Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Thissen, M R. (2013). Computer Audio-Recorded Interviewing as a Tool for Survey Research. Social Science Computer Review, 32(1), 90-104.

Summary: The study discusses a new type of audio recording method for interviews, computer audio-recorded interviewing (CARI), a method coming into widespread use for survey research in the social sciences. When implemented as part of the data collection process, CARI allows a survey manager to listen to the exact circumstances of how questions were asked and answered during the interview, a much more powerful approach than prior indirect methods of quality control and improvement. Design and implementation issues are examined. These areas are of important because they can be complex when planning an integrated system. Based on over ten years of experience and prior implementation of several distinct CARI systems, this article explores a part of the operational world of survey research from the eye of the system developer. It offers context for those developers who are unfamiliar with survey research or for anyone who is unfamiliar with CARI operations.

Questions to Consider:

1. In what areas may social science research utilize computer audio recorded interviewing techniques?
    
2. What are some of the benefits of utilizing the computer audio-recorded interviewing (CARI) compared to more traditional recording techniques?
    
3. What were some of the challenges in developing the CARI system?
    
4. How could a system like CARI be used to study White Collar offending?
    

Calvey, D. (2008). The art and politics of covert research: Doing ‘situated ethics’ in the field. Sociology, 42(5), 905-918.

Summary: This article examines covet relationships focusing on the ethical dimensions of fieldwork with reference to a six-month covert ethnography of ‘bouncers’, in Manchester. Drawing from sociological literatures, the article wishes to raise for scrutiny the management of situated ethics in covert fieldwork which, despite having some increased recognition via debates about risk and danger in fieldwork, remains glossed over. The standard discourse on ethics is abstracted from the actual doing, which is a mediated and contingent set of practices. Traditionally, professional ethics has been centralized around the doctrine of informed consent with covert methodology being frowned upon and effectively marginalized as a type of ‘last resort methodology’. What I highlight here is the case for covert research in the face of much conventional opposition. I hope the article will open debate and dialogue about its potential role and possible creative future in the social science community

Questions to consider:

1. What are some of the ethical concerns associated with covert research?
    
2. What are some of the advantages of conducting covert research?
    
3. What is meant by the concept of “situated ethics”?
    
4. How could covert research be applied to the study of white-collar offending?