ABSTRACT
Quantitative survey research entails asking certain individuals to answer a predetermined set of questions. Survey data is typically collected by mail, face-to-face interviews, or telephone interviews. Although the Internet is emerging as a method of collecting survey data, it presents specific difficulties, particularly the digital divide between those with web access and web-related skills and those without such resources. Collecting survey data via telephone simply entails verbally asking questions and corresponding answer choices to an individual designated as the unit of observation. In theory, of course, this appears rather straightforward. There are, however, a number of issues that a researcher must consider to effectively and efficiently self-administer a questionnaire via telephone. This chapter is framed within the context of my doctoral dissertation research experiences whereby I sampled 1200 individuals throughout the Baltimore and Cleveland metropolitan areas, having successfully completed 676 telephone interviews. The purpose of this chapter is to provide researchers with practical insights regarding the process of collecting survey research data via telephone. Special emphasis is placed on novice researchers, especially graduate students who, all too often, must muddle through this arduous yet fruitful process with little guidance.
