Nonresponse Error in Mail Surveys: Top Ten Problems

Jeanette M Daly; Julie K Jones; Patricia L Gereau; Barcey T Levy

doi:10.1155/2011/987924

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Nonresponse Error in Mail Surveys: Top Ten Problems

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Nonresponse Error in Mail Surveys: Top Ten Problems

Jeanette M Daly, Julie K Jones, Patricia L Gereau and Barcey T Levy

Nursing Research and Practice, Vol.2011, pp.987924-5

2011

DOI: 10.1155/2011/987924

PMCID: PMC3169191

PMID: 21994846

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Abstract

Conducting mail surveys can result in nonresponse error, which occurs when the potential participant is unwilling to participate or impossible to contact. Nonresponse can result in a reduction in precision of the study and may bias results. The purpose of this paper is to describe and make readers aware of a top ten list of mailed survey problems affecting the response rate encountered over time with different research projects, while utilizing the Dillman Total Design Method. Ten nonresponse error problems were identified, such as inserter machine gets sequence out of order, capitalization in databases, and mailing discarded by postal service. These ten mishaps can potentiate nonresponse errors, but there are ways to minimize their frequency. Suggestions offered stem from our own experiences during research projects. Our goal is to increase researchers' knowledge of nonresponse error problems and to offer solutions which can decrease nonresponse error in future projects.

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Title: Subtitle: Nonresponse Error in Mail Surveys: Top Ten Problems
Creators: Jeanette M Daly - Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, 01290-F PFP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Julie K Jones - Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Iowa, 424 Field House, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Patricia L Gereau - Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, 01290-F PFP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Barcey T Levy - Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa, 01290-F PFP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nursing Research and Practice, Vol.2011, pp.987924-5
DOI: 10.1155/2011/987924
PMID: 21994846
PMCID: PMC3169191
NLM abbreviation: Nurs Res Pract
ISSN: 2090-1429
eISSN: 2090-1437
Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000048, name: American Cancer Society, award: Targeted-08-148-01-CPPB
Language: English
Date published: 2011
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Family and Community Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984025252002771

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