The Dillman Method

The Dillman Method is a research technique designed to improve survey response rates by using carefully planned communication strategies. It involves multiple, personalized contact attempts—such as mailing a questionnaire, followed by reminder postcards and additional questionnaires—while emphasizing clarity and respect for respondents’ time. The method also often includes incentives and an emphasis on confidentiality to encourage participation. By systematically building trust and making it easy for people to respond, the Dillman Method helps researchers gather more accurate and representative data.