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Comparative Study
. 2000 Jul-Aug;7(4):416-25.
doi: 10.1136/jamia.2000.0070416.

Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys

T K Schleyer  1 , J L Forrest
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys

T K Schleyer et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2000 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

This paper describes the design, development, and administration of a Web-based survey to determine the use of the Internet in clinical practice by 450 dental professionals. The survey blended principles of a controlled mail survey with data collection through a Web-based database application. The survey was implemented as a series of simple HTML pages and tested with a wide variety of operating environments. The response rate was 74.2 percent. Eighty-four percent of the participants completed the Web-based survey, and 16 percent used e-mail or fax. Problems identified during survey administration included incompatibilities/technical problems, usability problems, and a programming error. The cost of the Web-based survey was 38 percent less than that of an equivalent mail survey. A general formula for calculating breakeven points between electronic and hardcopy surveys is presented. Web-based surveys can significantly reduce turnaround time and cost compared with mail surveys and may enhance survey item completion rates.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample screen of the survey.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of responses received (left scale) and cumulative response rate (right scale, in percents) by date. The graph includes surveys entered through the Web only and indicates when survey mailings were sent.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • When to use web-based surveys.
    Wyatt JC. Wyatt JC. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2000 Jul-Aug;7(4):426-9. doi: 10.1136/jamia.2000.0070426. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2000. PMID: 10887170 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

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Publication types