The Impact of Face Mask Usage on Data Quality in Face-to-face Interviews

During the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face surveys changed their mode of data collection due to contact restrictions and quarantine regulations. We report the experiences from the fifth wave of our panel in Cologne, Germany (n = 915). Data collection took place after the peak of the pandemic (summer 2022), maintaining the face-to-face mode of previous waves, with 30% of participants opting for the interviewer to wear a face mask. We find that a preference for face mask usage is not linked to the sociodemographic characteristics of participants. Interviewers reported feeling good and safe conducting face-to-face interviews despite potential infection risks. We also find no effects on item nonresponse and length of interview. And even though the open-ended responses decreased in length, their qualitative content was not affected by the face masks. These results provide a positive outlook for researchers planning to conduct face-to-face interviews in challenging times or with at-risk populations.