Advancing inclusive survey design : lessons learned from a study of the Swedish disability rights movement
Bahner, Julia LU
; Gustavsson, Catharina
; Melander, Stina
LU
; Johansson, Stefan
LU
; Krantz, Oskar
and Gummesson, Karl
(2026)
In Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research
- Abstract
- This article discusses the methodological challenges and lessons learned from an online survey conducted among Swedish disability organisations during 2022–2023. Our analysis aims to inform future studies within civil society and beyond. A total of 78 disability organisations, encompassing 2,652 branches at national, regional and local levels were identified. A 122-item survey was then distributed via email. To achieve a 32% response rate, we employed several strategies, including offering accessibility options, directly contacting organisations and promoting the survey within the disability community. The low rate of internal missing responses (2–3%) and the high number of open text responses (n = 6,347) suggest that the survey was... (More)
- This article discusses the methodological challenges and lessons learned from an online survey conducted among Swedish disability organisations during 2022–2023. Our analysis aims to inform future studies within civil society and beyond. A total of 78 disability organisations, encompassing 2,652 branches at national, regional and local levels were identified. A 122-item survey was then distributed via email. To achieve a 32% response rate, we employed several strategies, including offering accessibility options, directly contacting organisations and promoting the survey within the disability community. The low rate of internal missing responses (2–3%) and the high number of open text responses (n = 6,347) suggest that the survey was accessible, comprehensible and relevant to the respondents. Reflecting on survey design, sampling, recruitment, response burden and multimodal participation, we argue that accessibility should be understood as a methodological principle that shapes inclusion throughout the research process. The findings support a staged approach to accessible survey design encompassing instrument development, pilot testing, recruitment and data collection, offering practical guidance for future research. While accessibility is particularly crucial when surveying disability organisations, it is essential in all survey studies to ensure validity, reliability and generalizability, as individuals with disabilities can be present in any sample. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1e1cc192-0fda-44e9-a8de-a66436599534
- author
- Bahner, Julia
LU
; Gustavsson, Catharina
; Melander, Stina
LU
; Johansson, Stefan
LU
; Krantz, Oskar
and Gummesson, Karl
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-08-29
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105048854983
- ISSN
- 1351-1610
- DOI
- 10.1080/13511610.2026.2725567
- project
- Representation in the digital era: Democratic consequences of changing engagement in the Swedish disability movement
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1e1cc192-0fda-44e9-a8de-a66436599534
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-30 16:42:16
- date last changed
- 2026-09-11 04:00:55
@article{1e1cc192-0fda-44e9-a8de-a66436599534,
abstract = {{This article discusses the methodological challenges and lessons learned from an online survey conducted among Swedish disability organisations during 2022–2023. Our analysis aims to inform future studies within civil society and beyond. A total of 78 disability organisations, encompassing 2,652 branches at national, regional and local levels were identified. A 122-item survey was then distributed via email. To achieve a 32% response rate, we employed several strategies, including offering accessibility options, directly contacting organisations and promoting the survey within the disability community. The low rate of internal missing responses (2–3%) and the high number of open text responses (n = 6,347) suggest that the survey was accessible, comprehensible and relevant to the respondents. Reflecting on survey design, sampling, recruitment, response burden and multimodal participation, we argue that accessibility should be understood as a methodological principle that shapes inclusion throughout the research process. The findings support a staged approach to accessible survey design encompassing instrument development, pilot testing, recruitment and data collection, offering practical guidance for future research. While accessibility is particularly crucial when surveying disability organisations, it is essential in all survey studies to ensure validity, reliability and generalizability, as individuals with disabilities can be present in any sample.}},
author = {{Bahner, Julia and Gustavsson, Catharina and Melander, Stina and Johansson, Stefan and Krantz, Oskar and Gummesson, Karl}},
issn = {{1351-1610}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
series = {{Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research}},
title = {{Advancing inclusive survey design : lessons learned from a study of the Swedish disability rights movement}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2026.2725567}},
doi = {{10.1080/13511610.2026.2725567}},
year = {{2026}},
}