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Mode Selection and 

Recruitment Strategies for 

Respondents with

Disabilities 

Ashley Schaad, ICF International 

Amy Falcone, ICF International 

Jessica Jagger, U.S. Marine Corps 

Ashleigh Hiott, ICF International 

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Presentation Overview 

 Background 

 Mode Selection 

• Overall 

• By age 

• By disability type 

• By internet usage 

 Recruitment Strategies 

• Mode selection by recruitment method 

 Relevant Literature 

 Key Findings 

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Background 

 Client: Library of Congress National Library Service for 

the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) 

 Provide free audio books and braille reading materials by mail 

and web 

 Objective: Survey of NLS users and eligible non-users 

 Method: Inclusive multi-mode survey (web and phone) 

 Time Frame: March to May 2013 

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Population 

• Visual, physical, cognitive/reading impairments 

Sample 

• Probability-based sample of users 

–Stratified random sample (by age) 

• Non-probability sample (snowball sample) of: 

–Non-users 

–Former users 

–Users not part of the probability sample (not initial intent) 

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Respondent Demographics 

Ages 

Ages 18-34 

91% 

9% 

Primary Disability: 

blindness/visual 

impairment 14% 

19% Ages 35-49 

34% 50-64 

17% Ages 65-79 

Ages 80 and older 7% 

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2% 

Mode Selection 

 Probability based sample 

Before calls 

39% 

98% 98% 

67% Once calls began 

2% 

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67%

2% 

39%

Mode Selection 

 Non-probability based sample 

2% 6% 

When examining 

entire non-probability 

sample 

98% 98% 94% 

When removing 

patrons 

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Mode Selection by Age 

Ages 50-64 

84% 87% 92% 

79% 

54% 

16% 13% 8% 

21% 

Ages 18-34 46%

80 and older 

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Mode Selection by Primary Disability 

Other impairment 

Blindness/visual 

impairment 

13% 

28% 

87% 

72% 

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Mode Selection by Internet Usage 

13% 6% 

37% 

65% 

88% 94% 

63% 

35% 

 Preference for web increases with increased internet usage during past 

week 

More than 10 

hours 

No internet 

usage 

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Less than 1 1-10 

hour hours 
 

 

Recruitment Strategies 

 At least one form of electronic/online communication: 

• Organization’s website or social media 

• Advertisement on Google 

• Friend/family member contact by email, Twitter, 

Facebook, or LinkedIn 

 Newsletter/email from an organization (and no other 

electronic means) 

 Non-electronic means only: 

• Letter in the mail, 

• Phone call/in-person contact from friend/family member, 

• Physician/service provider, 

• Some other source 

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Recruitment Strategies 

Organization 

newsletter or email 

and no other 

electronic means 

34% 

46% 

20% 

Non-electronic 

means only 

At least one 

electronic/online 

communication 

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Mode Selection by Recruitment Strategy 

Organization newsletter/email but no other 

electronic means 

Non- At least one electronic electronic/online only 

4% 2% 

34% 

96% 98% 

67% 

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Relevant Literature 

New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually 

Impaired: 1997 & 2003 surveys 

• Mail, Telephone, Others (1997 only) 

• Telephone option improved response rate by 11% in 1997 and 

5% in 2003 

• Additional modes did not increase response rate 

• Demographics: 

–Vision less than 20/200 participated more by phone 

–Vision 20/60 to 20/200 participated more by mail 

Murray, P. (2007). A multi-mode approach for surveying visually impaired populations. In T. Kroll, D. Keer, P. Placek, J. Cyril, & G. Hendershot (Eds.) Towards best 

practices for surveying people with disabilities, vol. 1 (165-179). New York: Nova Science Publishers. 

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Key Findings 

 Both accessibility and convenience play into the decision of mode 

selection 

 Preference for web versus phone varies significantly by age, 

disability type, and internet usage 

 Offering both self-administered and interviewer-assisted modes 

can lead to increased response rates 

 Respondents recruited by electronic and non-electronic means 

varied in terms of mode preference, indicating the need for both 

methods of recruitment 

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Ashley Schaad ICF International 

ashley.schaad@icfi.com 

910-436-1853 

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ICF 

INTERNATIONAL 

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