Ethnic origin and practice nursing: the effect of a possibly controversial question on a postal survey

K Atkin; N Lunt; G Parker; Michael Anthony Hirst

Ethnic origin and practice nursing: the effect of a possibly controversial question on a postal survey

K Atkin, N Lunt, G Parker, Michael Anthony Hirst

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Abstract

Much literature assesses the impact of various factors on response rates to postal questionnaires. Little work, however, evaluates the effect of 'controversial' questions on rates of return. Recent debates suggest that one such question concerns ethnic origin and some writers argue that asking this question could affect response rates. This research note explores this issue in more detail, first by examining the effect of an ethnicity question on the response rate of a postal questionnaire to practice nurses in England and Wales and, secondly, considering the arguments for and against including the question.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	163-169
Number of pages	7
Journal	Sociology
Volume	28
Issue number	1
Publication status	Published - Feb 1994

Keywords

RACE
METHODOLOGY
NURSING
POSTAL SURVEYS
ETHNIC ORIGIN
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND ETHNICITY
THE USE OF ETHNICITY

Cite this

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title = "Ethnic origin and practice nursing: the effect of a possibly controversial question on a postal survey",

abstract = "Much literature assesses the impact of various factors on response rates to postal questionnaires. Little work, however, evaluates the effect of 'controversial' questions on rates of return. Recent debates suggest that one such question concerns ethnic origin and some writers argue that asking this question could affect response rates. This research note explores this issue in more detail, first by examining the effect of an ethnicity question on the response rate of a postal questionnaire to practice nurses in England and Wales and, secondly, considering the arguments for and against including the question.",

keywords = "RACE, METHODOLOGY, NURSING, POSTAL SURVEYS, ETHNIC ORIGIN, SURVEY QUESTIONS AND ETHNICITY, THE USE OF ETHNICITY",

author = "K Atkin and N Lunt and G Parker and Hirst, {Michael Anthony}",

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AU - Parker, G

AU - Hirst, Michael Anthony

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N2 - Much literature assesses the impact of various factors on response rates to postal questionnaires. Little work, however, evaluates the effect of 'controversial' questions on rates of return. Recent debates suggest that one such question concerns ethnic origin and some writers argue that asking this question could affect response rates. This research note explores this issue in more detail, first by examining the effect of an ethnicity question on the response rate of a postal questionnaire to practice nurses in England and Wales and, secondly, considering the arguments for and against including the question.

AB - Much literature assesses the impact of various factors on response rates to postal questionnaires. Little work, however, evaluates the effect of 'controversial' questions on rates of return. Recent debates suggest that one such question concerns ethnic origin and some writers argue that asking this question could affect response rates. This research note explores this issue in more detail, first by examining the effect of an ethnicity question on the response rate of a postal questionnaire to practice nurses in England and Wales and, secondly, considering the arguments for and against including the question.

KW - RACE

KW - METHODOLOGY

KW - NURSING

KW - POSTAL SURVEYS

KW - ETHNIC ORIGIN

KW - SURVEY QUESTIONS AND ETHNICITY

KW - THE USE OF ETHNICITY

M3 - Comment/debate

SN - 0038-0385

VL - 28

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JO - Sociology

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