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Methods for the Design and Administration of Web-based Surveys

Affiliations of the authors: Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (TKLS); University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California (JLF).

Correspondence and reprints: Titus K. L. Schleyer, DMD, PhD, Department of Dental Informatics, Temple University School of Dentistry, 3223 N. Broad Street, TU 600-00, Philadelphia, PA 19140; e-mail: <di{at}dental.temple.edu>.

Received for publication: 09/07/99; accepted for publication: 01/31/00.

Abstract This paper describes the design, development, and administration of a Web-based survey to determine the use of the Internet in clinical practice by 450 dental professionals. The survey blended principles of a controlled mail survey with data collection through a Web-based database application. The survey was implemented as a series of simple HTML pages and tested with a wide variety of operating environments. The response rate was 74.2 percent. Eighty-four percent of the participants completed the Web-based survey, and 16 percent used e-mail or fax. Problems identified during survey administration included incompatibilities/technical problems, usability problems, and a programming error. The cost of the Web-based survey was 38 percent less than that of an equivalent mail survey. A general formula for calculating breakeven points between electronic and hardcopy surveys is presented. Web-based surveys can significantly reduce turnaround time and cost compared with mail surveys and may enhance survey item completion rates.

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