title: Effects of small incentives on survey response fractions: randomised comparisons in national alcohol surveys conducted in New Zealand.
abstract: We experimentally evaluate inexpensive interventions to increase response fractions in two alcohol surveys. Residents on the New Zealand General and Māori electoral rolls were randomized to receive a survey pack with or without an offer of entry to a $500 prize draw. Subsequent randomization of sample members who did not initially respond allowed estimation of effects of offering a $5 donation to charity as an incentive to respond. Offering prize draw entry did not significantly increase responses in either population. Contrary to expectation, promising a $5 donation to non-respondents reduced subsequent responding in the group previously offered the prize draw incentive.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 2 School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Australia kypros.kypri@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kypros
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kypri
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maclennan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jennie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups; D012107:Research Design