Calculating Outcome Rates in Web Surveys

Authors

  • Subha Ramanathan University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Guy Faulkner University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.30.1.90

Keywords:

outcome rates, tracking methods, web surveys

Abstract

Web-based surveys are increasingly used in evaluation practice. To our knowledge, there are no guidelines for calculating outcome rates using newly available tracking methods. In a recent study, up to five recruitment e-mails were sent using an e-mail marketing service: a primer, an invitation with a survey link, and three reminders. Hard and soft bounces and opened e-mails were tracked. Outcome rates varied as a function of decisions made regarding these data. We suggest that several outcome rate calculations be presented to assist the reader in assessing these important measures of study quality.

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Published

2015-04-21

How to Cite

Ramanathan, S., & Faulkner, G. (2015). Calculating Outcome Rates in Web Surveys. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 30(1), 90–98. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.30.1.90

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (2015): Spring

Section

Research and Practice Notes

License

Copyright (c) 2015 Subha Ramanathan, Guy Faulkner

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