Examining Motivations to Refuse in Industrial Surveys

Abstract

This study reports the results of examining the reasons for participant refusal in industrial mail surveys. The existing literature provides us with very little knowledge on this topic. Managers who did not respond to a previous questionnaire were called and asked to indicate their reasons for ‘refusal’. Referring to refusers as an information source, this study is among the first applying such a research design. In general, time constraints (‘I am too busy’), technical characteristics of the questionnaire (‘too long’), and a lack of value provided for organisations (‘no benefit for company’) are the most frequently cited reasons for refusal. Based on our research findings we also provide the reader with a discussion of the results and implications for future research.