Final answer:
The term robocall accurately describes a type of automated phone system that delivers prerecorded messages. Robo-polls, which are a type of robocall, may lead to errors and have lower response rates, additionally being illegal to cell phones due to legislation. CATI is another computer-assisted method but involves live interviewers. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term robocall does indeed describe an automated phone operation that involves an auto-dialer delivering a personalized, prerecorded message to recipients, so the correct answer is A. True. Robocalls are entirely computerized and are used for various purposes, including surveys and marketing.
In robo-polls, a computer dials random or pre-programmed numbers to conduct a survey without the need for a live interviewer. Respondents listen to prerecorded questions and use their phone keypad to enter responses. Although proponents believe that this method can elicit more honest responses, there are several drawbacks.
One issue with robo-polls is that they may suffer from errors such as respondents pressing incorrect keypad numbers or misunderstanding questions. They often have lower response rates because there is no live interviewer to encourage participation.
Moreover, the absence of a live interviewer means that robo-polls cannot prevent children from participating in the survey. Additionally, due to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, automated calls are illegal to cell phones, excluding a significant portion of potential respondents.
Finally, in the interviewing process using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), polls are administered with the support of a computer system which calls random numbers and, upon reaching a live person, connects them with a trained interviewer. The information is entered into the system directly.