Abstract

The non-response rate in household surveys is significantly increasing. Using mixed modes for data collection is essential in an attempt to reduce this rate and to obtain effective samples that allow quality estimates to be provided. One of the most effective methods for dealing with this problem is the self-completion of the questionnaire via the Internet (CAWI), and it is therefore very interesting to promote this collection method and to use other methods only when the household is not responding the CAWI questionnaire. One or more procedures can be used to encourage informants to complete the CAWI questionnaire: promoting the use of this collection method using specific letters by mail, sending SMS to informants' cell phones, using e-mails to send the link for initiating the completion of the questionnaire, phone calls encouraging them to answer via the Internet, etc. This article studies some of these procedures, analyzing the pros and cons of their use, as well as their effectiveness and overall effect on response rates. For this purpose, we will use results from the Spanish Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) conducted in 2022, showing how the use of several of these procedures together achieves very satisfaying results.