Mail surveys, self-administered questionnaires, and the Web
The Survey Program designs questionnaires, consults on mail and Web-based survey research, and completes mail and Web survey projects of all sizes.
Survey regularly refers to the texts of Don A. Dillman (Total Design Method and Mail and Internet Surveys) as reference for questionnaire and survey research design.
Mail: We design instruments to maximize comprehension and response and minimize missing data. Forms are created for easy editing and data entry. Survey has conducted methodological experiments confirming the effectiveness of pre-incentives and pencils enclosed in mailings. For example, in testing a mail survey to more than 2,000 Group Health members, we found that a $2 pre-incentive and one re-mailing to non-responders achieved a 61 percent response rate.
Web-based recruitment & interventions: We have experience recruiting participants to Web-based surveys and interventions. Methods include mailed invitation letters and telephone recruitment to screen for eligibility.
Web surveys: DatStat Illume is used to create Web surveys. This dynamic software allows participants to complete surveys in multiple settings. It controls the delivery of e-mail reminders to non-responders and has numerous features that improve the Web survey experience for research participants.
Data entry and editing: Viking Data Entry software is used for the entry and verification of data from paper forms (such as mailed or self-administered questionnaires and clinic intake forms). Program services include consulting on data-entry forms and editing forms, developing codebooks, and double data entry for delivery of data in various formats to research investigators.