Decreasing Item Omissions from Reluctant Survey Respondents

The problem of incomplete questionnaire response is a vexing one to researchers who rely on data collected by mail surveys. Using a sample of 23,350 potential respondents, a mail survey experiment was performed to test two survey-concurrent means for decreasing item omission. Combinations of survey sponsorship and anonymity assurance were found that significantly improved questionnaire completion in demographic groups that have been previously identified as most prone to item non-response. An analysis of trade-offs between response rates and item completion was performed and recommendations for survey sponsorship and anonymity conditions are developed.