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Program Evaluation Using a Follow-Up Telephone Survey

The Effects of a Prior Letter

Georgia State University, Atlanta

James E. Prather

Georgia State University, Atlanta

John D. Hutcheson, JR

Georgia State University, Atlanta

Program evaluation requiring postprogram follow-up with clients is often complicated by systematic inability to contact certain types of clients. In-person contact can be extremely expensive and mail follow-up is prone to error attributable to nonresponse. Problems in contacting and obtaining the cooperation of former clients often bring evaluation results into question. Employing a split-half design, this research examines the effects of prior letters, in conjunction with a follow-up telephone survey, on three factors affecting evaluation results: contact rates, response rates, and respondent cooperation. Contrary to what would be expected based upon the results of experimentation with general population surveys, the prior letter did not increase contact, improve cooperation, or decrease refusals. Discussion focuses on the reasons for the differences between the findings of this experiment and previous research and suggests that additional procedures for increasing contact in postprogram follow-up surveys be examined.

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