A CATI-Lab (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing Laboratory) is used in conducting this survey. Randomly generated telephone numbers are purchased from Survey Sampling Inc. Respondents are screened for age before interviewing them, thus only adult residents, ages 18 or older, are interviewed. Interviews are conducted on weekdays, 6p.m.-10p.m., and weekends, on Saturday, 12noon-4p.m. and on Sunday, 2p.m.-6p.m. Up to five attempts are made to reach each eligible number.
The questionnaire is comprised of 140 questions on average, including a core set of key questions, and a periodically rotated set of questions, which is designed to explore emerging trends or issues. The questionnaire has a skip pattern throughout, so respondents do not answer all of the questions most of the time. The average time to complete each questionnaire is about 12 minutes. On average, about 425 interviews are completed each month.
Data are gathered about respondents’ most recent pleasure trips only. Pleasure trips are defined as “any overnight or day trip to a place at least 50 miles from home that was made for enjoyment, including vacations, weekend getaways, shopping trips, trips to a second home, and trips to visit friends or relatives.” If the most recent pleasure trip is taken to a destination other than Michigan, the respondents are also asked the same questions about their most recent pleasure trips in Michigan.
Research Team
Director: Dr. Donald F. Holecek
Research Specialists: Lori A. Martin & Teresa Herbowicz
Lab Supervisors: Azlizam Aziz & Asli D. A. Tasci
Analysts: Chang Huh & Seung-Hyun Kim
Technical Support: William Farrant