Key points at a glance
- State exactly what counts as an invitation and a response.
- Separate starts, completions and analysed cases.
- Consider whether nonrespondents differ on relevant characteristics.
Work out the denominator
If 200 eligible people receive a direct invitation and 80 provide valid responses, the simple rate is 40%. If 20 invitations bounce, explain whether and why you remove them. An unrestricted public link has no known number of eligible recipients, so do not invent a response rate.
Show the participation flow
Report delivered invitations, survey starts, completed questionnaires and analysed cases separately where available. Define a valid case. If you exclude people for missing consent or ineligibility, report those decisions and numbers.
Examine nonresponse bias
A high rate does not guarantee an unbiased sample, and a low rate alone does not prove bias. Consider whether people who did not respond may differ in characteristics relevant to your question. Compare respondents with known frame data if these are available.
Write a transparent results sentence
Give counts before percentages: “Of 200 invited people, 86 started the survey and 80 met the predefined analysis criteria.” Describe uncertainty about distribution and avoid a population claim that your sampling design cannot support.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Denominator known or rate omitted.
- Validity rule recorded.
- Incomplete and excluded cases counted.
- Nonresponse limitations considered.
Common mistakes
- Treating clicks as analysed responses.
- Calculating a rate from a public link.
- Equating a high response rate with representativeness.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good response rate?
There is no universal threshold; design and possible bias matter more.
Can I calculate one for a social-media link?
Usually not without a known count of eligible invitees.
Do partial questionnaires count?
Use the eligibility and analysis rules defined for your study.