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Table 1 Full summary of included studies evaluating the effect of pre-notification on questionnaire response

From: Does advance contact with research participants increase response to questionnaires: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Citation

Comparison

Outcome definition

Design

Setting (Country)

Topic

Delay Length

Pre-Contact Method

Survey Delivery

Foot-in-the-door?

Bergen 1957 [16]

Pre-contact or Control

final follow-up

experiment

primary school teachers

(Netherlands)

options and attitudes towards public opinion researcher

 

mail

Postal

have to return a pre-paid return card

Albaum 1989 [17]

(Pre-contact or Control)x(leaflet or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

Business firms who do international market activities. (Denmark)

questions about work

 

mail

Postal

send description

Drummond 2008 [18]

(Pre-contact vs Control) x(questionnaire or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

GPs. (Ireland)

Health: views and practices about prostate-specific testing (PSA)

3 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Napoles-Springer 2004 [19]

Pre-contact or Control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Nested in satisfaction survey of ambulatory care clinics. Have to use primary care and be older than 50 (USA)

about hospital experience year before/stratification

2 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Newby 2003 [20]

Pre-contact, Control, colour follow up, or monetary incentive

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

random sample of business in Perth. exclude gov. enterprises and publicly owned firms (Australia)

about business: expectations and attitudes of the self employed

2 weeks

telephone

Postal

Asked relevant questions

Ogbourne 1986 [21]

Pre-contact or Control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

health and social workers (Canada)

about work

 

telephone

Postal (phone option in intervention)

offer a telephone interview if better than mail

Whiteman 2003 [22]

×2 types of incentives, Pre-contact or Control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

women age 40–60 and in Baltimore (USA)

women’s health

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Cycyota 2002 [23]

(Pre-contact or Control) x(incentive or cont.) x (personalisation or cont.) x(follow-up or cont.) x (postage or cont.)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

chamber of commerce survey to business (USA)

business climate

2 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Childers 1979 [24]

×2 types Pre-contact or Control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

agents of a large Midwest-based insurance company (USA)

insurance

 

mail

Postal

one group given return cards

Eaker 1998 [25]

(Pre-contact or Control) x (length or control) x (mention of telephone contact or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

Men and women living in Sweden in 1995 20–79 yrs. Old (Sweden)

health risk factors

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Etter 1998 [26]

(Pre-contact or control) x (layout or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

annual insurance questionnaire; residents of Geneva, valid address (Switzerland)

health insurance survey

2 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Ford 1967 A [27]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

experimental design

Residents of Chenoa (USA)

shopping survey

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Ford 1967 B [27]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

experimental design

Residents of Beardstown (USA)

shopping survey

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Hansen 1980 [28]

×2 Pre-contact, questionnaire length, or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

People who bought cars in past year in Ohio (USA)

consumer’s attitudes towards recent new car purchases

3 days

telephone

Postal

Asked if willing to enter study.

Harrison 2004 [29]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

patients referred to exercise referral scheme in past 12 months by primary care (

survey on relation between service expectations and outcomes

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Hornik 1982 [30]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Sample from telephone directly (USA)

about TV/advertising

under 1 week

telephone

Postal

none stated

Kephart 1958 [31]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

experiment

women who had taken state nursing exam in 1950 (USA)

Attitudes towards nursing profession

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Mann 2005 [32]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

experiment

registered voters in 3 states (USA)

election survey

 

mail

telephone

none stated

Parsons 1972 A [33]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

experiment

MBA alumni (USA)

politics and religion

4 days

mail

Postal

none stated

Parsons 1972 B [33]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

experiment

leaders of 2 religious sects (USA)

politics and religion

5 days

mail

Postal

none stated

Pirotta 1999 [34]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

GPs. From health insurance In Victoria; have to have had 1500 consultations in prior year (Australia)

work

5 days

mail

Postal

ask for prompt return

Shiono 1991 [35]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

physician who graduated from med school in 1985 (USA)

survey of pregnancy in physicians. Mailed was personalised

1 week

mail

Postal

toll free phone number to call if any questions about the survey

Spry 1989 [36]

Pre-contact or control × 3

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

residence of San Diego (USA)

survey on health related behaviour. Enrolments from medical school director

under 1 week

phone or post card

Postal

none stated

Wiseman 1972 [37]

2 types of Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

experiment

residents of Boston (USA)

political issue polling

under 1 week

Telephone or mail

Postal

describes survey

Dillman 1974 [38]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

sample of general public (USA)

feelings and concerns about Washington State University

na

telephone

Postal

ask questions to raise salience

Furst 1979 [39]

(Pre-contact or control) x (Personalisation or contorl)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

head teachers (USA)

personality test

under 1 week

mailed

Postal

none stated

Gillpatick 1994 [40]

(Pre-contact or control) x (2 types of monetary incentive or control)

only one mailing

factorial experiment

engineers who subscribe to a trade journal (USA)

market research (how good a CAD program is). One condition is personally pre-contacted, the other gets a referral from a colleague

  

Postal

none stated

Heaton 1965 [41]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

experiment

people who bought a Chevrolet in Philadelphia

car sales survey. Attempt to show importance of survey. Also personalised (e.g. hadn’t signed)

1 week

mailed

Postal

none stated

Jobber 1985 [42]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

UK textile companies executives

Explore the design and extent of implementation of marketing information system

 

telephone

Postal

none stated

Jobber 1983 [43]

(Pre-contact or control) x (colour or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

UK textile companies

marketing practices

 

mailed

Postal

none mentioned

Kindra 1985 [44]

(Pre-contact or control) x (incentive or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

telephone directory (Canada)

response to advertising

 

telephone

Postal

Asked questions in pre-contact

Myers 1969 [45]

follow up, Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

telephone directory (USA)

reaction to bank advertisement

1 week

mailed

Postal

none stated

Nichols 1988 [46]

Pre-contact or control)

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

sample of electoral role (UK)

mailed was a leaflet on nutrition + cover mailed

5 weeks

mailed

Postal

none stated

Osborne 1996 [47]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

GPs (Australia)

view on pathology test

 

telephone

Postal

none stated

Pucel 1971 [48]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

graduates from 24 post-high schools (USA)

effect of training

1 week

mailed

Postal

none stated

Duhan 1990 [49]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

marketing executives (USA)

work related

1 week

mailed

Postal

Asked questions

Faria 1990 [50]

×2 types of Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Homeowners residing on the property owners’ listing (USA)

 

under 1 week

phone or mailed

Postal

Asked if they will participate

Stafford 1966 [51]

×2 types of Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

students (USA)

collegiate clothing

under 1 week

phone or mailed

Postal

none stated

Sutton 1992 [52]

(personalisation or control) x (Pre-contact or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

customers of a utility company, and contractors (USA)

reaction to an established energy rebate program

10–14 days: phone, 1 week: card

mailed

Postal

none stated

Taylor 1998 [53]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Young people in the Youth Cohort Study 8 sample, (UK)

Attitudes and behaviour

1 week

mailed

Postal

none stated

Martin 1989 [54]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control) x (personalisation or control) x (cover mailed or control) x (return postage or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

students in an urban university (USA)

views on the university

 

mailed

postal

none stated

Chebat 1991 [55]

(Pre-contact or control) x (incentive or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

The Quebec population within the legal driving age (Canada)

   

Postal

none stated

Xie 2013 [56]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

female nurses, age 35–65. with correct contact information (Hong Kong)

work and health

1 week

mail

Postal

asked to send reply slip

Mitchell 2012 [57]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

nested in follow up of the SCOOP clinical trial. Women aged between 70 and 84, at high risk of osteoporotic features (UK)

Trail questions

6 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Maclennan 2014 [58]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

nested in RECORD clinical trial. Patients who had not responded to annual follow ups. Over 70, history of fracture, not in other methodological study (UK)

self-reported fracture and quality of life

≥ two weeks

telephone

Postal

none stated

Keding 2016 [59]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

nested in ACUDep trial, primary care patients in N England. Have mobile phone

quality of life

4 days

sms

Postal

none stated

Hammink 2010 [60]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

nested in survey of GP patients (Netherlands)

quality of care/experience

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Felix 2011 [61]

(Pre-contact or control) x (tone or control)

only one mailing

factorial experiment

authors of published maternal health research (UK)

applying their research to LIC

1 week

email

online

none stated

Bauman 2016 [62]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

nested in 45 and Up Study. adults 45 to 100 living in New South Wales. (Australia)

socio-environmental causes of health

2 weeks

mail

Postal

none stated

Barra 2016 [63]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

patients discharged in stated time who had not responded to previous survey, involved in other studies/care and had a phone number (Norway)

post stroke questionnaire

1 week

mail

Postal

ask for consent to receive survey

Bosnjak 2008 [64]

(×2 types Pre-contact or control) x (invitation or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

university students (Germany)

psychometrics, e.g. personality test

1 week

email or sms

online

none stated

Boyd 2015 [65]

(Pre-contact or control) ×2 follow up or control) x (design or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

ALSPAC follow up (UK)

consent to patients in follow up.

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Dykema 2011 [66]

(Pre-contact or control) x (incentive or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

physicians, (USA)

assess knowledge of genetic variation.

1 week

mail

online

none stated

Grande 2016 [67]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (Australia)

epidemiological facts about the workplace

same day

sms

phone

none stated

Mclean 2014 [68]

(Pre-contact or control) x (design or control)

only one mailing

factorial experiment

the electoral roll (Australia)

 

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Rao 2010 [69]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control) x (incentive or control) x (recurrent mode or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

Random digit dialling

opinion poll survey

1 week

mail

Postal

none stated

Starr 2015 [70]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

nested in epilepsy rct, provided phone number (UK)

 

under a week

sms

Postal

none stated

van Veen 2016 [71]

×2 types Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

university students (Germany)

cheating in exams

1 week

mail

online

none stated

Ho-A-Yun 2007 [72]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

GPs in Scotland (UK)

 

under a week

telephone

Postal

none stated but uses phone to call receptionist

Porter 2007 A [73]

(×2 types Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

high school students who contacted liberal arts college but did not apply (USA)

perceptions of college

1 week

email or post

online

none stated

Porter 2007 B [73]

(×2 types Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

alumni of liberal arts collage (USA)

career post-graduation

1 week

email or post

online

none stated

Atinc 2012 [74]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

university staff and faculty (USA)

 

under a week

email

online

none stated

Walker 1977 [75]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

credit card holders (USA)

consumer credit survey/purchase history

under a week

mailed

mail

none stated

Snow 1986 [76]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

People existing job training partnership program (USA)

outcome of state-wide job training program

1.5 weeks

mailed

phone

none stated

Pitiyanuwat 1991 [77]

(Pre-contact or control) x (deadline or control) x (design or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

public school teachers, (Thailand)

desirable characteristics of a teacher

 

mailed

mail

none stated

Nicolaas 2015 [78]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control) x (design or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

embedded in a GP patient survey: over 18, registered with GP for >6mths (UK)

expense of patients of the NHS

1 week

mailed

mail

none stated

Link 2005 [79]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

House holds in Behaviour Risk Factor Survey (USA)

health behaviours

under a week

mailed

phone

none stated

Kulka 1981 [80]

(Pre-contact or control) x (incentive or control) x (extra follow up or control) x (postage or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

registered nurses enrolled in a survey (USA)

 

2 weeks

mailed

mail

none stated

Kaplowitz 2004 [81]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

university students (USA)

  

mailed

email

none stated

Groves 1987 [82]

X3 types of Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

nested in NHIS survey (USA)

Health care

 

mailed

phone

none stated

Furse 1981 [83]

Pre-contact, incentive or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Tennessee population (USA)

  

phone

mail

none stated

Chebat 1993 [84]

(questionnaire type or control) x (Pre-contact, incentive or control)

first and final follow-up

factorial experiment

(Canada)

 

2 weeks

mailed

mail

none stated

Boser 1990 [85]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

Graduates (USA)

emphasise value of participation

1 week

mailed

mail

none stated

Bergsten 1984 [86]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Medicare beneficiaries 65+ (USA)

access to health care

1 week

phone

interview

arrange time for interview

Baulne 2009 [87]

Pre-contact or control)

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

people over 15 and live in a household. (Canada)

health

 

mail

phone

none stated

Henri 2012 [88]

X2 types Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

listed companies (Canada)

management accounting research

2 weeks

telephone or mail

mail

none stated

Lalasz 2014 [89]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

alumni 1 year post graduation (USA)

graduate careers etc.

2 weeks

mail

online

none stated

von der Lippe 2011 [90]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

nested in German Health Update Survey 2009.

health

2 weeks

mail

phone

none stated

Lusinchi 2007 [91]

Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

electrical engineers (USA)

 

under a week

email

online

none stated

McCallister 2008 [92]

X2 types Pre-contact or control

first and final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

university staff (USA)

 

under a week

post or email

mail

none stated

Miner 1983 [93]

X2 types Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

parents/carers of people who had used a child psychiatry unit (USA)

 

under a week

post or phone

mail

none stated

Mitchell 2012 [57]

(Pre-contact or control) x (follow up or control)

only one mailing

factorial experiment

Academics in Northern UK

 

6 weeks

mail

mail

none stated

Steeh 2007 [94]

sms + called back (passive), sms + user has to call (active) or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Nexel subscribers. (USA)

 

Under 1 week

sms

phone

one treatment group have to call rather than be called to do interview

Vogl 2018 [5]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (Germany)

Partner violence

1 week

mail

phone

none stated

Woodruff 2006 [95]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

info about study/importance of patients. Parents/children for NIH study on teenage health

2 weeks

mail

phone

none stated

Traugott 1993 [96]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

  

mailed

phone

none stated

Traugott 1987 [97, 98]

(Pre-contact or control) x (personalisation or control)

only one mailing

factorial experiment

Random digit dialling (USA)

  

mailed

phone

none stated

Brehm 1994 [99]

inactive + Pre-contact, Pre-contact, logo, or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

Attitudes to war

1–2 weeks

mailed

phone

none stated

Camburn 1995 [100]

X3 types Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA). Non house hold and non-working numbers excluded

child immunisation

 

mailed

phone

none stated

Dillman 1976 [101]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

  

mailed

phone

none stated

Eyerman 2003 [102]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

Health risk factors

under a week

mailed

phone

none stated

Goldstein 2002 [103]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

Political polling

under a week

mailed

phone

none stated

Hembroff 2005 [104]

X2 types Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

  

Mailed

phone

none stated

Iredell 2004 [105]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

electoral roll. Have to be over 60 (Australia)

road crossing behaviour

2 weeks

mailed

phone

none stated

Mickey 1999 [106]

(Pre-contact or control) x (survey administration or control)

final follow-up

factorial experiment

over 40 (USA)

 

one week

mailed

in person or phone

none stated

Smith 1995 [107]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (Australia). Exclude if non residential household, or non English speaking

health questions

 

mailed

phone

none stated

Singer 2000 [108]

Pre-contact or control

only one mailing

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

consumer attitudes

 

mailed

phone

none stated

Gerritsen 2002 A [109]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (Netherlands)

meat consumption, non-commercial

one week

mailed

phone

none stated

Gerritsen 2002 B [109]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

people who had not answered their phone

meat consumption, non-commercial

one week

answer phone message

phone

none stated

Brick 1997 [110]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Random digit dialling (USA)

  

mailed

phone

Asked questions

Goulao 2020 [111]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Scotland

dentist patients

under a week

Postal

Postal

none stated

Rodgers 2018 [112]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

UK

RCT outcomes

under a week

Postal

Postal

none stated

Sakshaug 2019 [113]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up & before

Randomised control trail.

Germany

companies

one week

Postal

Email

Had to send an email

von Allmen 2019 [114]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Switzerland

aneurysm repairs

under a week

Postal

Phone

none stated

Griggs 2019 [115]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

USA

Add Health wave V

under a week

Postal

Online

none stated

Vogl 2019 [116]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

Germany

Violence survey

under a week

Postal

Phone

none stated

Gooden 2021 [117]

Pre-contact or control

final follow-up

Randomised control trail.

UK

mental health survey

under a week

Postal

Postal

none stated