Asking Questions - The Definitive Guide To Questionnaire Design ...

ASKING NONTHREATENING QUESTIONS ABOUT BEHAVIOR 69
Although such a search is not impossible in a telephone interview,
it is unnerving for both respondent and interviewer, since neither
can see what the other is doing. If the search takes too long, it could
have an adverse effect on the subsequent flow of the interview.
An alternative that has been used with phone surveys is to mail
the respondent a questionnaire in advance, indicating the types of
records that will be useful to consult. Thus, the search is usually
conducted before the interview. Where records are available, the
interviewer should note whether or not they were used, since more
accurate reporting will come from the respondents who used
records. On mail and Web-based surveys, respondents can be asked
to use records, but there is no strong motivation for them to do so,
nor any way for the researcher to determine whether they did. Of
the many kinds of records available, some of the most commonly
used include the following:
Bills for goods and services usually have the date of purchase
of the product or the date the service was rendered, as well
as the name of the supplier and other details. These can be
used for studies of medical care, legal care, home repairs,
and gasoline purchases, as well as for other expenditures.
Insurance reimbursement forms provide information on
medical and other insured costs.
Checkbook records or canceled checks provide similar information
to bills, except that the details are not available or
are less precise.
Titles and leases provide information on the characteristics
of dwelling units and motor vehicles.
Other financial records, such as insurance policies, bankbooks,
and stock certificates, provide information about
assets and savings.
All records, especially those dealing with financial assets, are
likely to be considered somewhat personal by respondents. Although
it is good to encourage respondents to use these records, do