Understanding Mail Survey Response Rates among Female Reserve Component Veterans Serving during the Persian Gulf War

Abstract

In this study of current and former female reservists and National Guard members from the state of Ohio, veterans who were older, who had more years of military service, who had participated in the Gulf War, who were Euro-Americans, who were or had been married, and who were higher in rank tended to have more valid addresses and higher response rates, thus biasing sample outcomes in those directions. Educational attainment, branch of service, component of service, and residential stability appeared to be less important, although some significant findings were noted. Implications for further research on Desert Storm are discussed. In general, those veterans who might have been expected to have a greater investment in U.S. society were more likely to respond to a survey concerning Desert Storm era military service and its aftermath.