A Classic Citation . . .
What began in 1978 as the Total Design Method (TDM), has evolved into the Tailored Design Method, now in its fourth edition and with over 3,600 professional publication citations. Writen and developed by Don A. Dillman of the Social and Economic Sciences Resarch at Washington State University, this textbook of survey methods underlies all phases of research conducted at the SESRC. The current editions reflects the use of modern technology in the world of scientific data collection and the methods described within has become a standard reference for survey research centers worldwide.
Social Exchange Theory is the philosophy at the heart of TDM and provides the basis for its techniques for maximizing response rates. The theory attempts to explain why people do things for others and its principles can be applied to conducting many types of surveys.
The Tailored Design Method emphasizes both individual questions and entire survey instruments that are attractive to a specific audience and minimizes the burden placed on the respondent. TDM encorporates rules to minimize total survey error and the use of multiple survey modes to increase incidence of response. The methods also takes into account changes in technology and describes use of optical imaging, special considerations for conducting Internet surveys and new research that indicates how visual design can affect how respondents answer questions.
Read more about the Tailored Design Method at the Don A. Dillman website.
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