This method of data collection is where the interview is conducted by telephone with an interviewer reading out the questions and possible answer categories.
This mode of interview has limitations compared to the face-to-face mode. Questions and lists of possible answer categories cannot be too long or complex or respondents will not listen to the question properly, or remember all the possible answer categories.
This problem affects the ethnic group question because the list of answer categories is long. Testing has shown that for this mode of interview, the ethnic group question is best split into three.
Questions 1 and 2 are asked of all respondents. Question 3 is asked for those respondents who answered 'White', 'Mixed', 'Asian' or 'Black' at Q2. Question 4 is asked for those respondents who answered 'Other ethnic group' at Q2 or who answered 'Another' [White/ Mixed/ Asian/ Black] background at Q3.
The example here gives the detail of the questions for data collection relating to England & Wales.
Q1. What do you consider your national identity to be? Choose as many or as few answers as apply.
English
Scottish
Welsh
Irish
British
Other
Q2. To which of these ethnic groups do you consider you belong?
White
Mixed
Asian or Asian British
Black or Black British
Chinese
Other ethnic group
Q3. And to which of these ethnic groups do you consider you belong?
If White chosen:
British
Another White background
If Mixed chosen:
White and Black Caribbean
White and Black African
White and Asian
Another Mixed background
If Asian or Asian British chosen:
Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Another Asian background
If Black or Black British chosen:
Caribbean
African
Another Black background
If Chinese chosen:
Note - no further question
If Other ethnic group chosen, ask Q4
Q4. Please can you describe your ethnic group?
Question 4 should be asked of those for whom it is relevant, even if these answers are not going to be coded.
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