Sampling for Internet Surveys

For many years, sampling for Internet-based surveys involved identifying a population of Internet users who would volunteer (often they are provided incentives for completing surveys) and then taking a sample of this population. More recently, however, the percentage of the U.S. population who use the Internet has grown to such a level that survey organizations can skip the step of identifying Internet users. So in 2016, ANES worked with Marketing Systems Group to develop the Internet survey. This was done by sending a series of letters to randomly selected addresses drawn from the Post Office's Delivery Sequence File, inviting one household member to participate in the Internet survey. The invitation included $20 in cash; an additional $40 in cash was promised for completing the online survey. This was increased to $80 for those who initially did not respond.