Each interviewer hired must complete an intensive general training session. The purposes of general training are to ensure that interviewers have understood and practiced all of the basic skills needed to conduct interviews, and that they are knowledgeable about SRC interviewing conventions. General training sessions are divided into four areas. The first area focuses on the goals of survey research and the interviewer's responsibilities. Second, interviewers are given various role-playing exercises on how to interact successfully with household informants during the interview introduction.
Interviewers perform several practice exercises with the trainer playing the role of the respondent.
By the end of three days of general training, which includes home study, all of the skills necessary to successfully conducting both general population and business surveys have been thoroughly practiced. In addition to general training, interviewers are required to attend a specific training session for every study to which they are assigned. In conjunction with the training supervisor and Project Director, the Field Manager writes a project training manual. The second phase of the training session focuses on respondent selection. The third phase of training focuses on gaining cooperation.