Mobile Structured Interview — Computer-Assisted Mobile Interviewing
Mobile Structured Interview (Computer-Assisted Mobile Interviewing) · Also known as: CAMI, smartphone-assisted interview, tablet-based structured interview, mobile CAPI
A mobile structured interview is a standardised data collection technique in which an interviewer — or a self-administering respondent — answers a fixed, pre-determined set of questions using a smartphone or tablet application. Every respondent receives identical question wording and response options, ensuring comparability across cases while leveraging the reach, geolocation capabilities, and offline functionality of mobile devices.
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When to use it
Use a mobile structured interview when you need standardised, comparable data from many respondents across dispersed or field-based locations — for example, household surveys in low-connectivity regions, health assessments in clinical or community settings, or rapid longitudinal panel waves. It is the right choice when precise comparability across respondents is essential (ruling out semi-structured or qualitative approaches) and when paper forms are impractical or data must be uploaded rapidly. Do not use it when the research question requires exploratory depth or flexible follow-up probing — a semi-structured or in-depth interview design is more appropriate then. Also reconsider if your target population has low smartphone literacy or limited device access, which can introduce coverage and response-quality biases.
Strengths & limitations
- Enforces strict question-wording and response-option standardisation, maximising cross-respondent comparability.
- Built-in skip logic eliminates interviewer routing errors common with paper instruments.
- Real-time data validation (range checks, required fields) reduces missing data and entry errors.
- Offline data capture with automatic sync removes dependency on continuous internet connectivity in field settings.
- Geolocation and timestamp metadata can be captured passively, enriching the dataset without additional respondent burden.
- Small screen real estate constrains question complexity; long grid items or multi-part questions are difficult to display legibly.
- Coverage bias: respondents without smartphones, low digital literacy, or limited data plans are underrepresented.
- Device heterogeneity (screen sizes, OS versions) can cause display inconsistencies that affect response behaviour.
- Interviewer-administered mode requires device provisioning, training, and security protocols that add logistical overhead.
- Satisficing risk increases when respondents self-administer on personal devices amid distractions.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a mobile structured interview and a mobile survey?
A mobile survey is typically self-administered — the respondent completes it alone on their device without an interviewer present. A mobile structured interview involves an interviewer who guides the respondent through the fixed questionnaire in real time using the mobile device as the data-capture tool. The question content and structure can be identical; the difference lies in whether an interviewer is present and administering the instrument.
Which platforms support mobile structured interviewing?
Widely used platforms include Open Data Kit (ODK) and its derivatives (KoBoToolbox, ONA), REDCap Mobile, SurveyCTO, CommCare, and Qualtrics Offline. Choice depends on your need for offline capability, skip-logic complexity, data security requirements, and budget — many open-source options (ODK, KoBoToolbox) are free and well-supported.
Does mobile administration introduce mode effects compared to face-to-face paper interviewing?
Research documents modest mode effects: mobile respondents tend to choose shorter or earlier response options more often (satisficing), and display issues with complex grid formats can alter response patterns. Best practice is to pilot-test the mobile instrument specifically, simplify question formats for small screens, and — if mixing modes — test for differential item functioning before pooling data.
Can I use a mobile structured interview without an internet connection?
Yes — this is one of the key advantages. Platforms like ODK Collect and KoBoToolbox store completed records on the device and sync to the server when connectivity is restored. Always configure and test offline mode before deployment; do not assume connectivity will be available in field settings.
When should I choose a semi-structured interview over a mobile structured interview?
Choose a semi-structured or in-depth interview when your research question requires probing, follow-up, or exploration of unanticipated themes. A structured interview — mobile or otherwise — is appropriate only when your concepts are well-defined, your response options are exhaustive and mutually exclusive, and comparability across all respondents is the priority.
Sources
- Couper, M. P., & Peterson, G. (2017). Why do web surveys take longer on smartphones? Social Science Computer Review, 35(3), 357–377. DOI: 10.1177/0894439316629932 ↗
- Buskirk, T. D., & Andrus, C. (2012). Making mobile browser surveys smarter: Results from a randomized experiment comparing online surveys completed via computer or smartphone. Field Methods, 24(4), 388–404. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Mobile Structured Interview (Computer-Assisted Mobile Interviewing). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/survey-methodology/mobile-structured-interview
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Face-to-face structured interviewSurvey Methodology↔ compare
- Mobile Experience SamplingSurvey Methodology↔ compare
- Mobile SurveySurvey Methodology↔ compare
- Online Structured InterviewSurvey Methodology↔ compare
- Structured InterviewSurvey Methodology↔ compare