© 1977 Oxford University Press
research-article |
A Study of Mail Survey Method*
1 2 Community Medicine, Southampton General Hospital Southampton, England
3 4 Department of Electronica, University of Southampton England
Reprint requests should be addressed to Professor. W E Waters
A major disadvantage of the mail survey in medical research Is non-response, which may introduce bias. This study measured the effect of two simple factors on the response rate to a questionnaire concerning headache and migraine in a survey of 2,508 electors. The two factors were the class of postage and the colour of envelopes used; neither was found to have a significant effect. It was concluded that cheaper mailing methods are not likely to jeopardise response.
Received 11 October 1976