Background

The development of the web survey has led to significant strides in questionnaire survey methodology, including its potential to substantially increase sample sizes at minimal costs. Despite its advantages, web surveys typically achieve lower response rates from participants compared to more conventional survey methods.

Objective

The aim of this review was to evaluate strategies to increase the response rate to web surveys.

Methods

CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE Complete, the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and Psych Info were searched, from inception to the 24th of June, 2021. The Boolean search phrase (Ti: Web survey* OR online survey* OR internet survey*) AND (Ti: response rate* OR nonresponse* or participation rate*) was used. This was supplemented by a secondary search of the reference lists. To be eligible for inclusion in the review, papers had to evaluate one or more strategies to improve response rates to web surveys. Experimental and quasi experimental studies were included in the review.

Results

A total of 159 papers were identified. Following removal of duplicates, and further screening by two independent reviewers, 45 papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were included in the final review. The use of e-mail pre-notification, email invitation and two reminders were found to increase response rates to web surveys as do the use of a semi-automatic log-in, a simple design and a short survey which takes around 10 min to complete. Incentives, including entry into a prize draw with a cash prize considered to be of value to the participants also increase response rates.

Conclusion

Research studies are needed to explore whether the different strategies used by researchers with the intent to improve response rates are acceptable to potential participants and to evaluate the potential synergistic effect of combinations of several strategies identified in this review.

Tweetable abstract: Email prenotification, email invitation, 2 reminders, simple 10 min design and lottery incentives improve response rates to web surveys

中文翻译：

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提高网络调查回复率的策略：文献综述

背景

网络调查的发展使问卷调查方法取得了重大进展，包括其以最低成本大幅增加样本量的潜力。尽管具有优势，但与更传统的调查方法相比，网络调查通常会获得较低的参与者响应率。

客观的

本次审查的目的是评估提高网络调查响应率的策略。

方法

检索了 CINAHL (EBSCO)、MEDLINE Complete、Cochrane 系统评价数据库、Cochrane 对照试验中心登记册和 Psych Info，检索时间为 2021 年 6 月 24 日。布尔搜索短语（Ti：Web 调查*或在线调查* 或互联网调查*) AND (Ti: 响应率* OR 无响应* 或参与率*) 被使用。这是通过对参考列表的二次搜索进行补充的。为了有资格被纳入审查，论文必须评估一种或多种策略以提高对网络调查的响应率。实验和准实验研究被纳入审查。

结果

共检索到 159 篇论文。剔除重复，并由两名独立审稿人进一步筛选后，45篇论文符合纳入和排除标准，并被纳入最终审查。发现使用电子邮件预先通知、电子邮件邀请和两次提醒可以提高对网络调查的响应率，使用半自动登录、简单的设计和大约需要 10 分钟的简短调查也能提高网络调查的回复率。完全的。激励措施，包括使用被认为对参与者有价值的现金奖励参加抽奖活动，也会提高响应率。

结论

需要研究来探讨研究人员为提高反应率而使用的不同策略是否为潜在参与者所接受，并评估本综述中确定的几种策略组合的潜在协同效应。

Tweetable 摘要：电子邮件预先通知、电子邮件邀请、2 次提醒、简单的 10 分钟设计和抽奖激励提高了对网络调查的响应率