Collecting Self-Report Data Using New(er) One-to-One Communication Modes |
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| Coordinator 1 | Professor Michael Schober (New School for Social Research) |
| Coordinator 2 | Professor Frederick Conrad (University of Michigan) |
| Coordinator 3 | Mr Andrew Hupp (University of Michigan) |
People are now using more modes for daily one-to-one communication, and switching across them for different purposes, than ever before: augmenting their in-person face-to-face, phone, and email communication with texting, video chatting (Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Zoom), speaking with automated dialog systems, and exchanging multimedia content (images, recorded audio or video) through a messaging system (e.g., WhatsApp, Messages, Instagram). Researchers carrying out probability sample surveys have adapted to this rapidly evolving world by optimizing web surveys for mobile devices and improving touchtone IVR surveys, but a number of popular modes have not yet been widely adopted for sample survey recruitment or self-report data collection. This session assembles papers that focus on the potential for using newer popular communication modes for survey data collection (elicited self-report) that have not yet been widely adopted by researchers.
The potential use of such modes for collecting self-report data is likely to raise new challenges in adjusting for not-yet-understood kinds of mode effects (e.g., from synchronous vs. asynchronous modes). Some new modes may also enable special adaptations to promote data quality—for example, increasing privacy when needed by turning off the video feed when a video interview concerns sensitive topics.
Submissions are welcome that report
• Lab or field experiments using one or more not-yet-widely-used-for-research communication modes
• Feasibility or usability studies
• Theoretical and conceptual arguments about the benefits and drawbacks of potentially using particular modes
Papers that present empirical evidence about measurement, coverage and/or non-response error associated with one or more new modes are particularly welcome.