Telephone Surveys in Public Health Research
Author Information
Author(s): Mairin Boland, Mary Rose Sweeney, Elaine Scallon, Mary Harrington, Anthony Staines
Primary Institution: UCD School of Public Health and Population Science, University College Dublin
Hypothesis
How effective are telephone surveys in public health research in Ireland and the U.K.?
Conclusion
Telephone surveys are becoming less effective due to declining contact rates and increasing costs.
Supporting Evidence
- Response rates to telephone surveys have declined significantly over the years.
- Costs per completed interview have increased from €4.48 to €15.65.
- Telephone surveys may not reach younger populations who predominantly use mobile phones.
Takeaway
This study shows that asking people questions over the phone is getting harder and more expensive, so researchers need to find better ways to ask for their help.
Methodology
The study compared three telephone surveys conducted from 2000 to 2005, analyzing methodology, outcome measures, and costs.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias due to underrepresentation of certain demographics, particularly younger males and those without landlines.
Limitations
The surveys lacked representativeness as they excluded households without landlines and those with mobile phones only.
Participant Demographics
Participants included the general public in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a noted underrepresentation of males aged 25-44.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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