Willingness of Online Respondents to Participate in Alternative Modes of Data Collection

This study investigates online respondents’ willingness to participate in research when using alternative data collection modes and techniques. The study compares mail surveys; face-to-face surveys; telephone interviews; and data collection techniques using apps, wearables, and register data. We also investigate whether respondents find certain topics relatively attractive to have measured in an alternative way compared to surveys. The results are based on a probability-based sample of about 2,000 Dutch respondents. The findings help to decide when to use different data collection methods for the social sciences. The results also provide insights into which respondents require extra persuasion to participate when new data collection modes are used.