A Cost/benefit Approach to Postage used on Mail Questionnaires

Abstract

This research was designed to reveal whether four postage alternatives resulted in differing response rates, responses to dependent variable questions, and/or elicited responses from different demographic groups. To determine this, a questionnaire was mailed to a national probability sample of 1,000 new automobile registrants. There were no significant differences found in response rates, responses, or demographic groups responding. The authors concluded that the optimal mailing strategy uses third class postage on the sending envelopes and a business reply permit on the return envelope.