Field Test of the 2010 Census Enumeration of Transitory Locations (ETL) Questionnaire

ETL Respondent Debriefing Probes

General Instruction: Probe for enough information so that you understand the living situation of NAME and, based on the Census Residence Rules, you can determine where NAME should have been counted (or you think you have enough information to give to POP in order for them to place NAME). Specifically, we need information on:

• Time frames: When, how long, how frequently they stayed at the unit; where they lived & slept most of the time over the last year; where they slept on 4/1/08

• Conception of “unit”: what physical space were they thinking of when answering the Qs? (e.g., a tent, one’s own tent plus several tents of friends nearby, or an entire campground?)

• Difference between physical & mailing address: Are they the same? How far apart are they physically? Which was used to answer the Q?

• Other possible residences: Did they live/stay anywhere else? For what purpose? How frequently? For how long?

• Other people who should have been counted at this unit: Did they exclude anyone who stays here? How frequently do they stay here? For how long? Where else do they live/sleep – how frequently & for how long?

Possible Introductions: I’m here observing these interviews to evaluate how well our questions worked. I want to make sure the instrument collected enough information in order to count NAME at the right place according to our residence rules. It should only take a few more minutes of your time. Everything you say is still protected under our privacy act mentioned in the letter.

S1:

• In the 1^st question, I read “I will complete a Census questionnaire for all the people staying at this [RV/boat/room/unit] who have no other place they usually live and sleep.” What do you think “usually live or sleep” means in this question?

• Did you live at the address you listed most of the time? What time period were you thinking of when you answered this question?

• Did you stay at the address you listed on 4/1/08?

• If you had stayed at that address on 4/1/08, but didn’t live there most of the time, would you list that address or a different one?

S2:

• In the 2^nd question, I read “Including yourself, how many people are living or staying in this [RV/boat/room/unit] who have no other place they usually live?” What is this question asking you?

• What do you think “in this [RV/boat/room/unit]” means in this question?

• What physical space were you thinking of when you answered this question?

• How did you decide who to list on the form?

• Did you put everybody on the form who is living with you? Why or why not?

• Where does NAME stay most of the time?

• Are there other places NAME has stayed in the past year or so?

  • How often does NAME stay there?

  • For how long does NAME stay there?

• In the past year or so, has NAME stayed with a friend or a relative?

  • How often does NAME stay there?

  • For how long does NAME stay there?

• Thinking back to April 1, 2008, where was NAME staying on that night? Is that where NAME usually stays?

• If you were going to describe where you mostly stay to a friend so they could find you, how would you describe where it is?

H1:

• I then asked you “What is the mailing address of this unit?” Can you tell me about the address you gave here?

• Is your physical address different from your mailing address? Does you mail come to this physical location?

• (If still unclear which address was provided) Did you provide your physical address or your mailing address?

Wrap-Up Questions

• Overall would you say the form was easy or difficult to complete? Why?

• Other than what we have already talked about, did you find any of the questions difficult?

• Did you find any of the questions sensitive?

• Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention?