An Overview of Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing and Telephone Sample
SRI has developed a strong reputation for meeting tight deadlines for Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) data collection and for providing high quality results within a competitive price framework. Surveys can be conducted with either the general population, registered voters, likely voters or a client-defined population.
SRI uses Voxco Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) software on a local area network. SRI maintains 48 interviewing stations on campus at Siena University. Our system can accommodate a number of questionnaire item designs including multiple response, randomized lists, open-ended and conditional responses.
Typically, SRI utilizes one of three different sampling strategies for our CATI surveys. Review some of the available sampling strategies below.
Random Digit Dialing (RDD) generates random samples of telephone numbers for public opinion surveys. Random digit dialing has the advantage that it includes unlisted numbers that would be missed if the numbers were selected from a phone book. RDD sampling helps reduce non-coverage bias because all telephone households have an equal and representative chance of being interviewed. RDD samples are completely representative of the sampling universe, or frame, and can be “defended” from a methodological standpoint. RDD samples are less expensive than Listed but they are less efficient.