Electronic mail (e‐mail) has been used to distribute surveys and collect data from online users for almost fifteen years. However, some have suggested that the use of e‐mail is becoming obsolete. This study analyzes response rates to e‐mail surveys undertaken since 1986 and examines five influences to response rates: the year the study was undertaken, the number of questions in the survey, the number of pre‐notification contacts, the number of follow‐up contacts and survey topic salience. Response rates to e‐mail surveys have significantly decreased since 1986. Correlation and regression analyses suggest that year that the survey was undertaken and number of follow‐up contacts had the most influence on response rates. A discussion of other influences and future research into this area is provided.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of many organizations studying influences on consumer privacy online. The authors investigate these influences, taking into consideration the current body of literature on privacy and the Internet and the FTC's core principles of fair information practice. The authors analyze these influences to assess the underlying factors of privacy concern online. The authors examine the current recommendations and actions of the FTC in light of the results of an e-mail survey of online consumers in the United States that assessed their attitudes toward privacy online. The authors find that the FTC's core principles address many of online consumers’ privacy concerns. However, two factors not directly incorporated in the five principles, the relationships between entities and online users and the exchange of information for appropriate compensation, may influence consumers’ privacy concerns.

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