In
the reading passage, there is ample support for author’s claim that the use of automated telephone system has
several advantages when conducting surveys. However, the professor in the
lecture gives several reasons as a rebuttal to
the author’s point.
First,
the professor contends that using automated telephone system takes +time longer
to be complete surveys. This is because the rate of response is lower compared
to survey conducted by human. People tend to response well in human conducting
survey since they do not want to be rude. This casts doubt on the reading’s
claim that the target number of people can be reached more quickly using this
method.
Second,
the professor insists that it is not true that automated surveys may be able to
get more accurate answers. Since the machine cannot confirm respondents’
identity. For example, although young boy gets to phone and provides wrong information
like age or gender, the machine cannot detect and take proper action. This
counters the reading’s assertion that authomated
surveys increase the chance of receiving accurate answers from respondonts.
Last,
the professor argues that it does not make sense that the probability of errors
is lower when using this method. In the case of machine, if respondents
misunderstand questions or response wrong answers, it cannot count these
mistakes. While, human can detect respondents’ hesitation in their voices and take
correct actions to fix errors. This refutes the reading passage’s suggestion
that mistakes never happen when authomated telephone system is used.