Various Pretesting Activities (see attached list)

Protocol for 2010 Race Reinterview

Cognitive Interviewing Protocol

April 27, 2009

Participant ID #: |___|___|___|___|___|

Interview Date: |___|___| / |___|___| / |_2_|_0_|_0_|_9_|

Interviewer: |___|___|

Cognitive Interviewer: |___|___|

Respondent state: □ DC □ MD □ VA □ Other_______________________

Interviewer – Start Interview

Cognitive interviewer - Note any problems/comments/questions/puzzled looks/exasperated sighs respondent has on the questionnaire – come back and probe on these afterwards.

After the interview:

Now, I am going to ask you some questions about your answers and about the questions themselves. I am really interested in how these questions work for you, so there are no right or wrong answers.

• Overall, what did you think of that interview? Was it easy or difficult?

• Can you tell me how you came up with your answers? What were you thinking about as you answered these questions? Make sure you have a good understanding of their racial classification – why they chose the answers they did.

Go through questions and discuss any places where something unusual came up.

• When you think about your race or origin, how far back in your family (or heritage) do you go? Do you think about your parents? Your grandparents? Your great-great-grandparents?

• Generally, how many races do you think a person could report? Only if needed: One? Two? More than two? Why?

• Have you ever lived in another country? If yes, Did you report your race differently there than you do here?

• If R has children – do you report your child(ren)’s race(s) the same or differently than your own? Does it matter if they were born here or in another country?

If a person reported more than one race or origin:

• How do you typically report your race or origin?

• Do you ever report your race or origin differently? Does it depend on who you are talking to? Or if it’s a government form?

If person reported “biracial,” “multiracial,” or another similar term instead of races:

• Can you tell me more about why you reported TERM instead of reporting multiple races or origins?

If person used terms like biracial, multiracial, mixed race or mestizo, probe on term R used:

• What does the term “biracial” mean to you? How about “multiracial”? How about “mixed race?” How about “mestizo”?

Just a few final questions to wrap up –

• Overall, do you think some people might find these questions difficult? How about sensitive?

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

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