Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mixed Devices in Online Surveys: Prevalence, Determinants, and Consequences

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Mobile Research

Abstract

One overall aim of this chapter is to identify the prevalence rates of mixed-devices (especially smartphones and tablets) in a representative online panel survey in Germany between 2014 and 2016. Moreover, demographic and psychographic determinants of device type usage for online survey participation across time are identified, along with selected consequences of device usage on nonresponse indicators, survey duration, and evaluative judgments regarding the respective surveys. We found that a substantial share of online survey participants do actually use mobile devices, and that nonresponse is most pronounced among smartphone users. We also found that smartphone users perceive surveys as longer and evaluate them less favorable compared to PC/Laptop participants. The presence of others is another characteristic associated with mobile device survey participants, representing a potential source of bias for collecting data on topics sensitive to social influences. The collection of findings presented in this chapter converge against the claim to systematically align the communication strategy, the survey fielding process, and the incentive scheme with the devices used for survey participation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    We summarize the findings briefly here. The detailed results can be found in the following persistent online appendix: http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5005010. GESIS-Panel data can be retrieved here: http://www.gesis-panel.org/.

  2. 2.

    The classification success amounted to 71.33% and the overall model evaluation showed a significant improvement (Likelihood ratio test, chi squared = 461.43, df = 36, p <= 0.001) over the baseline model (i.e. intercept-only model). More details can be found in the online appendix.

References

  • Abbott, A., & Forrest, J. (1986). Optimal matching methods for historical sequences. The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 16(3), 471–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosnjak, M., Dannwolf, T., Enderle, T., Schaurer, I., Struminskaya, B., Tanner, A., & Weyandt, K.W. (in press). Establishing an open probability-based mixed-mode panel of the general population in Germany: The GESIS Panel. Social Science Computer Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buskirk, T. D., & Andrus, C. H. (2014). Making mobile browser surveys smarter: Results from a randomized experiment comparing online surveys completed via computer or smartphone. Field Methods, 26(4), 322–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callegaro, M. (2010). Do you know which device your respondent has used to take your online survey? Survey Practice, 3(6), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 155–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, W. A. (2014). Is mobile a reliable platform for survey taking? Defining quality in online surveys from mobile respondents. Journal of Advertising Research, 54(2), 141–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijne, M., & Wijnant, A. (2013). Comparing survey results obtained via mobile devices and computers: An experiment with a mobile web survey on a heterogeneous group of mobile devices versus a computer-assisted web survey. Social Science Computer Review, 31(4), 482–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijne, M., & Wijnant, A. (2014a). Improving response rates and questionnaire design for mobile web surveys. Public Opinion Quarterly, 78(4), 951–962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijne, M., & Wijnant, A. (2014b). Mobile response in web panels. Social Science Computer Review, 32(6), 728–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keusch, F., & Yan, T. (in press). Web Versus Mobile Web. An Experimental Study of Device Effects and Self-Selection Effects. Social Science Computer Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugtig, P., & Toepoel, V. (2016). The use of PCs, smartphones, and tablets in a probability-based panel survey: Effects on survey measurement error. Social Science Computer Review, 34(1), 78–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mavletova, A. (2013). Data quality in PC and mobile web surveys. Social Science Computer Review, 31(6), 725–743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mavletova, A., & Couper, M. P. (2013). Sensitive topics in PC web and mobile web surveys: Is there a difference? Survey Research Methods, 7(3), 191–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClain, V. C., Crawford, S. D., & Dungan, J. P. (2012). Use of mobile devices to access computer-optimized web instruments: Implications for respondent behavior and data quality. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Orlando, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, G. (2012). Unintended mobile respondents. Paper presented at the CASRO Technology Conference 31.05.2012, New York City, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peytchev, A., & Hill, C. A. (2010). Experiments in mobile web survey design similarities to other modes and unique considerations. Social Science Computer Review, 28(3), 319–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poggio, T., Bosnjak, M., & Weyandt, K. W. (2015). Survey participation via mobile devices in a probability-based online-panel: Prevalence, determinants, and implications for nonresponse. Survey Practice, 8(1), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, J., Diedenhofen, B., & Musch, J. (in press). Not to be considered harmful: Mobile-device users do not spoil data quality in Web surveys. Social Science Computer Review.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stapleton, C. (2013). The smart(phone) way to collect survey data. Survey Practice, 6(2), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Struminskaya, B., Weyandt, K. W., & Bosnjak, M. (2015). The effects of questionnaire completion using mobile devices on data quality. Evidence from a probability-based general population panel. Methods, Data, Analyses, 9(2), 261–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toepoel, V., & Lugtig, P. (2014). What happens if you offer a mobile option to your web panel? Evidence from a probability-based panel of Internet users. Social Science Computer Review, 32(4), 544–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, T., Bailey, J. T., & Link, M. W. (2014). Comparison of smartphone and online computer survey administration. Social Science Computer Review, 32(2), 238–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neckargemünd, Deutschland

    Michael Bosnjak

  2. Kopenhagen, Dänemark

    Robert Bauer

  3. Mannheim, Deutschland

    Kai W. Weyandt

Authors
  1. Michael Bosnjak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Bauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kai W. Weyandt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Bosnjak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nürnberg, Germany

    Axel Theobald

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bosnjak, M., Bauer, R., Weyandt, K.W. (2018). Mixed Devices in Online Surveys: Prevalence, Determinants, and Consequences. In: Theobald, A. (eds) Mobile Research. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18903-7_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-18903-7_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-18902-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-18903-7

  • eBook Packages: Business and Economics (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation