An Illustration of a Methodology to Maximize Mail Survey Response Rates in a Provincial School-Based Physical Activity Needs Assessment

Authors

  • John J.M. Dwyer University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
  • Kenneth R. Allison University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Daria C. Lysy Physical Activity Research Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Karen N. LeMoine Physical Activity Research Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Edward M. Adlaf Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Guy E.J. Faulkner University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
  • Jack Goodman University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.24.007

Abstract

Two mail surveys were conducted as a province-wide needs assessment to examine the opportunities for, barriers to, and participation in physical activity in Ontario elementary and secondary schools. Dillman’s Tailored Design Method (TDM) was used to maximize the quality of responses and the response rate. Both surveys entailed five mailings to key informants from randomly selected schools. The response rate among the 599 elementary and 600 secondary schools was 85% and 79%, respectively. This article discusses how the TDM strategies (i.e., strategies to establish trust, increase perceived rewards, and decrease perceived costs among key informants) were used to yield high response rates, examines the response rates after each mailing, and shares some lessons learned, which will be useful to researchers who are considering using the TDM in surveys designed to develop and evaluate programs.

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Published

2009-11-21

How to Cite

Dwyer, J. J., Allison, K. R., Lysy, D. C., LeMoine, K. N., Adlaf, E. M., Faulkner, G. E., & Goodman, J. (2009). An Illustration of a Methodology to Maximize Mail Survey Response Rates in a Provincial School-Based Physical Activity Needs Assessment. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 24(2), 157–168. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.24.007

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 2 (2009): Fall

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2009 John J.M. Dwyer, Kenneth R. Allison, Daria C. Lysy, Karen N. LeMoine, Edward M. Adlaf, Guy E.J. Faulkner, Jack Goodman

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