When the field of inquiry is very large and there is a lack of time for personal contact with the respondents, the information to be obtained is of complex nature and the cost associated with direct inquiry is high, than an investigator or an enumerator appointed by him collects the information with the help of the third party acquainted with the inquiry.
- Thus, a method of inquiry in which instead of direct inquiry, enumerator collects the information with the help third party or agency, is called the method of indirect inquiry.
- For example, an investigator or enumerator may collect the information on reading habit of students from the librarian of a school or a college instead of meeting the students personally.
- The method of indirect inquiry is quite popular in practice. But the reliability of information obtained by this method depends on the ability, honesty and experience of the enumerators.
