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Questionnaire Color and Response Rates to Mailed Surveys

A Randomizedtrial Anda Meta-Analysis

University of Geneva

Michel Cucherat

Lyon University Hospital

Thomas V. Perneger

University of Geneva

The authors conducted a randomized trial in Geneva, Switzerland, to assess whether response rates to a mailed survey could be increased by printing the questionnaire on green paper. The authors also conducted a meta-analysis of 10 experimental studies that tested the effect of colored questionnaires on response rates. The randomized trial showed no effect (relative risk of responding [RR] = 1.00). The meta-analysis showed that mailing questionnaires on pink paper increased response rates by 12% (RR = 1.12, 95% confidence interval = 1.01 to 1.25, p = 0.04). Other colors had no statistically significant effect (blue: RR = 1.03, p = 0.49; green: RR = 1.02, p = 0.23; yellow: RR = 0.96, p = 0.30). Over-all, using colored instead of white paper had no effect (RR = 1.02, p = 0.17). Thus, printing questionnaires on colored paper does not substantially increase response rates in surveys, except for pink paper.

Evaluation & the Health Professions, Vol. 25, No. 2, 185-199 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/01678702025002004


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