Student Survey Response Rates across Institutions: Why Do they Vary?

Authors: Porter, Stephen; Umbach, Paul

Source: Research in Higher Education, Volume 47, Number 2, March 2006 , pp. 229-247(19)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

While many studies have examined nonresponse in student surveys, little research investigates why some schools achieve higher student survey response rates than other schools. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we analyze survey data from 321 institutions that participated in the 2003 National Survey of Student Engagement to understand how characteristics of colleges and universities relate to student survey response rates. We find that the makeup of the student body, as well as institutional characteristics such public/private status and urban location affects response rates, and that the number of computers per undergraduate has a strong positive effect for web survey response rates.

Keywords: nonresponse; response rates; student surveys

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11162-005-8887-1

Affiliations: 1: Email: paul-umbach@uiowa.edu

Publication date: 2006-03-01