Career profile for Research Interviewer

What does a Research Interviewer do?

Research Interviewers interview persons by telephone, mail, in person, or by other means for the purpose of completing forms, applications, or questionnaires.

In addition, Research Interviewers

ask specific questions, record answers, and assist persons with completing form,
may sort, classify, and file forms.

What kind of tasks does a Research Interviewer perform regularly?

Research Interviewers are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Ask questions in accordance with instructions to obtain various specified information, such as person's name, address, age, religious preference, or state of residency.
Identify and report problems in obtaining valid data.
Ensure payment for services by verifying benefits with the person's insurance provider or working out financing options.
Perform office duties, such as telemarketing or customer service inquiries, maintaining staff records, billing patients, or receiving payments.
Review data obtained from interview for completeness and accuracy.
Compile, record, and code results or data from interview or survey, using computer or specified form.
Perform patient services, such as answering the telephone or assisting patients with financial or medical questions.
Assist individuals in filling out applications or questionnaires.
Identify and resolve inconsistencies in interviewees' responses by means of appropriate questioning or explanation.
Supervise or train other staff members.
Prepare reports to provide answers in response to specific problems.
Meet with supervisor daily to submit completed assignments and discuss progress.

The above responsibilities are specific to Research Interviewers. More generally, Research Interviewers are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Working with Computers		Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates		Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards		Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Documenting/Recording Information		Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Working with Computers

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

What is a Research Interviewer salary?

The median salary for a Research Interviewer is $36,170, and the average salary is $37,640. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Research Interviewer salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Research Interviewers earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Research Interviewers earn less than $24,980 per year, 25% earn less than $29,400, 75% earn less than $44,400, and 90% earn less than $52,550.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Research Interviewers is expected to change by -6.5%, and there should be roughly 20,100 open positions for Research Interviewers every year.

Median annual salary: $36,170
Typical salary range: $24,980 - $52,550
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): -6.5%

What personality traits are common among Research Interviewers?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Research Interviewer are usually higher in their Conventional, Enterprising, and Social interests.

Research Interviewers typically have very strong Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Also, Research Interviewers typically have strong Enterprising interests. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Lastly, Research Interviewers typically have moderate Social interests. Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Research Interviewer tend to value Relationships, Support, and Working Conditions.

Most importantly, Research Interviewers strongly value Relationships. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Second, Research Interviewers strongly value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Lastly, Research Interviewers moderately value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Research Interviewers must consistently demonstrate qualities such as attention to detail, stress tolerance, and adaptability/flexibility.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Research Interviewers, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Stress Tolerance		Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility		Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Self-Control		Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Integrity		Job requires being honest and ethical.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Stress Tolerance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Self-Control

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Integrity

Job requires being honest and ethical.

What education and training do Research Interviewers need?

Research Interviewers often have training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Research Interviewers usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Research Interviewers

2.2% did not complete high school or secondary school
23.1% completed high school or secondary school
31.0% completed some college coursework
12.9% earned a Associate's degree
22.7% earned a Bachelor's degree
7.0% earned a Master's degree
1.2% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Research Interviewers

Research Interviewers may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as customer and personal service, administrative, or computers and electronics knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Research Interviewers might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administrative		Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Administration and Management		Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administrative

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Important Abilities needed by Research Interviewers

Research Interviewers must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Research Interviewers need abilities such as oral expression, oral comprehension, and speech recognition in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Research Interviewers, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Speech Recognition		The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity		The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension		The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Critical Skills needed by Research Interviewers

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Research Interviewers frequently use skills like active listening, speaking, and reading comprehension to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Research Interviewers, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking		Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension		Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Social Perceptiveness		Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing		Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Research Interviewer

Research Interviewer

Table of Contents

Would Research Interviewer be a good fit for you?