Survey response rates to a professional association mail questionnaire.

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of various direct mail techniques on professional nurses' response rates to questionnaires. A random sample of 700 registered professional nurses consisting of five groups who were members of New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) were mailed a questionnaire with 22 items. The study demonstrated that the response rates were directly attributable to techniques used. Providing information about the association was related to significantly decreased response rates and monetary incentives with significantly increased response rates. A combined direct mailing for questionnaire completion and membership solicitation was not effective for either purpose.