Whenever a serial record is retrieved from the Sample file (QPSMR Telin only) or the Partial data file a dialog box appears that shows any information entered so far for this record.
When [Sample] is selected from the "Start of interview" dialog box QPSMR selects at random a fresh sample first and then the sample with the least number of tries. All of the information that has been pre-loaded into the Sample data file for the individual record is shown in the "Retrieved serial information" dialog box. This normally includes the contact details and telephone number, along with any other sample point entry information.
If the project contains an entry called TELNUM or TELNUM_1 (a character entry with a width of up to 32, normally used to store the telephone number) the TELNUM line will be highlighted, so it can easily be located in the list.
TIP: autodialing - If you have TAPI version 2 compatible facilities (modem) and your project contains an entry called TELNUM or TELNUM_1 and optionally TELNUM_2 and TELNUM_3 to store telephone numbers, it is possible to select the [Dial] button to dial the number automatically.
From the "Retrieved serial information" dialog box the interviewer must select either [Not tried], [Failure] or [Interview] to continue.
To return to the "Start of interview with sample file" dialog box, without calling the sample displayed simply select the [Not tried] button. The record remains on the Sample data file and is not changed in any way.
Interviewers should only select [Failure] if they fail to make contact with the respondent or they want to make an appointment. The "Failed contact" dialog box, with a list of reasons, will then be shown so interviewers can select the reason why contact could not be established, for example, line engaged, and the action they would like to take.
If contact is made and the interview can take place straight away, the interviewer should select [Interview]. They will then be positioned at the last entry in the questionnaire that contains data (typically the entry after TELNUM). For call-backs interviewers can use the [Up] selection to re-cap if need be.
To make an appointment after selecting [Interview] the interviewer should immediately use the [F12] key and select [Continue later]. The "Appointments" dialog box will then be shown, so the call-back date and time and other details may be entered, see section Making an Appointment. The data record itself is then copied from the "sample data file" and stored in a "partial data file", from where it can be retrieved and continued later.
TIP: a record "issued" from the sample file is not necessarily a successful interview, as it may later be aborted (F12) or found to be out of quota or ineligible.
The interviewer can use the [History] button to see details about the record (the date, times and results of previous calls, the percentage of the interview that is complete, plus any comments).
TIP: if, when a record is retrieved from the "Partial data file", it is immediately rejected; interviewers should use the [Up] selection to see which question caused the rejection. An example of this would be if a quota cell (which was only partially full when the interview was started) had been filled whilst the record was "waiting" in the partial file to be recalled.