burke
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Correspondence to Amber N. Manzo .

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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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Manzo, A.N., Burke, J.M. (2012). Increasing Response Rate in Web-Based/Internet Surveys. 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_19

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