title: Selected questionnaire size and color combinations were significantly related to mailed survey response rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the degree to which mailed survey response rates, response times, and nonresponse bias are affected by questionnaire size and color.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,000 Mayo Clinic patients in one of four size/color "test" groups. One thousand three hundred nine surveys were completed, approximately two-thirds in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A small (6 (1/8) x 8 (1/4) in) questionnaire booklet on white paper had a higher response rate (68.4%) than a similarly sized questionnaire on blue paper (62.3%). A large (8 (1/4) x 11 in) questionnaire on white paper had a 62.7% rate, whereas a large, blue questionnaire had a response rate of 68.6%. Median response times did not differ by questionnaire size/color. No evidence of differential nonresponse bias was observed across the four test groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the use of a small/white questionnaire format advocated by the Total Design Method advanced by Don Dillman at Washington State University. We observed a favorable response rate for a large questionnaire printed on blue paper; however, if time and resources are limited, use of a small/white questionnaire appears preferable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Research, Survey Research Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. beebe.timothy@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.forename: Kari J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015982:Bias; D003116:Color; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors