personal, telephone and mail interviews. methods of data collection personal interviewtelephone...
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Personal, Telephone and Mail Interviews
Methods of Data Collection
Personal Interview
Characterized by interaction of Four
Entities:
Researcher
Interviewer
Interviewee
Interview Environment
Personal Interview Methods Door to Door Interviewing
Executive Interviewing
Mall Intercept Surveys
Self-Administered Interviews
Purchase Intercept Technique (PIT)
Omnibus Surveys
Personal Interviews (Advantages)
Can arouse and keep interest Can build rapport Ask complex questions with the help
of visual and other aids Clarify misunderstandings High degree of flexibility Probe for more complete answers
Personal Interviews (Advantages) Good for neutral questions Do not need an explicit or current list
of households or individuals
Personal Interviews (Limitations) Bias of Interviewer
Response Bias
Embarrassing/personal questions
Time Requirements
Cost Per Completed Interview Is High
Trained staff of interviewers
geographically near the sample required
Telephone Interviewing
Selecting telephone numbers1. Pre-specified list
2. A directory
Random dialing procedure1. Random digit dialing
2. Systematic random digit dialing (SRDD)
3. Plus-one dialing
Telephone Interviewing (Advantages)
Central location, under supervision, at own hours
More interviews can be conducted in a given time
Travelling time is saved
Shorter data collection periods
More hours of the day are productive
Telephone Interviewing (Advantages)
Repeated call backs at lower cost (WATS)
Absence of administrative costs
Lower cost per completed interview
Less sample bias due to no response
Intrusiveness of the phone
Ease of call backs
Telephone Interviewing (Limitations)
Inability to employ visual aids or complex
tasks
Interviewer must rely solely on verbal cues
to judge the reaction and understanding of
respondents
Can't be longer than 5-10 min. or they get
boring
Telephone Interviewing (Limitations)
Amount of data that can be collected
is relatively less
A capable interviewer essential
Potential for sample bias
No phone, unlisted phone or mobile
phones
Mail Surveys
Requires a broad identification of the
individuals to be sampled before data
collection begins
Some Decisions That Need to Be Taken
Are: Type of Return Envelope Postage Method of Addressing
Mail Surveys
Cover Letter The Questionnaire Length, Layout,
Color, Format etc Method of Notification Incentive to Be Given
Mail Surveys (Advantages) Lower cost
Better results, including a shorter response time
Reliable answers as no inhibiting intermediary
Survey answered at respondents’ discretion
Mail Surveys (Advantages) Can be accomplished with minimal staff
and facilities. Provides access to widely dispersed
samples. Respondents have time to give
thoughtful answers, look up records, or
consult others.
Mail Surveys (Limitations)
The identity of the respondent is
inadequately controlled
No control over whom the respondent
consults before answering the questions
The speed of the response can't be
monitored
No control on the order in which the
questions are exposed and answered
Mail Surveys (Limitations) Respondents’ understanding of the questions
The respondent may not clearly
understand the question and has no
opportunity to clarify
Cannot have long questionnaires
Subject to availability of a mailing list
Response rate is generally poor
Mail Surveys (Limitations) Number of problems such as
obsolescence, omissions, duplications,
etc
Drop-off Questionnaire (Advantages)
The interviewer can explain the study,
answer questions, and designate a
respondent. Response rates tend to be like those of
personal interview studies. There is more opportunity to give
thoughtful answers and consult records.
Drop-off Questionnaire (Disadvantages)
Costs about as
much as personal
interviews. A field staff is
required.