Response and Mode Switching in a Sequential Mixed-Mode Design

• Activity Number: 141
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 2, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
• Author(s): Rachel Levenstein*+ and James Lepkowski and Jennifer Barber
• Companies: University of Michigan and University of Michigan and University of Michigan
• Keywords: nonresponse ; mixed-mode ; panel survey

Abstract

Declining response rates in both cross-sectional surveys as well as panel surveys are a challenge for survey researchers (Groves & Peytcheva, 2008). Increasingly, survey organizations use a mixed-mode design that switches the mode of administration in order to recruit nonrespondents to early survey requests (de Leeuw, 2005). We know that these sequential designs are highly effective at increasing response rates compared to single-mode surveys (Dillman et al., 2008). But little is known about the effect of sequential designs on response in a panel survey. Individuals in a panel may use experiences of previous waves to influence response behavior, or they may become more efficient respondents in later waves, requiring fewer mode switches. The propensity and timing of response and participation in a particular mode across waves are examined for a study of young women in Michigan.