1. USE OF A TARGETED SEQUENTIAL MIXED MODE PROTOCOL IN A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE PANEL STUDY.
- Author
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FREEDMAN, VICKI A., MCGONAGLE, KATHERINE A., and COUPER, MICK P.
- Subjects
SEQUENTIAL analysis ,PANEL analysis ,RESPONSE rates ,INTERNET surveys ,QUESTIONNAIRES - Abstract
Relatively low response rates in mixed mode studies remain a concern. Whether targeting protocols to match respondents' likely mode is an effective strategy remains unclear. For those without a clear likely mode, how the details about sequencing influence response rates, mode, field work effort, and potential response bias remain important questions. This article describes a targeted sequential design implemented in a 2016 mixed mode supplement with individuals aged 30 years and older in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the longest running national panel study in the United States. Respondents predicted to be likely to respond by web were invited to a web study and sent a paper copy after six weeks (web-first); those likely to respond by paper were also invited to participate by web but told that a paper copy would be sent shortly (signal-andsend paper). An embedded experiment measured the impact of the two protocols among a group of respondents with no clear likely mode. More than 40 percent of individuals with no likely mode are under the age of 40 years, and the group falls between the likely web and paper groups in terms of education and internet use and includes more women and single respondents. Compared to the likely web and paper groups, those with no likely mode had lower response rates and required more fieldwork effort. Among those randomly assigned, the signal-and-send protocol increased response over the web-first protocol from weeks 4 through 7. By week 16, both protocols yielded similar response rates, field effort and distributions of respondent characteristics. Among those responding, cases randomized to web-first were more likely than those randomized to signal-and-send paper to respond by web. We discuss implications for targeted protocols in mixed mode panel surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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