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Understanding and addressing underrepresentation in a postal survey of social care users
- Authors:
- SMITH Nick, MALLEY Juliette
- Publisher:
- Quality and Outcomes of Person-centred Care Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 91
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
This report draws together the findings of a review of postal surveys, examining the potential causes of underrepresentation and looking at methods of improving representation, such as such as the Adult Social Care Survey (ASCS). Evidence from postal surveys is increasingly being used in England to monitor and improve the performance of social care services. This review has highlighted that it is not only the characteristics of users but the behaviour of the organisation delivering the survey that can affect response rates. It outlines a range of approaches when participation is not possible and highlights four key methods that can be used to enable participation in postal surveys: recognising that the study information section of a postal survey can be a barrier to participation if it does not appear to be relevant to the respondent; adapting the questionnaire to reflect the 'individualised' needs of the participant, such as versions in other languages and Easy Read versions for adults with learning disabilities; employing alternative methods of data collection, such as face-to-face or telephone interview, alongside the postal survey; and encouraging or even providing support to complete the survey. (Edited publisher abstract)