ABSTRACT
The personal interview, the telephone interview is a method of surveying individuals to obtain information about attitudes and behaviors. Similarly, telephone surveys require careful preparation of questions prior to data collection and the recording of exact responses by the interviewer. Telephone surveys are usually less expensive to conduct than personal interviews. A number of telephone interviews can be conducted during the time it takes to drive to one respondent’s location. The researcher should keep in mind that it is easier for a respondent to decline to be surveyed by telephone than decline a personal interview; hanging up the phone ends a telephone interview — often before the first question is asked. Interviewing was conducted by telephone throughout New York City. Households were randomly selected from those listed in the New York City telephone directory.
