Recommendations for minimizing non-response
Reducing the level of non-response can be achieved in ten simple steps:
1. Recruitment from different sources. Do not send invitations only via e-mail – post the survey in various online communities (forums, social networks, etc.).
2. Personalize e-invitations. Messages with a personal address increase the response rate by at least 5%, and sometimes even more. Thus send invitations such as "Dear Mr. Smith” instead of “Dear Sir or Madam”.
3. Email invitations should be short and simple. Along with the survey URL, do not forget to emphasize:
- who you are;
- what the survey means for each individual;
- the length of the survey (especially if the survey is short, but do not mislead the respondents if it is longer, as respondents prefer to fill out longer surveys if they know what to expect);
- anonymity of the survey.
4. The first page of the survey should be simple and attractive and should motivate the respondents. Do not place instructions onto the first page, as studies have shown that respondents do not look favorably upon long instructions on the first page.
5. However – highlight how you will use the survey answers. This should be written on the first page. People are more likely to provide information on the Internet if they are familiar with their use. Additionally, emphasize the anonymity and confidentiality of information.
6. Do not forget to send email reminders. Send a new invitation to those who have not responded after a certain period of time. You can do this by sending a thank you note to those who have already responded and encourage those who have not to do so. However, it is better not to send more than two reminders and to remove e-mail addresses of those who do not wish to be contacted.
7. Consider offering incentives – gifts, awards, etc. Studies show that large incentives are not necessary to increase the response rate. Even small tokens or gifts can help increase the level of response.
8. Some simply want to share their opinion. Many people will only respond to the survey because they want to share their opinion, not because of the incentives. Therefore consider optional prizes – e.g. perform a draw.
9. Use graphics and other Internet options strategically. Generally the survey does not need graphics; this can sometimes be distracting or even affect the responses. However, in some cases graphics may increase the response rate (e.g. link or photo of the prize).
10. Publicly announce the results of the survey. The respondents are interested in the results of the survey and its publication will contribute to their willingness to fill out the survey.
- Can I set a quota for a particular question or questionnaire (restrictions on the number of respondents)?
- Where does free help end?
- Can respondents save or print their answers?
- How is the tool tested?
- How do I quote / cite the use of 1KA in my work?
- Why are the repondent's answers lost in case of 'step by step mode' with question type 'table' if respondent moves to the previous page?
- How can I use missing values in conditions?
- Can I set the respondent to edit his answers?
- How do I detect logical and technical errors in the questionnaire?
- When is it advisable to use the question comments function?
- Is it possible to make a copy of an old survey so that new respondents can answer it?
- How do I create a one-click log-in confirmation in 1KA?
- Who can respond to my survey?
- My survey disappeared
- What kind of customer support does 1KA offer?
- Why is the CAPTCHA image not displayed?
- What is the limitation on the number of questions and respondents?
- How do I customize the format of the survey to be in line with our organization?
- How long should my survey be?
- Is it possible to create several different versions of a questionnaire, with each version randomly assigned to a respondent?
- Can I add a new question after the survey is already active?
- Can I change my existing email address to login to 1KA?
- How can I personalize my survey with a custom logo?
- How do I change or update my browser?
- Where can I change the language of the survey and 1KA application?
- How do I separate different sections of the questionnaire with a title or introductory question
- Can I alter the design of an individual survey?
- Can standard words be altered?
- How do I enable spell checking?
- How do I prevent the same respondent from participating in the survey multiple times?
- When exporting the questionnaire in MS Word the structure of the questionnaire changes
- How do I change the question type?
- How do I change the font size in questions and answers?
- How can the respondents continue with the survey at a later date?
- Can I display answers in form of a selection list?
- Which design is the most suitable for mobile devices and tablets?
- Why is it necessary to enable Javascript?
- The questionnaire does not close (when clicking the END button) after survey completion
- How can I set the cell alignment in the table?
- How to properly methodologically set the answers 'Don’t know', 'Invalid', 'None of the above' and 'Refused'?
- Why is it not advisable to copy text?
- How do I set that respondents skip certain questions that are inappropriate for them (conditions)?
- For how long is the survey saved and for how long is it active?
- Why is a new question always placed at the bottom of the questionnaire and why do I have to move it up manually?
- Can I change the name of the variable with predefined demographic variables?
- How to set default values for respondents?
- How can I add another survey administrator?
- Are mobile surveys supported by 1KA?
- How to set that a chosen website is opened to a respondent after completing survey?
- How do I clear my browser's cookies?
- Can I make changes to a survey after it has been activated and published?
- Why is the question numbering not in consecutive order?
- What about underage respondents?
- Can I create a table in which a respondent can choose the most and the least important answer (Max-Diff table)?
- 1KA settings for email notifications for completed surveys and insight into the respondent's answers
- Image type of question layout
- Registration form
- Organizing surveys in folders
- 'Heatmap' Question
- Survey settings
- Using the IP address and cookies to control duplicate entries
- Loop
- Settings for respondent access: cookies and passwords
- Combined table
- Image Hotspot question type
- Export (Survey archive)
- Uploading a file
- Semantic differential
- 1KA registration and login
- Electronic signature
- The use of conditions
- Usage of 'location' question type
- Survey duration based on date or the number of responses
- Insert numerical answers with slider
- Granting access to helpdesk
- Your first survey
- The double grid table
- Set up of drag and drop question type
- Notifications
- How to repeat the tittle bar in a table
- Standard demographics
- Adding a new language for the standard words
- Advanced adding of images as an answer
- Creating sub-samples: half of the respondents gets one question, while the other half a different question
- Voting
- Transfering values from the answer of one question into the text of another question ( data piping)
- Data display (settings)
- Recommendations for online surveys on a mobile phone
- Option to hide radio and checkbox buttons next to categories
- Advanced questionnaire editing settings
- Accessibility of surveys for people with special needs
- Satisficing in the survey
- Text (type of question)
- Inserting images into your questionnaire
- Recommendations for minimizing non-response
- Survey preview
- Adding editorial access on 1ka.arnes.si
- Key features that an advanced user should know
- Including a video or flash player in your survey
- Additional settings for the introduction and conclusion
- Step by step mode with table question type
- Design
- Editing options in the question taskbar
- Setting up a static first page (introduction)
- Changing the size of radio and checkbox buttons
- Visual Analogue Scale
- Default answer labels
- Settings for exporting PDF/RTF files with responses
- Labelling a question as mandatory
- Different ways to display a question for the date
- System variables in conditions
- 'Take a picture' question type
- Edit response's values
- Recommendations for questionnaire creation
- Creating respondent groups
- Use of editor when editing questions
- Hiding answers in already active survey
- Classifying or ranking
- GDPR survey settings
- E-mail (type of question)
- Glossary
- Comments
- Tabs in the questionnaire
- Measurement and time limitations for responses
- Disabling the question for respondents
- Display the list of open answers in the survey
- Mobile survey adjustments
- Drill-down: sequential filtering of questions
- Verification of user’s attention with the use of a “trap” question
- Placing answers on stripe
- Import text - copying text to 1KA
- Structuring questions into blocks