ArticleBMC medical research methodology2012
Improving response rate and quality of survey data with a scratch lottery ticket incentive.
Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Increasing the response rate of text messaging data collection: a delayed randomized controlled trial.Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA · 2015Trial
- Analysis of the Results of Monitoring the Quality of Services in Oncological Treatment, Conducted as Part of the Pilot Project of the National Cancer Network for Lung Cancer in 2019-2023, in Poland.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Article
- Participant and GP perspectives and experiences of screening for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in community pharmacy during the Pharmacy Diabetes Screening Trial.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- Comparing the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and non-participants in the population-based Tromsø Study.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Association between problem gambling and personality traits: a longitudinal study among the general Norwegian population.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- A Data-Free Digital Platform to Reach Families With Young Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Survey Study.JMIR pediatrics and parenting · 2021Article
- Article
- Effect of prepaid and promised financial incentive on follow-up survey response in cigarette smokers: a randomized controlled trial.BMC medical research methodology · 2019Article
- Questionnaire Breakoff and Item Nonresponse in Web-Based Questionnaires: Multilevel Analysis of Person-Level and Item Design Factors in a Birth Cohort.Journal of medical Internet research · 2018Article
- How can we get Iraq- and Afghanistan-deployed US Veterans to participate in health-related research? Findings from a national focus group study.BMC medical research methodology · 2018Article
- Web-based versus traditional paper questionnaires: a mixed-mode survey with a Nordic perspective.Journal of medical Internet research · 2013Article
- Article
- Prospective evaluation of direct approach with a tablet device as a strategy to enhance survey study participant response rate.BMC research notes · 2012Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe quality of data collected in survey research is usually indicated by the response rate; the representativeness of the sample, and; the rate of completed questions (item-response). In attempting to improve a generally declining response rate in surveys considerable efforts are being made through follow-up mailings and various types of incentives. This study examines effects of including a scratch lottery ticket in the invitation letter to a survey.
methodQuestionnaires concerning oral health were mailed to a random sample of 2,400 adults. A systematically selected half of the sample (1,200 adults) received a questionnaire including a scratch lottery ticket. One reminder without the incentive was sent.
resultsThe incentive increased the response rate and improved representativeness by reaching more respondents with lower education. Furthermore, it reduced item nonresponse. The initial incentive had no effect on the propensity to respond after the reminder.
conclusionWhen attempting to improve survey data, three issues become important: response rate, representativeness, and item-response. This study shows that including a scratch lottery ticket in the invitation letter performs well on all the three.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.