Conducting physician mail surveys on a limited budget: a randomized trial comparing $2 bill versus $5 bill incentives
Objectives. The effects of incentive size on physicians' response rates to a mail survey were
determined. Methods. One thousand US primary care physicians were assigned randomly to
receive a survey with either a $5 bill or a $2 bill as an incentive. For each of the two incentive
groups, the overall response rate for three mailing waves, the total cost, and the total cost
per usable response were measured. Results. The response rate among those receiving the
$5 bill (61%) was 32% higher than the response rate among those receiving the $2 bill …
determined. Methods. One thousand US primary care physicians were assigned randomly to
receive a survey with either a $5 bill or a $2 bill as an incentive. For each of the two incentive
groups, the overall response rate for three mailing waves, the total cost, and the total cost
per usable response were measured. Results. The response rate among those receiving the
$5 bill (61%) was 32% higher than the response rate among those receiving the $2 bill …