In survey interviews, calendars have been implemented in paper and pencil and computer assisted formats, administered via face-to-face and telephone modes, and have included reference periods of various lengths including the entire life course. Direct comparisons between calendar and conventional questionnaire interviews consistently show that calendars lead to better retrospective reporting data quality. Analyses of verbal behaviors provide indications regarding the differential nature of calendar and conventional interviewing methods, and how calendar interviews promote data quality advantages. Calendar instruments encourage the more frequent use of 1) retrieval behaviors indicative of an attempt to encourage effective cuing of past events, 2) conversational behaviors that attempt to ensure a shared meaning between interviewers and respondents, and 3) interviewer probes that risk biasing respondents’ answers. Overall, the flexible nature of calendar interviewing regarding the promotion of beneficial retrieval cues and conversational behaviors appear to outweigh the increased risk of biasing respondents’ answers.
Presented by:
Bob Belli (University of Nebraska)
Date & time:
November 16, 2009 4:00 pm - November 16, 2009 5:30 pm
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