This is the program for the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Abstract Details

Activity Number: 660
Type: Topic Contributed
Date/Time: Thursday, August 5, 2010 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
Sponsor: Section on Government Statistics
Abstract - #308004
Title: Technological and Methodological Challenges of One-Time, Quick-Turnaround Web Surveys in a Government Auditing Agency
Author(s): Pamela R. Davidson*+ and Justin S. Fisher and Carl M. Ramirez
Companies: Government Accountability Office and Government Accountability Office and Government Accountability Office
Address: 441 G St., NW, Washington, DC, 20548,
Keywords: web surveys ; non-response rate ; multi-mode surveys ; federal surveys
Abstract:

Since the first on-line survey in 1998, the number of web surveys conducted at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has grown. Internet surveys present unique challenges at GAO since, unlike at other federal agencies, they are largely one-time, quick-turnaround surveys. This paper argues that web surveys can be a good fit, but that organizational and design issues must be addressed. The choice between centralizing or decentralizing design and programming affects speed and agility. The need for speed and the discontiguous nature of GAO surveys present challenges such as how to improve design given limited incentives to engage in design-related research; how to improve sample frames and non-response rate calculation; and how to improve functionality when each survey is unique. A discussion of these issues is presented through examples involving web-only and multimodal approaches.


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