title: Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Informatics, Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. di@dental.temple.edu
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Schleyer
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Forrest
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003815:Dentists; D019146:Hypermedia; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011177:Postal Service / Q000191:economics; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D013997:Time Factors