Collecting Sensitive Data

Abstract

Results from studies that compare different methods of data collection may be confounded in many instances because of differences in response rates or sampling frames. Two alternatives to in-person interviewing were designed to overcome these confounding factors. One strategy utilized the telephone with in-person interviewing as a back-up when phone numbers were not available. The other strategy was a drop-off/pick-up, self-administered strategy. The telephone/field strategy was shown to be a viable alternative to in-person interviewing. The drop-off/pick-up strategy did not fare as well in comparison. Although response rates and costs were equivalent to in-person interviewing, the process was less enjoyable for respondents, and produced significantly different distributions on several sensitive measures.