Suggestions on How to Improve Respondent Cooperation

3 key tenets of respondent cooperation

1. Offer confidentiality/privacy
2. Show the respondent respect
3. Answer respondent's questions honestly

General guideline

1. Questionnaires should be set-up to be time efficient
2. Respect for the respondent
3. Explanations for request for personal information

Questionnaire Intros

1. Clear concise identification of purpose and who is doing the interview
2. State reason for call as being marketing research and topic of survey
3. State no selling involved
4. State respondents confidentiality/privacy respected
5. State monitoring/recording statement (if used) and/or verbal approval from respondent *note: varies by state
6. Give length of interview
7. Encourage participation

Questionnaire Closings

1. Always thank the respondent
2. State briefly the benefits of marketing research
3. Mention possible call back possible for verification
4. Answer honestly any questions respondent has

Interviewers Play a Key Role

1. Knowledgeable about their research and interviewing
2. Polite
3. Be interested in the respondent
4. Sensitivity to physically challenged and minorities
5. Allow respondent to answer "don't know" or refusal to answer
6. Permit interview termination without "harassing" them
7. Thank the respondent

Company Managers Play a Key Role Too

1. Convey the importance of respondent cooperation interviewers and supervisors
2. Work with clients to find ways to improve respondent cooperation
3. Train interviewers to be knowledgeable
4. Evaluate the need for incentives due to interview length
5. Present written information to respondents in a professional manner
6. Keep respondent areas looking professional
7. Provide means of educating the public about the benefits of opinion and marketing research
8. Conduct validations in professional and non-antagonizing manner to respondent
9. Consider the respondent's point of view in everything you do

Remember to ensure all respondents have a positive experience through the professionalism of the interviewer.

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