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Effects of Incentive Size and Timing on Response Rates to a Follow-Up Wave of a Longitudinal Mailed Survey

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  • Rebecca L. Collins

    (RAND, Santa Monica, CA)

  • Phyllis L. Ellickson

    (RAND, Santa Monica, CA)

  • Ron D. Hays

    (RAND and University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Daniel F. Mccaffrey

    (RAND, Santa Monica, CA)

Abstract

Young adults who had previously participated in a longitudinal survey of youth were sent a questionnaire. They were randomly assigned to receive a $20 prepayment, a $20 postpayment, or a $25 postpayment for participation in the latest survey. Those in the large incentive condition were 7 percentage points more likely to return a survey than those in the smaller, postpayment group. Prepayment had a smaller, less reliable effect. Effects of incentive magnitude and timing were consistent at each month of the study period; only better high school grades distinguished early responders from late responders. Nonresponders had characteristics suggestive of low social conformity and were more likely than responders to be African American and male and have low SES. The discussion centers on motivations for participating in research and differences in the incentives likely to promote continued response versus initial study enrollment.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca L. Collins & Phyllis L. Ellickson & Ron D. Hays & Daniel F. Mccaffrey, 2000. "Effects of Incentive Size and Timing on Response Rates to a Follow-Up Wave of a Longitudinal Mailed Survey," Evaluation Review, , vol. 24(4), pages 347-363, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:evarev:v:24:y:2000:i:4:p:347-363
    DOI: 10.1177/0193841X0002400401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Armstrong, J. Scott, 1975. "Monetary incentives in mail surveys," MPRA Paper 81695, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    2. Palmer, Adrian & Mathel, Virginie, 2010. "Causes and consequences of underutilised capacity in a tourist resort development," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 925-935.

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