Reliability of Estimates of Return Rates as a Measure of Public Attitudes to Violence

Abstract

An analysis of letters placed in Mobile, Alabama and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (ns = 500 and 600) showed return rates among the several addresses were essentially uncorrelated (rs = -.11 to .08) so interpoll reliability is lacking.

Effect of Respondent Code Location on Survey Response Rate

“…Such strategies include using first-class postage on outgoing and return envelopes (Yammarino, Skinner, & Childers, 1991), using hand-signed cover letters (Dodd, Bowell, & Litwin, 1988), using colored paper for surveys (Fox, Crask, & Kim, 1988), conducting follow-up mailings (Ramsdell, 1995), using surveys that are four pages or less (Roszkowski, 1990), and placing demographic questions at the end of the survey (Roberson & Sundstrom, 1990). In addition, other studies have identified effective strategies to address the return of lost letters (Bridges & Clark, 2000;Bridges, Ryan, & Scheibe, 2000;Bridges, Scheibe, & Meyer, 2002). Several additional techniques have also been noted in enhancing response rates from Dillman's total design method (Dillman, 1978;Salant & Dillman, 1994;Dillman, Smyth, & Christian, 2008).…”