Abstract
Declines in survey response rates being observed throughout the world are due in part to the use of data collection designs that ignore how the many elements of a particular design, including decisions on the joint use of survey modes interact to affect rates of response. Although several theories of response behavior have been proposed as means of improving response rates, they tend to be dated and emphasize particular techniques for improving response while ignoring others. In addition, they are often limited to single-mode applications. Consequently, they provide little more than abstract advice, while ignoring how the theory should specifically guide the design of each survey contact and any materials associated with those requests for response. In this paper I propose the need to develop comprehensive data collection designs (from individual communications to the questionnaires and any supporting materials) guided by theory that has been shown effective in explaining human behavior. I also propose moving away from individual tests of response-inducing techniques that has tended to dominate response rate research to the creation and testing of comprehensive designs that explicitly use theory to guide the development of design details.
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Acknowledgements
Support for writing this paper was provided by the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) in the Washington State University Office of Research at Washington State University (WSU), and the WSU College of Agriculture Human and Natural Resources (CAHNRS) under USDA Hatch Project 410 and by the USDA Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group, WERA 1010: Improving Data Quality from Sample Surveys to foster Agricultural, Community and Development in Rural America. The opinions expressed in this paper are my own, but I wish to acknowledge with thanks the helpful reviews and suggestions received from Glenn Israel, Virginia Lesser, Kenneth Wallen and other members of the WERA 1010 Committee.
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Dillman, D.A. (2020). Towards Survey Response Rate Theories That No Longer Pass Each Other Like Strangers in the Night. In: Brenner, P.S. (eds) Understanding Survey Methodology. Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47256-6_2
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