Methodological Research to Support the NCVS: Self-Report Data on Rape and Sexual Assault: Pilot Test

Calendar of last 12 months Resp ID _____

Birthday or birth of new child

Change in marital status

Death in family

Vacation

New job or promotion

Moved to new house or apartment

Other (WRITE IN)

Event History Calendar

Introduction: Before we move on to questions about health and safety, let’s spend a few minutes talking about what you did and things that happened to you over the last year. It might be difficult to remember things that happened as long as a year ago. Sometimes people find it helpful to think about a calendar to remember things. Let’s put some things that are specific to you on the calendar.

PROMPT 1: What are some of the things you did or things that happened to you this past year, that is, since {MONTH/YEAR}?

RECORD RESPONDENT’S EVENTS ON CALENDAR. READ PROMPT 2 IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT PRODUCED A BOUNDARY EVENT:

Things that you did or things that happened to you around one year ago from today will be helpful in this interview.

PROMPT 2: Is there anything that happened in {MONTH/YEAR} that we can note on the calendar? It doesn’t have to be anything unusual or important, just anything that you remember from around that time.

RECORD RESPONDENT’S EVENTS ON CALENDAR. ASK A GENERAL PROMPT SUCH AS “ANYTHING ELSE?” TO ELICIT MORE EVENTS.

READ PROMPTS 3-6 IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT PRODUCED A BOUNDARY EVENT:

IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT MENTIONED A FAMILY MILESTONE, READ:

PROMPT 3. Were there any family events, such as a birth or birthday celebration, a wedding, or a death in the family?

IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT MENTIONED A VACATION OR FAMILY EVENT, READ:

PROMPT 4. Did you or anyone in your family go on vacation or to a special event?

IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT MENTIONED A WORK-RELATED EVENT, READ:

PROMPT 5. Did you change jobs, or get a promotion?

IF RESPONDENT HAS NOT MENTIONED CHANGING RESIDENCES, READ:

PROMPT 6. Did you move to a different house or apartment?

MARK EVENTS ON THE CALENDAR.

1 Attachment W1: Event History Calendar