Interviewers' Voices and Refusal Rates in Telephone Surveys

Interviewers' voice characteristics are related to refusal rates in telephone interviews. Judges reliably rated vocal and personal characteristics of telephone interviewers from recordings of the first one-half minute of interview introductions. Interviewers with low refusal rates were judged as having comparatively higher pitched voices, greater ranges of variation in pitch, greater loudness, faster rates of speaking, and clearer and more distinct pronunciation. They also were judged as more competent and as having a more positive approach to the respondent and the interview.