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Activity Number: 136
Type: Contributed
Date/Time: Monday, August 1, 2016 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
Abstract #319089
Title: Mail Versus Telephone Respondents in a Survey of Minority Populations
Author(s): Youlian Liao*
Companies: CDC
Keywords: multi-modes survey ; minority populations
Abstract:

The validity of random digit dial (RDD) telephone surveys has been challenged due to declining coverage and response rates. Multi-mode data collection, e.g., RDD supplemented with mail survey, has been increasingly used in the past decade. It is unclear if the characteristics of mail respondents are different from those of RDD, especially in minority populations (e.g., blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians). We used data from a survey in 25 minority communities from 2009 to 2012, including 44,616 telephone and 57,888 mail respondents. Response rate was higher (31%) in mail survey than in RDD (13%). Of mail respondents, 40% were from cell-phone-only households. Item non-response rate was higher in mail survey than in RDD for only 8 out of 19 demographic or health indicators. Mail respondents were in general younger, had a lower household income and no health insurance than RDD respondents across all the minority groups. They were also less likely to exercise; have regular physical check-ups; or test for cholesterol or hepatitis, or have mammography. Mail survey is an important complement to RDD as it can reach population segments that may be missed by standard RDD survey.


Authors who are presenting talks have a * after their name.

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