The Effect of Communication Emails on Web Survey Response Rate, Representativeness, and Response Bias: Results from a Factorial Randomized Control Trial in a College Student Population
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| Title: | The Effect of Communication Emails on Web Survey Response Rate, Representativeness, and Response Bias: Results from a Factorial Randomized Control Trial in a College Student Population |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Paula Clasing-Manquian (ORCID |
| Source: | Field Methods. 2025 37(4):291-304. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 14 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Online Surveys, Doctoral Students, Intervention, Response Rates (Questionnaires), Response Style (Tests), Student Behavior, Intention, Barriers, Social Influences |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1525822X241286341 |
| ISSN: | 1525-822X 1552-3969 |
| Abstract: | Web surveys are popular in social sciences for reaching a large audience at a low cost and in a short period. However, response rates and nonresponse bias are still issues of concern. Using a factorial randomized control trial design, this study explores whether different communication emails affect response rates, representativeness, and response bias in a web survey of doctoral students enrolled in a U.S. university. A total of 5,539 doctoral students were stratified and randomly assigned to one of six groups. Results showed that none of the interventions increased the overall response rate. Moreover, interventions affect the representativeness of the sample and are associated with response bias. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1488082 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Web surveys are popular in social sciences for reaching a large audience at a low cost and in a short period. However, response rates and nonresponse bias are still issues of concern. Using a factorial randomized control trial design, this study explores whether different communication emails affect response rates, representativeness, and response bias in a web survey of doctoral students enrolled in a U.S. university. A total of 5,539 doctoral students were stratified and randomly assigned to one of six groups. Results showed that none of the interventions increased the overall response rate. Moreover, interventions affect the representativeness of the sample and are associated with response bias. |
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| ISSN: | 1525-822X 1552-3969 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1525822X241286341 |
