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Previous research shows that a high proportion of respondents engage in other activities
while answering surveys. In this study, we examine the effect of multitasking in reporting
sensitive information and socially undesirable behavior (e.g., substance use, mental health,
gambling) along with reporting of knowledge/awareness of publicly funded programs. The
dataset comes from a dual-frame random digit dial telephone survey of adults in a
Midwestern state (N = 1,761) who were asked about their attitudes and behaviors toward
gambling and health-related behaviors. The results of the study reveal that nearly half of the
respondents engaged in multitasking activities (46.9%). In addition, it was found that
multitaskers disclosed more socially undesirable information and reported lower levels of
knowledge than non-multitaskers. The implications of these findings and how they fit in with
previous work are discussed.

The purpose of the current research is to provide additional empirical findings directly related to monthly or seasonal variations in sample efficiency & response rates in telephone interviews. Second, we have expanded the analysis to include sample demographics within the data set to ascertain whether these items show variation across months. To test the hypothesis that there are monthly or seasonal variations in sample efficiency, we analyzed 2 years of Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (Iowa BRFSS) data & 1 year of national data from the BRFSS. Time frames considered in the analyses were month, quarter, & season (summer/non-summer); variables examined included number of call attempts, contact rates, & cooperation rates. 4 Tables, 17 References. Adapted from the source document.

Previous research has shown that people often engage in other activities while responding to surveys and that respondents' multitasking generally has no effect on indicators of data quality (e.g., item non-response, non-differentiation). One of the limitations of these studies is that they have mostly used self-reported measures of respondents' multitasking. We build on prior research by combining self-reported measures of multitasking with interviewers' observations of respondents' distractions recorded after each interview. The dataset comes from a statewide dual-frame random digit dial telephone survey of adults in a Midwestern state (n = 1,006) who were queried on topics related to awareness of and attitudes toward STEM education. We found that multitasking was frequent (45.6%) and that respondents who reported engaging in other activities were described as distracted twice as often as those who did not report multitasking (38.3% versus 19.0%). In terms of data quality, respondents who were multitasking provided less accurate responses to a knowledge question. However, we found no evidence that distractions, assessed by interviewers, compromised data quality. The implications of the results for survey practices are discussed.

Abstract
Survey researchers are continually evaluating approaches to increase response rates, especially those that can be implemented with little or no costs. In this study, we experimentally evaluated whether or not including Quick Response (QR) codes in mailed recruitment materials for self-administered web surveys increased web survey participation. We also assessed whether mailing these materials in a non-standard envelope size (6 × 9 inch) yielded a higher response rate than invitations mailed in a standard, #10 envelope (4.125 × 9.5 inch). These experiments were embedded in a sequential mixed-mode (dual-frame phone and web) statewide survey. Including a QR code (in addition to a URL) significantly increased the response rate compared to invitations that only included a URL in our study. As expected, a consequence of including the QR code was an elevated number of completions on smartphones or tablets among households randomly assigned to the QR code condition. The use of a larger (6 × 9 inch) envelope did not affect the overall response rate but did significantly boost the response rate for the landline sample (envelopes addressed to "STATE resident") while having little effect for the wireless sample (envelopes addressed by name). This study suggests that incorporating both QR codes and larger (6 × 9 inch) envelopes in mail recruitment materials for web surveys is a cost-effective approach to increase web participation.

In this study, we examined whether or not exposure to a humorous surround campaign in Iowa (United States) could produce a multiplicative effect based on Intermedia Theory. Until You're Ready, AvoidtheStork.com© was designed to prevent unintended pregnancies among young women. In the case of unintended pregnancy, interpersonal sharing is important because women's contraceptive decisions are influenced by what others, including their friends, think about the health issue. In a sample of college students ( n = 594), cross-sectional survey results indicated that campaign exposure and humor were significant predictors of talking with and/or showing the campaign to others. Based on our results, we suggest that campaign practitioners should consider humor-based campaigns as a way to generate not only exposure-based effects but also conversation-based effects. Specifically, humor-based campaigns can increase the reach of a campaign through sharing.