Effects of Incentives, Advance Letters, and Telephone Follow-up in RDD Recruitment for a Consumer Research Panel
Abstract:
Survey response rates have been declining over the last several decades, particularly for random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone surveys (see de Leeuw, et al., 2002; Steeh, 1981). This trend affects research panels such as the Gallup Panel, which uses RDD methodology to recruit its members. If significant improvements in panel recruitment response rates are to be achieved, new approaches must be considered. This paper presents the findings of an experiment conducted by the Gallup Panel to analyze the individual and combined effects of incentives, advance letters, and follow-up telephone calls on the panel recruitment response rate. The experiment consisted of eight conditions in addition to the control group, which represented the existing recruitment methodology of drawing an RDD sample, recruiting households on the phone, sending recruited members a welcome packet questionnaire in the mail, and following-up for nonresponse after 21 days. Study results suggest that response rate varies across conditions, and that the group that received an advance letter with an incentive and a follow-up telephone call had a higher panel recruitment response rate than the control group. This paper concludes with recommendations and future research avenues.
Recommended Citation:
Rao, K., Steiger, D. M., Kaminska, O., & McCutcheon, A. (2008). Effects of Incentives, Advance Letters, and Telephone Follow-up in RDD Recruitment for a Consumer Research Panel. Paper presented at the American Association of Public Opinion Research, New Orleans.
Attached Documents:
- AAPOR 2008 Program (see page #49 for the mention)
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Any chance I could get a copy of this paper? We’re working on an analysis of incentive effects in surveys and am accumulating as much experimental research as I can. The results will go in to a meta-analysis with other similar papers. I can answer any other questions that you may have.
Thanks!