Optimizing Probability-Based Web Panel Performance |
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| Coordinator 1 | Professor Vasja Vehovar (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences) |
| Coordinator 2 | Dr Gregor Čehovin (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences) |
| Coordinator 3 | Ms Andreja Praček (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences) |
In contemporary social science research, driven by the rising costs of traditional survey modes, web surveys have become increasingly prevalent. Due to the high costs of recruiting sample units, panels are frequently employed for web surveys. Probability-based web panels play a particularly important role by selecting participants with a known chance of inclusion, thereby offering a more accurate representation of the population. These panels may also combine web surveys with other modes (e.g., phone or face-to-face) to reach nonrespondents. Panel studies face numerous challenges, including recruiting respondents, establishing and maintaining panels, optimizing data quality and cost-efficiency, minimizing biases, managing mixed survey modes, and retaining respondents across waves while ensuring response quality.
Submissions are invited on methods and strategies related to the improvement and optimization of probability-based panels, focusing on the following processes:
• Assessing and reducing item nonresponse, unit nonresponse, and mitigating the impact of nonresponse bias;
• Investigating the relationship between costs and overall response quality, including careless responding and satisficing;
• Enhancing sampling techniques, incentive strategies, and recruitment methods to improve initial response rates and respondent retention;
• Comparing response quality between web surveys and other modes, as well as across different device types;
• Assessing response quality and nonresponse bias across panel waves;
• Improving questionnaire design and layout to improve response quality.