Evidence Brief: Pre-Contact Notifications in Remote Surveys

Evidence Brief: Pre-Contact Notifications in Remote Surveys

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As part of IPA’s response to COVID-19, many existing and new data collections have shifted to remote data collection modes including computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI), interactive voice response (IVR), and SMS surveys. These remote data collection modes allow research to continue, but there are many open questions about whether these types of data collection can effectively substitute for face-to-face surveying. Research on remote survey methods in low- and medium-income countries (LMICs) has been conducted intermittently over the past decade. This brief provides information on existing research on how pre-survey notifications affect response rates and sample composition. It provides suggestions on mechanisms that pre-survey notifications operate through as well as some suggestions for future research.

July 29, 2020