intervieweradministered

Interviewer-administered refers to a data collection or assessment method in which an interviewer asks questions and records responses on behalf of the respondent. This approach is used across surveys, questionnaires, and clinical assessments. It can be conducted face-to-face, by telephone, or through video/remote formats, and may employ paper forms or computer-assisted interviewing systems.

Advantages include the ability to clarify questions, aid respondents with literacy or cognitive difficulties, handle complex skip patterns, and potentially improve response rates and data quality for certain items. Standardized interviewing scripts and training can help ensure consistency across interviewers, and computer-assisted methods can reduce data entry errors and enforce routing logic.

Disadvantages include higher costs and longer administration times compared with self-administered formats. Interviewer effects may influence responses through tone, phrasing, appearance, or demeanor, and social desirability bias can lead respondents to underreport sensitive behaviors. Privacy concerns can arise in settings where respondents do not feel fully confidential.

Implementation considerations involve careful instrument design, thorough interviewer training, and ongoing quality control. Use of validated instruments is common, and many settings employ standardized procedures to minimize bias. In health and clinical research, interviewer-administered formats are used for diagnostic interviews or patient-reported outcome measures when literacy or comprehension issues are a concern.

Examples include structured clinical interviews (such as diagnostic interviews), health surveys conducted in clinics, and telephone or in-person surveys where trained interviewers collect responses. Ethical practices emphasize informed consent and protecting respondent privacy.