Justification for Change

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance System (NISVSS),

(OMB no. 0920-0822, exp. date 09/30/2012)

Proposed Changes: Justification and Overview

February 22nd, 2010

Justification

We are requesting non-substantive changes to an approved surveillance activity. The scope, purpose, burden, protocol, methodology, and planned analyses remain unchanged from the original application.

The proposed changes relate to minor changes in the language and structure of the data collection survey. These changes are the result of corrected text for improvements in data collection, improved readability, and improved flow of the survey. The proposed changes will not result in a change in the approved burden estimate. This is because of the improved efficiency of the interview.

The changes that were made in the final version are minor and include the following:

• Four additional gate questions for all respondents

  • In the past 12 months, how often have you been worried or stressed about not having enough money to pay your rent or mortgage? (page 17)

  • In the past 12 months, how often have you been worried or stressed about not having enough money to buy nutritious meals? (page 17)

  • How many of your romantic partners

    • have destroyed something that was important to you? (page 23)

    • tried to get you pregnant when you didn’t want to be pregnant? (page 23)

    • refused to use a condom when you wanted them to? (page 23)

    • burned you on purpose? (page 25)

  • During your lifetime, have you had sex with only men, only women, or both men and women? (with follow up if indicating same-sex activity) page 55

• Two additional follow up questions for approximately 20% or less of respondents (only those who reported experiencing violence - the majority of respondents will not be asked these questions)

  • Did you ever believe you or someone close to you would be seriously harmed or killed by {perpetrator}? (page 36)

  • What is {perpetrator’s} race? (page 50)

• Additional minor changes include slight wording changes and reorganizing the coercive control section, the sexual violence section, and the related follow up question sections. These changes included, for example, moving “threatened to hurt you or someone you love” from the coercive control section to the physical violence section and changing the words to “threatened to physically harm you.” This was done to clarify that we were referring to physical harm, not emotional hurt (e.g., hurt feelings or broke your heart). Another example is changing the order of questions in the sexual violence section to decrease the potential for confusion on the part of the respondent and the potential for double reporting.

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