Telesurvey methodologies for household surveys: A review and some thoughts for the future - ARCHIVED

We consider 'telesurveys' as surveys in which the predominant or unique mode of collection is based on some means of electronic telecommunications - including both the telephone and other more advanced technological devices such as e-mail, Internet, videophone or fax. We review, briefly, the early history of telephone surveys, and, in more detail, recent developments in the areas of sample design and estimation, coverage and nonresponse and evaluation of data quality. All these methodological developments have led the telephone survey to become the major mode of collection in the sample survey field in the past quarter of a century. Other modes of advanced telecommunication are fast becoming important supplements and even competitors to the fixed line telephone and are already being used in various ways for sample surveys. We examine their potential for survey work and the possible impact of current and future technological developments of the communications industry on survey practice and their methodological implications.