Item-level nonresponse rates in an attitudinal survey of teachers delivered via mail and web

Abstract

This article presents the results of an experiment designed to compare item-level non-response rates to paper- and web-based versions of a survey questionnaire, focusing on attitudinal variables, that was administered to highly accomplished teachers. A sample of teachers reported their perceptions of professional community; half were assigned to a web-based version of the questionnaire, and the other half to a paper-based version. In both groups, the survey implementation procedures reflected Dillman's (2007) Tailored Design Method. Item-level nonresponses were compared between groups for overall rates, and differential response rates by demographics, item position, item format (i.e., branching items and respondent-provided text), and item content. Results revealed small differences in item-level nonresponse rates, both overall and in comparisons between demographic groups. In addition, there was no evidence of differential item-level nonresponse by item position and item content. However, item-level nonresponse rates were considerably higher for fill-in-the-blank items on the web-based questionnaire. © 2008 International Communication Association.