Harris Interactive relies on the Harris Poll Online^SM panel as the primary sample source for online surveys. This multimillion member panel consists of potential respondents who have been recruited through online, telephone, mail, and in-person approaches to increase population coverage and enhance representativeness. All panel members have agreed to be invited to participate in online surveys through a confirmed opt-in approach.

Online Interviewing Procedures

Interviews are conducted using a self-administered, online questionnaire, via proprietary, web-assisted interviewing software. The Harris Poll Online interviewing system permits online data entry of survey responses by the respondents. Questionnaires are programmed into the system with the following checks:

• Question and response series
• Skip pattern
• Question rotation
• Range checks
• Mathematical checks
• Consistency checks
• Special edit procedures

All data are tabulated, checked for internal consistency and processed by computer. A series of computer-generated tables is then produced for each of the key sample groups showing the results of each survey question, both by the total number of respondents and by the key subgroups.

Control of the Sample

To maintain the reliability and integrity in the sample, the following procedures are used:

• Password protection - Each invitation contains a password that is assigned uniquely to that email address. The process prevents respondents from completing the same survey more than one time.
• Reminder invitations - To increase the number of respondents in the survey and to improve overall response rates, as many as two additional reminder invitations are typically mailed at 2-4 day intervals to those respondents who have not yet participated.
• Summary of the survey findings - To increase the number of respondents in the survey and to improve overall response rates, respondents are often provided with a select summary of survey responses at the conclusion of each survey.

Our data processing personnel conduct machine edits and additional cleaning of each data set. Our edit programs act as a verification of the skip instructions and other data checks that are written into the online program. The edit programs list any errors by case number, question number and type. Senior personnel may then inspect the original file and make appropriate corrections. We keep complete records of all such procedures.

Weighting

Typically, we will weight figures for factors such as age, sex, and region where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population of interest. Propensity score weighting, a proprietary Harris Interactive technique, is also applied (when applicable) to adjust for respondents’ likelihood to be online. This procedure provides added assurance of accuracy and representativeness.