Reports of alcohol-related problems and alcohol dependence for demographic subgroups using interactive voice response versus telephone surveys: The 2005 US National Alcohol Survey

Abstract Redirected Inbound Call Sampling (RICS) is an emerging, nonprobability sampling methodology in which calls to nonworking numbers from callers throughout the United States are redirected to a telephone survey recruitment protocol and data collection system. The use of automated, interactive voice response technologies to recruit, screen, and collect data achieves significant cost savings and greatly reduces the time of fielding a survey compared with traditional dual-frame random-digit dialing (DFRDD) surveys that use interviewers for recruitment and data collection. The implementation of RICS that we fielded resulted in respondents who match some demographics of the population about as well as DFRDD telephone surveys. However, we demonstrate some non-ignorable challenges with measurement error in certain types of questions that arise from primacy effects associated with using an interactive voice response system for data collection. We present the results of a RICS study that was designed to better understand the reliability and validity of the data these surveys generate. The investigation presented in this manuscript is a first step to evaluating if RICS can be a fit-for-purpose solution for some survey needs. Our data suggest there is sufficient promise in the RICS methodology to warrant continued development and refinement.

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The Effects of Nonresponse and Sampling Omissions on Estimates on Various Topics in Federal Surveys: Telephone and IVR Surveys of Address-Based Samples

Journal of Official Statistics ◽

10.2478/jos-2020-0032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 631-645

Author(s):

Floyd J. Fowler ◽

Philip Brenner ◽

Anthony M. Roman ◽

J. Lee Hargraves

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Interactive Voice Response ◽

Response Rates ◽

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Telephone Surveys ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Survey Questions ◽

Nonresponse Error ◽

Collection Strategies ◽

Voice Response

AbstractWith declining response rates and challenges of using RDD sampling for telephone surveys, collecting data from address-based samples has become more attractive. Two approaches are doing telephone interviews at telephone numbers matched to addresses and asking those at sampled addresses to call into an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to answer questions. This study used in-person interviewing to evaluate the effects of nonresponse and problems matching telephone numbers when telephone and IVR were used as the initial modes of data collection. The survey questions were selected from major US federal surveys covering a variety of topics. Both nonresponse and, for telephone, inability to find matches result in important nonresponse error for nearly half the measures across all topics, even after adjustments to fit the known demographic characteristics of the residents. Producing credible estimates requires using supplemental data collection strategies to reduce error from nonresponse.

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Interactive Voice Response Versus Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) Surveys and Sensitive Questions: The 2005 National Alcohol Survey

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs ◽

10.15288/jsad.2008.69.580 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

pp. 580-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Lorraine T. Midanik ◽

Thomas K. Greenfield

Keyword(s):

Interactive Voice Response ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Sensitive Questions ◽

Response Versus ◽

Voice Response

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Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence Predict Suicide Ideation Among Alaskan Undergraduates

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000373 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 232-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christopher R. DeCou ◽

Monica C. Skewes

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Alcohol Dependence ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Future Research ◽

Causal Mechanism ◽

Students At Risk ◽

The Relationship ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

Abstract. Background: Previous research has demonstrated an association between alcohol-related problems and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The present study evaluated, simultaneously, alcohol consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependence as predictors of SI after adjusting for depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption. Method: A sample of 298 Alaskan undergraduates completed survey measures, including the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory – II. The association between alcohol problems and SI status was evaluated using sequential logistic regression. Results: Symptoms of alcohol dependence (OR = 1.88, p < .05), but not alcohol-related consequences (OR = 1.01, p = .95), emerged as an independent predictor of SI status above and beyond depressive symptoms (OR = 2.39, p < .001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.08, p = .39). Conclusion: Alcohol dependence symptoms represented a unique risk for SI relative to alcohol-related consequences and alcohol consumption. Future research should examine the causal mechanism behind the relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidality among university students. Assessing the presence of dependence symptoms may improve the accuracy of identifying students at risk of SI.

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