Welcome to my Thinking World…

Abstract:

In a recent study involving a mixed-mode experiment to recruit members to a consumer panel, Rao et al. (2010) tested the effect of various response-inducement techniques such as advance letters, monetary incentives, and telephone follow-up on panel recruitment. The experiment was successful in recruiting individuals to a non-incentive-driven consumer panel (i.e., members do not receive any form of monetary incentives for their participation in the panel). While the experiment used response inducements as a onetime stimulus to motivate individuals to join the panel, no such response inducements were provided for their subsequent panel participation. Read more

Abstract:

Numerous studies (Payne 1971; Krosnick and Alwin 1987; Ayidiya and McClendon 1990; Schwarz, Hippler, and Noelle-Neumann 1992; Malhotra 2009; Malhotra 2008) have examined response order effects in visually administered questionnaires. A number of theories have also been proposed to explain this effect, with the most popular one being the theory of satisficing (Krosnick and Alwin 1987; Krosnick 1991). According to this theory, when response alternatives are presented visually, respondents begin at the top of the list and consider each alternative individually, all while establishing a cognitive framework for evaluating later response alternatives. Read more

Abstract:

The crisis in coverage of the landline telephone frame has reached a point where researchers are testing alternatives to (or at a minimum, complements to) traditional landline random digit dialing (RDD). Ideally, a new sampling methodology would address not only the coverage challenges posed by cell phone only households and unlisted households in zero-listed banks, but also provide a basis for developing survey designs that could address the growing nonresponse issue which also plagues traditional RDD approaches. One such approach proven to be promising and potentially cost effective involves use of address-based samples using large comprehensive databases, such as the U.S. Postal Service Delivery Sequence File (DSF). Read more

Abstract:

In Web surveys, progress indicators inform respondents of their progress, using a variety of design approaches. A graphic-based method usually involves the image of a progress bar, while a text-based method involves using simple text (often percent completed).  Sometimes a combination of graphic- and text-based designs is used (see Couper, Traugott, & Lamias, 2001; Heerwegh & Loosveldt, 2006). Progress indicators can also be displayed on every screen or intermittently, or at the respondents’ request (see Conrad et al., 2005).  The main argument for using a progress indicator is that it motivates respondents to complete the survey by making the end of the survey appear visibly nearer with every question answered. Read more