Standardized Survey Interviewing: Minimizing Interviewer-Related Error.

O'Rourke, Diane; Fowler, Floyd J.; Mangione, Thomas W.

doi:10.2307/2289751

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In a second step, we investigated whether these interviewer effects can be explained by interviewer characteristics. We found that respondents rate interviews conducted by women more positively, which is in line with evidence that female interviewers are more often perceived as "friendly" (Fowler and Mangione 1998). No other sociodemographic characteristics proved significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Interviewer gender is often included in analyses of interviewer effects. Compared to male interviewers, female interviewers are perceived as "friendlier" (Fowler and Mangione 1998) and less threatening (Axinn 1989). Some authors argue that respondent-interviewer gender match may be more important than interviewer gender per se, as the theory of liking suggests that individuals prefer interactions with people similar to themselves (Groves et al 1992).…”

Section: Background and Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Did You Like the Interview? Interviewer Effects on Respondents’ Interview Pleasantness Ratings

Schmiedeberg,

Schröder

2023

Field Methods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although it has long been acknowledged that interviewers play a crucial role in the survey data collection process, there is little research concerning interviewer effects on how respondents perceive the interview. We investigate whether interviewer effects exist regarding how much respondents report having enjoyed the interview and whether these effects can be explained by interviewer characteristics. We use data from wave 9 of the German Family Panel pairfam, combined with data from an interviewer survey conducted prior to this wave. Applying multilevel models, we find large interviewer effects that can be explained only partly by interviewers’ sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, and behavior. Interviewers’ gender, intrinsic work motivation, and their attitude toward respondents significantly affect how much respondents enjoy the interview.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Background and Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Did You Like the Interview? Interviewer Effects on Respondents’ Interview Pleasantness Ratings

Schmiedeberg,

Schröder

2023

Field Methods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Improved interviewer training may also increase compliance. Fowler and Mangione (1988) demonstrated that extended interviewer training could improve compliance with standardized interviewing practices. In the realm of nonresponse, Groves and McGonagle (2001) showed that training interviewers with methods for tailoring survey introductions could improve response rates.…”

Section: Ways To Improve Compliancementioning

confidence: 99%

A Study of Interviewer Compliance in 2013 and 2014 Census Test Adaptive Designs

Walejko

Wagner

2018

Journal of Official Statistics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Researchers are interested in the effectiveness of adaptive and responsive survey designs that monitor and respond to data using tailored or targeted interventions. These designs often require adherence to protocols, which can be difficult when surveys allow in-person interviewers flexibility in managing cases. This article describes examples of interviewer noncompliance and compliance in adaptive design experiments that occurred in two United States decennial census tests. The two studies tested adaptive procedures including having interviewers work prioritized cases and substitute face-to-face attempts with telephone calls. When to perform such procedures was communicated to interviewers via case management systems that necessitated twice-daily transmissions of data. We discuss reasons when noncompliance may occur and ways to improve compliance.

show abstract

“…Members ofthe 1997 Sociological Research Practicum at Indiana University's Department of Sociology aided in transcription of interview tapes. For comments on early versions of this paper we thank Nora Cate Schaeffer, Rob Robinson, and the anonymous reviewers and Editors of the ASR. thermore, as Fowler and Mangione (1990) put it, the "key defining part of a measurement process is standardization"(p. 14).'…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3 Hyman (1954: 138-50) argues that when respondents are task-in volved, validity is enhanced, whereas social or interpersonal involvement may create bias. Fowler and Mangione (1990) note that the kind of relationship interviewers can pursue with respondents is constrained by the need to standardize the interview and preserve a. business-like, professional relationship that does not create expectations for the respondent to "... produce the right answers, or sophisticated answers, rather than responding openly to the question" (p. 64). Indeed "overly friendly" behavior has been found to produce negative effectson data quality (Weiss 1968).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Standardization vs. Rapport: Respondent laughter and Interviewer Reaction during Telephone Surveys

Lavin

Maynard²

2001

Am Sociol Rev

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Laughter emerges naturally in interaction. In the context of the telephone survey interview, however, laughter threatens standardization. Consequently, some survey research centers prohibit interviewers from laughing during the administration of surveys. The data for this study are recorded telephone interviews from one such survey research center. How interviewers handle the “laughter invitations” of respondents is analyzed. Because these interviewers are not taught what to do when laughter occurs, they rely on their tacit knowledge, either accepting the invitation, declining it, or engaging in “pseudo-laughter”: Interviewers most often decline or use a pseudo-laughing response. Laughter patterns in a survey research center that does not prohibit interviewer laughter are examined for comparison, and generally much more reciprocation and laughter are observed. Respondent laughter exhibits a central tension in the telephone survey interview: How can interviewers maintain both standardization and an appropriately affiliative social relationship with respondents? The differential management of this tension is explored in terms of survey methodology, the sociology of (social) scientific knowledge, and the organization of talk in institutional settings.

show abstract

Standardized Survey Interviewing: Minimizing Interviewer-Related Error.

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Did You Like the Interview? Interviewer Effects on Respondents’ Interview Pleasantness Ratings

Did You Like the Interview? Interviewer Effects on Respondents’ Interview Pleasantness Ratings

A Study of Interviewer Compliance in 2013 and 2014 Census Test Adaptive Designs

Standardization vs. Rapport: Respondent laughter and Interviewer Reaction during Telephone Surveys

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About