AI Moderator Guide AI Moderator Guide

Moderator Guide for AIAN Enrollment Question Research

American Indians

INTRODUCTION (10 minutes)

GREETING:

Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is _____ and I am your moderator today. We will be here for about two hours. The purpose of our group is to talk about the relationships and memberships you may have with American Indian tribes. The Census Bureau is interested in learning about how you think about these relationships and memberships as part of our effort to develop a new question for the 2020 Census.

SELF-DISCLOSURE:

I’m a researcher at the Census Bureau. My job is to improve the collection of census data from a wide variety of people and groups by coming out to talk with them. By asking questions and listening, I can help the decision makers hear the voices of respondents like you and apply that information to improve the census.

I am very interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions on your relationships and memberships with American Indian tribes. I will ask you some questions about how you define some terms. It’s likely that you may have different ways of looking at some concepts and I would like us to discuss similarities and differences, as well as any other terms you may use.

There are no wrong answers to these questions. Feel free to make any positive or negative comments about any of the things you discuss today. We are aiming for each of you to be heard and it is okay if people do not agree. We do not need to reach consensus. To moderate this discussion, I will be looking at each of you. I recognize this may be somewhat outside how you may talk with others and I hope you will help me with this. If I happen to say something that is not appropriate about American Indians, let me know and I will correct myself.

GROUND RULES:

For those who have never been in a room like this, let me tell you something about it. There are many rooms like this around the country. They have equipment for tape recording and for video-recording, so that an accurate report can be written later. This room has a one-way mirror and other research team colleagues will be observing and listening from the back room. The observers and I have been sworn to protect your confidentiality. Only those who work on this project and have been sworn to protect your confidentiality may view or listen to the recordings of this group.

So that the conversation flows smoothly, I have the following ground rules, so we will all move together in the same direction and to make sure we will end on time.

[ALSO PASS THESE GROUND RULES OUT BEFORE THE FOCUS GROUP SESSION STARTS]

• Please talk one at a time

• Please talk as loudly as I talk, so everyone can hear

• Avoid side conversation with your neighbor

• I want to hear from everyone; however, you do not have to answer all questions

• It’s okay to respond to each other or piggyback on what others have said

• Work for equal time so no one talks too much or too little

• There are no wrong answers and we are not aiming for consensus

• Say what you believe, whether or not anyone agrees with you; diversity of opinions is fine

• Only one person up from the table or out of the room at a time. The restrooms are [SAY RESTROOM LOCATION HERE].

• To get through all the material and finish on time, I may need to redirect the conversation at times.

SELF-INTRODUCTIONS: Please introduce yourself to the group and tell us:

• Your first name

• The city where you live

• What you enjoy doing in your free time

Who would like to start? [LET RESPONDENTS SPEAK IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE COMFORTABLE]

Before we begin, are there any questions?

PART A: BASELINE ACTIVITY AND DISCUSSION ON TRIBE/VILLAGE/CORPORATION REPORTING

(15 MINUTES)

I am going to pass out a form now and when you receive one, write your first name or initials on the upper right side of form. Then please read the question and write down your answer. [Pass out the form. Proceed when each person has one.]

We want to know what each of you thinks on your own, so please answer this form without checking to see how anyone else is answering. Treat yourself as Person 1. [Wait two minutes for respondents to give an answer. If anyone is still not finished, let respondents know they have about 15 more seconds to give an answer.]

On this form, there is an instruction on the American Indian or Alaska Native line for you to print an answer.

1.0 Now I’d like to hear from each person what you wrote, if anything, on the line for the American Indian or Alaska Native checkbox. I’d also like to know if you wrote anything related to being American Indian on any of the other race category lines. Finally, please tell me the reasons for how you answered. We’ll go around the room, starting to my right. [AS MODERATOR, YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO LET RESPONDENTS SPEAK IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE COMFORTABLE.]

[IF RESPONDENTS GIVE COMMENTS ON AIAN RACE CATEGORY EXAMPLES, PROBE RESPONDENTS AND ALLOW A SHORT DISCUSSION]

PART B: DISCUSSION ON TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP AND ENROLLMENT (40 MINUTES)

1.0 Now the discussion will turn to the relationship you may have with a tribe. On Question 1 of your Focus Group Questions handout, please list the tribe or tribes you are associated with, and whether you are a member of that tribe or tribes. [Wait TWO MINUTES for respondents to give an answer. If anyone is still not finished, let respondents know they have about 15 more seconds to give an answer.]

What tribe or tribes are you associated with? From now on, anyone can jump in and answer.

2.0 For those of you who are members, how did you become a member of that tribe?

3.0 For those of you who are not “members” of any tribe, how would you describe your relationship with the tribe or tribes you listed?

4.0 Please list the tribe or tribes in which you are enrolled for Question 2 of your Focus Group Questions handout. [WAIT 20 SECONDS.] For those of you who are members of a tribe, are you enrolled in that tribe?

5.0 Now please turn to Question 3 and answer this question in your Focus Group Questions handout. [WAIT 20 SECONDS.] To your knowledge, does an American Indian need to be enrolled in a tribe to be considered a member of that tribe?

5.1 [IF NOT ALREADY DISCUSSED] What about your tribal leaders and other members of the tribe? Would they think an American Indian needs to be enrolled in a tribe to be considered a member?

6.0 What does enrollment in an American Indian tribe mean to you?

6.1 What do you think the difference is, if any, between being enrolled in a tribe and being a member of a tribe?

7.0 Once a person is enrolled in your tribe, are there circumstances in which someone’s enrollment status might change? [IF YES] What are those circumstances? 

PART C: CENSUS BUREAU DATA COLLECTION ON TRIBAL ENROLLMENT

(55 MINUTES)

1. Please answer Question 4 on your Focus Group Questions Handout. [WAIT 20 SECONDS.] As you know, the Census Bureau collects American Indian and Alaska Native tribal information. The Census Bureau is also considering whether to ask about tribal enrollment. Do you think the Census Bureau should ask American Indians whether they are enrolled in a tribe?

[MODERATOR: WRITE OUT THEIR RESPONSES TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON AN EASEL.]

1.1 Let’s talk about the reasons why the Census Bureau should or shouldn’t ask a tribal enrollment question. First, what are some reasons you think the Census Bureau should ask for tribal enrollment? [WRITE EVERYONE’S ANSWERS UNDER THE HEADING “PROS.”]

1.2 What are some reasons you think the Census Bureau should not ask for tribal enrollment? [WRITE EVERYONE’S ANSWERS UNDER THE HEADING “CONS.”]

1.3 Was anyone undecided or not sure about whether the Census Bureau should ask a tribal enrollment question?

1.3.1 (If yes) For what reasons were you undecided? [MAKE SURE TO GET EVERYONE’S REASONS.]

2.0 How important is it TO YOU to be able to mark on the 2020 Census form whether you are enrolled in a tribe? For what reasons?

3.0 Suppose that the Census Bureau’s number of persons enrolled in your tribe is different than the tribe’s number of enrolled. What would you think if the Census Bureau’s enrollment count of your tribe was considerably different from your tribe’s own records?

3.1 [IF NOT ALREADY DISCUSSED] What would you think if the Census Bureau’s enrollment count of your tribe was considerably lower than your tribe’s own records?

4.0 What would you think if the Census Bureau asked to see the tribes' own enrollment lists to check how well a new census question worked in counting the enrolled population?

As I mentioned earlier, the Census Bureau is thinking about whether to ask about tribal enrollment. They are also thinking about what words should be used to ask about tribal enrollment for you and your tribe. I’m about to show you some samples of tribal enrollment questions. These are only samples to help you think about the best way to ask this question. Feel free to give any comments about them or suggestions for how to change them. There are no wrong answers. Are there any questions?

[HAND OUT SAMPLE ENROLLMENT QUESTION 1 AND WAIT UNTIL ALL HAVE RECEIVED IT]. Please look at Sample 1.

5.0 What do you think about Sample 1?

5.1 What are the parts of this question you like?

5.2 What are the parts of this question you don’t like?

5.3 How would you change this question?

[HAND OUT SAMPLE ENROLLMENT QUESTION 2 AND WAIT UNTIL ALL HAVE RECEIVED IT]. Please look at Sample 2.

6.0 What do you think about Sample 2?

6.1 What are the parts of this question you like?

6.2 What are the parts of this question you don’t like?

6.3 How would you change this question?

[HAND OUT MOCK ENROLLMENT QUESTION 3 AND WAIT UNTIL ALL HAVE RECEIVED IT]. Please look at Sample 3.

7.0 What do you think about Question 3?

7.1 What are the parts of this question you like?

7.2 What are the parts of this question you don’t like?

7.3 How would you change this question?

8.0 These are the samples we came up with. What are other ways to ask about tribal enrollment that we haven’t talked about yet?

9.0 What are some other words you have used or heard being used to describe being enrolled in a tribe other than the word “enrolled?”

9.1 [IF ANSWERS ARE GIVEN] How well would these words work in the samples we have talked about so far?

10.0 Thinking of the people you live or stay with most of the time, how would you answer these questions for them?

11.0 Of all the question wordings we have, which one do you think most clearly asks about your enrollment status? For what reasons?

11.1 Of all the question wordings we have here, which one do you think would best measure enrollment for American Indians in the Census? For what reasons?

12.0 Based on what we’ve talked about today, what do you think are the most important things for the Census Bureau to remember from this discussion?

13.0 Does anyone have any additional comments?

Thank you very much for your participation!

Name____________________________________________

Name____________________________________________

FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS HANDOUT

1. What tribe or tribes are you associated with? Please list the names of the tribe or tribes with which you are associated. For each tribe, also answer whether you are a member of that tribe.

Name of Tribe:

Are you a member this tribe?

Yes

No

Name of Tribe:

Are you a member this tribe?

Yes

No

Name of Tribe:

Are you a member this tribe?

Yes

No

Name of Tribe:

Are you a member this tribe?

Yes

No

I am not associated with any tribes.

Name____________________________________________

2. Please list the tribe or tribes in which you are enrolled.

Name of Tribe:

Name of Tribe:

I am not enrolled in any tribe.

Name____________________________________________

3. To your knowledge, does an American Indian need to be enrolled in a tribe to be considered a member of that tribe?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don’t know

4. Something else

Name____________________________________________

4. Do you think the Census Bureau should ask American Indians whether they are enrolled in a tribe?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Undecided

Sample 1

9. On April 1^st, was Person 1 enrolled in a tribe?

☐No, not enrolled

☐Yes, enrolled – Print enrolled tribe(s) below. 

Sample 2

8. Which categories describe Person 1? Mark all boxes that apply AND print details in the spaces below. Note, you can report more than one group.

☐American Indian or Alaska Native – Provide details below.

☐American Indian ☐ Alaska Native ☐ Central or South American

Print, for example, Navajo Nation, Blackfeet Tribe, Mayan, Aztec,

Native Village of Barrow Inupiat, Nome Eskimo Community, etc. 

On April 1^st, what was Person 1’s relationship with this tribe?

☐ Enrolled ☐ Member ☐ Associate Member

☐ Non-member ☐ Citizen ☐ Dis-enrolled

☐ Relinquished ☐ Enrolled ☐ Other:__________________________

Sample 3

9. On April 1^st, was Person 1 enrolled in a tribe?

☐ No, not enrolled

☐ Yes, enrolled – Print enrolled tribe below. 

Is the tribe above federally recognized, state-recognized, or

non-recognized?

☐ Yes, federally-recognized

☐ Yes, state-recognized

☐ Yes, non-recognized

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