Email Scripts

NLSY 97 Round 20 - Emails

Email Scripts:

Advance Letter/Early Bird Offer
The Advance letter changes slightly every round and is usually signed by the director. The following example uses the advance letter from the NLSY97 Round 19, with a sentence from the Y79 Early Bird and the confidentiality statement included in the COVID-19 supplement.

Dear [Respondent Name],

Your thoughtful answers have made the NLSY97 one of the most vital surveys in the country for understanding your generation. Thank you for your participation!

For more than 20 years, the data you have provided has been used in nearly 1,500 journal articles, book chapters, Ph.D. dissertations, conference presentations, and working papers. As a participant, you help researchers better understand the needs of your generation, which allows our society to make informed policy decisions about the labor market and the economy.

You can also find articles using the NLSY97 data in media outlets such as The Atlantic, Science Daily, Washington Post, BBC Mundo, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times.

The average interview lasts about 65 minutes. Be an Early Bird participant and you will an additional monetary gift. We look forward to your continued participation and at the end of your interview, you can receive your gift even faster using electronic payment options through online or mobile banking as well as PayPal.

We follow the federal laws that govern the confidentiality of survey respondents, as well as additional policies and procedures that ensure your answers are safeguarded. Please see the back of this letter for more information about privacy and confidentiality.

Because of your participation, just a little over an hour every two years, you’ve had a direct impact on the way our society understands some of the most critical issues impacting our country. Thanks for your contribution!

Phone: XXX-XXX-XXX | Email: [email protected] | Text XXX-XXX-XXX with your full name

Sincerely

DIRECTOR NAME

Bureau of Labor Statistics

If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

The survey is authorized under Title 29, Section 2, of the United States Code. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has approved the questionnaire and has assigned 1220-0157 as the survey’s control number. This control number expires on xx/xx/xxxx. Without OMB approval and this number, we would not be able to conduct this survey. If you have any comments regarding this survey or recommendations for reducing its length, send them to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Longitudinal Surveys, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20212.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, its employees, agents, and partner statistical agencies, will use the information you provide for statistical purposes only and will hold the information in confidence to the full extent permitted by law. In accordance with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C. 3572) and other applicable Federal laws, your responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your informed consent. 

BLS may release records to a contractor to compile non-individually identifiable data for use by the general public and federal agencies for research purposes. BLS may provide geographic information to researchers to conduct specific research projects which further the mission and functions of the agency. Such authorized researchers must sign a written agreement making them official agents of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and requiring them to protect the confidentiality of survey participants. These researchers are never provided with the personal identities of participants.

NLSY79 Early Bird Offer Prompt

Subject

It’s not too late to be an Early Bird!

Email language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, A few weeks ago, we emailed you and sent you a letter about your NORC interview. It’s not too late to receive $XX as an Early Bird! After DATE, your offer will drop to $XX. You can schedule your appointment today by replying to this email, calling XXX-XXX-XXXX or sending a text message to XXX-XXX-XXXX. To receive your gift faster, we offer electronic payment options through online or mobile banking and PayPal. Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting contribution. Thank you, and we look forward to your continued participation in this important study! If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

Themed Reminder Email 1 (Example: Happy New Year)

Subject

Happy New Year from NORC!

Email language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, Previously, we emailed you and sent you a letter about your NORC interview. It’s not too late to receive $XX for completing. For more than XX years, the NLSY (79/97) has provided vital information about the lives of Americans in your generation. Few surveys can match the NLSY (79/97) in helping us understand who we are as a nation. And for that, we thank you. You can schedule your appointment today by replying to this email, calling XXX-XXX-XXXX or sending a text message to XXX-XXX-XXXX. To receive your gift faster, we offer electronic payment options through online or mobile banking and PayPal. Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting contribution. Thank you, and we look forward to your continued participation in this important study! If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

Themed Reminder Email 2 (Example: Spring theme)

Subject

Spring is here!

Email Language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying nice weather where you live. I’m wondering if it would be possible to conduct your NORC interview sometime this week or this coming weekend. When would you have about an hour to chat by phone? As a long-time participant in the NLSY(97/79) study, you perform a valuable service to your community. By sharing your story, you enrich researchers’ understanding of how family, education, and labor interact in the daily lives of Americans. Your information is very important to us, and I want to make it as easy as possible for you to participate in our study, so call or text me at [FM_Phone] or send me an email at [FM_Email] to set an appointment.  You will receive [Total fee] to thank you for your participation by either electronic payment or mailed check, as you choose. Thank you for your time, and hope to hear from you soon. If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

Themed Reminder Email 3 (Summer theme)

Subject

Don’t let summer pass you by!

Email Language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, I wanted to remind you that it is not too late to complete your NLSY (97/79) survey! Take a break from the heat and schedule an hour with a professional interviewer to take your survey before it is too late! We will be calling soon to schedule your interview sometime in the next two weeks. Because of your past participation, you’ve had a direct impact on the way our society understands some of the most critical issues impacting our country. Thanks for these contributions in the past … and don’t forget that it’s not too late to share your story this year. To schedule your appointment, simply reply to this email, or call or text me at [FM PHONE]. You will receive [TOTAL FEE] to thank you for your participation. If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

We Haven’t Heard From You

Subject

We haven’t heard from you!

Email language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, I hope this message finds you well. I know your schedule may be hectic, but I was wondering if it would be possible to conduct your NLSY(79/97) interview sometime this week or this coming weekend. Which day are you available? Your information is very important to us, and I want to make it as easy as possible for you to participate in our study. NORC appreciates your time and commitment, as do I. We are offering you [TOTAL FEE] to show our appreciation. To schedule your appointment, simply reply to this email, or call or text me at [FM PHONE]. I hope to hear from you soon! If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

Final Push Offer (and increase in the payment incentive)

Subject

New! Higher bonus available!

Email language

DEAR RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, It’s not too late to participate in the NLSY(79/97) this year. Because your participation is so important, we’ve increased your gift and are now offering you $XX to complete your interview, which takes about an hour on average to complete. The study is not complete without your input! Please schedule your interview today. Call us toll-free at [FM Toll Free] or reply to this email to schedule an appointment with your interviewer. We can work around your schedule to complete your interview whenever is convenient for you. I hope to hear from you soon! If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.

Last Chance

Subject

It’s your last chance!

Email language

Dear RESPONDENT FIRST NAME, As we head towards autumn, we are beginning to wind down interviews on the NLSY(97/79). This is your last chance to complete your survey this round and receive [FEE] as a token of our appreciation. You can do the interview on the phone in about an hour, on average. Feel free to call me at [FM phone] or text me at [FM text] anytime, or respond to this email to set your appointment. Because of your participation, you’ve had a direct impact on the way our society understands some of the most critical issues impacting our country. Thanks for your contribution! I hope to hear from you soon. If you believe you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender and delete this email without disclosing, copying, or further disseminating its contents.