Methods of Collecting Data: Surveys
What are the characteristics of personal interviews, telephone interviews, and self-administered surveys?
Characteristics of Data Collection Methods
Personal Interviews:
- Have a lower expected response rate than self-administered surveys
- May introduce bias if questions are not phrased properly
- Result in more incorrect responses due to misunderstood questions
- May be expensive and time-consuming
Telephone Interviews:
- Usually more expensive than personal interviews
- Less personal than personal interviews
- Lower expected response rate
Self-Administered Surveys:
- Expensive to conduct, attractive for large surveys
- May have a high expected response rate
- Inexpensive to conduct, attractive for large surveys
- Relatively high rate of incorrect responses due to misunderstood questions
Explanation of Data Collection Methods
After conducting a survey on text messaging for AT&T, a statistician considered using personal interviews, telephone interviews, and self-administered surveys to collect data.
Personal Interviews: Personal interviews have a lower expected response rate than self-administered surveys, which can lead to a smaller sample size. However, personal interviews provide an opportunity for in-depth responses and allow for clarification of questions, reducing the risk of misunderstood answers. Despite being time-consuming and expensive, personal interviews can yield valuable qualitative data.
Telephone Interviews: Telephone interviews are more expensive than personal interviews and have a lower expected response rate. While they offer a quicker way to collect data compared to personal interviews, telephone interviews lack the personal touch and may result in lower response rates due to the impersonal nature of the interaction.
Self-Administered Surveys: Self-administered surveys are cost-effective and efficient for large-scale data collection. They have a high expected response rate and can reach a broad audience. However, self-administered surveys may result in a relatively high rate of incorrect responses due to respondents misunderstanding the questions or providing incomplete answers.
Ultimately, the statistician decided to conduct personal interviews for the AT&T survey due to budget constraints. Personal interviews were chosen despite their lower response rate, potential for bias, and risk of misunderstood questions, as they provided an opportunity for detailed and nuanced responses from participants.