title: A comparison of survey methods in studies of the nurse workforce.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare and contrast postal and internet surveys in studies of nurse workforces.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is little research that examines the advantages and disadvantages of different surveys in studies of nurse workforces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previous studies that used different approaches to disseminate surveys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are advantages and disadvantages to using postal or internet surveys for nurse workforce studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors researchers may wish to consider in selecting survey methods include research topic, costs, coverage, timing and the characteristics of potential respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Response rate, data quality and adequate coverage of the population being studied can be optimised if the researcher selects an appropriate survey method.
authors.affiliation: Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University, United States. oreitz2@ilstu.edu
authors.forename: O Ed
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Reitz
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States