Erratum: Impact of Questionnaire Length Follow-Up Methods, and Geographical Location on Response Rate to a Mail Survey

Abstract

Reports an error in the original article by Sheth and Roscoe (Journal of Applied Psychology. Vol 60(2) Apr 1975, 252-254). On page 253, an error appears in Table 1, and making the changes in this table results in two changes in the text on page 254. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1975-21088-001 .) Assessed the impact of 2 levels of questionnaire length, 4 follow-up methods, and 8 heterogeneous geographical areas on response rate to a mail survey. Questionnaires were mailed to a large random sample of telephone customers. For each geographical location, 264 customers were drawn and equally divided among the 8 experimental conditions. No significant differences in response rate occurred between a short, 4-page questionnaire and a long, 6-page questionnaire. However, the telephone reminder produced the best results, post reminder the second best results, and telephone interviews both with and without prior alert produced the poorest results. There were significant Follow-Up * Geographical Area interactions, suggesting a market segmentation strategy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)