Online surveys are a widely used and proven market research methodology. They provide benefits over traditional methods like phone and mail surveys by allowing respondents to complete surveys according to their own schedule via a non-intrusive medium. While response rates for online surveys tend to be lower than traditional methods, response rates vary significantly depending on the sample and can be improved through proper design, incentives, and data weighting. Experienced market research professionals are still important for ensuring high-quality online survey results.

1. New to Online Surveys?
Try It, You’ll Like It
A N S W E R S E A R C H, I N C.
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2. Phone: 407-677-5939 8745 Belter Drive www.answersearchinc.com
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A N S W E R S E A R C H, I N C.
New to Online Surveys? Try It, You’ll Like It
An overview of the fastest growing market research methodology--online surveys: Compares online
research to traditional methodologies and provides important tips for maximizing the success of online
survey projects.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Online research is a widely used methodology. The acceptance of online research as a marketing tool is
evidenced by the huge growth in the use of this methodology by marketing professionals.
Online research is a proven technique. Online surveys result in the same conclusions and marketing
decisions as do surveys using phone, mall, or mail interviewing.
All survey methodologies are imperfect. Online research shares several of the problems of other
methods, but in many respects online research can be the best choice. It is quicker and costs less than
others. It also offers a better environment for the respondent—it is non-intrusive, available 24/7, and
can be done on the respondent’s schedule. It provides greater privacy and anonymity to the respondent.
Response rates for online surveys tend to be low. However, response rates for phone, mall, and mail
surveys are also quite low. Online research usually obtains response rates in the 2 to 3% range, but
response rates can be much higher (70% or better) depending upon the sample used.
Other research has shown that the pattern of non-response (i.e., which population groups are least likely
to respond) is similar for internet studies and studies using other methodologies. The proper invitation,
incentives, and questionnaire design can minimize non-response bias. Data management can also
compensate for non-response bias.
Online surveys are easy to implement, but an experience market research professional is just as
important with online studies as with other types of market research studies.
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3. DETAILED FINDINGS
Online research is a proven, trusted, and widely used methodology.
The use of online research to replace traditional research methods has been growing. According to
Inside Research (January 2006), almost one third of all spending for surveys is for online surveys.
Inside Research reported that spending for online research has grown every year since its inception.
Online research has been proven to be valid.
Research shows the online data collection almost always leads to the same business decisions as
traditional data collection methods.
Online research is suitable for most, but not all, research projects.
The main criteria for determining if a survey is appropriate for the internet are:
-- The survey is suitable for a self-administered questionnaire.
-- The target audience is reachable via email.
-- The population with access to the Internet reflects the client’s audience.
-- Open-end questions are minimal, since there is no interview present to probe for in-depth
answers.
Online research has many benefits over traditional methodologies.
The obvious advantages of online research are quick turnaround and low cost. However there are many
other advantages.
Online research is respondent-driven. Respondents complete the survey at their leisure on their own
schedule. They can choose a time when they are not distracted. Additionally, online research does
not engender the negativity that can arise from the intrusiveness of phone and mall solicitations for
cooperation.
Respondents may be more cooperative and more honest because they have greater anonymity for
questions dealing with sensitive topics.
Visuals can be embedded in the questionnaire or a link can be inserted at the appropriate points,
putting online research on par with personal interviews with respect to the ability to use audio-visual
stimuli.
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4. The response rate for online research studies is often superior to that currently obtained with
traditional methodologies.
The research industry has suffered from declining response rates for years. CMOR (The Council for
Marketing and Opinion Research) reported 12% response rates in 2002, down from 16% in 2000 for
telephone and mall studies. In contrast, online research sometimes reaches a 70% response rate.
Incentives can improve response rates. A cash incentive is the most effective motivator. AnswerSearch,
Inc. has had success with using “sweepstakes” and with using electronic $10 Amazon.com gift cards
offered to each respondent who completes a questionnaire.
Additionally, response rates can be improved by the wording of the invitation, particularly the subject
line. The subject line should entice to recipient to read further. Additionally, a sponsor that is familiar
to the respondents improves response rates. And, of course, care should be taken to avoid using words
or phrases that are likely to set off spam blockers.
A brief questionnaire with simple straightforward questions will improve response rates.
The non-response bias with internet research is no different than that found with traditional
methodologies.
Certain population groups have historically been less receptive to cooperate with surveys. Research
conducted by e-Rewards (a company providing email panels) shows that the demographic patterns of
non-response are the same for internet research as they are for traditional research methodologies.
The groups with below average response rates are older people, less educated people, lower income
people, and sometimes males.
However, non-response bias is not always present. If invitations are sent to a representative sample, the
probability of a balanced response is high. AnswerSearch, Inc., a full service market research company,
recently conducted a mail study done with a database sample and obtained a 13% response rate.
Because it was a database sample, demographic and behavioral information was available for the entire
outgoing sample. There were either no differences or only very small differences between responders
and non-responders on 12 demographic and behavioral characteristics.
If non-response bias is suspected, there are ways to minimize this bias. The outgoing sample and the
incoming responses can be managed to achieve representativeness by setting requirements for eligibility
and quotas for demographic and behavioral characteristics. Data can also be weighted to match known
parameters.
Online interviewing allows for the use of various types of samples.
Panel Sample
-- People who have been pre-recruited to participate in research projects.
-- Panelists provide demographic and product usage, etc.
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5. -- High response rates; usually from 15% to 70%
Database Sample
-- People, usually customers, who have become part of a company database
-- A variety of information about the database members is available
-- Response rates are usually in the 5% to 15% range
Push-Sample (Lists)
-- People who have agreed to receive email messages related to a topic of interest, but not
necessarily to participate in research
-- Respondents are “pushed” to the survey site by responding to an email invitation
-- No information on respondents available
-- Usually low response rates—1% to 2%
Pull-Sample
-- People are “pulled” to the research site by banners and ads
-- Little is known about them except the information they may provide when they respond
Quilt Sample
-- Uses a mix of the above four types of samples
A final word of caution
The apparent ease and simplicity of online surveys may encourage a DIY (Do It Yourself)
mindset. This would be a mistake. The same expertise that goes into study design, questionnaire
design, and analysis for traditional methodologies is required for online surveys as well. It is still
important to use an experienced market research professional for online research in order to
insure valid actionable results.
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