IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/somere/v37y2009i3p344-370.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Web Survey Design

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin O. Shropshire

    (Virginia Tech)

  • James E. Hawdon

    (Virginia Tech)

  • James C. Witte

    (Clemson University)

Abstract

Using data from Survey2001, we analyze how visual images embedded in a web-based survey can (1) reduce nonresponse in the specific case that a respondent prematurely terminates the survey and (2) preserve measurement validity. Page-by-page progression through the survey is modeled as a survival process with early termination seen as failure. While images had no apparent effect on the termination process, respondent interest in the survey topic was linked to early termination. These results highlight the importance of placing interest-related questions early in the survey to better control for the effects of interest-driven attrition. Moreover, these findings suggest that an interactional information system approach, one that not only collects data but also pushes relevant information to respondents, may serve to generate or maintain interest and in the process reduce survey attrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin O. Shropshire & James E. Hawdon & James C. Witte, 2009. "Web Survey Design," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 37(3), pages 344-370, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:37:y:2009:i:3:p:344-370
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124108327130
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0049124108327130
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0049124108327130?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edith de Leeuw, 2001. "Reducing Missing Data in Surveys: An Overview of Methods," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 147-160, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Geist, Monica R., 2010. "Using the Delphi method to engage stakeholders: A comparison of two studies," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 147-154, May.
    2. Araceli Mateos & Margarita Corral, 2022. "Partial non-response in political elite studies: an approach to parliamentary elites in Latin America," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4089-4106, December.
    3. Peter Lynn, 2003. "PEDAKSI: Methodology for Collecting Data about Survey Non-Respondents," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 239-261, August.
    4. Peter Preisendörfer, 2008. "Heikle Fragen in mündlichen Interviews: Ergebnisse einer Methodenstudie im studentischen Milieu (Sensitive Questions in Face-to-Face Interviews: Findings of a Methodological Study with University Stud," ETH Zurich Sociology Working Papers 6, ETH Zurich, Chair of Sociology.
    5. Ivar Krumpal, 2013. "Determinants of social desirability bias in sensitive surveys: a literature review," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 2025-2047, June.
    6. Jarl Kampen, 2007. "The Impact of Survey Methodology and Context on Central Tendency, Nonresponse and Associations of Subjective Indicators of Government Performance," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 41(6), pages 793-813, December.
    7. Heike Grimm & Johannes Jaenicke, 2012. "What drives patenting and commerzialisation activity at East German universities? The role of new public policy, institutional environment and individual prior knowledge," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 454-477, August.
    8. Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur & Madzlan Napiah & Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio & Shabir Hussain Khahro, 2012. "Transportation Planning Survey Methodologies for the Proposed Study of Physical and Socio-economic Development of Deprived Rural Regions: A Review," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(7), pages 1-1, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:37:y:2009:i:3:p:344-370. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.