Using incentives: costs and tradeoffs
Incentives can raise participation, but each option has a cost, an effect on anonymity, and a question of fairness. Examples based on the sample center, with about 30 responding families:
| Incentive | Approximate cost | Anonymity | Fairness |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 tuition credit for every family that responds | $300 or more in lost revenue | Requires names, so it must be collected separately from responses | Worth less to families whose scholarship covers most of their tuition |
| Raffle for one $50 gift card | $50 | Requires a separate entry form not linked to responses | Equal chance for every family |
| Center-wide reward if participation reaches a goal (such as a family breakfast at 60%) | $75 to $150 | No names needed | Benefits every family |
| Classroom competition | Low | Can reveal which classrooms participated | Pressures teachers and families |
Two rules apply to any incentive. First, if an incentive needs a name, collect it on a separate form that is not connected to survey responses, and tell families that. Second, choose incentives of similar value to every family. Over time, the strongest driver of participation is not an incentive; it is families seeing that their feedback led to action.