Video interviewing in the European Social Survey: a post-pandemic view

Summary

Live video interviewing emerged as an alternative survey mode during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little evidence exists on its performance once in-person fieldwork resumed. This study provides a cross-national, post-pandemic assessment of live video interviewing within the European Social Survey (ESS) using data from Rounds 10 (2020–22) and 11 (2023–24). We examine (1) prevalence of video interviewing, (2) characteristics associated with mode choice, and (3) comparability of data quality between video and in-person interviews. Uptake varied substantially across countries and telephone-first contact and clearly communicating the video option increased uptake. Video respondents were younger, more highly educated, more likely to be in paid work, and lived in larger households, with education differences intensifying in ESS-11. Interview duration, item nonresponse, straightlining, and interviewer assessments showed minimal and inconsistent differences. Overall, video interviewing produced data quality comparable to in-person interviewing, with important implications for its use in mixed-mode survey designs.