The effect of the advance letter was examined by experiments during two mail surveys. Results show the advance letter significantly improved response rates. The advance letter, however, did not affect how fast a questionnaire was returned, how many questions were not answered, and how the respondent answered the questions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
CoxW. E.Jr., “Response Patterns to Mail Surveys,”Journal of Marketing Research, 3 (November 1966), 392–7.
2.
ErdosP. L., “Successful Mail Surveys: High Returns and How to Get Them,”Printers’ Ink, 258 (March 1957), 56–60. 60.
3.
KephartW. M., and BresslerMarvin, “Increasing the Response to Mail Questionnaires,”Public Opinion Quarterly, 22 (Summer 1958), 123–32.
4.
StaffordJ. E., “Influence of Preliminary Contact on Mail Returns,”Journal of Marketing Research, 3 (November 1966), 410–1.
5.
WaisanenF. B., “A Note on the Response to a Mailed Questionnaire,”Public Opinion Quarterly, 18 (Summer 1954), 210–2.
6.
WotrubaT. R., “Monetary Inducements and Mail Questionnaire Research,”Journal of Marketing Research, 3 (November 1966), 398–400.
