A method for evaluating mode effects in mixed-mode surveys

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

June 1, 2010

Summary:

Survey designs in which data from different groups of respondents are collected by different survey modes have become increasingly popular. However, such mixed-mode (MM) designs lead to a confounding of selection effects and measurement effects (measurement error) caused by mode differences. Consequently, MM data have poor quality. Nevertheless, comparing MM data with data from a comparable single-mode survey allows researchers to measure selection effects and measurement effects separately. The authors develop a method to evaluate mode effects and illustrate this method with data from a Dutch MM experiment within the European Social Survey program. In this experiment, respondents could choose between three modes: a Web survey, a telephone interview, or a face-to-face interview. Mode effects on three political variables are evaluated: interest in politics, perceived complexity of politics, and voter turnout in the last national election.

© The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Published in

Public Opinion Quarterly

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 74 , p.1 -1

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfq059

ISSN

33362

Subject

Notes

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