Research and Development Initiatives

Advance Letter and Answering Machine Message Experiments

Does prenotification of an impending call from a survey research help to improve participation rates in BRFSS? Split-sample experiments were conducted to examine the impact on BRFSS participation rates of sending advance letters and leaving scripted messages on the answering machines of potential sample members. The studies were conducted in 11 states in April and May, 2003. The findings indicate that while advance letters appear to significantly increase response rates, decrease initial refusal rates, and increase refusal conversion rates, leaving messages on telephone answering machines does not appear to be an effective strategy.

Publications and Presentations

Link, M., A. Mokdad. (2005). “Advance Letters as a Means of Improving Respondent Cooperation in RDD Studies: A Multi-state Experiment.” Public Opinion Quarterly, 69(4):572-587.

Link, M., A. Mokdad. (2005). “Leaving Answering Machine Messages: Do They Increase Response Rates for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System?” International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 17: 239-250, Summer 2005.

Link, M., A. Mokdad, M. Town, D. Roe, J. Weiner (2004). “Improving Response Rates for the BRFSS: Use of Lead Letters and Answering Machine Messages.” Proceedings of the American Statistical Association, Survey Methodology Section (CD-ROM), Alexandria, VA.

Eyerman, J, M. Link, A. Mokdad, J. Morton (2004). “Assessing the Impact of Methodological Enhancements on Different Sub-populations in a BRFSS Experiment.” Proceedings of the American Statistical Association, Survey Methodology Section (CD-ROM), Alexandria, VA.

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Page last updated: 08/27/2008

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