Invitation messages for business surveys: A multi-armed bandit experiment


Gaul, Johannes ; Keusch, Florian ; Rostam-Afschar, Davud ; Simon, Thomas


[img] PDF
dp25003.pdf - Published

Download (2MB)

URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:180-madoc-693895
Document Type: Working paper
Year of publication: 2025
The title of a journal, publication series: ZEW Discussion Papers
Volume: 25-003
Place of publication: Mannheim
Publication language: English
Institution: School of Social Sciences > Social Data Science and Methodology (Keusch 2022-)
Sonstige Einrichtungen > ZEW - Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung
Business School > Sonstige - Area Accounting & Taxation
Business School > Area Accounting & Taxation (Rostam-Afschar 2021-)
MADOC publication series: Veröffentlichungen des ZEW (Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung) > ZEW Discussion Papers
Subject: 330 Economics
Classification: JEL: C11 , C44 , C93 , D83 , M00 , M40,
Keywords (English): adaptive randomization , reinforcement learning , nonresponse , email invitation , web survey , firm survey , organizational survey
Abstract: This study investigates how elements of a survey invitation message targeted to businesses influence their participation in a self-administered web survey. We implement a full factorial experiment varying five key components of the email invitation. Unlike traditional experimental setups with static group composition, however, we employ adaptive randomization in our sequential research design. Specifically, as the experiment progresses, a Bayesian learning algorithm assigns more observations to invitation messages with higher starting rates. Our results indicate that personalizing the message, emphasizing the authority of the sender, and pleading for help increase survey starting rates, while stressing strict privacy policies and changing the location of the survey URL have no response-enhancing effect. The implementation of adaptive randomization is useful for other applications of survey design and methodology.
Additional information: Verfasser hier: Johannes J. Gaul




Dieser Eintrag ist Teil der Universitätsbibliographie.

Das Dokument wird vom Publikationsserver der Universitätsbibliothek Mannheim bereitgestellt.




Metadata export


Citation


+ Search Authors in

+ Download Statistics

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics



You have found an error? Please let us know about your desired correction here: E-Mail


Actions (login required)

Show item Show item