A pilot test should be scheduled within a week of your initial phone call to the firm.
The pilot test should take one evening, generally with two interviewers working on the
pilot and providing 6 to 10 completed surveys.
Revise the questionnaire and provide the final version to the firm. Allow one full day (8
hours) for the programming of the questionnaire. On occasion, programming may take 2
days.
Begin data collection. Factors in the time line of data collection include the number of
desired surveys, the desired response rate, the firm’s calling schedule, the population
being called, and the length of the questionnaire. In general, you should allow one week
per 100 completed surveys (e.g., 300 completed surveys = 3 weeks).
End data collection and receive final data.