The survey literature does contain some studies that examine the number of questions and the density of questions and there is a moderate relationship between the number of questions and response rates; however, as Caroline notes, motivation and other factors play a role. There is some discussion about surveys that are too short being perceived as not worth the time so it is possible to be too short.
There is a fair amount of research on perceived usability -- when people see a page, form, or survey, what are their perceptions of usability and complexity. I'm at the UPA conference and away from my reference database, but will check when I return. Although Dillman backs off a bit in his later editions, in his first edition of his survey book, he discussed Exchange theory (developed by a number of social psychologists including Homans, Blau, and Thibaut & Kelley) and noted that people need to consider effort, motivation, and credibility in the design of a survey (and a survey is a special type of form). Exchange theory would predict that minimize unnecessary effort, providing motivation (intrinsic & extrinsic), and imcreasing credibility, are things that should be consider when you want to get people to respond to your survey or form. For example, don't let people think about what format to use for a credit card number - provide a format to reduce effort and avoid errors. Exchange theory is one of the more powerful theories that govern how people interact with people as well as how people interact with computing system. Chaunc On Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 6:01 PM, Caroline Jarrett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: "visual hokie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > : Does anyone have (or can point me to) any data, research, or articles that > : demonstrate the relationship between number of form fields and completion > : rate? > : Thanks! > : > : brian > > Hi Brian > > I don't know of any specific research on this problem in the forms arena. > There is plenty of anecdotal evidence around - just ask > anyone, frankly. > > For example, in a recent thread on this list > http://www.ixda.org/discuss.php?post=27398 "Sign-up experience" there was some > discussion of the pleasure given by a short, simple sign-up and the annoyance > caused by a very long one. > > But I don't know of much in the way of hard facts. It would be great to hear > of anything published - let's hope someone else on the > list knows. > > The survey methodologists have looked at the problem of lower response > rathers when there are more questions on a questionnaire, a > closely related area. I'm away from my library at the moment but I'm fairly > sure that Dillman would cite the relevant literature. > Most recent edition: > Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method 2007 Update with New > Internet, Visual, and Mixed-Mode Guide (Hardcover) > by Don A. Dillman (Author) > > Another thing to think about (I don't know of the context of your question) > is that although sheer volume of questions is definitely > an issue, the relevance of those questions and the strength of the user's > interest in the topic are very important as well. There > is, believe it or not, such a thing as a form or questionnaire that is too > short - one that fails to ask the questions that the user > considers should be asked in the context of the overall purpose. > > Best, > Caroline > > Caroline Jarrett > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 07990 570647 > > Effortmark Ltd > Usability - Forms - Content > > We have moved. New address: > 16 Heath Road > Leighton Buzzard > LU7 3AB > > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
