However it may be frustrating when tracking down participants who are not home when the call is made. Telephone interviewers must be properly trained in using the telephone, such as controlling their voice tone and pitch, clarity of speech, stressing the ability to stay on topic and not allow the participant to go off onto a tangent response. Regardless of whether mail or telephone surveys are used, it is recommended that a sample survey is tested to determine whether the questions or instructions are clear and to note the areas that cause a problem so they can be adjusted prior to the expense of mass surveys. Above all, keep the survey instrument simple and short. The same survey instrument used in mail-out and telephone surveys can be used in this case as well.
Personal interviews give the participant a feeling that their answers really make a difference.
Each avenue has its use Each of the above techniques, focus groups, surveys and interviews are all valid methods of obtaining information from the customer. Before the method is chosen, it is important to look within and determine what the expected goal of the exercise is meant to be. Once the purpose has been identified it becomes much easier to select the research method that provides the best results to meet your individual needs.