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The Effects of a Between-Wave Incentive Experiment on Contact Update and Production Outcomes in a Panel Study

Author

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  • McGonagle Katherine A.

    (Institute for Social Research, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, PO Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, U.S.A.)

  • Schoeni Robert F.

    (Institute for Social Research, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, PO Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, U.S.A.)

  • Couper Mick P.

    (Department of Economics, 611 Tappan St., and Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, 735 S. State St., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.)

Abstract

Since 1969, families participating in the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) have been sent a mailing asking them to update or verify their contact information in order to keep track of their whereabouts between waves. Having updated contact information prior to data collection is associated with fewer call attempts, less tracking, and lower attrition. Based on these advantages, two experiments were designed to increase response rates to the between wave contact mailing. The first experiment implemented a new protocol that increased the overall response rate by 7-10 percentage points compared to the protocol in place for decades on the PSID. This article provides results from the second experiment which examines the basic utility of the between-wave mailing, investigates how incentives affect article cooperation to the update request and field effort, and attempts to identify an optimal incentive amount. Recommendations for the use of contact update strategies in panel studies are made.

Suggested Citation

  • McGonagle Katherine A. & Schoeni Robert F. & Couper Mick P., 2013. "The Effects of a Between-Wave Incentive Experiment on Contact Update and Production Outcomes in a Panel Study," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 29(2), pages 261-276, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:offsta:v:29:y:2013:i:2:p:261-276:n:5
    DOI: 10.2478/jos-2013-0022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura Fumagalli & Heather Laurie & Peter Lynn, 2013. "Experiments with methods to reduce attrition in longitudinal surveys," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 176(2), pages 499-519, February.
    2. Ribisl, Kurt M. & Walton, Maureen A. & Mowbray, Carol T. & Luke, Douglas A. & Davidson, William S. & Bootsmiller, Bonnie J., 1996. "Minimizing participant attrition in panel studies through the use of effective retention and tracking strategies: Review and recommendations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Lynn, Peter & Laurie, Heather, 2008. "The use of respondent incentives on longitudinal surveys," ISER Working Paper Series 2008-42, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    4. Laurie, Heather, 2007. "The effect of increasing financial incentives in a panel survey: an experiment on the British Household Panel Survey, Wave 14," ISER Working Paper Series 2007-05, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
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