*Response Rates (Questionnaires); Statistical Surveys; *Telephone Surveys

This paper provides an overview of telephone survey research by colleges and universities and reports on comparisons between mail survey respondents and non-respondents who were later contacted by telephone. After an introduction, the paper discusses the various steps of a telephone survey project. These include: (1) identifying the population to be surveyed; (2) selecting the sampling methodology (usually either the standard random sampling or the random number dialing method); and (3) designing the telephone survey (focusing on the essential information and how it will be used). The paper emphasizes the importance of careful planning, designing the survey format, training of interviewers, and spot checking of interviewing techniques. It also summarizes results of comparisons between mail survey respondents and nonrespondents who were later telephoned for an interview. These comparisons were conducted on results of annual studies of the college's career program completers. Although nonrespondents to the mail surveys later contacted by telephone tended to be younger and more often male than female, there were no notable differences in the level of career success and satisfaction reported by mail survey respondents and nonrespondents who completed the telephone version of the survey. (Author/BF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document