You are
here: Step
7: Selecting and researching potential countries/markets
abroad > Implementing
the research brief >
Evaluate the shortlisted countries in detail >
Techniques for formal in-market
research > Telephone interviews |
|
|
|
Telephone interviews
The main advantage of using the telephone
interview as a market research technique is the relatively
low cost involved. While it is a less reliable method
of research than the personal interview, it is nevertheless
very simple and quick to perform. Given an efficient telephone
service and a quiet office away from outside disturbances,
it is possible to conduct between five and six brief interviews
per hour. Of course, you will need to have a list of companies
to call (and probably the target person's name). Nevertheless,
a good directory should be able to provide this information
for you and you may be able to get the directory from
the local chamber of commerce.
Telephone interviews are often the best
way to conduct a survey among busy executives or others
who would not be willing to grant the time for a personal
interview and the response rate is much higher than that
obtained from postal surveys. Of course, the biggest problem
with telephone interviews is the issue of language. You
will probably only be able to turn to telephone interviews
in English-speaking countries and even then, accents and
colloquialisms can make an interview very difficult.
The main applications of the telephone interview
are:
- Selecting subjects for personal interviews
by identifying respondents' main areas of interest and
suitability for a survey
- Obtaining simple statistical information
such as the number of brands carried in a particular
product line, or the available number of retail outlets
- Checking or confirming information received
in personal interviews or postal surveys
Other disadvantages of telephone interviewing
include the following:
- The questionnaire must be short and simple,
thus limiting the depth and range of information gathered
- A steady flow of conversation must be
maintained, making it difficult for the respondent to
pause and think
- The respondent's attitudes and reactions
are difficult to assess
- Confidential information is rarely given
over the telephone, again limiting the depth of a telephone
survey
- In many field situations, a representative
sample of the population might not have a telephone
service, thus introducing a bias to the information
gained
- If the researcher has a less than perfect
knowledge of the language spoken in the market, it will
be particularly difficult to gain useful information
through telephone interviews
|