Class of 2006 Abstract / Objectives: To describe the current response rate of pharmacists to mailed surveys and to identify the factors that influence pharmacist response rates. A number of hypotheses have been presented. Design: A systematic literature review. Methods: Included articles were evaluated for variables of interest using a data extraction form. Variables included length of survey, use of incentive, proximity, use of announcement, the anonymity of the survey, use of a reminder, and presence of return postage. Results: A total of 76 articles were identified of which 54 met inclusion criteria. The mean response rate for the survey was 45.8 percent. The effect on response rate was evaluated in regard to survey length, the inclusion of an incentive, and the geographical origination of the survey. The change in response rate for each single increase in the number of questions in a survey changed the response rate by 0.001 percent. Response rate for surveys without an incentive provided was 44.6 percent (SD = 0.168), while the response rate for those with an incentive was 50.7 percent (p > 0.277). Twenty seven surveys were deemed to seek responses from pharmacists in a close proximity to the organization sending out the survey (e.g., within the same state or region). Twenty-seven did not focus on a specific state or region. The mean response rates were 45.5 percent and 46.1 percent, respectively (p=0.882). There was no statistical significance in any of the other variables examined. Conclusions: This review of literature addressing pharmacist response rate to mailed surveys revealed that pharmacists’ response to surveys is not significantly affected by survey length, inclusion of an incentive, or survey origin.

A combination of fax and mail questionnaires were used to estimate consumption of wood based products by the U.S. cabinet industry and evaluate current management issues affecting the cabinet industry. Group 1 companies (>$20 million in sales) were contacted and sent a fax questionnaire. A random sample of 1034 Group 2 companies (<$20 million in sales and >10 employees) were sent a mail questionnaire. A total of 19 usable questionnaires were received from Group 1 companies and 217 usable questionnaires were received from Group 2 companies. Group 1 respondents averaged 1,108 employees and $125.81 million in sales. Group 2 respondents averaged 27 employees and $2.31 million in sales. A shortened questionnaire (questionnaire 2, one page) was sent to half of the Group 2 sample frame resulting in twice the response rate as that of the long questionnaire (questionnaire 1, three pages). Results indicated that the cabinet industry used an estimated 484 million board feet of hardwood lumber. Nearly 95% of the hardwood lumber purchases were grade 1 common or better. The most common used species were red oak (44%) and hard maple (24%). An estimated 58 million board feet of components and 68,344 doors were also purchased by cabinet manufacturers in 1999. Softwood lumber use was estimated at 25 million board feet, consisting primarily of white (49%) and southern yellow (36%) pine. The most commonly used panel products were particleboard and hardwood plywood, at an estimated 1,044 million square feet (1/2 inch basis) and 279 (3/8 inch basis) million square feet respectively. Other panel products used by the industry were medium density fiberboard, hardboard, and softwood plywood. Approximately 156 (any thickness) million square feet of veneer was used. Lumber purchases were primarily direct from sawmills (66%) for Group 1 companies and from wholesalers/distributors (53%) for Group 2 companies. Panel product purchases followed the same trend with Group 1 companies buying primarily direct from manufacturers (44%) and the majority of Group 2 purchases coming from wholesalers/distributors (84%). Group 1 companies sold their products through factory sales people (54%) and to home improvement/building supply centers (37%). Group 2 companies sold their products through factory sales people (77%) and to builders and remodelers (62%). The largest proportion of cabinet types sold by both Groups 1 and 2 were face frame kitchen cabinets (74% and 38% respectively). Companies from both groups reported producing certified (green) products. The majority of companies indicated they purchased some parts from outside sources. Companies from both groups reported considering alternative materials to substitute for wood. Products that were mentioned include strawboard, urban waste MDF, and plastic mouldings. Concerns rated highest by cabinet companies were finding qualified employees, increasing raw material prices, keeping qualified employees, and wood quality. / Master of Science

In this study, a theory that identified salience and immediacy as two constructs that significantly determine questionnaire response rates was tested. This theory emphasized the importance of identifying and rating factors that impact the immediacy and salience of a questionnaire to a specific population. It was proposed that factors that make a questionnaire highly immediate and salient to a given population should be identified first, and then implemented into the construction and administration of the questionnaire. In this way, researchers can manipulate the variables, which will maximize the response rate for their specific population before distribution. A questionnaire that is highly immediate and salient to a given population was estimated to achieve a response rate of 80% or higher. The immediacy and salience of several manipulable variables of a questionnaire were rated by a sample characteristically similar to the target population. Three treatments of the questionnaire were sent to three randomly assigned groups of the population. These treatments varied from low, moderate, to high immediacy and salience based on the ratings. An analysis of the ratings revealed a very strong direct relationship between salience and immediacy. Variables of the questionnaire were rated very similarly between the two constructs. Contrary to Christensen's theory, different levels of immediacy and salience were not found to interact. However, a direct relationship was found between immediacy and salience levels, and final response rates, which was consistent with the theory. The order of response rate percentages for each treatment group reflected the degree of immediacy and salience as measured by the raters.

The issue of nonresponse to surveys is a serious problem in survey research because it reduces the amount of information obtained, creates a significant nuisance for data analysis and may introduce bias into the survey results by flawing the representativeness of the target population under investigation. This paper examines item-nonresponse and "don't know" responses in the General Social Survey of Canada of 1985 and comments specifically on the different effects of personal and telephone interviewing technique on rate of item omission. The effect of sensitivity of the question, and position of the item in the questionnaire on nonresponse are also examined in an exploratory descriptive analysis. Results of an analysis of variance and multiple regression/correlation indicate that both sensitivity and position are factors influencing item omission. In addition, demographic characteristics were found to be significantly and differentially correlated with item omission and "don't know" responses by topic area for the survey under investigation. The results of this study further demonstrate that telephone interviewing significantly increases the rate of item omission, especially for questions on social support.

No description available.

The intent of this research was to examine variables that might influence the response rates to mailed questionnaires. The variables examined were the socioeconomic statuses of the subjects, the time of payment of a monetary incentive, and the amount of payment. Subjects were 375 residents of Cache County, Utah, selected from three levels of socioeconomic status. The subjects were selected on the basis of information they provided about their income and education levels during a telephone interview. Subjects within each level of socioeconomic status were further divided into four treatment groups and one control group. All groups were mailed the questionnaire. In addition, subjects in Group 1 were sent an enclosed $1, those in Group 2 received $2, those in Group 3 were promised $1 if they returned the completed questionnaire, those in Group 4 were similarly promised $2 if they returned a completed questionnaire, and subjects in Group 5 were neither paid nor promised any incentive. The questionnaire itself was developed with the help of Utah State University's Extension Services, who needed to survey the local population on issues pertaining to family and economic well-being. The response rate for the entire sample was 56.8%. Subjects from the high socioeconomic status group had the highest response rate, while subjects with the lowest socioeconomic status had the lowest response rate. Including the monetary incentive along with the questionnaire yielded a higher response rate than did promising an incentive for returning the questionnaire. Similarly, subjects receiving $2 had a higher response rate than those receiving $1. It was also found that the higher the socioeconomic status, the less the difference made by the time of payment of the incentive. When the cost effectiveness of the different treatments was analyzed it was found that at the higher levels of response rate, prepaying the incentive was a more efficient method, while promising the incentive proved cheaper at the lower levels of response rate.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13061号 / 論医博第2119号 / 新制||医||1018(附属図書館) / (主査)教授 羽賀 博典, 教授 妹尾 浩, 教授 戸井 雅和 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Many factors influence the response rate of a survey or questionnaire. The BYU alumni questionnaire was initially a lengthy survey with over 200 questions. After a short version of the questionnaire was created and administered, response rates appear to have increased substantially. Male respondents appear particularly more inclined to respond to the shortened version compared to the long version. The questionnaire is examined through various statistical analyses and compared between the short and long versions. Results are presented in the context of existing research on response rates and response quality.

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Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-06-21T20:25:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 estevaogoncalvesbittar.pdf: 5760202 bytes, checksum: 84b0d72763536df563dc1d4ca2883ef8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-08-07T19:19:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 estevaogoncalvesbittar.pdf: 5760202 bytes, checksum: 84b0d72763536df563dc1d4ca2883ef8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T19:19:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 estevaogoncalvesbittar.pdf: 5760202 bytes, checksum: 84b0d72763536df563dc1d4ca2883ef8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-24 / A taxa de resposta sofre variações ao longo de uma sessão experimental livre-operante típica. Essas variações são ordenadas, e confiavelmente demonstradas com sujeitos de diferentes espécies, respondendo sob diferentes condições experimentais. Killeen (1995) postulou que as variações na taxa de resposta são uma função da interação entre excitação e saciação, e ofereceu um modelo matemático para essa hipótese. O presente estudo analisa o modelo de Killeen, demonstrando que, embora sólido em seus princípios, ele apresenta algumas falhas em sua implementação. Posteriormente, baseado nos mesmos princípios, é desenvolvido e testado um novo modelo da dinâmica motivacional intra-sessão. Também é demonstrado que, representando a excitação como uma variável com valores entre O e 1, é possível obter um modelo surpreendentemente simples da taxa de emissão de um livre-operante. / Operant response rate changes within the course of a typical free-operant experimental session. These changes are orderly, and reliably demonstrated with subjects from different species, responding under different experimental conditions. Killeen (1995) postulated that the response rate changes are a function of the interplay between arousal and satiation, and offered a mathematical model for this hypothesis. The present study analyzes Killeen's model, demonstrating that, although solid in its principles, it presents some flaws in its implementation. Then, based on the same principles, a new model of within-session motivational dynamics is built and tested. It is also demonstrated that, by representing arousal as a variable that ranges between 0 and 1, it's possible to obtain a surprisingly simple model of free-operant response rate.