Effect of Anonymity on Return Rate and Response Bias in a Mail Survey.
Abstract
Naval officers who were instructed to identify their answer sheets to a mail survey were more likely to return their answer sheets and were more likely to endorse pro-Navy attitude statements than were officers who did not identify their answers. The differences in questionnaire responses were low in relative frequency and small in magnitude. There were no differences in return rate or questionnaire responses between the anonymous and the identified enlisted men. It is concluded that identification appears to have little effect upon the nature of answers to questionnaire items and anonymity may decrease response rates for certain groups. When the investigator can protect his respondents against invasion of privacy, it is recommended that survey respondents be identified. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0746478
Entities
People
- Carol H. Fuller