Theories and Methods of Telephone Surveys

In: Annual review of sociology, Volume 16, Issue 1, p. 221-240

Abstract

This discussion of the theories and methods of telephone surveys begins by considering the theories relevant to understanding mode effects. It analyzes theories related to coverage error, psychological theories of compliance and persuasion relevant to nonresponse error, sociological theories relevant to nonresponse error, and cognitive and social psychological theories relevant to measurement error. The second part of the chapter discusses results from methodological studies and deals with four kinds of error: coverage error, sampling error, nonresponse error, and measurement error. The third section of the chapter deals with computer-assisted data collection. The chapter concludes with a summarya nd a short anticipation of the future in telephone survey studies.