Random Digit Dialing Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Random Digit Dialing?

Random Digit Dialing (RDD) is a technique used by researchers to contact people randomly for surveys or other research purposes. This method of sampling allows researchers to obtain data from individuals who may not be reachable otherwise, such as those without listed phone numbers. Although RDD can provide valuable insights on topics such as political attitudes and health habits, its effectiveness has been questioned due to the increasingly common use of caller ID and the prevalence of cell phones. RDD works by generating random telephone numbers that are then called by an automated system or human interviewer. Because these numbers are randomly generated, the chance of someone answering is relatively low; therefore, multiple calls must be made in order to obtain a response rate that is acceptable for research purposes. The disadvantage of this method is that it can be labor intensive and costly due to the need for multiple calls. Additionally, because many people do not answer unknown numbers or have caller ID blocking enabled on their phones, it can be difficult to make contact with potential respondents. Although some researchers have criticized RDD’s effectiveness due to technological advances such as caller ID, it still remains one of the most popular methods for obtaining responses from individuals who may otherwise be hard-to-reach populations such as minorities and young adults. Additionally, recent studies suggest that RDD’s response rate may increase when combined with other sampling techniques such as address-based sampling and online surveys; however more research needs to be done before any definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding its effectiveness in comparison to traditional methods like landlines and mail surveys. Overall, Random Digit Dialing remains a viable method for collecting data despite technological advances which have increased its challenges in terms of obtaining responses from potentially hard-to-reach populations. By combining RDD with other sampling strategies like address-based sampling or online surveys, researchers may find it easier to collect reliable data while also reducing costs associated with labor intensive tasks like making multiple calls per record sampled.