homeresearch servicesinterviewingpostal

Postal Surveys

Maven have all the necessary resources for printing and scanning to carry out large scale postal surveys.

There are several advantages to choosing a postal methodology: -

• More cost effective than telephone research.
• Questionnaire length can be increased as more time is available for completion and the respondent can complete it in their own time.
• A postal survey is less intrusive than other methods of contact.
• Respondents can complete the survey in their own time, when it is convenient to them.
• The respondent has more time to give a considered response to the questions asked than during a telephone interview.
• There is an opportunity to confer/discuss responses with others before returning the questionnaire (THIS IS +/- DEPENDING ON SURVEY OBJECTIVES).
• A more honest response may be gained from respondents, as they are able to write their answers rather than give them to an interviewer. Sometimes respondents taking part in a telephone survey may feel that they should give the ‘right’ answer or what they think the interviewer wants to hear, rather than an honest answer.
• Postal questionnaires are cost effective for large-scale programmes, enabling one to invite all customers to participate in the survey (address information permitting).
• Telephone numbers are not required, making database sourcing simpler.
• A greater volume of information can be collected by post than within a telephone interview, where the respondent’s attention span may be limited.

It is important to consider the following issues when choosing a postal survey:

• Quota control: In a telephone survey, it is possible to set quotas by CUSTOMER GROUP and manage customer database to maximise the potential to reach the quotas e.g. certain database can be prioritised, records can be kept of contact attempts etc. With the postal survey we minimise the reduced control of quotas by mailing every customer the questionnaire, with the expectation that this will achieve a sample size of at least 25% (based on our experience) overall and per CUSTOMER GROUP.
• Self-completion surveys are reliant on the respondent understanding the questions and completing them accurately and fully. Respondents cannot seek guidance or clarification from the interviewer. It is important that the questions are clear and unambiguous and that any instructions on the questionnaire are straightforward to follow. We provide a freephone helpline to offer support to customers in completing the questionnaire.
• The time period in which the respondent returns the questionnaire cannot be controlled. We print a code on the questionnaire that identifies when it was mailed out. Incentives and reminders will help encourage the respondent to complete the questionnaire quickly.
• The respondent can read through the whole questionnaire before completing it. If the survey requires spontaneous feedback before prompted, a self-completion postal questionnaire may not be the most appropriate method.

back to interviewing