Federal Statistical System Public Opinion Survey

Attachment B

Potential Questions for Rotation

1. Sometimes federal statistical agencies need to get information such as employment history or retirement benefits. They can do it by getting the information from other government agencies or by asking people for it directly in a survey. Some people think people’s privacy would be better protected if each agency collected the information directly through surveys. How do you feel about federal agencies collecting information directly? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, or strongly against?

   1. How do you yourself feel about federal agencies trying to save government money and save people’s time by sharing information with each other? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, strongly against?

2. When you fill out a form for a government agency about your own _______, do you think they keep a record of that information? (Rotate: Employment; health care/medical, government assistance, like TANF or Food Stamps (SNAP); income)

1. Yes

   1. Which of the following best describes what you think happens to that record:

      1. The government agency does not share your information and uses it only for the purpose it was collected for.

      2. The government agency shares it with any other government agency that may need it.

      3. The government agency only shares your information with your consent.

   2. What do you think they should do with that record:

      1. Keep it only for themselves?

      2. Share it with other government agencies as needed?

      3. Ask you first, then share it if you say it is ok.

2. No

3. How about government programs, like food stamps or temporary aid to needy families - When you fill out a form to apply for government program, do you think they keep a record of that information?

1. Yes

1. Which of the following best describes what you think happens to that record:

   1. The government agency does not share your information and uses it only for the purpose it was collected for.

   2. The government agency shares it with any other government agency that may need it.

   3. The government agency only shares your information with your consent.

2. What do you think they should do with that record:

   1. Keep it only for themselves?

   2. Share it with other government agencies as needed?

   3. Ask you first, then share it if you say it is ok.

2. No

4. When you give your own information to one government agency, does that agency own that information or do you still own that information? Does another government agency have the right to ask for and get your information? What if they promise confidentiality?

5. Earlier, we talked about _________. Currently, the census asks for the number of people that live in each household, their ages, genders, race, ethnicity and relationships among household members. (Rotate: the census that is conducted every ten years by the U.S. Census Bureau, the unemployment rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics produces)

1. Imagine that the census was conducted, in part, with Information already available to other government agencies, like the Social Security Administration. Do you think it would be more accurate, less accurate, or it would not make a difference?

2. What if the census were conducted, in part, with commercial data from a private company? Do you think it would be more accurate, less accurate than asking people directly, or would it not make a difference?

6. Federal Statistical Agencies often need detailed, specific information to create statistics about people. They can either ask people for it directly or get it from another available source. Which do you think would be more accurate:

1. To get your earnings history information from you or from the Social Security Administration?

2. To get your current income information from you or from the IRS?

3. To get your employment information from you from a state agency, like the employment or workforce office?

4. To get your health services experiences from you or from Medicare?

5. To get your health services experiences from you or from your doctor?

6. To get your home value from you or from a private company?

7. To get information on your purchases from a credit card company you use?

7. If you knew your specific name and information would never be singled out and would only be used for statistics, would you be in favor of, or against a federal statistical agency:

1. Getting your earnings history information from the Social Security Administration? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, or strongly against?

2. Getting your current income information from the IRS? Are you strongly, etc.

3. Getting employment information about you from a state agency, like the employment or workforce office?

4. Getting your health services experiences from Medicare?

5. Getting your health services experiences from your doctor?

6. Getting your home value from a private company?

7. Getting information on your purchases from a credit card company you use?

8. In order to do a survey, Federal statistical agencies need contact information, like a phone number or an address, to locate people for a survey.

1. How do you feel about a statistical agency getting your contact information from another government agency, like the post office? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, or strongly against?

2. How do you feel about a statistical agency getting your contact information from a state office, like a state Department of Motor Vehicles? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, or strongly against?

3. How do you feel about a statistical agency getting your contact information from a private company, like a commercial mailing list company? Are you strongly in favor, somewhat in favor, somewhat against, or strongly against?