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.
- Are mobile surveys supported by 1KA?
- Why is it necessary to enable Javascript?
- What is the limitation on the number of questions and respondents?
- Where does free help end?
- Can I change my existing email address to login to 1KA?
- How long should my survey be?
- Who can respond to my survey?
- How can I personalize my survey with a custom logo?
- When is it advisable to use the question comments function?
- How do I change the font size in questions and answers?
- How do I customize the format of the survey to be in line with our organization?
- What about underage respondents?
- How do I separate different sections of the questionnaire with a title or introductory question
- Is it possible to make a copy of an old survey so that new respondents can answer it?
- Can I make changes to a survey after it has been activated and published?
- Can respondents save or print their answers?
- Can standard words be altered?
- How do I change or update my browser?
- Can I display answers in form of a selection list?
- How can I set the cell alignment in the table?
- Can I set a quota for a particular question or questionnaire (restrictions on the number of respondents)?
- What kind of customer support does 1KA offer?
- How can I use missing values in conditions?
- How do I create a one-click log-in confirmation in 1KA?
- 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?
- Why is the CAPTCHA image not displayed?
- How do I detect logical and technical errors in the questionnaire?
- How can the respondents continue with the survey at a later date?
- Where can I change the language of the survey and 1KA application?
- Can I change the name of the variable with predefined demographic variables?
- The questionnaire does not close (when clicking the END button) after survey completion
- Can I alter the design of an individual survey?
- How to properly methodologically set the answers 'Don’t know', 'Invalid', 'None of the above' and 'Refused'?
- Can I create a table in which a respondent can choose the most and the least important answer (Max-Diff table)?
- How can I add another survey administrator?
- How do I enable spell checking?
- For how long is the survey saved and for how long is it active?
- How do I prevent the same respondent from participating in the survey multiple times?
- How do I clear my browser's cookies?
- Can I set the respondent to edit his answers?
- How to set default values for respondents?
- My survey disappeared
- Can I add a new question after the survey is already active?
- How is the tool tested?
- When exporting the questionnaire in MS Word the structure of the questionnaire changes
- Is it possible to create several different versions of a questionnaire, with each version randomly assigned to a respondent?
- Which design is the most suitable for mobile devices and tablets?
- Why is it not advisable to copy text?
- How do I change the question type?
- Why is a new question always placed at the bottom of the questionnaire and why do I have to move it up manually?
- How do I quote / cite the use of 1KA in my work?
- How do I set that respondents skip certain questions that are inappropriate for them (conditions)?
- How to set that a chosen website is opened to a respondent after completing survey?
- Why is the question numbering not in consecutive order?
- Adding a new language for the standard words
- Import text - copying text to 1KA
- 1KA registration and login
- Use of editor when editing questions
- Changing the size of radio and checkbox buttons
- Edit response's values
- Satisficing in the survey
- Electronic signature
- Measurement and time limitations for responses
- Granting access to helpdesk
- Comments
- How to repeat the tittle bar in a table
- Drill-down: sequential filtering of questions
- Transfering values from the answer of one question into the text of another question ( data piping)
- Accessibility of surveys for people with special needs
- Data display (settings)
- Creating respondent groups
- Standard demographics
- Semantic differential
- The double grid table
- Option to hide radio and checkbox buttons next to categories
- Disabling the question for respondents
- Insert numerical answers with slider
- Advanced adding of images as an answer
- Inserting images into your questionnaire
- Default answer labels
- Usage of 'location' question type
- Visual Analogue Scale
- Placing answers on stripe
- 1KA settings for email notifications for completed surveys and insight into the respondent's answers
- Notifications
- Hiding answers in already active survey
- Set up of drag and drop question type
- Labelling a question as mandatory
- Export (Survey archive)
- Uploading a file
- Using the IP address and cookies to control duplicate entries
- Settings for exporting PDF/RTF files with responses
- Adding editorial access on 1ka.arnes.si
- Tabs in the questionnaire
- Registration form
- Step by step mode with table question type
- Recommendations for minimizing non-response
- Settings for respondent access: cookies and passwords
- Recommendations for online surveys on a mobile phone
- Your first survey
- Creating sub-samples: half of the respondents gets one question, while the other half a different question
- Organizing surveys in folders
- Display the list of open answers in the survey
- The use of conditions
- Additional settings for the introduction and conclusion
- Key features that an advanced user should know
- Combined table
- Structuring questions into blocks
- System variables in conditions
- Image Hotspot question type
- Classifying or ranking
- Survey preview
- Image type of question layout
- Loop
- E-mail (type of question)
- Advanced questionnaire editing settings
- Recommendations for questionnaire creation
- Setting up a static first page (introduction)
- Text (type of question)
- Mobile survey adjustments
- Voting
- Editing options in the question taskbar
- 'Heatmap' Question
- GDPR survey settings
- Survey settings
- Survey duration based on date or the number of responses
- Different ways to display a question for the date
- Glossary
- 'Take a picture' question type
- Including a video or flash player in your survey
- Verification of user’s attention with the use of a “trap” question
- Design