The prediction of industrial mail-survey response rates

Mail-survey response rates and their prediction are important issues for researchers. The conceptual differences between industrial and most non-industrial populations raised doubt about the applicability of the Heberlein and Baumgartner model for the prediction of industrial mail-survey response rates. A test of their model, based upon a linear logit specification and data from industrial populations, was developed and validated using a hold-out sample. The results suggested that the model based upon the new specification was superior to the simple linear alternative. The model identified a number of variables which were associated with response rates from industrial populations, and allows researchers to test and refine alternative survey designs.