OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree to which mailed survey response rates, response times, and nonresponse bias are affected by questionnaire size and color. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,000 Mayo Clinic patients in one of four size/color "test" groups. One thousand three hundred nine surveys were completed, approximately two-thirds in each group. RESULTS: A small (6 (1/8) x 8 (1/4) in) questionnaire booklet on white paper had a higher response rate (68.4%) than a similarly sized questionnaire on blue paper (62.3%). A large (8 (1/4) x 11 in) questionnaire on white paper had a 62.7% rate, whereas a large, blue questionnaire had a response rate of 68.6%. Median response times did not differ by questionnaire size/color. No evidence of differential nonresponse bias was observed across the four test groups. CONCLUSION: This study supports the use of a small/white questionnaire format advocated by the Total Design Method advanced by Don Dillman at Washington State University. We observed a favorable response rate for a large questionnaire printed on blue paper; however, if time and resources are limited, use of a small/white questionnaire appears preferable.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree to which mailed survey response rates, response times, and nonresponse bias are affected by questionnaire size and color. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,000 Mayo Clinic patients in one of four size/color "test" groups. One thousand three hundred nine surveys were completed, approximately two-thirds in each group. RESULTS: A small (6 (1/8) x 8 (1/4) in) questionnaire booklet on white paper had a higher response rate (68.4%) than a similarly sized questionnaire on blue paper (62.3%). A large (8 (1/4) x 11 in) questionnaire on white paper had a 62.7% rate, whereas a large, blue questionnaire had a response rate of 68.6%. Median response times did not differ by questionnaire size/color. No evidence of differential nonresponse bias was observed across the four test groups. CONCLUSION: This study supports the use of a small/white questionnaire format advocated by the Total Design Method advanced by Don Dillman at Washington State University. We observed a favorable response rate for a large questionnaire printed on blue paper; however, if time and resources are limited, use of a small/white questionnaire appears preferable.
Authors: Elie A Akl; Swarna Gaddam; Reem Mustafa; Mark C Wilson; Andrew Symons; Ann Grifasi; Denise McGuigan; Holger J Schünemann Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-02-23 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Zaheer U Bhatti; Sam S Salek; Charlotte E Bolton; Lindsay George; Julian P Halcox; Sharon M Jones; Ian R Ketchell; Richard H Moore; Ramsey Sabit; Vincent Piguet; Andrew Y Finlay Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2013-05-08 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Philip James Edwards; Ian Roberts; Mike J Clarke; Carolyn Diguiseppi; Reinhard Wentz; Irene Kwan; Rachel Cooper; Lambert M Felix; Sarah Pratap Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2009-07-08