Determinants of motivation and willingness to participate in surveys

In this study we explored the predictors of motivation to participate in written surveys. Moreover, we examined the conditions of the willingness to participate. A self-administered survey was answered by 457 participants. The survey consisted of individual variables, i.e., attitudes and reading skills/abilities, and situational variables, i.e., time requirement, payment, type of call for participation, and type of the source. The analyses revealed that people who were motivated to participate were younger, had a higher education, had more positive experiences with surveys, and had more contact with surveys in their occupational setting, compared with those with less motivation to participate. Private life, academic background, and individual interests were variables that predict motivation to participate. With respect to willingness to participate, significant predictors were age, education, individual interests, a non-personal call for participation, and the value of survey studies. This effect was fully mediated by the motivation to participate.