Effect of Respondent Code Location on Survey Response Rate

Abstract

Survey response rates were examined for differences based on the location of the respondent code, a numerical code placed on the survey versus a numerical code placed on the return envelope. A four-page survey on criteria and procedures used when hiring health education faculty members was mailed to program coordinators of university health education programs (N = 223). Half of the coordinators (n = 112) received coded surveys (surveys that had a written overt three-digit code at the top right corner of the first page of the survey). The other half of the coordinators (n = 111) received coded return envelopes (return envelopes with a six-digit code typed directly under the return mailing address). A total of 132 coordinators returned completed surveys (62%). Response rate did not differ significantly based on placement of respondent code. Survey researchers are thus recommended to devote their efforts to other inducement strategies to increase response rates.