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On successful login, depending on the interviewer's choice, the CATI Console may or may not use the dialer system in processing calls (see Starting the Console and Logging In for instructions on engaging the Dialer).
In case the interviewer chooses not to use the Dialer they have to dial the required telephone numbers manually (particular dialing procedure depends on the equipment type used to connect calls).
When the Dialer is used all required interview calls are delivered to the interviewer already connected - he/she does not have to dial manually. You should note that interviews are always delivered to the interviewer according to the dial mode specified for the survey (see Dialer Overview for details on dialing modes). The interviewer always operates in one of the Interviewing modes specified for him by the supervisor. The Interviewing mode is the way in which the interviewer can select the interview - he is either free to choose any interview, or he can only select a survey, or he has got no choice at all and must only work with the interview selected for him by the system (see Interviewing mode descriptions below).
So, the way in which interviews are selected by the interviewer is determined by the Interviewing mode specified for this interviewer by the supervisor, and the way in which interviews are delivered to the interviewer within this Interviewing mode is determined by the dial mode specified for each survey.
After the interviewer logs in and opts to use or not to use the Dialer, the CATI Interviewer Console starts operating in the Interviewing mode that was specified for the current interviewer by the supervisor. This Interviewing mode defines the way in which interviews are selected by an interviewer. The following Interviewing modes are available:
- Automatic – this mode implies that the CATI system decides which survey the current interviewer will work with, and which interview should be started. In other words the interviewer only has to wait for the interview questions to appear on the screen – he/she cannot choose survey and/or interviews himself (see Automatic Mode for details).
- Survey selection – this mode allows the interviewer to select the survey, while the interviews from the selected survey are delivered to him based on the system decision (see Survey Selection Mode for details).
- Manual selection – this mode allows for manual choice both of the survey and the interview. The interviewer should decide for himself which interview from which survey he/she wants to work with (see Manual Selection Mode for details).
- Choice - this mode allows for choosing the Interviewing mode the interviewer will start working in. The list of Interviewing modes available for choosing is determined by the supervisor. Refer to Choice Mode for details on working in the Choice mode.
The CATI Console displays a slightly different interface for each Interviewing mode. Additionally, when the Dialer is in use, and it operates in the Preview mode (see Dialer Overview for details on dialing modes), the CATI Interviewer Console will display the appropriate information in its working area prior to delivering a call so that the interviewer can make some decision based on this information. To proceed with interviewing and receive the delivered call the interviewer must confirm this action.
Besides, in all Interviewing modes, the CATI Console will handle the abnormal interview termination (on system crash etc.) in the following way – the next time the interviewer logs in to work with the CATI Console after the interview was abnormally terminated, the CATI Console will display the following message upon successful login.
Figure 1 - Warning message displayed upon logging in after abnormal application termination
The interviewer is supposed to continue the terminated interview from the first question that contains no answer. This interview is displayed in the work area of the CATI Console right after OK is pressed.