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The effect of prepaid incentives on panelists’ response across survey modes in a sequential mixed-mode design

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  • Rolf Becker

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

While the use of prepaid incentives and data collection in a sequential mixed-mode survey design is standard in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, little is known about the interaction of these strategies and how this affects target persons’ survey participation. Therefore, based on a panel study, this study investigates whether such unconditional prepayments—monetary or non-monetary incentives—increase the efficiency of a sequential mixed-mode survey design in regard to boosted response rates and speed of return after receipt of an invitation to participate in a survey. While the survey design is always identical, the different incentives vary across the waves considered. Different prepayments, such as cash or in-kind incentives, have different effects on invitees’ participation in different survey modes. In particular, non-monetary incentives seem to work only in a sequential mixed-mode design, while cash, as a universal medium, always works in the expected way, across different survey modes. In sum, the study finds that when a single sequential mixed-mode design is used across panel waves the overall response rates are rather similar, even when different incentives are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Rolf Becker, 2025. "The effect of prepaid incentives on panelists’ response across survey modes in a sequential mixed-mode design," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 29-49, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11135-024-01922-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-01922-w
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