Fax Surveys: A New Data Collection Method

The objectives of this study were, first, to compare the response rate from a fax survey with that of a well-conducted mail survey and, second, to compare the response times. A one-page questionnaire and a short covering letter addressed to "The Manager" were sent to randomly selected firms in September, 1989. There were 100 firms in the mail sample and 98 in the fax sample. Both the response rate and the speed of response were better for the fax than for the mail survey. The response rate for the mail survey was 76%; that for the fax survey was 88%. The target level of 70% was achieved on day 23 for the fax survey, and day 32 for the mail survey.