Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation is a peer-
reviewed scholarly journal freely accessible on the internet
at
http://ericae.net/pare

PARE has just published Solomon, David J. (2001). Conducting
web-based surveys. Practical Assessment, Research &
Evaluation, 7(19). Available online:
http://ericae.net/pare/getvn.asp?v=7&n=19.

Web-based surveying is becoming widely used in social science
and educational research. The Web offers significant
advantages over more traditional survey techniques however
there are still serious methodological challenges with using
this approach. Currently coverage bias or the fact
significant numbers of people do not have access, or choose
not to use the Internet is of most concern to researchers.
Survey researchers also have much to learn concerning the
most effective ways to conduct surveys over the Internet.
While in its early stages, research on Internet-based survey
methodology has identified a number of factors that influence
data quality. Of note, several studies have found Internet
surveys have significantly lower response rates than
comparable mailed surveys. Several factors have been found to
increase response rates including personalized email cover
letters, follow-up reminders, pre-notification of the intent
to survey and simpler formats. A variety of software tools
are now available for conducting Internet surveys and they
are becoming a increasing sophisticated and easy to use.
While there is a need for caution, the use of Web-based
surveying is clearly going to grow.

----------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence Rudner [log in to unmask]
ERIC Clearinghouse on   800 464-3742 (800 Go4-ERIC)
Assessment and Evaluation 301-405-7449
1131 Shriver Laboratory fax 301 405-8134
College Park, MD 20742  http://ericae.net

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