Face-to-Face Interviewing

The face-to-face interview, also called an in-person interview, is probably the most popular and oldest form of survey data collection. It has continued to be the best form of data collection when one wants to minimize nonresponse and maximize the quality of the data collected. Face-to-face interviews are often used to solicit information in projects that can be considered to be very sensitive, for example, data collection on sexual behaviors. This entry describes the advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face interviewing along with basic operational considerations for successful interviews.