CATI market research agency
CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) can reach people who may not respond to online surveys. FieldworkHub manages CATI research from questionnaire development through to data delivery recruiting carefully screened consumer, B2B and specialist audiences in the UK, Europe and other international markets.
25+ CATI projects completed
CATI research run in 10+ countries
5000+ CATI interviews completed
Why CATI?
Why should you conduct CATI market research?
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is a quantitative research method in which interviewers speak to respondents by phone, follow a computer-guided questionnaire and record their answers as the interview progresses. It combines the consistency of structured survey questions with the personal contact of a live interviewer.
CATI is particularly useful when researchers need to verify that respondents meet detailed criteria, explore a substantial number of open-ended questions or reach people who may be less likely to complete an online survey. Interviewers can clarify questions when needed, although the cost per completed interview is generally higher than for an online survey.
The method is used for consumer research, public opinion polling, customer satisfaction, healthcare studies, academic research and B2B surveys. It can support studies requiring a large number of comparable responses while offering respondents more anonymity than face-to-face or video interviews.
FieldworkHub supports CATI research from questionnaire development to fieldwork delivery. We pay close attention to the clarity of interview scripts, respondent screening and management, interviewer handling of questions or objections, and checks on the data collected. These details help interviews run smoothly and make the findings more dependable.
CATI clients
Selected CATI market research clients
FieldworkHub has arranged CATI research for some of the world’s leading brands...
Types of CATI
What are the different types of CATI?
CATI can be used to explore different audiences and research questions. These six applications show how telephone interviewing can support both consumer and specialist quantitative studies.
CATI consumer research
Consumer CATI surveys explore purchasing habits, product preferences and experiences of products or services. Interviewer-led questions can help researchers understand the reasons behind choices while collecting consistent data from consumers who meet clearly defined study criteria.
CATI public opinion polls
CATI public opinion polls measure attitudes to political, economic and social issues, including topics such as healthcare and education. Telephone interviewing can help researchers reach defined population groups and collect structured views that can be compared across respondents.
CATI customer satisfaction surveys
Customer satisfaction CATI surveys gather feedback following a purchase or service interaction. Interviewers can ask customers about their experience, explore reasons for positive or negative ratings and help B2B and consumer businesses identify opportunities to improve their services.
CATI health surveys
Health-related CATI surveys gather structured feedback on experiences, behaviours and attitudes to healthcare. They can support public health, patient experience and professional research, with careful screening and sensitive questionnaire delivery important when topics are personal or complex.
CATI academic research
Academic CATI surveys support behavioural and social research by collecting comparable responses from defined groups. Interviewers can ask structured questions about attitudes and experiences, while consistent delivery helps researchers to analyse patterns across the selected sample.
CATI B2B research
B2B CATI surveys gather views from business owners, professionals and decision-makers about industry trends, purchasing decisions and products or services. Respondents can be recruited by sector, seniority or role, helping clients collect feedback from people with relevant expertise.
Case studies
Case studies of CATI research
FieldworkHub delivers CATI research in the UK, Europe and other international markets. We have completed more than 25 CATI projects, supporting consumer, B2B and specialist studies where targeted recruitment, reliable telephone interviewing and careful fieldwork management are essential. Here are examples of our previous projects.
CATI survey: car mechanics, UK
Our client wanted to understand the decision-making process of UK car repair workshops when ordering replacement electronic control units and their views on the use of refurbished products. We delivered quantitative results from over 200 respondents using a combination of telephone interviews and an online survey.
CATI: international TV news viewing, UK
A well-known English language international news channel wanted to understand more about the TV news consumption habits of UK citizens. We recommended telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of viewers to ensure they obtained quantifiable and actionable insights.
CATI: printer decision makers, US, Germany
An international management consultancy firm wanted to understand the biggest needs and pain points with current software solutions used by commercial and packaging printing companies. FieldworkHub developed the survey, which was then translated into German and subsequently completed 50 interviews in each market.
Client testimonials
Testimonials from CATI clients
Here’s what some of our previous CATI clients say about us.
The team were very quick to support all aspects of the project with excellent communication throughout. It was great that they were able to deliver on our requests fully to a very tight deadline and they took all of the stress of recruitment for us. We are extremely happy with our experience of working with FieldworkHub and would look to use them again in the future.
Eloise
Researcher
Social Change
UK
We reached out to FieldworkHub after another firm told us they were not able to keep their commitment. Not only did Caroline respond to my email almost immediately, she picked up the phone and talked to me about my needs. Her team was super responsive and flexible, getting our work completed on time and budget. I highly recommend working with them and will absolutely be reaching out the next time I am conducting work in Europe.
Laura
Senior Director
Research Strategy
USA
Got questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
As consultants in the research space, we’ve got the answers to your CATI questions. And if there’s anything left unanswered, drop us an email or give the team a call. We’d be happy to help.
1
What is the advantage of using CATI research rather than an online survey?
The response rate for a CATI survey is often higher than it is for an online survey, and you have a greater degree of certainty about who has actually completed the survey. Respondents tend to be more engaged when talking to a live interviewer over the phone than when typing their own responses, and this can result in more detailed and accurate data, particularly if you need to collect responses to open-ended questions. The downside of CATI is that it requires a longer timescale than an online survey and the cost per complete is typically much higher.
2
How long does a CATI study take to deliver?
The time required to deliver a CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) study varies based on several factors, including the study’s complexity, sample size, and how easy it is to identify and contact target participants. However, a typical CATI study takes a few weeks from the time the questionnaire and sampling requirements are finalised to delivery of the final results.
3
What is the role of a fieldwork agency in a CATI study?
A fieldwork agency in a CATI study handles sample recruitment, questionnaire programming, and interviewer training. They manage data collection, ensuring quality control and adherence to the script. The agency also schedules calls, processes and cleans data, and provides progress reports, ensuring efficient and accurate study execution.
4
Can you manage international CATI research?
Yes. FieldworkHub has run CATI research in more than ten countries and supports projects across the UK, Europe and other international markets. Multi-country studies may involve local-language questionnaires, respondent screening and coordination of fieldwork across markets
Planning research that could make use of a telephone survey?
Talk to FieldworkHub about questionnaire development, respondent recruitment and managed CATI fieldwork for consumer, B2B and specialist studies in the UK and internationally.
