Data Collection: Online, Telephone and Face-to-face

This course offers a comprehensive review of research on survey design and data quality, focusing on the impact of data collection decisions on survey errors. It covers various methods for collecting survey data, including interview-based approaches such as face-to-face and telephone interviews, as well as self-administered methods like paper questionnaires and online surveys. The course also explores mixed-mode designs and hybrid methods for collecting sensitive data, such as self-administering sensitive questions during face-to-face interviews. It discusses the latest methods in data collection, including SMS interviews and mobile web surveys, as well as the use of social media as a data source. The main emphasis of the course is on understanding how different data collection techniques affect survey data quality, including measurement error, nonresponse error, and coverage error. It also explores the tradeoffs involved in choosing a mode of survey design or data collection method. Overall, this course provides valuable insights for researchers and survey designers looking to improve their understanding of data collection decisions and their impact on survey outcomes.