Stimulating the response rate to mailed questionnaires: a South African case study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research note is to give an overview of possible techniques which could be employed to secure a higher response rate to a mailed questionnaire. During late 1989 and early 1990 the Centre for South African Politics conducted a attitude survey among the South African elite on topics related to the process of political change in South Africa. Although mailed questionnaires are known to have notoriously low response rates a sufficient response rate of 52.08% was recorded after a combination of techniques were used to stimulate the rate of returns. The various techniques are discussed and evaluated in this research note.