Focus Groups for New Items to Measure Certificates and Industry-Recognized Certifications among Adults in the United States

SHUGOLL RESEARCH
7475 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 200
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(301) 656-0310
www.shugollresearch.com

AIR0901
CIRCLE
December 17 – Certificate – 6PM
December 17 – Non-Certificate – 8PM
December 18 – Certificate – Noon

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COGNITIVE FOCUS GROUP SCREENER
(DRAFT 12/03/09)
RESPONDENT NAME: ___________________________________________________________
DATE RECRUITED:
RECRUITED BY:
DATE CONFIRMED:
CONFIRMED BY:
RECRUIT 12 FOR 8 TO 10 TO SHOW PER GROUP.
Hello, this is
from Shugoll Research, an independent research firm. We are
conducting a brief, but important research study on education and career development sponsored
by the National Center for Education Statistics and other federal statistical agencies. This is strictly
research. Your participation is voluntary and confidential, and you will receive no sales pitch or
follow-up calls based on your participation. I’d like to ask you a few questions.
1.

First, which of the following categories best describes your level of education? (READ LIST)
CIRCLE ONE
Less than a high school degree

1

→(THANK AND
TERMINATE)

High school degree or GED
Some college, no degree
Associate’s degree (AA, AAS)

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3
4

→(CONTINUE)

5
6
7

→(THANK AND
TERMINATE)

Bachelor’s degree or higher
Other (SPECIFY)
(DO NOT READ) Don’t know/refused

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2.

Do you have a professional certification in any of the following fields? (READ LIST. CIRCLE
ONE PER ROW)
Yes

No

Technology (i.e., system administrator,
network professional/architect, IT
professional, enterprise developer, etc.)

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2

Health care (i.e., nursing, case management,
occupational/physical therapy, social work,
counselor, etc.)

1

2

Business (i.e., financial planning, accounting,
human resources, marketing, consulting,
etc.)

1

2

Construction (i.e., construction project
management, construction safety,
contracting, etc.)

1

2

↓

↓

(MUST HAVE AT LEAST
ONE CIRCLED TO QUALIFY
FOR “CERTIFICATE”
GROUPS. RECRUIT A MIX.
SKIP TO Q. 4)

(IF “NO” TO ALL,
CONTINUE
WITH Q. 3A)

3a. Do you have any other type of certification, certificate, license, or similar qualification?
CIRCLE ONE
Yes

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→(RECRUIT FOR “NON-CERTIFICATE”
GROUP AND CONTINUE WITH Q. 3b)

No

2

→(SKIP TO Q.3c)

3b. What type of qualification do you have? (RECRUIT A MIX)
______________________________________________________________________ (RECORD)

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3c. How interested would you be in getting a professional certification, certificate, license or
similar qualification in any job or industry? (READ LIST)
CIRCLE ONE
4
3

Very interested
Somewhat interested
Not very interested
Not at all interested
(DO NOT READ) Don’t know
4.

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→(RECRUIT FOR “NON-CERTIFICATE”
GROUP AND CONTINUE WITH Q.4)
→(THANK AND TERMINATE)

Please describe the benefits to you of having a professional qualification. (PROBE) What
motivated you (or would motivate you) to obtain the qualifications? (RECORD ANSWER
VERBATIM. PROBE AND CLARIFY FULLY.)

ANY SCREENER WITHOUT A VERBATIM ANSWER DOES NOT QUALIFY.
IF RESPONDENT IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO GIVE AN ANSWER IN ENGLISH, THANK &
TERMINATE.
IF RESPONDENT HAS HEAVY ACCENT OR CANNOT MAKE HIM OR HERSELF CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD
IN ENGLISH, THANK & TERMINATE.
IF RESPONDENT ONLY GIVES ONE OR TWO WORD ANSWERS AND IS UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO
ELABORATE ON MEANING, THANK & TERMINATE
5.

Which of the following categories includes your age? (READ LIST)
Under 21

CIRCLE ONE
1

21 to 25
26 to 30
31 to 35
36 to 40

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4
5

→(CONTINUE. RECRUIT A MIX OF AGES.)

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7

→(THANK AND TERMINATE)

OR 41 or older
(DO NOT READ) Refused

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→(THANK AND TERMINATE)

6.

And, are you: (READ LIST)
Employed full-time
Employed part-time

CIRCLE ONE
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Not employed
A full-time student
OR Retired
(DO NOT READ) Refused
6.

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→(CONTINUE WITH Q.6)

→(SKIP TO Q.8)

Who is your current employer? (RECRUIT A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR)
______________________________________________________________________ (RECORD)

7.

What is your occupation, that is, what type of work do you do? (RECRUIT A MIX OF JOB TYPES)
______________________________________________________________________ (RECORD)

8.

Could you please tell me with which one of the following groups you identify most strongly?
(READ LIST)
White/Caucasian
Black/African American
Hispanic/Latino
Asian or Pacific Islander
OR Part of some other racial or ethnic group
(DO NOT READ) Refused

CIRCLE ONE
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→(RECRUIT A MIX)

9a. Have you ever participated in a research discussion group?
Yes

CIRCLE ONE
1

No

2

→(CONTINUE)
→(SKIP TO Q. 10)

9b. How long ago was the last research discussion group you participated in? (DO NOT READ)
Within the past 6 months
Six or more months ago

CIRCLE ONE
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2

→(THANK & TERMINATE)
→(CONTINUE)

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9c. What was the topic of the study you participated in? (DO NOT READ)
CIRCLE ONE
Education-related
Job-related

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Other (SPECIFY ____________________)

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→(THANK & TERMINATE)
→(CONTINUE)

10. Using a scale of “1” to “10,” where a score of “10” means that the statement describes you
extremely well and “1” means that the statement does not describe you at all, how well does
the following statement describe you? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER BELOW)
CIRCLE ONE NUMBER
Extremely Well
I feel comfortable expressing my
opinions in a group
NOTE:

10

9

Not At All

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3

2

1

↓
6 - 10 MUST BE CIRCLED, OTHERWISE THANK AND TERMINATE.

RECORD GENDER. DO NOT ASK.
Female
Male

CIRCLE ONE
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→(RECRUIT A MIX)

INVITATION
We are conducting a panel discussion with about 10 people to discuss education, job skills, and
career developmentpreferences. The discussion will be held on_____________________ at
_________________PM. The discussion will take about an hour and a half. A cash gift of
$______75_________will be given to each participant. Are you available to attend the meeting?

Yes
No

CIRCLE ONE
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→(SEND DIRECTIONS)
→(THANK AND TERMINATE)

It is possible that during the discussion group you will be asked for your reactions to some written
materials. If you require reading glasses, please be sure to bring them to the session. Thank you.

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