Preferences, Participation, and Evaluation of Answering Questions About the Books Participants Have at Home Through Conventional and Image-Based Formats

Abstract

The collection of photos through online surveys has emerged as a valuable research tool given the growing use of smartphones, which have facilitated the capture and share of photos. However, gaps persist in understanding respondents’ involvement in these tasks when asked to perform them in an online survey. Existing literature lacks insights into participants’ preferences, their assessment of questions asking for photos, and how their characteristics might impact their participation in such queries. This paper addresses these gaps, while also comparing how image-based formats compare to conventional ones. Conducted among 1,270 parents living with children in primary school of an opt-in panel in Spain, the mobile online survey implemented in this study revealed a preference for conventional questions, and higher participation in that format than in the image-based one. Respondents able to choose their response format and preferring images presented higher participation rates than those without a choice. While both formats were perceived as equally easy, participants using conventional formats liked the questions better than those answering through photos. Finally, age, being female, having a tertiary education degree, and using the camera at least once a week positively impacted the participation in image-based questions, whereas comfort with new technologies increased the likelihood of liking this format. This study not only fills critical gaps in the literature but also sheds light on the complexities of asking for photos in online surveys.