Field

Description

Counter Maximum

This setting enables you to withdraw a case from the Field when certain types of calls have reached a ceiling. It operates in conjunction with the Counter column described below. It is the maximum number of "calls that count" after which the record will NOT be called back any more, regardless of the call-back rule assigned to the last call result.

Priority for Fresh Sample

This setting determines the priority level to be assigned to fresh sample, i.e. cases that have never yet been called. It determines the priority of fresh sample relative to call-backs. The lowest priority level is 0, and the highest level is 9.

Fresh sample will be dispatched in preference to call-backs which have lower priority levels.

Warning. If you do not use priorities i.e. if both fresh sample and call-backs have the default level of 0, call-backs will be dispatched before fresh sample.

Cycle Phone Numbers

This option operates when several phone numbers (not just one) have been imported into questions bearing aliases TEL01, TEL02 etc. The "Counter Maximum" (see above) is respected for TEL01, then for TEL02 etc. When the last number has been called for the counter maximum i.e. all the numbers have been called, the case is then withdrawn from the field (inactivated).

Note: Phone Number Cycling can be disabled and enabled on a case by case basis. This can be done through the $CYCLE mask in the questionnaire, and also in the Call-backs Assignment and Browser Details pages.

Circular Cycle

This option modifies the behaviour of the "Cycle Phone Numbers" option (see above). When the last number has been called for the counter maximum, the case will not be withdrawn from the field, and the process will start again.

For each rule:

Call-back

This check-box determines whether the rule is to be applied. If unchecked, the rule will not be applied.

Result

This is the call result code for which the rule will apply. Click in the field to access and choose from a drop-down list of all the project's call result codes.

Note: The complete list of call result codes for the project is taken from the default questionnaire's INT question. See INT questions and Default Questionnaire.

Frequency

The number of times the call result has to occur for this rule to apply.

Consecutive

This check-box determines whether the number of occurrences of this call result has to be consecutive or not. If checked, the call result code has to occur for a set number of times consecutively. If not checked, the call result code has only to occur the specified number of times, but these occurrences do not have to be consecutive.

Interviewer

This indicates the type of interviewer to whom the case will be assigned.

• XYZ: The code for a specific interviewer.

• All (***): Denotes any interviewer i.e. the whole pool of interviewers. If the respondent belongs to a stratum to which a group number has been assigned (see Interviewer Groups), the respondent will remain assigned to that group of interviewers, and not to the entire pool. If sample assignment is being done in Roles mode, the case will be called by any interviewer having the required set of roles (see Sample Assignment Modes).

• Gnn: Denotes a specific group of interviewers. See Sample Groups in Strata Definitions. Note: Only applies if Sample Assignment is set to 'Group mode'.

• Same interviewer as previous call: This call-back will be assigned to the same interviewer who selects the result code.

Delay

The number of delay units to be used in computing the date and time for the call-back. A blank will be converted to zero.

Note: If the Hours / Time Slots unit (see below) is selected, the Delay will be interpreted as the number of hours to be used for setting the new call-back date/time. If this call-back date/time falls in a Time Slot which is unavailable, the next available Time Slot will be chosen.

Unit

The type of delay unit to be used in computing the call-back. There are several delay unit types:

• (blank) stands for a delay of zero minutes

• Minutes

• Hours

• Days

• Shifts

• Weekends. This unit type alternates between a weekday and a weekend day.

If the last call took place during a weekday, the call-back will take place the following Saturday. If the last call took place during a weekend, the call-back will take place the following Monday.

• Time slots. This unit activates Time Slot Constraint and schedules the CB date one or more Time Slots later as specified in the Delay (see above). If the destined Time Slot is unavailable i.e. the number of calls already placed has reached the max. counter, the next available Time Slot will be selected. The call-back time within the Time Slot is randomly generated by the system.

• Hours / Time Slots. This unit activates Time Slot Constraint and schedules the CB date/time one or more hours later as specified in the Delay (see above).

Priority Action

The options blank, =, +, 1 apply to the Priority level (see below)

Priority

This is the priority level which the rule will assign to the call-back - the lowest priority level is 0, and the highest level is 9. If you enter a number between 0 and 9 and the Priority Action is blank, the call-back will be given this priority. If the priority action is + or - sign, the call-back's priority will be changed by this amount; however the priority cannot end up with a value less then 0 or greater than 9.

The purpose of priority levels is to be able to dispatch a group of cases, all of whose scheduled call-back date and time has already passed, on the basis of priority, and not date and time. It has no effect on cases whose call-back time has not yet been reached.

Important: If you wish call-backs to take priority over fresh sample, ensure that you set priority levels equal to or greater than Priority for Fresh Sample.

Dialing Mode

There are two modes:  Preview mode blocks the case from being called with automated dialing in Predictive or Non-Predictive mode. The Default Mode allows the case to be dialed according to the Pronto module to which the interviewer is attached.

Counter

Checked means that for this call result, the Calls Counter will be incremented by 1. Unchecked  means that for this call result, the Calls Counter will not be incremented. See Counter Maximum above.

Sync Result

Note: This setting, which applies to CAPI collection, only applies if the 'call-back' option is not checked.

With CAPI collection, the case is always sent to the server at synchronization -  this setting determines what happens to it after that:

o   Keep on client: The case will be sent back to the CAPI interviewer even if there is no CB date/time.  One exception would be if there is a 'Next interviewer' assigned in the case, the case will stay on the server and the 'next interviewer' information will be deleted.

o   Send back to Server: The case will stay on the server.

Note: If a case has a call-back date and time, and is assigned to an interviewer, it will first be returned to the Server and then returned to the Laptop.

Lift Stratum Restriction

This option enables a case to be dispatched even though it belongs to a stratum that is closed. Weights and Time slots are ignored.

Note: The case will not be dispatched if it belongs to a stratum whose quota has been filled (and quotas are active).

Upload to A4S Survey

Transfers the case to an A4S Survey. See A4S collection module.