What is the purpose of contact frequency rules?

The purpose of contact frequency rules is to manage respondent over-contacting. These rules are essential in survey research as they help ensure that participants are not overwhelmed with too many invitations to take surveys, which can lead to survey fatigue and reduced response rates. By implementing contact frequency rules, researchers can strategically control the number of times a respondent is approached for participation, ensuring a respectful and manageable interaction with the participant pool. This fosters a better relationship with respondents and enhances the overall quality of the data collected, as respondents are more likely to engage meaningfully when they feel their time and input are valued.

Options that focus on defining communication formats, limiting survey numbers without regard to respondents, or tracking submissions do not address the core issue of maintaining a balanced and respectful approach to engaging with survey participants. Thus, while they serve different purposes within the context of survey management, they do not fulfill the primary function of preventing over-contacting of respondents.