On June 15, 2002, a total of 245 questionnaires were
mailed to key decision makers of public and private
NBT-related programs (Table 3). The number of
surveys mailed to each organization, and the individuals
to receive the surveys, was based on the recommendations
of key administrators in the above-mentioned programs (Table 3). The requested return date was
August 15, 2002. A second mailing to non-respondents
was sent on August 20, 2002, with a return due date of
September 15, 2002. As of October 1, 2002, 62
questionnaires had been returned for an average
response rate of 25 percent (Table 3).
The overall average response rate of 25 percent should
be interpreted with caution. Recall in the research
methodology that the study samples were selected
depending upon the recommendations from key administrators.
For example, in one program, the Department
of Community and Economic Development, the key
administrator preferred to answer the survey himself,
resulting in a 100 percent response rate. In the
Pennsylvania Game Commission, the key administrator
had three top administrators in the headquarters office
answer the survey, which generated a 100 percent
response. On the other hand, the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania decided to send the
survey to each of the 67 County Commissioners
throughout the State, which produced a 22 percent
response rate.
Overall, the procedure the researchers used to select
the sample seemed to be the correct protocol to use at
the time, given the overlapping nature of many of the
multiple political issues involved among the agencies.
The research methodology process was designed to keep
key administrators informed and involved throughout
the conduct of the study. Differences in survey response
rates among programs may well be an indication of the
differences in an organizational philosophy and structure,
but that topic was well beyond the scope and
complexity of the study objectives. An important point
to consider here is that key administrators of the
programs did not make any major changes when the
researchers presented each agency head with final survey
results.