Participation rates in epidemiologic studies.

Purpose – To provide a thorough analysis of the role of the internet in survey research and to discuss the implications of online surveys becoming such a major force in research.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is divided into four major sections: an analysis of the strengths and potential weaknesses of online surveys; a comparison of online surveys with other survey formats; a discussion on the best uses for online surveys and how their potential weaknesses may be moderated; and an overview of the online survey services being offered by the world's largest research firms.Findings – If conducted properly, online surveys have significant advantages over other formats. However, it is imperative that the potential weaknesses of online surveys be mitigated and that online surveys only be used when appropriate. Outsourcing of online survey functions is growing in popularity.Practical implications – The paper provides a very useful source of information and impartial advice for any professional who is co...

The value of online surveys

Factors affecting response rates of the web survey: A systematic review

This study meta-analyzes thirty-nine study results published within last ten years that directly compared Web and mail survey modes. Although considerable variation exists across the studies, the authors’ findings show that mail surveys have higher response rates than Web surveys in general. Two study features (i.e., population types and follow-up reminders) are shown to contribute statistically to the variation of response rate differences between Web and paper surveys in the comparative studies. College respondents appear to be more responsive to Web surveys, while some other respondents (e.g., medical doctors, school teachers, and general consumers) appear to prefer traditional mail surveys. Follow-up reminders appear to be less effective for Web survey respondents than for mail survey respondents. Other study features (i.e., implementation of random assignment of survey respondents, incentives, and publication year) are not statistically useful in accounting for the variation of response rate differences between Web and mail surveys.

Comparing response rates from Web and mail surveys: A meta-analysis.

As the Internet has changed communication, commerce, and the distribution of information, so too it is changing psychological research. Psychologists can observe new or rare phenomena online and can do research on traditional psychological topics more efficiently, enabling them to expand the scale and scope of their research. Yet these opportunities entail risk both to research quality and to human subjects. Internet research is inherently no more risky than traditional observational, survey, or experimental methods. Yet the risks and safeguards against them will differ from those characterizing traditional research and will themselves change over time. This article describes some benefits and challenges of conducting psychological research via the Internet and offers recommendations to both researchers and institutional review boards for dealing with them. ((c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychological research online: report of Board of Scientific Affairs' Advisory Group on the Conduct of Research on the Internet.

E-mail and World Wide Web surveys have been the subject of much hyperbole about their capabilities as well as some criticism of their limitations. In this report, the authors examine what is known and not known about the use of the Internet for surveying. Specifically, they consider evidence in the literature regarding response rates, timeliness, data quality, and cost. Using this evidence, the authors evaluate popular claims that Internet-based surveys can be conducted more quickly, effectively, cheaply, and/or easily than surveys conducted via conventional modes. They find that the realities of cost and speed often do not live up to the hype. Nonetheless, it is possible to implement Internet-based surveys in ways that are effective and cost-efficient. The authors conclude that the Internet will continue to grow in importance for conducting certain types of research surveys

Fricker

Papers

Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Research Surveys: Evidence from the Literature