NCJ Number
69387
Date Published
1977
Length
74 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES TELEPHONE SAMPLE PROCEDURES, SURVEY METHODS, AND THE RELIABILITY OF TELEPHONE RESPONSES, AND DETERMINES CRITERIA FOR TELEPHONE SURVEY QUESTIONS. ISSUES OF SURVEY COST AND MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE REPORT REVIEWS THE AVAILABLE LITERATURE ON TELEPHONE INTERVIEWING AND DRAWS UPON 3,042 INTERVIEWS IN 7 PENNSYLVANIA CITIES. PART OF A STUDY OF THE MASS MEDIA AND POLITICAL AWARENESS, THESE DATA INCLUDE BETWEEN 400 AND 500 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS IN EACH OF 5 CITIES. IN THE TWO REMAINING CITIES, THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY BOTH TELEPHONE AND BY PERSONAL INTERVIEWS IN RESPONDENTS' HOMES, AND ALLOWS A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TELEPHONE AND INPERSON INTERVIEWS. SAMPLING ISSUES, COMPARATIVE TELEPHONE AND PERSONAL SURVEY RESPONSES, AND SOME MANAGEMENT ISSUES RELATING TO QUALITY CONTROL ARE DISCUSSED. FINDINGS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER RECENT RESEARCH, LEADING TO TE CENTRAL CONCLUSION OF THIS REPORT, THAT TELEPHONE SURVEYS CAN PROVIDE REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF THE GENERAL POPULATION AND CAN OBTAIN RELIABLE ANSWERS ON SENSITIVE TOPICS. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT TELEPHONE SURVEYS ARE A PANACEA FOR CONCERNS ABOUT HIGH REFUSAL RATES, SOCIAL DESIRABILITY BIAS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS FACING PERSONAL INTERVIEWING; THESE PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT TO ALL FORMS OF SURVEY RESEARCH. MOREOVER, FINDINGS OF THIS AND EARLIER RESEARCH HAVE INDICATED THAT SOCIAL SCIENTISTS SHOULD BE HIGHLY SKEPTICAL USING TELEPHONE SURVEYS DURING CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN (1) THE PARTICULAR TARGET POPULATION HAS LOW LEVELS OF TELEPHONE PENETRATION, (2) EXTENSIVE INCOME DATA MUST BE COLLECTED, (3) THE INTERVIEW EXCEEDS 30 MINUTES, AND (4) INTRICATELY WORDED QUESTIONS MUST BE ASKED. SURVEY INFORMATION AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY (CA. 30 ITEMS) ARE APPENDED.