Questionnaire Distribution: A Method That Significantly Improved Return Rates

Abstract

Questionnaires are commonly used in psychological research because they are easily administered, but several limitations often reduce the effectiveness and validity of such research. Key among those limitations are the uncertain representativeness and associated bias of data collected from volunteer samples with typically obtained return rates of 50 to 60% or less. As a result, any method for questionnaire distribution which cost-effectively increases the rate of return without compromising other facets of the design, would be extremely valuable. Such a method is proposed, and an application of that method, resulting in a 94% return rate at approximately the same cost as conventional mailing approaches, is described.