Cognitive testing instrument (Round 1), Version A, Voting and Civic Engagement Supplement to the CPS.

8/3/07

D R A F T
Case #
Mode
Researcher Initials
Date

________
________
________
________

VERSION A
PROTOCOL FOR COGNITIVE TESTING (ROUND 1) OF
VOTING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (VCE) SUPPLEMENT TO CPS
(Simulated CATI/CAPI) Administration)
Researcher: As I told you earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
We are most interested in your interpretation of the question and what you were thinking
as you answered the question. I’ll be asking the survey questions followed by some
additional probing questions about how you came up with your answer, how particular
phrases are interpreted etc. It may sound like I’m asking a lot of questions about your
response, but that is what’s needed in order to determine whether the questions are
working or not working. Keep in mind that we are evaluating the questions, not you
personally. Let’s begin:
LABOR FORCE QUESTIONS INTRO
I am going to ask a few questions about work-related activities LAST WEEK.
By last week, I mean the week beginning on Sunday, August/September _______, and
ending on Saturday, August/September_____.
LF1 Last week, did you do any work for either pay or profit?
9 Yes - Go to LF3
9 No - Go to LF2
9 Retired - Go to LF5
9
9
LF2

Last week, were you temporarily absent from a job?
9 Yes - Go to LF3
9 No - Go to LF5
9 Retired - Go to LF5
9
9

LF3

Don’t know - Go to LF5
Refused - Go to LF5

Don’t know - Go to LF-5
Refused - Go to LF-5

How many hours per week do you usually work at your job?
9 _______ hours - Go to LF4
9 Hours vary - Go to LF4
9
9

Don’t know - Go to LF4
Refused - Go to LF4

LF4
What kind of work do you usually do at (your/his/her) job?
Work: _______________________________________. Go to V1
9
9
LF5

Don’t know - Go to V1
Refused - Go to V1

During the last four weeks, have you been actively looking for work?
9
Yes - Go to V1
9
No - Go to V1
9
Retired - Go to V1
9
9

Don’t know - Go to V1
Refused - Go to V1

Page 2

Voting Supplement
V1. This month we have some additional questions concerning voting and registration.
In any election, some people are not able to vote because they are sick or busy or have
some other reason, and others do not want to vote. Did you vote in the election held
on Tuesday, November 7, 2006?
9
9
9
9

Yes - Go to V5
No - Go to V2
DK - Go to V2
Refused - Go to V2

V2. Were you registered to vote in the November 7, 2006 election?
9
9

Yes - Go to Check Item 1
No - Go to V3

9
DK- Go to V8
9
Refused - Go to V8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check Item 1
If V1 = No - Go to V4
Else - Go to V7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V3. Which of the following was the MAIN reason you were not registered to vote?
[READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY TO THE RESPONDENT. Mark only ONE
answer]
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Did not meet registration deadlines
Did not know where or how to register
Did not meet residency requirements/did not live here long enough
Permanent illness or disability
Difficulty with English
Not interested in the election or not involved in politics
My vote would not make a difference
Not eligible to vote
Other reason ______________________________

9
9

DK
Refused
GO TO V8
Page 3

V4. What was the main reason you did not vote?
[READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY TO THE RESPONDENT. Mark only ONE answer]
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Illness or disability (own or family’s)
Out of town or away from home
Forgot to vote ( or send in absentee ballot)
Not interested, felt my vote wouldn’t make a difference
Too busy, conflicting work or school schedule
Transportation problems
Didn’t like candidates or campaign issues
Registration problems (i.e. didn’t receive absentee ballot, not registered in current
location.)
Bad weather conditions
Inconvenient hours, polling place or hours or lines too long
Other ___________________________________

9
9

Don’t know
Refused

GO TO V7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V5. Did you vote in person or did you vote by mail?
9 In person
9 By mail
9 Don’t know
9 Refused
GO TO V6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V6. Was that on election day or before election day?
9 On election day
9 Before election day
9 Don’t know
9 Refused
GO TO V7

Page 4

V7. There are various places and ways people can register to vote. The last time you
registered, how did you register to vote?
[READ EACH ANSWER CATEGORY TO THE RESPONDENT. Enter only ONE answer.]
9

9
9

At a department of motor vehicles (for example, when obtaining a driver’s license
or other identification card)
At a public assistance agency (for example, a Medicaid, AFDC, or Food Stamps
office, an office serving disabled persons, or an unemployment office)
Registered by mail
At a school, hospital, or on campus
Went to a town hall or county/government registration office
Filled out form at a registration drive (library, post office or someone came to your
door.)
Registered at polling place (on election or primary day)
Other

9
9

Don’t know
Refused

9
9
9
9
9

GO TO V8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------V8. How long have you lived at this address?
9
9
9
9
9
9

Less than 1 month
1-6 months
7-11 months
1-2 years
3-4 years
5 years or longer

9
9

Don’t know
Refused

GO TO PRE_SUP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 5

PRE-SUP
Lead-in - The next set of questions are about people’s involvement and communication
within their communities.
1. In any election, some people are not able to vote for various reasons. Thinking about
elections for local government officials over the past two years, have you voted in all of
them, most of them, some of them, or none of them.
9 All of them
9 Most of them
9 Some of them
9 None of them
9 DK
9 Refused
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which persons are engaged in one of the
most common and important forms of local political behavior. Participation in local elections
indicates that individuals are active in local issues and that they use voting as a form of
democratic expression and as a way to affect government.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

What does the phrase “elections for local government officials” mean to you?

•

Tell me a little about elections for local government officials in your area during
the past two years.

•

About how many elections for government officials have taken place in your area
during the past two years?

•

About how many of them have you actually voted in?

•

Have the elections for local government officials been held at the same time as
elections for statewide and national elections or held at different times of the year?

•

What if I had asked about elections for local government officials during the past
THREE years? Are there any additional elections you remember taking place? If
so, do you remember whether you voted in those elections?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 6

2. In a TYPICAL MONTH, when communicating with family or friends, how often are
politics discussed -- basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a month, once
a month or not at all?
9 Basically every day
9 A few times a week
9 A few times a month
9 Once a month
9 Not at all
9 DK
9 Refused
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which persons discuss politically-oriented
issues on a daily basis. Indicates the presence of active social networks that allow individuals to
receive information from others and attempt to influence others on an informal basis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

What people were you thinking of when answering this question?

•

What if the question asked “In a typical week, when communicating with family,
how often are politics discussed - basically every day, a few times a week, a few
times a month, once a month or not all all? What would your response be.

•

And what about “In a typical week, when communicating with friends, how often
are politics discussed - basically everyday, a few times a week, a few times a
month, once a month, or not all all? What would your response be?

•

In this question, what do you think the term “communicating” means?

•

What was the type of communication you had with these folks? In other words,
tell me a little about whether it was face-to-face, by phone, by Email, in a chat
room, etc.

•

The questions asks about “politics” being discussed . (Researcher: re-read
question so term is in context.) What does that term mean to you in this question?

•

Do you think the word “politics” implies such things as campaigning, elections or
politicians?
Do you thing the word “politics” implies such things as public assistance, support,
abortion, or opposition to the Iraq war.

•

Page 7

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. I am going to read some ways that people get news and information. Please tell me
how often you do each of the following in a TYPICAL MONTH:
(a) Read a newspaper in print or on the Internet - basically every day, a few times a
week, a few times a month, once a month or not at all?
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all
DK
Refused

(b) Read news magazines such as Newsweek or Time, in print or on the Internet basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a month, once a month or not at
all?
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all
DK
Refused

Page 8

© Watch the news on television - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a
month, once a month or not at all?
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all
DK
Refused

(d) Listen to the news on the radio - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times
a month, once a month or not at all?
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all
DK
Refused

(e) Obtain news from the Internet, other than from on-line newspapers and magazines basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a month, once a month or not at
all?
9 Basically every day
9 A few times a week
9 A few times a month
9 Once a month
9 Not at all
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to assess the extent to which persons are able (and willing) to stay
informed about issues and events, whether at a local, state, national, or international level. Persons
who seek out and obtain fair and balanced information provided by a variety of reputable news
sources/organizations are more likely to make informed decisions regarding their civic activities
than persons who do not draw upon such information. Through this question, determining the main
media sources for civic and political information can be obtained.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 9

RETROSPECTIVE PROBES for 3a - 3e:
Reread 3a - 3e separately and after each question, ask:
•

In your own words what is this question asking?

•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

3a and 3b - Reread. Do you think that it is clear that these questions are asking about
reading newspapers and magazines in hard copy print versions or in online versions? If no,
ask: What is it about the question that does not make that clear?

•

3d - Re-read: How do you think persons who obtain their news through blogs would realize
this question pertains to them?

•

To summarize, this series of questions asked whether people get their news from newspapers
and magazines in print or online, news on television, news on the radio and news obtained
from the Internet, other than online newspapers and magazines. Are there any other means
through which you obtain news that we may not have covered.

• What is your main media source for your civic and political information?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 10

4. I am going to read a list of things some people have done to express their views. Please tell
me whether or not you have done any of the following in the last 12 months, that is
between September 2006 and now:
(a) Contacted or visited a public official - at any level of
government - to express your opinion?

Yes 9

No 9

(b) Attended a meeting where political issues are discussed?

Yes 9

No 9

© Bought or boycotted a certain product or service because of
the social or political values of the company that provides it?

Yes 9

No 9

(d) Taken part in a march, rally, protest or demonstration?

Yes 9

No 9

(e) Showed support for a particular political candidate or party Yes 9
No 9
by distributing campaign materials, fundraising, making a
donation or in some other way?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which persons actively participate in civic or
political activities, beyond voting, in order to influence pubic and private institutions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RETROSPECTIVE PROBES after 4a - 4e have been asked.:
Reread 4a - 4e separately and for each question, ask:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

For each “yes” response to survey questions, ask: About how many times did you do (X)
during the past 12 months? _ _

•

You responded yes to X and Y. Were these (two/ three/four) different activities that you did
or do some of these activities cross over multiple categories?

•
•

For 4a - ask: What does the term “public official” mean to you in this question?
“ ” “ What does the term “contacted or visited” mean to you in this question.

•

For 4c, ask: What does the phrase “bought or boycotted a certain product or services” mean
as used in this question?
For 4c, ask: What does the phrase “social or political values” mean as used in this question.

•

•

For 4d, ask: What do the terms “march, rally, protest or demonstration” mean as used in
this question.

•

For 4e, ask: What does the phrase “particular political candidate or party” mean as used in
this question.

Page 11

5. Now I would like to ask about groups or organizations with which people are sometimes
involved. I will read a list of types of organizations. Please tell me whether or not you
have participated in any of these groups during the last 12 months, that is between
September 2006 and now:
(a) A hobby, sports, arts, music or other leisure activity group?

Yes 9

No 9

(b) A service, social welfare, or fraternal organization?

Yes 9

No 9

© A youth, parent, or school-support organization?

Yes 9

No 9

(d) A labor union or professional, trade, farm or business
association?

Yes 9

No 9

(e) A neighborhood, ethnic or political organization?

Yes 9

No 9

Yes 9
No 9
(f) A church or other religious organization?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to determine the extent of the respondent’s participation in different
types of groups and organizations. The types of groups provided are intended to provide a broad
scope of different kinds of civic engagement.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RETROSPECTIVE PROBES after 5a - 5f have all been answered:
Reread 5a - 5e separately and for each question, ask:
•

In your own words what is this question asking?

•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

What timeframe were you thinking about when you answered these questions?

•

For each yes, ask: You responded “yes” to the question about X. Can you give me an
example of the group you are involved with that prompted a “yes” to the question?
• And about how many times did you participate in this group(s) during the last 12
months? ____

•

If yes to more than one item, ask: You responded yes to X and Y. Were these (two/ three/four)
different groups that you participated in or do some of these activities cross over multiple
groups.

(Note: Additional probes (retrospective) on this question at end of interview.)

Page 12

6. In the last 12 months, between September 2006 and now, have you been an officer or
served on a committee of any group or organization?
9 Yes
9 No
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which persons take a leadership position in
organized civic or social activities. These activities support civic organizations that mediate
between the private sphere and public and private institutions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

If original answer was “yes”, ask: Tell me a little about the position you held when
serving as an officer or on a committee.
•Was it a local, state, national, or international group or organization?

•

What does the phrase “been an officer or served on a committee” mean to you?

•

What does the phrase “group or organization” mean as used in this question.

Page 13

7. In the last 12 months, between September 2006 and now, have you attended a meeting of
any group or organization?
9 Yes
9 No
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to assess whether a respondent actively and formally participated in a
group or organization.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
•

How did you arrive at your answer?

•

What time period were you thinking of when you answered?

•

What does the phrase “attended a meeting” mean to you?

•

In this question what do you think the phrase “of any group or organization” means?

•

If R answered “Yes” to Q7, ask: Tell me a little about the types of meetings you’ve
attended.

•

If R answered “Yes” to Q7, ask: About how many times have you attended a meeting
of any group or organization during the last 12 months? _ _

•

If R answered “Yes” to Q7, ask: At these meetings were issues related to the functions
of the group(s) discussed?

•

When answering the question, did you think that church attendance should be
included?

•

Do you think social gatherings should be included in response to the original
question?

•

What about a gathering of a soccer club to play a soccer match? Do you think we
would want that included?

Page 14

(Do not ask Q8 for one person households.)
8.
In a TYPICAL MONTH, how often do you eat dinner with any of the other members of
your household - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a month, once a
month or not all all?
9
9
9
9
9
9
9

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all
DK
Refused

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to assess the regularity of the respondent’s connection with members
of his or her family. This provides a measure of the persons’ active engagement with a key
“bonding” network.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
• What persons were you thinking about when answering the question?
• Are there family members outside your household who usually eat dinner with you?
• Which is more typical - that all members of your household eat dinner together or only
some members of the family eat dinner together?

Page 15

9.

In a TYPICAL MONTH, how often, if at all, do you communicate with family or friends
by Email or on the Internet - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a
month, once a month or not at all?

9 Basically every day
9 A few times a week
9 A few times a month
9 Once a month
9 Not at all
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which the respondent communicates or
“connects” with friends outside of in-person, or face-to-face, meetings. This question also
measures the level of regular communication with those who are not available for in-person
meeting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
• What persons were you thinking about when answering this question?
• Do you consider “text-messaging” as communicating by Email or on the Internet?
• What about communications through MySpace or Facebook? Do you consider that as
communicating by Email or on the Internet?

Page 16

10.

In a TYPICAL MONTH, how often do you talk with any of the neighbors in the 10 or 20
households that live nearest to you - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times
a month, once a month or not at all?

9 Basically every day
9 A few times a week
9 A few times a month
9 Once a month
9 Not at all
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the extent to which the respondent interacts socially with
those persons that are close to him or her geographically. “The frequency with which the
respondent communicates with his or her neighbors is indicative of the level of neighborhood
activity.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
(Note: Additional probes (retrospective) on this question at end of interview.)

Page 17

11

In a TYPICAL MONTH how often do you and your neighbors do favors for each other?
By favors we mean such things as watching each other’s children, helping with
shopping, house sitting, lending garden or house tools, and other small acts of kindness basically every day, a few times a week, a few times a month, once a month or not at all?

9 Basically every day
9 A few times a week
9 A few times a month
9 Once a month
9 Not at all
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to provide a measure of the respondent’s participation in social
networks where the members live in close proximity. In asking specifically about the exchange of
“favors”, this question also provides information regarding the level of reciprocity between the
respondent and his or her neighbors or shared social norms.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
• What types of favors were you thinking of when answering this question?
• What does the term “neighbors” mean to you as used in this question.
• What does the term “favors” mean to you as used in this question.
• What does the phrase “small acts of kindness” mean to you as used in this question.
• Are any of your family members your neighbors?
- If probe response is “yes,” ask: Were you including favors they might do for you
when you answered this question?

Page 18

12a. About how many CLOSE FRIENDS do you have, if any? These are people you feel at
ease with, can talk to about private matters, or call on for help? Would you say that you
have no close friends, one or two, three to five, six to ten, or more than ten?
9 No close friends (Skip to 13)
9 One or two
9 Three to five
9 Six to ten
9 More than ten
9 DK
9 Refused
12b. How many of these close friends have a college degree?

____

12c. How many did not graduate from high school?

____

12d. How many are of a different race than you?

____

____
12e. How many are from a different social or economic background
than you?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to provide information on the diversity of the respondent’s social
networks where the ties between members are very close. When a person can seek support from
their close friends, he or she is more likely to have emotional and physical well-being, which is also
connected to greater community involvement.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROBES:
• Re-read 12 a - e and for each, ask:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
• What period of time were you considering when answering this question?
• What does the term “close friends” mean to you as used in this question?
• What does the term “private matters” mean to you as used in this question?
• One of the questions asked about friends with “college degrees.” Do you think you
should answer “yes” for persons who have a two-year Associates degree?
• What about the question asking about friends who did not graduate from high school. If
a person has a GED, would you consider that person to have graduated from high
school?
• What does the phrase “from a different social or economic background than you” mean
in this question.

Page 19

• For 12a, ask: Do you think the question wants you to include any family members who
you consider as “close friends.”
- If yes, ask: Did you include family members in your response?

Page 20

13. We would like to ask a question about how you view other people generally; that is, those
people other than your immediate family and close friends. Would you say most people
can be trusted or that you cannot be too careful in dealing with people?
9 Most people can be trusted
9 You cannot be too careful in dealing with people
Q It depends
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure generalized trust, a key concept under this domain. Trust
in strangers indicates that individual trust extends beyond his or her close, or “bonding,” networks,
and is more likely to engage in collaborative actions with those persons he or she does not know.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• PROBES:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
• When answering the survey question were you thinking about strangers, people you
know, or people in general?
• What period of time were you thinking about when answering this question.
(Note: There is an alternative version of this question administered in the retrospective probes at
the end of the interview.)

Page 21

14. The last two questions are about the process of passing Federal laws in the nation’s
capital, Washington, D.C. Many people don’t know the answers to these questions, so if
you don’t know, just tell me and we’ll go on.
(a) What individual or group of individuals has the responsibility to make the final
decision on whether a law is constitutional or not - is it the Congress, the Supreme
Court, or the President of the United States?
9
9
9
9
9

Congress
Supreme Court
President of the United States
DK
Refused

(b) Do you happen to know how much of a majority is required for the U.S. Senate and
House to override a presidential veto? Is it 51 percent, 60 percent, 67 percent or 80
percent?
9 51 percent
9 60 percent
9 67 percent
9 80 percent
9 DK
9 Refused
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Question Objective: Intended to measure the accuracy of the respondent’s knowledge about the
workings of the national government. Such knowledge is important to informed and effective civic
engagement.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROBES:
Reread 14a and ask:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?
Reread 14b and ask:
• In your own words what is this question asking?
• How did you arrive at your answer?

Page 22

RETROSPECTIVE PROBES
ADMINISTER AFTER INTERVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR LABORATORY
PARTICIPANT.
QUESTION SPECIFIC TARGETED PROBES
Now I want to go back to some questions we discussed earlier to get your opinions about a few
issues related to the questions. I’m going to re-read the question to refresh your memory.
Re-read Q5 a - 5e separately and ask probes below.
5. Now I would like to ask about groups or organizations with which people are sometimes
involved. I will read a list of types of organizations. Please tell me whether or not you
have participated in any of these groups during the last 12 months, that is between
September 2006 and now:
(a) A hobby, sports, arts, music or other leisure activity group?

Yes 9

No 9

(b) A service, social welfare, or fraternal organization?

Yes 9

No 9

© A youth, parent, or school-support organization?

Yes 9

No 9

(d) A labor union or professional, trade, farm or business
association?

Yes 9

No 9

(e) A neighborhood, ethnic or political organization?

Yes 9

No 9

(f) A church or other religious organization?

Yes 9

No 9

PROBES:
• If R’s original responses were “no” to all 5a - 5f items, ask: Is there ANY type of groups or
organizations you were involved during the last 12 months? Tell me a little about the
group(s).
•

Our questions use the words “groups or organizations.” Does that have the same meaning to
you as “clubs or organizations.”

Page 23

•

Hypotheticals:
• If a person pays dues to the Sierra Club or National Geographic Association, but does not
attend any meetings of the groups, do you consider paying dues to be “participation” in a
group?
• If a person was in a book club, do you think any of the questions should be answered yes?
• What about involvement in civic organizations such as the Rotary Club or Lions Club? Do
you think any of the questions should be answered “yes”? Which one?
• How about participation in the 4 H Club? Do you think any of the questions should be
answered “yes”? Which one?
• How about participation in Good Will Industries or with a homeless shelter? Do you think
any of the questions should be answered “yes”? Which one?
• What about involvement with an organization like Mothers Against Drunk Driving? Do
you think any of the questions should be answered “yes”? Which one?
• What about involvement with a Neighborhood Watch Group or Neighborhood Advisory
Committee? Do you think any of the questions should be answered “yes”? Which one?
• In question 5f, if a person goes to church but does not participate in any church-related or
religious organizations, how do you think that question should be answered? Do you think
any of the questions should be answered “yes”? Which one?

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Reread Q10 and give R’s original response.
10. In a TYPICAL MONTH, how often do you talk with any of the neighbors in the 10 or 20
households that live nearest to you - basically every day, a few times a week, a few times
a month, once a month or not at all?
9
9
9
9
9
•

Basically every day
A few times a week
A few times a month
Once a month
Not at all

PROBES:
• As used in this question, what does the term “households” mean to you?
• Regarding the neighbors you were thinking of when answering this question - - how
close do they live to you?
• Regarding the neighbors you were thinking of when answering this question - - are any
of them family members or other relatives?
• The question specified “neighbors in the 10 or 20 households that live closest to you.”
When answering the question, were you focused on those households or your neighbors
in general?
• In a typical month, how many of the neighbors in the 10 or 20 households closest to you
do you talk to? This does not include persons to whom you only give a casual “hello” .

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Q13. SOCIAL TRUST QUESTION (AGREE - DISAGREE ALTERNATIVE APPROACH)
•

(a) How much do you agree with the following statement: “Most people can be trusted.” Do
you strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree or
strongly disagree with that statement?
9
9
9
9
9

•

Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree

(b) How much do you agree with the following statement: “You cannot be too careful in
dealing with people.” Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor
disagree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with that statement?
9
9
9
9
9

Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree

PROBES:
• In your own words what are those questions asking?
• How did you arrive at your answers?
• When answering the survey questions, were you thinking about strangers, people you know,
or people in general?
• What period of time were you thinking about when answering these two questions?

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REFERENCE PERIOD ISSUES:
• Several questions I asked you earlier in the survey referred to a “TYPICAL MONTH”. How
did you interpret that time frame?
How long of a period did you think about in determining a “TYPICAL MONTH”?
•

Some questions referred to the last 12 months, from September 2006 until now.
How did you interpret that time frame?

(Researcher Note: Have clean version of questionnaire, without probe questions, available for
participant to refer to, if needed, when trying to identify specific questions in response to probes
below.)
PROXY ISSUES:
• Would you be able to answer the survey questions about everyone that lives in your
household? If no, ask which topics R might not be able to answer for other household
members.
•

Do you think other people living in your household would be willing to answer the survey
questions? If no, probe further as to which ones and why.

•

Do you think one household respondent would be able to answer the survey questions about
everyone that lived in their household? If no, probe further as to which ones and why.

Page 27

SENSITIVITY ISSUES:
• What was your overall opinion about the survey questions we discussed?
• Do these questions sound like a lot of other survey questions you’ve answered?
• Did you find any of the questions difficult to answer? If yes, probe to determine which
questions the participant thought were difficult to answer?
• Did you find any of the questions sensitive? If yes, probe further to identify which questions
and what it was about them that was sensitive.
• Were you offended by any of the questions we asked? If yes, probe further to identify which
questions and what it was about them that was offensive.
• Is there anything about these questions that might cause you not to want to participate in
Census Bureau surveys? If yes, probe further to determine what reasons the participants has.
• Did you think the questions were appropriate for a Census Bureau survey? If no, probe
further to determine why the questions don’t seem appropriate.

THANK RESPONDENT FOR THEIR TIME.
HAVE PARTICIPANT COMPLETE PAYMENT VOUCHER.
PROVIDE PAYMENT.

THANK RESPONDENT AGAIN.

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