Interviewer Monitoring

Interviewer monitoring is a process of observing and evaluating the performance of an individual who is [Page 372]conducting an interview to gather survey data. Interviewer monitoring is typically conducted in an effort to reduce interviewer-related measurement error by allowing the researcher to understand where in the interview mistakes are being made, with whom are they being made, and under what circumstances. Interviewer monitoring is also necessary as a deterrent to interviewer falsification. If the interviewer is made aware that he or she will be monitored and is kept blind as to when the monitoring will occur, the temptation to falsify data can be greatly reduced. This entry contains an overview of the role of interviewer monitoring, followed by a summary of the types of data ...