Improving survey response rates in online panels: effects of low-cost incentives and cost-free text appeal interventions

Pedersen, M. J. and Nielsen, C. V. (2016) Improving survey response rates in online panels: effects of low-cost incentives and cost-free text appeal interventions. Social Science Computer Review, 34 (2). pp. 229-243. ISSN 0894-4393

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Abstract

Identifying ways to efficiently maximize the response rate to surveys is important in survey-based research. However, evidence on the response rate effect of donation incentives and especially altruistic and egotistic text appeal interventions is sparse and ambiguous. Via a randomized survey experiment among 6,162 members of an online survey panel, this article shows how low-cost incentives and cost-free text appeal interventions may affect the survey response rate in online panels. The experimental treatments comprise (a) a cash prize lottery incentive, (b) two donation incentives that promise a monetary donation to a good cause in return for survey response, (c) an egotistic text appeal, and (d) an altruistic text appeal. Relative to a control group, we find higher response rates among recipients of the egotistic text appeal and the lottery incentive. Donation incentives yield lower response rates.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://ssc.sagepub.com/
Additional Information:	© 2014 The Authors
Divisions:	Methodology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2016 14:48
Last Modified:	05 Apr 2024 20:51
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/67240

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