scholarly journals The Effects of Respondent and Question Characteristics on Respondent Answering Behaviors in Telephone Interviews

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Olson ◽  
Jolene D Smyth ◽  
Amanda Ganshert
Keyword(s):  
Question Answering ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Cognitive Response ◽  
Response Process ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Multiple Question ◽  
Multiple Characteristics ◽  
Landline Telephone ◽  
Response Task

Abstract In a standardized telephone interview, respondents ideally are able to provide an answer that easily fits the response task. Deviations from this ideal question answering behavior are behavioral manifestations of breakdowns in the cognitive response process and partially reveal mechanisms underlying measurement error, but little is known about what question characteristics or types of respondents are associated with what types of deviations. Evaluations of question problems tend to look at one question characteristic at a time; yet questions are comprised of multiple characteristics, some of which are easier to experimentally manipulate (e.g., presence of a definition) than others (e.g., attitude versus behavior). All of these characteristics can affect how respondents answer questions. Using a landline telephone interview, we use cross-classified random effects logistic regression models to simultaneously evaluate the effects of multiple question and respondent characteristics on six different respondent behaviors. We find that most of the variability in these respondent answering behaviors is associated with the questions rather than the respondents themselves. Question characteristics that affect the comprehension and mapping stages of the cognitive response process are consistently associated with answering behaviors, whereas attitude questions do not consistently differ from behavioral questions. We also find that sensitive questions are more likely to yield adequate answers and fewer problems in reporting or clarification requests than nonsensitive questions. Additionally, older respondents are less likely to answer adequately. Our findings suggest that survey designers should focus on questionnaire features related to comprehension and mapping to minimize interactional and data quality problems in surveys and should train interviewers on how to resolve these reporting problems.

Perceived interviewee anxiety and performance in telephone interviews

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Jeske ◽  
Kenneth S. Shultz ◽  
Sarah Owen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Audio Recording ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of interviewee anxiety as a predictor of perceived hireability (Study 1, n=82) and job suitability (Study 2, n=74). Design/methodology/approach Using an experimental design, participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions (an audio recording of either a confident or anxious job candidate with identical scripts) and asked to take the role of an interviewer. Findings The anxious interviewee (played by an actor) was consistently rated as less hireable (in a combined sample based on Studies and 2), less suitable to the job and received less favorable hiring recommendations (as assessed in Study 2) than the confident interviewee (played by the same actor). Research limitations/implications The study was conducted with students who may have less interview experience than experienced interviewers. Practical implications The results suggest that anxiety has a negative biasing effect on perceived hireability and job suitability ratings. In other words, the behavioral manipulation of anxiety affects hireability ratings, independent of any subjective assessment of anxiety. Originality/value The findings provide evidence of an anxiety bias in telephone interview settings. The results highlight the importance of considering anxiety cues when training employment interviewers.

scholarly journals Enhancing Performance with a Learnable Strategy for Multiple Question Answering Modules

ETRI Journal ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyo-Jung Oh ◽  
Sung Hyon Myaeng ◽  
Myung-Gil Jang
Keyword(s):  
Question Answering ◽  
Multiple Question

scholarly journals Automated and Interviewer-Administered Mobile Phone Surveys in Burkina Faso: Sociodemographic Differences Among Female Mobile Phone Survey Respondents and Nonrespondents (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail R Greenleaf ◽  
Aliou Gadiaga ◽  
Yoonjoung Choi ◽  
Georges Guiella ◽  
Shani Turke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Interactive Voice Response ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Telephone Interview ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
Voice Response

BACKGROUND The remarkable growth of cell phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries has generated significant interest in using cell phones for conducting surveys through computer-assisted telephone interviews, live interviewer-administered surveys, or automated surveys (ie, interactive voice response). OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare, by mode, the sociodemographic characteristics of cell phone owners who completed a follow-up phone survey with those who did not complete the survey. METHODS The study was based on a nationally representative sample of women aged 15 to 49 years who reported cell phone ownership during a household survey in Burkina Faso in 2016. Female cell phone owners were randomized to participate in a computer-assisted telephone interview or hybrid interactive voice response follow-up phone survey 11 months after baseline interviews. Completion of the phone survey was defined as participants responding to more than 50% of questions in the phone survey. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics associated with cell phone survey completion using multivariable logistic regression models, stratifying the analysis by survey mode and by directly comparing computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response respondents. RESULTS A total of 1766 women were called for the phone survey between November 5 and 17, 2017. In both the computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response samples, women in urban communities and women with secondary education or higher were more likely to complete the survey than their rural and less-educated counterparts. Compared directly, women who completed the hybrid interactive voice response survey had higher odds of having a secondary education than those who completed computer-assisted telephone interviews (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6). CONCLUSIONS In Burkina Faso, computer-assisted telephone interviews are the preferred method of conducting cell phone surveys owing to less sample distortion and a higher response rate compared with a hybrid interactive voice response survey.

Telephone Survey Respondents’ Reactions to Questions Regarding Interpersonal Violence

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele C. Black ◽  
Marcie-Jo Kresnow ◽  
Thomas R. Simon ◽  
Ileana Arias ◽  
Gene Shelley
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Violent Victimization ◽  
Telephone Surveys ◽  
Violence Victimization ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Victimization History

Concerns have been raised regarding the appropriateness of asking about violence victimization in telephone interviews and whether asking such questions increases respondents’ distress or risk for harm. However, no large-scale studies have evaluated the impact of asking such questions during a telephone interview. This study explored respondents’ reactions to questions regarding violence in two large recently completed telephone surveys. After respondents were asked about violence, they were asked if they thought surveys should ask such questions and whether they felt upset or afraid because of the questions. In both surveys, the majority of respondents (regardless of their victimization history) were willing to answer questions about violence and were not upset or afraid because of the questions. More than 92% of respondents thought such questions should be asked. These results challenge commonly held beliefs and assumptions and provide some assurance to those concerned with the ethical collection of data on violent victimization.

scholarly journals Assessment of Motor Milestones in Twins

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 835-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Langendonk ◽  
C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt ◽  
Silvia I. Brouwer ◽  
Therese Stroet ◽  
James J. Hudziak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Independent Group ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Maternal Reports ◽  
Mailed Survey

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of obtaining through mailed surveys maternal reports of specific major motor milestones achievement. To accomplish this aim we compared and contrasted mailed survey data and telephone interview data on a series of questions about age at which motor milestones were achieved. We used monthly telephone interviews with mothers of 238 twin pairs, beginning at age 6 months, which ascertained the age at which each specific milestone was met. The contrasting ‘through the mail’ survey was sent after the second birthday of an independent group of children, and included 463 twin pairs. All twins were born between March 2003 and March 2004. Comparisons were made for the following 5 milestones: sitting without support, hands and knees crawling, turning from back to belly, standing without support, and walking without support. There was no difference between the concurrent telephone interviews and the retrospective through the mail survey on any of the landmarks, except ‘standing without support’. From this work we conclude that data on achieving milestones can be reliably obtained through the mail using retrospective surveys when the children are 2 years of age.

scholarly journals Neighborhood Environments and Utilitarian Walking Among Older vs. Younger Rural Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanam Lee ◽  
Chunkeun Lee ◽  
Orion T. Stewart ◽  
Heather A. Carlos ◽  
Anna Adachi-Mejia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Telephone Interviews

Introduction: Walking has the potential to promote health across the life span, but age-specific features of the neighborhood environment (NE), especially in rural communities, linked with walking have not been adequately characterized. This study examines the relationships between NE and utilitarian walking among older vs. younger adults living in US rural towns.Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study came from telephone interviews in 2011–2012 with 2,140 randomly sampled younger (18–64 years, n = 1,398) and older (65+ years, n = 742) adults, collecting personal and NE perception variables. NE around each participant's home was also measured objectively using geographic information system techniques. Separate mixed-effects logistic regression models were estimated for the two age groups, predicting the odds of utilitarian walking at least once a week.Results: Perceived presence of crosswalks and pedestrian signals was significantly related to utilitarian walking in both age groups. Among older adults, unattended dogs, lighting at night, and religious institutions were positively while steep slope was negatively associated with their walking. For younger adults, traffic speed (negative, –), public transportation (positive, +), malls (–), cultural/recreational destinations (+), schools (+), and resource production land uses such as farms and mines (–) were significant correlates of utilitarian walking.Conclusion: Different characteristics of NE are associated with utilitarian walking among younger vs. older adults in US rural towns. Optimal modifications of NE to promote walking may need to reflect these age differences.

Memory Effects as a Source of Bias in Repeated Survey Measurement

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-18
Author(s):  
Tobias Rettig ◽  
Annelies G. Blom
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Memory Effects ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Cognitive Response ◽  
Response Process ◽  
Previous Response ◽  
Question Order ◽  
Measure Change ◽  
Data Collections

A key advantage of longitudinal data collections is the ability to measure change over time by repeatedly asking the same questions to the same respondents. Estimations based on such longitudinal data, as well as other designs that incorporate repetitions of the same questions, generally rely on the assumption that at each point of data collection, respondents answer the questions independently of their previous responses. This assumption implies that respondents either do not remember their previous responses, or that they at least do not use this information in forming their later responses. This is a strong assumption, given that data collections are becoming more and more frequent, giving respondents less time to forget earlier responses. If respondents do, however, remember both being asked the same question and their previous response, they may be influenced by this information. This form of bias is known as a memory effect. In this chapter, we conceptualize the potential role of respondents’ memory when answering survey questions and propose a model of the cognitive response process that takes potential memory effects into account. This is supplemented with the literature on the cognitive response process, the sparse existing research on memory effects, as well as adjacent literature on dependent interviewing and question order effects. We conclude the chapter by identifying gaps in this literature and highlighting areas that require additional research to further our understanding of memory effects in longitudinal survey research.

scholarly journals Maternal Dietary Protein Patterns in Pregnancy and Risk of Infant Eczema

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 578-578
Author(s):  
Jingjing Zeng ◽  
Weijia Wu ◽  
Yajun Chen ◽  
Jin Jing ◽  
Li Cai
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Red Meat ◽  
Protein Patterns ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Infant Eczema ◽  
In Pregnancy

Abstract Objectives To study the relationship between maternal dietary protein patterns in pregnancy and the risk of infant eczema. Methods A total of 714 mother-child pairs from a birth cohort in Guangzhou, China were studied. Maternal dietary intake was collected by a face-to-face food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) at 20–28 weeks' gestation, and protein intake of each food group was calculated for subsequent K-means cluster analysis to determine dietary protein patterns. Telephone interviews were used to collect parent-reported infant eczema data at age 6 months. The association between maternal dietary protein patterns and infant eczema was tested by using logistic regression models, after adjustment for potential confounders. Results Cumulative incidence of eczema by 6 months of age was 51.26%. Four dietary protein patterns were identified according to the dietary protein sources, including poultry pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from poultry), plant pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from grain, soybean, vegetables, nuts and seeds), dairy and egg pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from dairy, eggs, and fruits), and red meat and seafood pattern (characterized by a relatively higher protein intake from red meat, fish and seafood). Compared to the poultry dietary pattern, plant pattern and dairy and egg pattern were associated with a reduced risk of developing infant eczema: the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.572(0.330–0.992) and 0.288(0.279–0.854) respectively. No such association was observed in red meat and seafood pattern. Conclusions The maternal plant and dairy and egg dietary protein patterns in pregnancy may be preventive against infant eczema. Funding Sources This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81,602,862) and the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (SZSM201803061).

scholarly journals Modeling Distracted Performance

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Hawkins ◽  
Matthias Mittner ◽  
Birte Forstmann ◽  
Andrew Heathcote
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Race Model ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Choice Response ◽  
Response Process ◽  
Underlying Principle ◽  
Inter Trial Interval ◽  
Response Time Distributions ◽  
Response Task

The sustained attention to response task (SART) has been the primary method of studying the phenomenon of mind wandering. We develop and experimentally test the first integrated cognitive process model that quantitatively explains all stationary features of behavioral performance in the SART. The model assumes that performance is generated by a competitive race between a stimulus-related decision process and a stimulus-unrelated rhythmic response process. We propose that the stimulus-unrelated process entrains to timing regularities in the task environment, and is unconditionally triggered as a habit or 'insurance policy' to protect against the deleterious effects of mind wandering on ongoing task performance. For two SART experiments the model provided a quantitatively precise account of a range of previously reported trends in choice, response time and self-reported mind wandering data. It also accounted for three previously unidentified features of response time distributions that place critical constraints on cognitive models of performance in situations when people might engage in task-unrelated thoughts. Furthermore, the parameters of the rhythmic race model were meaningfully associated with participants' self-reported distraction, even though the model was never informed by these data. In a validation test, we disrupted the latent rhythmic component with a manipulation of inter-trial-interval variability, and showed that the architecture of the model provided insight into its counter-intuitive effect. We conclude that performance in the presence of mind wandering can be conceived as a competitive latent decision vs. rhythmic response process. We discuss how the rhythmic race model is not restricted to the study of distraction or mind wandering; it is applicable to any domain requiring repetitive responding where evidence accumulation is assumed to be an underlying principle of behavior.

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