Offering money increases questionnaire response rates

A systematic review of 292 trials by Edwards and colleagues (p 1183) shows that offering incentives, such as money, for the return of questionnaires increases response rates. Some methods involved extra time, but others could be implemented at no extra cost. The authors found that simple measures such as sending questionnaires in white rather than brown envelopes also increased the chances of them being returned. Using follow up calls or incentives were more costly ways of influencing the response.


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Relevant Article

Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires: systematic review
Phil Edwards, Ian Roberts, Mike Clarke, Carolyn DiGuiseppi, Sarah Pratap, Reinhard Wentz, and Irene Kwan
BMJ 2002 324: 1183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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