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Sample Types

The Office for Survey Research (OSR) at Michigan State University's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) telephone interviewing samples fall into two broad classes:

List Samples
With list samples, potential respondent names come from records or lists which are generally supplied by the clients. For example:
• If OSR surveys individuals concerning their experience with workman's compensation, we begin with an employer-supplied list of persons who have received such compensation.
• If OSR conducts a survey of patrons of local libraries, we begin with a list of persons who have library cards or who have used library services.
• If OSR interviews high-school guidance counselors, we start with a list of high schools and their addresses and telephone numbers.

Samples drawn from such lists usually are generated by a random selection process. Using lists often makes it possible to link information from records (e.g., employer records or service records) with information in the survey. In addition, targeted respondents can be reached efficiently when working from current, comprehensive lists, thus keeping costs down.

Random Digit Dialing (RDD) Samples
With RDD, potential respondents are chosen randomly from banks of household, business, other residential or organization telephone numbers. Random Digit Dial samples provide the best approach to producing representative cross-section samples in the absence of a good list of the members of a population.

Samples for our RDD surveys are usually purchased from Survey Sampling, Incorporated (SSI) or GENESYS, Incorporated. Working with these companies-both of which have excellent reputations for product quality and timely service-it is possible to design samples for particular regions, ethic backgrounds, as well as position with an organization.