The choice of a web-based survey was based upon research conducted by Nesbary
(2000). In examining results of several projects that used both mail and web based surveys, he found that when surveys were sent to Law Enforcement agencies, he received a response rate of 29% for web administration and 39% for traditional mail administration. This is very close to the results reported by Grandzol and Gershon (1998) and also Newton and Rudestam (1999). However, when Nesbary (2000) conducted a similar project with university professors in political science, he obtained a response rate of 73% from web administration and 20% from mail administration. He followed up with the respondents through a telephone interview and discovered that the professors had a strong preference for the use of electronic administration as opposed to mail administration. This higher response rate for web administration was further supported by Lusk, Delclos, Burau, Drawhorn, and Aday (2007) who reviewed a study involving individuals in academic public health with a response rate of over 80%.