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Cited by 1,311Survey Methodology and NonresponseSurvey Sampling and Estimation TechniquesCensus and Population Estimation

The Design and Administration of Mail Surveys

Dillman, Don A.·1991·Annual Review of Sociology
DOI 10.1146/annurev.so.17.080191.001301
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Abstract

For reasons of cost and ease of implementation, mail surveys are more frequently used for social research than are either telephone or face-to-face interviews. In this chapter, the last two decades of research aimed at improving mail survey methods are examined. Discussion of this research is organized around progress made in overcoming four important sources of error: sampling , noncoverage, measurement, and nonresponse. Progress has been especially great in improving response rates as a means of reducing nonresponse error. Significant progress has also been made in finding means of overcoming measurement error. Because mail surveys generally present few, if any, special sampling error problems, little research in this area has been conducted. The lack of research on noncoverage issues is a major deficiency in research to date , and noncoverage error presents the most significant impediment to the increased use of mail surveys. The 1990s are likely to see increased research on mail surveys, as efforts are made to incorporate mail into cost-effective mixed mode designs.

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  • A low response rate does not necessarily mean a threat to research validity, especially when representative participants are involved.

    “A low response rate does not necessary mean a threat to research validity, especially when representative participants are involved (Dillman, 1991;Hikmet & Chen, 2003).”

    From Teachers’ perceptions of declining participation in school music (2011) · cites this paper as Dillman, 1991

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Authors
Dillman, D. A.
Affiliations
Washington State University (US)
Corresponding author
Dillman, Don A.
Venue
Annual Review of Sociology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
1991-08
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
225-249
ISSN
  • 0360-0572 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2115
DOI
10.1146/annurev.so.17.080191.001301
OpenAlex
W1971449201
Cited by
1,311
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 74 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 89
FWCI
18.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Annual Review of Sociology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Census and Population Estimation
Keywords
mail surveys, survey design, survey administration, nonresponse error, response rate, measurement error, sampling error, mixed-mode surveys, cost-effectiveness

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