From mailbox to inbox: mail vs internet waterfowl hunter survey responses

Context As response rates from traditional mail surveys have declined, and the costs of conducting such surveys have increased, some social scientists have transitioned to internet surveys as a cost-effective alternative to mail surveys. Aims This study compared responses from mail and internet surveys. We predicted that the two surveys will differ in terms of response rates (Hypothesis 1), and item nonresponse (Hypothesis 2). Response distribution differences for the two samples were examined for two demographic variables: availability of internet access (Hypothesis 3) and age (Hypothesis 4). Avidity related variables included years of hunting waterfowl in Illinois (Hypothesis 5), days of waterfowl hunting (Hypothesis 6), ducks or geese harvested (Hypothesis 7) and satisfaction with the most recent waterfowl hunting experience in Illinois (Hypothesis 8). Methods We compared mail (n = 1,602) and internet (n = 816) surveys from waterfowl hunters in Illinois. The study examined three types of dependent variables: (1) response rates, (2) item nonresponse, and (3) questionnaire response distributions for demographics, avidity indicators, and satisfaction with waterfowl hunting experience in Illinois. Key results Of the eight hypotheses, only four were statistically significant. Statistical differences were observed for item nonresponse, internet access, age, and years of hunting waterfowl in Illinois. No statistical differences were found for response rates, days hunting, waterfowl harvest during the 2022–2023 season, and satisfaction with the most recent experience. Conclusions Results indicated that internet surveys can be cost-effective and a potential alternative to mail surveys in certain contexts. Implications Reductions in response rates and increasing costs of traditional mail surveys have led state wildlife agencies to explore alternative approaches to data collection, such as internet surveys. Although 50% (4 of 8) of the hypothesized mail versus internet survey comparisons differed statistically, the effect sizes were generally minimal. Ensuring that the survey mode effectively captures a representative sample of hunters is vital for future data collection efforts.