Methods of Data Collection and Mode of Administration

Mode comparisons: Strategies• Panel design with second wave assigned to different modes• Use of frame with information for both modes (e.g., telephone directory,register)• Use of different frames for each mode (e.g., area sample and RDDsample)• Meta-analysis of mode comparison studiesComparisons across modes: Examples• Panel designs• Use "maximum" of one mode (e.g. face- to-face) at time 1 and ofanother mode (e.g., telephone) at time 2.• Random halves of sample assigned to different modes at time 2.• Split sample designs• Address or area frame. Obtain telephone numbers. Assign half topersonal and half to telephone.• Area frame for face-to-face interviews. Independent sample fromtelephone exchanges for telephone.Mail vs face-to-face surveys (Krysan, Schuman, Scott andBeatty 1994)Face-to-FaceMail1992 DAS 1992 DASArea probability,oversample from stratumwith high proportion blackAdult randomly selected byinterviewersOne hour interview(220-300 questions)Pen in advance as giftAddresses selected fromDAS frame, but nooversample frompredominantly blackstratumAdult with most recentbirthdayApproximately 10 minutequestionnaire$1 with questionnaireResponse rates by mode of administration and racialcomposition of the strata (Krysan et al. 1994, Table 1)Predominantly WhiteStratumMail(a)Face-to-face(b)Predominantly BlackStratumMail(c)Face-to-face(d)Response rate 74 75 46 83N 476 1,037 84 512Significant comparisons: d vs c, a vs c, b vs cP Results for predominantly black stratum confound race,education, income, and urban residence.P In calculating response rates for mail survey,nonrespondents include addresses with no completedquex or for which postal service did not return the quex asundeliverable