Professionals as responders: variations in and effects of response rates to questionnaires, 1961-77.

摘要: Over the past 16 years Institute for Social Studies in Medical Care (London) approached 19 samples of British professional groups and asked them to participate surveys (interviews or posted questionnaires). This paper considers factors influencing response rates what ways those responding may be unrespresentative sample as a whole. Factors that appeared influence are type (nurses respond more often than doctors -- never below 90% general practioners consultants); length questionnaire (a comparative study resulted shorter out-drawing longer one by 17 percentage points); subject matter survey. Later got lower possibly reflection result increasing apathy antagonism toward health service research associated with government. General conclusions about representativeness respondents when compared basic data on who did not younger better qualified were likely among worked respond. Men women responded at same rates. Variations occurred some indicating greater interest certain groups. linked from patients professionals (comparing attitudes their discover differences specific not) also made but no drawn.