Survey mit Fragebogen : Vor- und Nachteile verschiedener Erhebungsverfahren. [Survey with questionnaire : advantages and disadvantages of various data collection techniques]

This article aims at describing the advantages and disadvantages of the three most frequently used survey techniques (face-to-face-interviews, mail questionnaires and telephone interviews). Face-to-face-interviews allow a maximum of control of the course of the interview. However, there is an increased likelihood of interviewer bias and social desirability bias. The requirements for personnel and the costs are comparatively low in mail questionnaires, but there is also a lower response rate than in face-to-face-Interviews. Interviewing by telephone is the leading method for rapid collection of data. Moreover one can apply CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing). Due to the setting, complex questions have to be avoided at the moment during telephone interviews. (Author/publisher)