I am starting to look into ways to get a great response rates for my survey for the primary research of my dissertation, while to not make a bias. I have about 200 engineers to survey, close in proximity. Here are a couple of options. 1. Send out an e-mail, directing to an online survey. The problem with this is a great number of people delete these bulk e-mails, as we have about 10-15 "bulk" e-mails coming out a day. 2. Reserve the computer lab (about 30 computers in the main building), offer free breakfast or lunch to those who come and participate. The problem with this is that these engineers may come in several times, if food is involved, and secondly, only those who come to this area will get the food. 3. Take a cart around of food / trinkets, and ask each engineer if they have taken the survey, if they haven't, I can sign them on right there, and they can get a "prize". 4. Put in a bulk e-mail that a "prize" will be given to those who partiicpate, though they will have to e-mail me, and the survey is supposed to be anonymous. I have started to read some books about the implications of each, but thought I would ask as well. Any best practices out there??? Thanks!
Is your goal a randomized survey? If so, then the last three don't cut it. The first one is closer, but as you say, you may get a poor response rate. If you include a few more specifics about the goal of your survey, I (we) might be able to offer some better advice.
I am actually trying to get a full population response, since some of the specific displines are so small within the population. So the randomized sample etc. don't really apply. I am trying to find root cause of some theories of organizational behavior, by displines (as well as a cross section of other criteria), that is the reason for the population as the survey group. It is ambitious, I know, but with the different aspects of the group I want to analyze, I think it is the best route. Let me know if that helps, or if you need further detail. Thanks in advance!
I am probably going to terminate my doctoral pursuit but I had been working on a survey instrument. I finally concluded that in my case an electronic survey might not work so I was considering a snail/interoffice mail approach consisting of: (1) A short cover letter summarizing my survey (including a web page address where respondents could visit to see results), (2) A package containing an assortment of aerospace postage stamps (turns out one can do this for 25 cents or so per survey). This is a reward and I have been advised that survey responses increase when a token reward is provided. Note my topic was aerospace related. (3) The survey, (4) Stamped return envelope.
When I took research methods class at ERAU we spent a lot of time discussing surveys. This text for this course was Cooper, D. & Schindler, P. (1998). Business Research Methods. (6th Ed). Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. This is a readable and practical book and Chapter 11 discusses survey methods.
I had been working on the joint NCU/ERAU Ph.D. in Aerospace Management. I was required to complete 45 units at NCU and had completed three of them. My reasons for ending my participation is mainly financial. First NCU increased the per unit cost from $375 to $475, then my medical insurance premium shot up by $160 per month (with warnings of similar increases next year ). So I went back and reviewed the options in my 5 year plan and decided to take another path in life spending my money on bicycles and UC Riverside natural science classes (which are cheaper, lots of fun, and are very interesting).
Ian, One of the reasons I went with NCU was the price and the fact that I could plod along one class at a time. The price increase was tough and several folks left. I found that by taking one class at a time and taking most of the full semester that the costs are bearable. But it will take longer. If things change please let us know. Good luck on your current course, Regards,
