After choosing a firm, you will need to provide them with the questionnaire for the study,
an APQ sheet (Answers to Potential Questions), and any necessary training materials specific to
the study. The first thing you should schedule is a test of the questionnaire—this is called a pilot
test. After sending the firm a copy of the questionnaire, you should call to review the material
with the call center manager and the interviewers piloting the questionnaire. You should alert
them to any skip patterns (questions that should not be asked of certain respondents), specific
terms or information regarding the study, and general quality concerns. You can then monitor the
interviewers via telephone as they make the piloting calls. A pilot test will provide you with
excellent information regarding any changes you should make to the questionnaire, whether the
concerns are clarity or length of interview.