What about questionnaires on the internet?

We use internet-based data collection and delivery, but find that the drawbacks can outweigh the advantages:

• not all building users have computers - this is a major drawback because it leads to bias in the sample;
• response rates are much lower (our experience is that paper-based questionnaires achieve a response rate of 80% or better and internet surveys 50% or worse) however well the internet version is designed - this affects the representativeness of the sample, amongst other statistical considerations;
• it is harder to keep track of data in the event of computer system malfunctions;
• the quality of data received is reduced with internet versions - often the comments data requires editing because it people do not take as much care as they do with the paper version;
• internet questions are harder to follow up because sometimes the respondents cannot be identified.

On balance, we prefer the paper method, and we think respondents do as well. It works best with samples of up to about 250 respondents. This makes the data entry manageable. See also Data Input (q.v.).

However, if clients insist on an internet-based approach we are happy to accommodate it.