I’ve spent the last year organising a postal survey of GP patients. Having overseen the mail-out of nearly 15,000 questionnaires, I thought I would offer a few thoughts on how to get through a big survey with both yourself and the data intact…
- Learn how to mail merge between Word and Excel.
- To create your ID labels – this will look much more professional and will be faster than handwriting.
- Get help stuffing envelopes if possible
- Avoid developing Repetitive Strain Injury! Otherwise, at least take regular breaks.
- If using unique ID numbers, label the outside of the envelope AND the questionnaire.
- This speeds up the process of identifying any participants to exclude.
- Remember to buy the correct sized stamps for your envelopes
- I guarantee you will only make this mistake once!
- Do as much preparation in advance of the mail out as possible
- Whilst you have time.
- Buy a date stamp!
- It’s much easier than writing the date by hand.
- Use VLOOKUP formulae in excel to help you log your questionnaire returns
- This reduces typing errors and avoids the, “trying to find a needle in a haystack” scenario at a later date.
- Record questionnaires as being returned even if they are incomplete
- You don’t want to send reminders to these people – you can always leave notes to yourself to say they are blank.
- Allow a minimum of 3 weeks between reminders
- Give people a chance to respond!
- Consistency is key
- But common sense makes an excellent key fob.