Links & References

Information on the Web for Client Use

HSRC has documented some information for client use when looking to work with HSRC in research support.  We hope that this information will assist you in planning your research support work you are looking to use at HSRC.  HSRC is looking to expand the number and nature of the information available to you for defining the nature and level of research support needed for your research work. For questions or assistance, please contact HSRC at: hsrc@umn.edu

Useful Documents, Tips and Hints

Grant Application Wording

Please contact HSRC for recommended wording to include in your grant application when you are planning to work with HSRC to provide research support for data collection for your project/project.  Note: For effective service please contact HSRC and obtain an estimate of the work scope and your timeline to ensure that HSRC will be able to meet your needs.

Post Office Endorsements –
A description of the U.S. Post Office endorsements that are available to assist in keeping your project costs in line for use in planning to obtain the response rate needed. USPS Endorsements (Word)

Internet Survey Design Decisions -
In order to field an Internet survey a number of decisions need to be made to effectively develop the Internet survey, email invitations and reminders, and participant lists for email invitations.  This document identifies those decisions needed to field the Internet survey. Internet Survey (Word)

Internet Survey Tips and Hints –
When looking to field an Internet survey at HSRC there are a number of Tips and Hints that we have identified for consideration in how to effectively field your survey.  This document covers items to consider when looking to field an Internet survey. Internet Survey Tips (Word)

Internet Survey Development Flow –
When looking to use an Internet survey for your project/project, it helps to understand the overall flow of the process for developing and fielding an Internet survey.  This document depicts this process flow. Internet Survey Flow (Word)

Forms Design –
Once the survey questions have been written, the next step is to design or format the survey. Formatting a survey makes the survey look professional and as simple as possible for the respondent to complete. Proper formatting of a survey will also reduce respondent error on a form and data entry staff error. HSRC Forms Design FAQ (Word)

Data Analysis-
HSRC can perform descriptive level statistical analysis of survey data, response rate reports and qualitative data analysis; such as focus group transcript analysis and in-person interview qualitative analysis. HSRC Analysis FAQ (Word)

Links to Helpful Web Sites

HSRC has encountered some web sites that may be useful to clients when planning their research work.  We hope that these web sites will assist you in planning your research work and when you are looking to use HSRC for your project/project support.  HSRC is looking to expand the number and nature of the web sites available to you for defining the nature and level of research support needed for your research work. For questions or assistance, please contact HSRC at:

ACXIOM Insightcollect 3X -
An on-line resource for Internet tracking of lost participants. http://www.acxiominsight.com/

CARDIA STUDY web site address -
Multi-center longitudinal research project utilizing HSRC services to assist with data collection at the Minnesota Field Center. http://www.cardia.dopm.uab.edu

Federal Government Portal -
An information portal to information and resources from more than 27 million federal agency web pages. www.FirstGov.gov

Eagle Geocoding Technology from Etak, Inc. -
A web site that provides batch and on-line tools for geocoding data and standardizing addresses on a fee basis. www.geocode.com

Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota Web Site –
A key goal of the Masonic Cancer Center is to provide access to technologies, services and scientific consultation that facilitate interaction and enhance scientific productivity. www.cancer.umn.edu

Project EAT Web Site –
A web site that provides information about dieting and weight control behaviors amongst adolescents, obesity prevention in adolescent girls, the psycho-social well-being amongst overweight adolescents, and adolescent eating disorders. http://www.epi.umn.edu/research/eat/

University of Minnesota’s Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics
and Cancer Center Core –
The University of Minnesota's TREC Center (Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer) provides and active transdisciplinary and participatory environment for research, training, and translation to promote the understanding and prevention of obesity in youth and families.  www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/ncigrant101905/home.html 

Survey Sampling International -
This organization provides samples for research surveys and also has expertise in planning the initial N needed to reach a surveys completion goals.  SSI also has a calculation tool on their web page that can provide you some assistance in planning the size N needed for specific studies.
www.surveysampling.com.

Reference Articles to Request

HSRC has encountered a number of research related articles that may be beneficial to clients when planning their research and looking to work with HSRC in research support.  We hope that these articles will assist you in planning your research and the research support you are looking to use at HSRC. 

Death Index -
Underascertainment of Deaths using Social Security Records: A Recommended
Solution to a Little-Known Problem
Jeanine M. Buchanich (1), David G. Dolan (2), Gary M. Marsh (1), and Jaime Madrigano (2)
1   Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh,
     Pittsburgh, PA.
2   Merck & Company, Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ.

Follow-up -
Contacting participants for follow-up: how much effort is required to retain participants in longitudinal studies?
Robert B. Cotter*, Jeffrey D. Burke, Magda Stouthamer-Loeber, Rolf Loeber
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 120 Lytton Avenue, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

Incentives -
Tiered Incentive Payments: Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck 
By Martha D. Kovac And Jason Markesich  
American Association for Public Research 2002: Strengthening Our Community - Section on Survey Research Methods

Community Tracking Project - Impact of a Prepaid Incentive on the Community Tracking Project Physician Survey
Richard Strouse Nuria Diaz-Tena      
600 Maryland Avenue SW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20024

Increasing Response Rates to Postal Questionnaires: Systematic Review
Phil Edwards, Ian Roberts, Mike Clarke, Carolyn DiGuiseppi, Sarah Pratap, Reinhard Wentz and Irene Kwan

Comments on “ Methodological and Analytic Issues in Multi-Level Studies of Quality and Cost of Healthcare”
Authored by Rob Santos and Paula Diehr, Danna Moore and Don A. Dillman Washington State University

Mode and incentive effects on aspects of survey administration and data quality
Jennifer E. O’Brien, Ph.D., Westat; Kerry Y. Levin, Ph.D., Westat; Tracey Hagerty-Heller, M.S., Westat; James B. Greenlees, M.A., Westat; Arthur D. Kirsch, Ph.D., Independent Sector
Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association, August 5-9, 2001

Increasing Response to Mailed Questionnaires by Including a Pencil/Pen
Emily White 1,2, Patricia A. Carney3, and Ann Shattuck Kolar1
1  Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
2  Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University
    of Washington, Seattle, WA.
3  Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH
    Received for publication December 16, 2004; accepted for publication March 22, 2005.

The Effect of Partial Incentive Pre-Payments on Telephone Survey Response Rates
Todd Robbins-Abt Associates Inc., Ting Yan-Abt Associates Inc., Donna Demarco-Abt Associates Inc., Erik Paxman-Abt Associates Inc., Rhiannon Patterson-Abt Associates Inc. 
Paper presented at the 2003 Annual Conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research May 15-18, 2003 Nashville 

Readability
Readability Standards for Informed-Consent Forms as Compared with Actual Readability
Michael K. Paasche-Orlow, M.D., M.P.H., Holly A. Taylor, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Frederick L. Brancati, M.D., M.H.S.

Response Rates
Changes in Telephone Survey Nonresponse Over the Past Quarter Century
Richard Curtin, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Stanley Prosser. University of Maryland, Eleanor Singer, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan
Public Opinion Quarterly, Spring 2005.