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Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) is an interviewing technique similar to computer-assisted telephone interviewing, except that the interview takes place in person instead of over the telephone. The respondent or the interviewer sits in front of a computer terminal and enters the answers into the computer. If an emphasis is put on the fact, that no personal interviewer is present, sometimes the term Computer-assisted self interviewing (CASI) is also used.

- The respondent sits in front of a computer terminal and answers a questionnaire on the screen by using the keyboard or a mouse.
- Help screens and courteous error messages are provided.
- The colorful screens and on and off-screen stimuli add to the respondent's interest and involvement in the task.
- This method has been classified as a personal interview technique since an interviewer is usually present to serve as a host and to guide the respondent as needed.
- This approach is used in shopping malls, preceded by the intercept and screening process.
- It is also used to conduct business-to-business research at trade shows or conventions.

For example, CAPI is used as the method of data collection for the British Crime Survey.

Advantages

This form of interview is substantially cheaper when a large number of respondents is required, because

• There is no need to recruit or pay surveyors.
• There is no need to transcribe the results into a computer form. The computer program can be constructed so as to place the results directly in a format that can be read be statistical analysis programs such as PSPP or DAP.
• The program can be placed on a web site, potentially catching a world wide audience.

Disadvantages

• The survey is likely to attract only respondents who are "computer savvy", thus introducing potential bias to the survey.

External links

Directories of proprietary software:

• Association for Survey Computing Software Register

Free software on sourceforge:

• Java CAI Framework
• YaaCs

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