Much literature assesses the impact of various factors on response rates to postal questionnaires. Little work, however, evaluates the effect of `controversial' questions on rates of return. Recent debates suggest that one such question concerns ethnic origin and some writers argue that asking this question could affect response rates. This research note explores this issue in more detail, first by examining the effect of an ethnicity question on the response rate of a postal questionnaire to practice nurses in England and Wales and, secondly, considering the arguments for and against including the question.
Bhandana, Ahmad. 1989. `Redressing Imbalances with Ethnic Monitoring'. Social Work Today20, 47:27.
2.
Ahmad, W.I.U. 1992. The Politics of `Race' and Health. Race Relations Unit, University of Bradford and Bradford and Ilkley Community College, Bradford.
3.
Atkin, K.1991. `Health, Illness and Disability and Black Minorities: A Speculative Critique of Present Day Discourse'. Disability, Handicap and Society6, 1:37-47.
4.
Austin, P., Lewis D. and Scammell, B. 1977. The Methodology of Postal Sifts and Surveys. OPCS Library.
5.
Ashok Bhat, Carr-Hill, R. and Sushe, Ohri. 1980. Britain's Black Population: A New Perspective. Aldershot: Gower.
6.
Baxter, C., Kamaljit, Poonia, Ward, L. and Zenobia, Nadirshaw. 1990. Double Discrimination. London: Kings Fund/Commission for Racial Equality.
7.
Bulmer, M.1986. `A Controversial Census Topic: Race and Ethnicity in the British Census'. Journal of Official Statistics2:4.
8.
Carlise, D.1990. `Trying to Open Doors'. Nursing Times89, 18:42-43.
9.
Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations. 1993. Ethnic Minority in Great Britain: Settlement Patterns. Coventry: CRER.
10.
Commission for Racial Equality. 1980. Census: Why the Ethnic Question is so Vital. London: CRE.
11.
Commission for Racial Equality. 1989. Racial Equality in Social Services Departments: A Survey of Equal Opportunity Policies. London: CRE.
12.
Connelly, N. 1988. Ethnic Record Keeping and Monitoring in Service Delivery. PSI: London.
13.
Gilroy, P.1990. `The End of Anti-Racism'. New Community17, 1:71-83.
14.
Hicks, C.1988. `NHS Colourblindness'. The Health Service Journal98, 5102: 590-591.
15.
Harvey, L.1987. `Factors Affecting Response Rates to Mailed Questionnaires'. Journal of the Market Research Society, July.
16.
Jacoby, A.1990. `Possible Factors Affecting Response to Postal Questionnaire: Findings from a Survey of General Practitioner Services'. Journal of Public Health Medicine12:131-135.
17.
Kanuk, L. and Berenson, C.1975. `Mail Surveys and Response Rates: A Literature Review'. Journal of Marketing Research12:440-453.
18.
Lane, D. 1979. Open Letter to Patrick Jenkin, 30 August 1979. London: CRE.
19.
Leech, K. 1989. A Question of Dispute: The Debate about an `Ethnic' Question in the Census. London: The Runnymead Trust.
20.
Mallinson, I. and Best, E.1990. `Promoting Power'. Social Work Today21, 29:24-25.
21.
McNaught, A. 1988. Race and Health Policy. London: Croom Helm.
22.
Pearson, R.M. 1988. Social Services in Multi-Racial Society. London: SSI/DoH.
23.
Sillitoe, K. 1987. Developing Questions on Ethnicity and Related Topics for the Census. OPCS Occasional Paper 36.
24.
Wilson, I. and McGloin, P.1989. `Ethnic Record Keeping is Not Just Ticking Boxes'. Social Work Today21, 5:16-17.
25.
Windsor, J.1992. `What Can You Ask About? The Effect on Response to a Postal Screen of Asking about Two Potentially Sensitive Questions'. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health46:83-85.
26.
White, R.M.1979. `What's in a Name? Problems in Official and Legal Usages of Race'. New Community7, 3:333-349.
27.
White, P.1990. `A Question on Ethnic Group for the Census: Findings from the 1989 Census Text Post-Enumeration Survey'. Population Trends59:12-19.
