CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing) is the use of computers to automate the key activities of a telephone interviewing facility.

The most important aspect of a CATI system is that it uses computers to conduct interviews. Because a computer controls the questionnaire, skip patterns are executed exactly as intended, responses are within range, and there are no missing data. And, because answers are entered directly into the computer, data entry is eliminated - data analysis can start immediately.

But interviewing is just one way a facility can automate. It can also use computers to handle the administrative and telephony functions associated with interviewing, such as sample management, quota control, call disposition monitoring, productivity reporting, Rapid Dial, interviewer monitoring and rating, and voice capture. Because the computer does record keeping automatically, your interviewing facility operates more efficiently and you get accurate, instantaneous information on the status of studies at any time.

CATI requires that the PCs be linked through a network to a main PC (server)  that functions as a central storage location for sample and data. CATI can also combine telephone and Web to perform CATI/Web mixed-mode interviewing, in which case the CATI system is connected to the Internet via a Web server.