In recent years there has been a trend toward greater automation in the survey data collection process. Paper questionnaires used in personal and telephone interviews have been replaced in many instances by CAPI and CATI instruments. Automating the questionnaire has yielded better data quality, reduced respondent burden, and quicker survey timing.

The increasing public awareness and use of the Internet, in particular the World Wide Web, presents new opportunities for persons designing computerized questionnaires. Issues such as security, respondent coverage, and perception will determine how the Census Bureau will take advantage of this technology. This paper will examine these issues, and discuss some of the Internet data collection methods currently being reviewed.