SETTING UP COMPUTER-ASSISTED PERSONAL INTERVIEWING IN THE AUSTRALIAN LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF AGING

We discuss the role of a statistical consultant in a large-scale longi tudinal study of an ageing population in South Australia. Particular e mphasis is given to the way in which this collaboration enhanced the a ccumulation of relevant data by planning the collection and analysis m onths before the survey began. Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was used, providing a method of obtaining survey data which av oided expensive data entry and editing. Additional benefits were appar ent in the facilitation of data management and analysis, and CAPI was also well received by both interviewers and respondents. The importanc e of enlisting the services of a statistician in the early stages of a large study is clear in this project.