rpt-eivpd a complete maiuuil of instructions on the study anil was 

 required to pass a written test on the methods and to conduct 

 practice interviews before the start of the survey. 



To assure fullest cooperation and maximum accuracy, each 

 interview was opened with a statement of the survey purpose and 

 a guarantee to keep the identity of the respondent confidential. 

 It was made clear that law enforcement was not a purpose of the 

 study. Each interviewer carried a number of credentials, includ- 

 ing an identification badge, a letter of introduction from the 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, and Better Business Bureau identifica- 

 tion. 



The interviewers visited each household in the national sample 

 up to four times to establish contact with a responsible adult 

 member and to complete interviews. During the initial contact, 

 the interviewer obtained the composition of the family and the 

 names of those members 12 years of age or over who had hunted 

 or fished in 19.55. Kach hunter or fisherman in the family was 

 then interviewed. One questionnaire was used to record an 

 interview about fishing and another questionnaire to record an 

 interview about luinting. 



Since the sportsmen who were interviewed were asked to recall 

 events that had happened during the preceding year, memory 

 aids were used. These consisted of calendars, lists of fish and 

 game species, lists of equipment items, booklets of license require- 

 ments, and simplified phraseology of questions. 



As each group of households was completed, the results were 

 sent in to the home office where they were checked to be sure that 

 the correct sampling procedure had been followed. Each ques- 

 tionnaire was examined for correct recording in the proper places 

 and for completeness of answers to all questions. In cases of 

 omission and seeming inconsistencies the field supervisor was 

 notified and the respondent was contacted to supply the missing 

 information or to verify what had been recorded. 



The same high degree of quality control was maintained during 

 the period when information on the questionnaire was being 

 carded and punched on machine-tabulating cards. Similar care 

 was taken during machine tabulation, and unusual situations were 

 checked immediatelv for validation. 



48 



