Webborn, E;
McKenna, E;
Elam, S;
Anderson, B;
Cooper, A;
Oreszczyn, T;
(2022)
Increasing response rates and improving research design: Learnings from the Smart Energy Research Lab in the United Kingdom.
Energy Research & Social Science
, 83
, Article 102312. 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102312.
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Abstract
Obtaining high-resolution energy consumption data from a large, representative sample of homes is critical for research, but low response rates, sample bias and high recruitment costs form substantial barriers. The widespread installation of smart meters offers a novel route to access such data, but in countries like Great Britain (GB) consent is required from each household; a real barrier to large-scale sampling. In this paper we show how certain study design choices can impact the response rate for energy studies requesting access to half-hourly smart meter data and (optional) survey completion. We used a randomised control trial (RCT) with a 3×2×2 factorial design; 3 (including none) incentive groups ×2 message content/structures ×2 ‘push-to-web’ treatment groups. Up to 4 mailings (letters) were sent to 18,000 addresses, recruiting 1711 participants (9.5% response rate) in England and Wales. The most effective strategy offered a conditional £5 voucher and postal response options in multiple mailings (compared to only once in the push-to-web approach, although at the expense of far fewer online signups). Motivational headlines and message structure were also found to be influential. Reminders increased response but a 4th mailing was not cost effective. Our results and recommendations can be used to help future energy studies to achieve greater response rates and improved representation. UK-based researchers can apply to use our longitudinal smart meter and contextual datasets.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Increasing response rates and improving research design: Learnings from the Smart Energy Research Lab in the United Kingdom |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102312 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102312 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Energy survey, Incentive, Push-to-web, Randomized control trial, Recruitment, Reminder, Response rate, Smart meter, Web push |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10141952 |
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