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 telephon e interview may be used to collect data in both qualitative and quanti tative studies. It offers a description of how to plan and use the tel ephone as a means of collecting data and justifies the use of this met hod. The paper also describes and illustrates how textual data that ar ises 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 pap er identifies limitations of the approach to data collection and point s to further reading on the topic.