| 
 Mailed 
          Questionnaires 
          Mailed questionnaires can canvas the most amount of people 
            for the littlest time involved. 
          A national sample can be used and there is no extra time 
            involved in increasing the size of the sample. 
          Mail, however, can be slow and relatively expensive for 
            large samples.  
          You do not know who will be actually taking the questionnaire, 
            and whoever is can get outside advice, possibly compromising your 
            data. 
          Anonymity can be assured. 
          Because the respondent can preview the survey before taking 
            it, it must be shorter and more interesting.  
          If the sample is interested in the topic, response rates 
            are similar to other methods. 
          For the most part, there is a much lower response rate for 
            mailed questionnaires.  
          Questions must be simple and the instructions must be clear 
            to avoid confusion and to ensure return. 
          The questions should be well pre-tested before sending the 
            survey out so that major problems can be avoided. |