How Survey Response Mode Affects Cigarette Smokers
Author Information
Author(s): Gunther Eysenbach, Paul Wilson, Atle Klovning, Peter W Callas, Laura J Solomon, John R Hughes, Amy E Livingston
Primary Institution: University of Vermont
Hypothesis
Does offering cigarette smokers a choice between postal and online survey completion affect their responses and outcomes?
Conclusion
Cigarette smokers who chose to complete a survey online differed in demographics from those who chose postal surveys, but both groups had similar outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- 438 participants chose postal surveys while 259 chose online surveys.
- Response rates were equal for both survey modes at 92%.
- Online respondents were younger and more educated than postal respondents.
- There was no significant difference in the number of quit attempts between the two groups.
Takeaway
This study looked at smokers who could fill out a survey online or by mail. It found that while the two groups were different in some ways, their answers were pretty much the same.
Methodology
Participants were surveyed about their smoking habits and preferences for survey completion mode, followed by a follow-up call two months later.
Potential Biases
Potential social desirability bias may have influenced responses, especially among online participants.
Limitations
Participants self-selected their survey mode, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mostly cigarette smokers intending to quit, with a mean age of 49 years, and included a mix of genders and ethnicities.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI .61-.85 for postal and .90 (95% CI .80-.95) for online test-retest reliability.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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