The impact of monetary inducement on uninformed response error

Response quality (accuracy) is replacing response quantity (response rate and nonresponse error) as the major issue in survey research methodology. Using a survey of 500 members of the general public from four cities, the authors examine an important aspect of response quality: uniformed response error. By asking respondents to evaluate the past performance of a fictitious public agency, the authors examine the effect that using a monetary inducement to increase the response rate to a mail survey has on uniformed response error. In addition, the ability of a “Don’t know” option to reduce uninformed response error is analyzed. The important impact that uniformed responses can have on response quality is documented. deceased