?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Feprints.hud.ac.uk%2Fid%2Feprint%2F6878%2F&rft.title=Increasing+response+rates+to+lifestyle+surveys%3A+a+review+of+methodology+and+'good+practice'.&rft.creator=McCluskey%2C+Serena&rft.creator=Topping%2C+Annie&rft.subject=H+Social+Sciences+(General)&rft.description=Background%0D%0ALifestyle+surveys+are+traditionally+used+for+collecting+detailed+population+information+about%0D%0Aindividual+behaviours+that+impact+on+health.+However%2C+declining+response+rates+and+the%0D%0Aunder-representation+of+certain+population+groups+in+lifestyle+survey+data+has+led+to%0D%0Auncertainty+over+the+accuracy+of+any+findings.+In+order+to+maximise+response+rates%2C+a%0D%0Amixed-methods+approach+is+now+recommended.+This+review+was+carried+out+in+order+to%0D%0Aexamine+the+methodological+literature+related+to+the+administration+of+lifestyle+surveys+and%0D%0Athe+implications+for+response+rates.+It+was+envisaged+that+the+results+of+this+review+could%0D%0Aprovide+a+valuable+resource+for+those+involved+in+undertaking+lifestyle+surveys.%0D%0AMethods%0D%0AA+review+of+the+empirical+evidence+and+published+literature+on+the+methodological%0D%0Aconsiderations+associated+with+administration+of+lifestyle+surveys%2C+specifically+in+relation+to%0D%0Amaximising+response+rates%2C+was+carried+out.+A+search+for+%E2%80%98grey+literature%E2%80%99+was+also%0D%0Aconducted+using+the+internet%2C+and+citation+tracking+was+performed+on+all+retrieved+articles.%0D%0AA+request+for+examples+of+relevant+lifestyle+survey+work%2C+particularly+those+incorporating%0D%0Amixed-methods+designs+and%2For+strategies+to+increase+response+rates%2C+was+distributed+to%0D%0Aseveral+Primary+Care+Trusts+(PCTs)+across+England.+The+responses+are+illustrated+as%0D%0A%E2%80%98good+practice%E2%80%99+case+studies.%0D%0AResults%0D%0AThe+postal+questionnaire+remains+an+important+lifestyle+survey+tool%2C+but+response+rates%0D%0Ahave+decreased+rapidly+in+recent+years.+Interviews+and+telephone+surveys+are%0D%0Arecommended+in+order+to+supplement+data+from+postal+questionnaires+to+overcome+any%0D%0Aliteracy+and+language+barriers.+These+approaches+are+advocated+to+increase+response%0D%0Arates+in+some+population+groups%2C+but+costs+may+be+prohibitive.+Electronic+surveys+are+a%0D%0Acheaper+alternative%2C+but+the+evidence+seems+to+suggest+that+the+use+of+the+internet+does%0D%0Anot+appear+to+increase+overall+response+rates+to+surveys.+Evidence+on+the+use+of%0D%0Aincentives+suggests+they+can+be+effective+at+increasing+response+rates%2C+but+only+if+their+use%0D%0Ais+tailored+to+the+design+of+the+survey+and+to+the+characteristics+of+target+populations.%0D%0AConclusions%0D%0AThe+empirical+evidence+was+not+robust+enough+to+make+definitive+recommendations%2C+but%0D%0Ainformation+from+the+published+literature%2C+along+with+examples+of+%E2%80%98good+practice%E2%80%99+in+lifestyle%0D%0Asurvey+work+suggests+that+supplementing%2C+or+offering+different+survey+modes%2C+alongside%0D%0Atargeted+maximisation+strategies+can+increase+coverage+and+also%2C+with+careful+planning%2C%0D%0Acan+prove+to+be+cost-effective.&rft.publisher=University+of+Huddersfield&rft.date=2009-09&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Feprints.hud.ac.uk%2Fid%2Feprint%2F6878%2F1%2FJSNA_report_final.pdf&rft.identifier=++McCluskey%2C+Serena+and+Topping%2C+Annie++(2009)+Increasing+response+rates+to+lifestyle+surveys%3A+a+review+of+methodology+and+'good+practice'.++Project+Report.+University+of+Huddersfield%2C+Huddersfield.++++(Unpublished)++