Data Collection on Sensitive Topics with Adolescents Using Interactive Voice Response Technology

Abstract

We describe the development and implementation of a survey administered using interactivevoice response (IVR) technology to collect information on sensitive topics in a USnational sample of adolescents age 12-17. Respondents were participants in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics 2014 Child Development Supplement (N=1,098). We review questionnaire design, fieldwork protocols, data quality and completeness, and respondent burden. We find that in the context of research on sensitive topics with adolescents, IVR is a cost-efficient and flexible method of data collection that yields high survey response rates and low item nonresponse rates with distributions on key variables that are comparable to other national studies.