Comparison of three interview methods on response pattern to sensitive and non-sensitive questions

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Accurate data collection on sensitive topics is crucial for public health research.
• Traditional interview methods may influence participant disclosure rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the impact of street-based, household, and telephone interviews on response patterns.
• To assess participation, disclosure, and discontinuation rates for sensitive and non-sensitive questions.

Main Methods:

• Randomly selected 899 participants across three major Iranian cities.
• Assigned 100 participants to each interview method: street-based, household, or telephone.
• Administered five sensitive (drug use, sexual contact) and five non-sensitive questions.

Main Results:

• Street-based interviews showed higher disclosure rates for sensitive behaviors compared to telephone and household interviews.
• Household interviews had the highest participation and lowest discontinuation rates.
• Non-sensitive question responses showed no statistically significant differences across methods.

Conclusions:

• Interview method significantly impacts response patterns to sensitive and non-sensitive questions.
• Street-based interviews appear more effective for eliciting sensitive information.
• Methodological choices are critical for obtaining precise data in sensitive research areas.