Mixing Web and paper data collection modes on a survey on manufacturing firms

Sono presentate alcune considerazioni sull’utilizzo di metodi di rilevazioni misti. Si analizza il problema alla luce di un’indagine empirica. Si propone una soluzione operativa per ottimizzare la strategia di indagine via web in assenza di lista. The paper presents the methodology and the results of a sample survey conducted on manufacturing firms. The survey is focused on the diffusion of the internet, usage of this technology and of e-commerce compared with other sales channels. From a methodological viewpoint this survey provides an opportunity to investigate the merits a web-based data collection mode in comparison with other more traditional paper-based modes. The target population is given by all the manufacturing firms of the Bergamo province which is located in the North of Italy. Most of the firms in this population are very small and in view of this population feature and in contrast to other surveys on similar topics, we did not introduce any size threshold for eligibility. Data collection is based on a multi-stage and multi-mode strategy where respondents, first contacted by phone, may choose to complete the questionnaire on the web or to receive it by regular mail or fax. Reminders strategies are optimized separately for each data collection mode. The results of this case study are then discussed and compared with those of other similar surveys and with evidence provided by international literature.