A researcher has received only 20 percent of the questionnaires that she sent to the 6,000 freshmen at a large Midwestern university.What is the first step the researcher should take to increase the return rate in this survey?
A) Telephone the non-respondents, asking them to return the questionnaire
B) Send a follow-up letter with another copy of the questionnaire and a self-addressed campus envelope
C) Telephone the non-respondents requesting a personal interview
D) Receive permission from professors to stop by classes to collect surveys.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sending a follow-up letter with another copy of the questionnaire and a self-addressed campus envelope is the best choice. It is a non-intrusive method that reminds the recipients to complete the survey and provides an easy way to return it. Telephone calls and personal interviews may be seen as intrusive and may not be well-received. Visiting classes to collect surveys would require permission from professors and may not be feasible for all classes.

A Researcher Has Received Only 20 Percent of the Questionnaires