Surveys with smartphone, laptop or tablet: mixed devices and mode effects in the MPN
Web-based surveys are nowadays by definition mixed-mode surveys: respondents use various devices to administer the online survey. In the Mobility Panel of the Netherlands (MPN), we witnessed a strong increase in response with a smartphone: from 1% to 21% in a period of just five years. This revolution was not anticipated at the beginning of the MPN.
Multiple parts of the survey are not ‘mobile-friendly’. In this contribution, we present recent trends in device use, by looking at the MPN and beyond. We look at the share and profile of the mobile respondents, in order to reveal the relative importance of this group. In addition, we discuss potential mode effects of mobile device use. We conclude that future surveys need to adjust to a mix of devices through short and simple questionnaires and software improvements.