The last decade has seen some high-quality surveys adopting web as the primary mode for data collection, a trend that has been accelerated due to the pandemic. Rising fieldwork costs are one of the reasons for the widespread adoption of web mode. To counter lower response rates and maximise inclusiveness, web non-respondents are often followed up in other mode(s). There is, however, a risk that respondents answer the survey questions differently depending on the mode of completion. Also, using a combination of modes substantially increases the (fixed) costs of data collection. As internet access in the UK has expanded to cover almost the entire population, a critical question is whether it is now feasible to conduct web-only surveys of the general population (i.e. without follow-ups of nonrespondents) without compromising representativeness.
This workshop will feature research conducted as part of the Survey Futures Phase II project Do we still need nonresponse follow-ups to web surveys of the UK general population? An analysis of cost-quality trade-offs. The workshop presents key results from the project and implications for survey practice on webnonresponse and follow-ups with time for discussion.
This workshop aims to bring together survey researchers and practitioners from the UK and internationally to discuss emerging evidence and practical lessons from webnonresponse and follow-ups in general population surveys. The workshop will conclude with a focused discussion on the likely future developments of follow-ups of web nonrespondents. The workshop is aimed at survey practitioners and researchers from across sectors and across career stages engaged in survey design and will provide practical recommendations informed by the research findings.
We hope you can join us! We would be excited to see you there.