Analysis of Incidents in Face-to-face Surveys: Improvements in Fieldwork

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the situations preceding the incorrect
selection of survey respondents in Spain and their consequences,
focusing on research in which survey respondents were selected
through random routes and quotas. The use of the fi rst six Barometer
Surveys by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) in 2011
reveals a steady increase in the number of incidents. However, these do
not involve any major differences with respect to the population as a
whole in terms of gender, age, educational level and occupational
status. The paper shows that cooperation patterns differ depending on
the time of day and the day of the week when fi eld work is performed. It
also reveals that the level of accessibility varies signifi cantly depending
on the different traits of the respondents.