What data collection method is described for the cannabis frequency study?

• A. Secure online survey
• B. In-person interview
• C. Mailed paper survey
• D. Telephone survey

Answer: (D)

The method described relies on interviewer-administered data collection over the phone. This approach allows for standardized questioning and real-time clarification, which helps ensure consistency and data quality across respondents. It also makes it feasible to screen participants for eligibility, obtain informed consent, and address any questions about privacy or study procedures during the call.

For sensitive topics like cannabis use, a telephone interview can strike a balance between reach and privacy. Respondents can participate from a private space, which may reduce social desirability bias compared with in-person interviews, while still enabling trained interviewers to probe and clarify responses as needed. The method also tends to be faster and more cost-effective than in-person data collection and can cover a wide geographic area without the burdens of travel.

Compared with a secure online survey, a telephone interview can be more accessible to people with limited internet access or comfort with self-administered surveys, and with mailed paper surveys, it avoids slow response times and potential low return rates. In short, a telephone survey offers a practical combination of accessibility, data quality, and respondent privacy that fits a study on cannabis use frequency.