Effect of Monetary Incentives on Mail Survey Response Rates for Midwestern Farmers

Abstract

Response rates to mail-based surveys have declined in recent decades, and survey response rates for farmers tend to be low overall. Maintaining high response rates is necessary to prevent non-response bias. Historically, incentives have been an effective tool to increase response rates with general populations. However, the effect of incentives on farmers has not been well tested. In this study, we experimentally manipulated the use of a $2 incentive in two surveys targeted at farmers. We tested both the use of the incentive and the timing of incentive distribution in the survey process. We found the incentive significantly increased response rates with farmers but there was no significant effect of when the incentive was distributed. Additionally, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using the incentive. While the incentive increased response rate, the cost per survey response also increased and the cost of the incentive was not offset by the increased response rate.

Keywords:

• Farmers
• incentive timing
• incentives
• mail survey
• Midwest
• response rate

Acknowledgments

As always, we are grateful to the undergraduates in the Purdue University Natural Resource Social Science lab who patiently stamp and stuff envelopes for us!

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the research in Saginaw Bay was provided by the Cook Family Foundation and the Mott Foundation (grant number 2010-01030.04). Funding for the Useful to Usable (U2U) research was provided by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (grant no. 2011-68002-30220).