LOOK, This mail is important! Can Priority Mail or FedEx be an Effective Adaptive Design Intervention in ABS Surveys?
Submission ID: 5503

Date: Wednesday, 3:45 PM to 4:30 PM 
Session: Poster Session 1: W3:45 - 4:30 PM

Primary Presenter

Vanessa Harrell, SSRS

Additional Authors or Round Table Presenters

Cameron McPhee, SSRS ,

Arina Goyle, SSRS ,

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Abstract

In the era of diminishing response rates and rising data collection costs, survey researchers are turning to study designs that allocate resources in tailored and targeted ways, with the goal of increasing response and improving sample representativeness. Adaptive and responsive designs are not new, but the growing availability of auxiliary data appendable to sampling frames has enhanced survey researchers’ ability to tailor specific methodologies to sampled individuals in new ways.

One method that has proven successful at increasing response to ABS surveys (with mailed recruitment invitations) is the use of FedEx or Priority Mail to gain the attention of potential respondents and communicate the importance of their participation in the study. While substantial research has demonstrated the overall benefit of this approach, less has been documented regarding the differential use of this more expensive contact method with targeted, harder-to-reach, subgroups. The success of this tailored design relies upon both the ability of the survey researcher to identify in advance which sampled units likely belong to the targeted subgroups, and the ability of the intervention to increase the likelihood of response among those individuals.

This poster presents the results of two experiments designed to assess whether the use of this type of mailing as a nonresponse follow-up strategy, specifically targeted to “harder-to-reach” groups, is effective at improving response rates and, most importantly, the incidence rates of these specific groups of respondents. Both experiments sent a random portion of targeted sample cases a nonresponse follow-up mailing via FedEx or Priority Mail, with the remainder receiving the same mailing via USPS First Class delivery. Preliminary results from one study suggest that while the use of Priority Mail can improve response, it may vary in its ability to increase the incidence of hard-to-reach subgroups.