Modes of Data Collection
Why not so simple
Proliferation (rapid increase) of Modes
Increasing Complexity
Mixing of Modes
Mixed Modes
Dimensions
Degree of interviewer involvement
Implications on
Cost
Errors of Non-Observation
Measurement Errors
Degree of Contact with Respondent
Channel/s of Communication
Locus of Control
Privacy ie Infront of everyone or privately through mail
Degree of computer Tech used
affects
Coverage
Non-response error
Measurement error
Also consider, just you using tech or respondent as well ?
New research rarely uses just 1
To mix modes, need to have good idea of the ingredients
key distinction is whether different modes are used for the contact phase, the response phase, or the follow-up phase eg mailed invitation to a Web survey
Has implications on cost, response rate, targeting specific sub grps ...
Consideration of allowing participants to choose mode
Draw back of one, compensated by strength of another
sequential mixed mode approaches - appear to bring promise
Documenting and Reporting on Modes
In mixed modes
Response rate of each modes of value
Characterisitcs of respondents of each mode
Response rate of each mode
Details of adminitration
Important Misc Points
The challenge is to educate potential respondents on which surveys are worthy of their time and attention, and which should be treated as entertainment rather than a contribution to society
Willing and able respondents are becoming an increasingly scarce commodity.
small number of people who complete a large number of surveys
Challenge - i. Identify potential respondents ii. Solicit their attention
The very act of taking the time and effort to convince potential respondents to participate in surveys helps communicate to them the value of such surveys, in ways that automated methods do not. Eg. Inviting for a automated telephone survey using an email
The range of modes of communication for mobile devices is rapidly expanding. Smart mobile telephones can already deal with voice (both human and automated), text (also both human- and computer-generated), visual material (both the delivery of photographs and videos to mobile devices and the capture and transmission of such images from the device), spatial position (e.g., GPS), motion (using built-in accelerometers), and a host of other input and output modes enabled through add-on hardware or software apps. Apps are already available (for example) to convert voice messages to text, and vice versa.
As users of these social media increasingly leave detailed digital traces of their lives online, opportunities may rise for passive measurement of a wide variety of phenomena.
Users are becoming increasingly aware of privacy - passive data trails will likely not replace other modes entirely..