Evaluation of a computer-assisted self-interview component in a computer-assisted personal interview survey

This article examines respondent reactions to and performance on a self-administered component of a computer-assisted personal interview survey on self-images, conducted in the Detroit area in 1992. Although respondents were encouraged to complete the computer-assisted self-interview items themselves, only 79 percent of those interviewed actually did so, while for 14 percent the interviewer completed the items and for the remaining 7 percent the interviewer read the questions while the respondent entered the responses. We find that the decision to self-complete the computer-assisted self-interview items is related to factors such as respondents' age, education and computer experience. This suggests that both capacity (literacy and vision) and motivation affect the choice of completion. We also find differences in substantive responses and data quality between self-completers and those who use interviewer assistance. These findings have implications for nonresponse error and data quality for self-administered components of interviews, particularly those using computer-administration.