The Effectiveness of Automated Reminder Messages Used on the 2007 Census of Agriculture and on the National Animal Health Monitoring System 2011 Small Producer Study
ABSTRACT:
This report researches the impact of utilizing automated telephone reminders to increase response rates of the 2007 Census of Agriculture and the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) 2011 Small Producer Study.
The first study was comprised of three experiments and was conducted on the 2007 Census of Agriculture. The target population for the experiments consisted of records for which agricultural activity was unknown. These records are historically the toughest group to contact and obtain a completed report. The standard data collection process consisted of an initial mail out form, followed by a thank you/reminder postcard and, if necessary, a first and second follow-up mail out form.
For the first experiment, the control group received the standard data collection process.
The treatment group received an automated telephone reminder after the first follow-up form in addition to the standard data collection method.
For the second experiment, the control group received the standard data collection process. The treatment group received an automated telephone reminder after the first follow-up form and an extra postcard reminder after the second follow-up form in addition to the standard data collection method.
For the third experiment, in addition to the standard data collection method, the control group received an automated telephone reminder after the first follow-up form. The treatment group received an automated telephone reminder after the first follow-up form and a postcard reminder after the second follow-up form, in addition to the standard data collection method.
The second study consisted of a sample of known agricultural operations from the NAHMS 2011 Small Producer Study. The NAHMS standard data collection process consisted of a pre-survey package, a mail out form, and, if necessary, a telephone followup. The control group for this study received the NAHMS standard data collection package. The two treatment groups received automated telephone reminders after the initial mail out but before the telephone follow up. These telephone reminder messages varied in their wording.
Results from these studies showed that using automated telephone reminders significantly increased response rates for the 2007 Census of Agriculture but only showed a slight increase in response rates for NAHMS. Mailing extra postcard reminders to operators who had already received the automated telephone reminders did not have a significant effect on the overall response rates.
