In addition to hundreds of new references features new to this edition include: a comprehensive introduction to qualitative methods including a review of existing computer applications for collecting and analyzing data; the latest information about the use of computers and online research techniques, including the use of the Internet to locate actual research instruments and journal articles; updated coverage on new scales, internal and external validity, and new analytic techniques with extensive references on each; abstracts, citations and subject groupings by measurement tool of the last five years of the American Sociological Review, Social Psychology Quarterly, and the American Journal of Sociology; extensive coverage of how to prepare manuscripts for publication, including a list of all journals covered by Sociological Abstracts along with the editorial office address and URL for each entry; new coverage of ethical issues; expansion of social indicators to include international coverage; discussion of the importance of policy research with presentation and discussion of specific models as an adjunct to both applied and basic research techniques; and the addition of an index to facilitate the reader's ability to quickly locate a topic.

Techniques for Increasing Response Rates

Techniques for Increasing Response Rates

NCS Pearson (at www.ncs.com/ncscorp/top/wedo/index.htm) suggests the following guidelines for increasing the rate of return for questionnaires (available at www.ncspearson.com/ncscorp/research/97-1.htm).

A Well-Designed Form

One of the easiest ways to increase mail survey response rates is to use a well-designed, attractive, easy-to-complete survey. In general, making survey forms easier to complete often increases the likelihood that the forms will be returned.

Additional Mailings

Several activities fall under the heading of additional mailings, including pre-notification, commitment cards, reminder postcards, and remailing surveys.

Pre-Notification and Commitment Cards. Pre-notification usually involves a postcard or letter that explains the impending survey delivery and requests ...

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