Response rate to an online questionnaire amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate students and alumni from a Colombian university

Abstract

In epidemiology and public health research, caution is required when addressing results reported in studies based on the administration of online questionnaires. The most critical limitation of such studies is the inability to ensure the representativeness of the sample. However, when having a representative sample is secondary, online questionnaires are an excellent alternative for exploratory studies that seek to obtain information about emerging phenomena quickly and cost-effectively or address sensitive issues, as this approach allows reaching populations that are difficult to contact using traditional strategies. Online research guarantees that participants remain completely anonymous and ensures that they provide more honest responses, regardless of their social desirability, stigma, or discrimination.