Evaluation of internet surveys for conducting statewide angler surveys in South Dakota

Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science
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Abstract

Stakeholder information is critical for effective fisheries management. Agencies have traditionally used infrequent mail surveys to collect human dimensions data. Internet surveys provide cost savings, but are associated with caution due to data quality issues. To improve study validity, survey access can be controlled using email invitations, but because these addresses are voluntary, results may not be applicable to the entire population. Additionally, internet surveys typically have lower response rates than mail surveys, thus, a greater potential for nonresponse bias. To identify potential coverage and nonresponse biases in information typically collected by statewide angler surveys, we emailed a link to a web-based survey to all anglers who provided South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) with an email address at the end of the 2011 and 2012 fishing seasons (December 31). Next, we mailed the same questionnaire to both a random sample of anglers not providing an email address and a sample of non-respondents to the internet survey. Internet survey results were similar to both mail surveys for variables SDGFP typically monitors via statewide angler surveys with the exception of slightly over representing male anglers and younger anglers; however, these slight biases can be adjusted by weighting procedures. Results from this study were used by SDGFP to design a web-based, annual statewide angler survey that would collect angler information statistically comparable to information collected by traditional statewide mail surveys.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evaluation of internet surveys for conducting statewide angler surveys in South Dakota
Series title Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science
Volume 97
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher South Dakota Academy of Science
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 16 p.
First page 35
Last page 50
Country United States
State South Dakota
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