The relationship between interviewer self-monitoring and interviewer refusal rates based onthe EU-SILC survey 2011/2012 using CATI

1. The relationship between
interviewer self-monitoring and
interviewer refusal rates
Lydía Ósk Ómarsdóttir
Anton Örn Karlsson

2. The goal of our research
Self-monitoring
Optimism
Pessimism
Attitudes towards persuading unwilling sample units
Interviewer cooperation rates
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3. Interviewer training
40 interviewers are hired every spring
15 hours training
Among the topics covered:
• The SILC questionnaire
• The survey software
• Standardized interviewing techniques
• Refusal aversion training
– The Tailoring method (Groves and Couper, 1998)
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4. The data
• EU-SILC
– 2011 and 2012
– CATI interviews
• Data collected from interviewers
– After the training but before first interviews
• Questions about the training
• Icelandic version of Snyder´s Self Monitoring Scale
• Icelandic version of the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R)
– After six weeks of work
• International SHARE interviewer questionnaire20/08/2013

5. Results
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Table 1. Response, refusal and noncontact rates for the
Icelandic SILC in 2011 and 2012.
SILC2011 SILC2012
Response rate 75,3% 77,3%
Refusal rate 10,9% 11,7%
Noncontact rate 10,0% 8,5%

6. Results
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Table 2. Main results from the multilevel logistic regression model.
Model Null model Sample unit
Interviewer
model 1
Interviewer
model 2
Sample unit level
Intercept 2,10*** 2,28*** 3,18*** -2,84***
Wave 0,37*** 0,34** 0,32**
Gender -0,19* 0,18* -0,17.
Age 0,01 0,01 0,01
Nationality -0,29 -0,31 -0,38
*** p < 0,001
** p < 0.01
* p < 0.05
. p < 0.1

7. 20/08/2013
Table 2. Main results from the multilevel logistic regression model.
Model Null model Sample unit
Interviewer
model 1
Interviewer
model 2
Interviewer level
Optimism -0,04 -0,11**
Pessimism 0,01 0,05
Other-directedness
-0,01 -0,02
Acting 0,01 0,04
Extraversion 0,12 0,10.
Always Persuade Reluctant R’s 0,21
Enough effort can persuade -0,20* -0,32***
Respect R’s privacy -0,10 0,07
Accept refusals -0,02 -0,07*
Voluntary participation 0,01 -0,04
No repeated contact -0,02 -0,01
Right time, most R’s will respond 0,04 0,10*
Social trust 0,06*
First impression are right -0,03
Uncertain about judgments 0,26**
Know why I like something -0,10.
Take extra change -0,02
Honest to others 0,07*
Gender -0,19 -0,19
Age 0,01 -0,01
*** p < 0,001
** p < 0.01
* p < 0.05
. p < 0.1

8. Discussion
Successful interviewers are:
– Outgoing
– Optimistic
– Trusting
– Self assertive
– Honest
Successful interviewers believe that:
– Some pressure can be applied to gain cooperation
– Some respondents have the right to refuse
– Some respondents cannot be persuaded to answer
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9. Takk fyrir!
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