The telephone interview as a data collection method

The interview is one of the most frequently used methods of collecting qualitative data. This paper offers a description of how the telephone interview may be used to collect data in both qualitative and quantitative studies. It offers a description of how to plan and use the telephone as a means of collecting data and justifies the use of this method. The paper also describes and illustrates how textual data that arises from the use of telephone interviews may be analysed by computer. Two approaches to analysis are outlined: (1) simple drawing together of responses to questions and (2) the searching for categories within the data and the organisation of text within those categories. The paper identifies limitations of the approach to data collection and points to further reading on the topic.