Positive Learning or Deviant Interviewing? Mechanisms of Experience on Interviewer Behavior

Abstract Interviewer (mis)behavior has been shown to change with interviewers’ professional experience (general experience) and gained during the field period (survey experience). We extend this study by using both types of experiences analyze interviewer effects on a core quality indicator: interview duration. To understand whether effect duration is driven increased efficiency or deviant behavior—both mechanisms shorter durations—we additionally examine triggering rate filter questions avoid burdensome follow-up response differentiation over period. Using multilevel models data from large-scale survey special difficult-to-interview population refugees in Germany, we find that decreases increasing experience, particularly among generally inexperienced interviewers. However, not found for differentiation. The results are robust different sample model specifications. conclude underlying mechanism driving related efficiency, behavior.