Disposition Table

Attachment 10a Disposition Table with Callback Rules

Definitions of terms
Respondent	A person who is contacted by an interviewer and who may be eligible for interview.
Calling attempt	An attempt is an effort to reach a potential respondent by dialing a phone number, even if the dialing does not reach or connect with a working phone line.
Landline telephone	A telephone that is used within a specific location. Includes traditional household telephones, VOIP and internet phones connected to computers in a household.
Cellular telephone	A mobile device that is not tied to specific location for use.
Selected respondent	A person who is eligible for interview. For the cellular telephone sample a selected respondent is an adult associated with the phone number who lives in a private residence or college housing within the US or territories covered by the BRFSS. For the landline telephone sample a selected respondent is the person selected for interview during the household enumeration section of the screening questions.
Calling occasions	There are three calling occasions: weekday (before 5:00 pm on a weekday); weeknight (after 5:00 pm on a weekday), and; weekend (any time on Saturday or Sunday).
Personal Cellular Telephone	A cellular telephone that is used for personal calls. Cellular telephones that are used for both personal and business calls may be categorized as personal telephones and are eligible for interview. Telephones that are used exclusively as business phones are not personal telephones and, therefore, are not eligible for interview.

Disposition Code	Description	Definition	Range of number of attempts	Call back rules
1100	Complete	Assign if selected respondent completes questionnaire.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)
1200	Partial complete	Assign if selected respondent completes gender and three other demographic questions with responses other than “don’t know/not sure” or “refused”	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Selected respondent may be called back to fully complete the interview. Give final disposition on 15th or subsequent call attempt even if there is only one occurrence of a refusal or termination.
2111	Household level refusal (landline telephone only)	Assign for landline telephone only if refusal after confirmation of reaching household telephone line used by adults in correct state but before household selection and core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Refusal can be from any member of the household (note: if refusal by selected respondent use code 2112). Automated messages should not count as refusals.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts and at least one interim disposition of 5111 (household level refusal).
2112	Selected respondent refusal	Assign if refusal by selected respondent before Core BRFSS Q1 is answered by landline telephone. Automated messages should not count as refusals. Assign if cellular telephone respondent refuses after number determined to be personal phone and respondent confirms living in private residence or college housing.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts and at least one interim disposition of 5112 (respondent refusal).
2120	Break off/ termination within questionnaire	Assign if selected respondent has completed Core BRFSS Q1 with response other than “Don’t know” or “refused’ and terminates/breaks off prior to demographics section. (NOTE: If respondent completes gender and three other demographics questions prior to break off, code 1200.)	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5120 (break off/termination).
2210	Selected respondent never available	Assign if selected respondent is never available. Selected respondent may not have been contacted or contacted and asked to be called later. Includes repeated unsafe location for interview, respondent away during period of interview, respondent not available for appointment. Includes selected respondents who die during interview period.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition when notified or after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephone. Cellular tele-phone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of calling attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5100 (appointment), or 5560 (unsafe location).
2220	Household answering device (landline telephone only)	Assign if repeated contact with answering device that confirms residential/non business number (landline telephone only). The answering device gives a message confirming private residence by using the words “home,” “family,” “residence,” or “house” or by using family name in the message (landline telephone only). Due to potential for cellular telephone answering devices to be out-of-sample and/or not be connected to eligible respondents, do not assign this code to cellular telephone sample numbers. For cellular telephone s use code 3140 (Answering device, unknown if eligible residence/respondent).	6-15 attempts	Give final disposition after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephones. Assign after maximum number of calling attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5220 (answering device, confirms residence).
2320	Selected respondent physically or mentally unable to complete interview	Assign if selected respondent is unable to complete interview due to physical or mental impairment. This includes temporary conditions such as bereavement, which will last beyond the interview period.	1-6 attempts	Assign the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as physically or mentally incapable of completing survey or the second time a respondent who is physically or mentally impaired is contacted.
2330	Language barrier, selected respondent	Selected respondent does not speak English or other language for which interviewers are available. (NOTE: If language barriers prevent completion of respondent selection, assign code 3330 (language barrier, physical or mental impairment).	1-6 attempts	Assign the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as not speaking English or other language (i.e. Spanish) for which interviewers are available.
3100	Unknown if housing unit	Assign if hang up or call back request without confirming private residence/college housing (landline telephone and cellular telephone). Assign for landline telephone sample if contact without completion of private household/college housing screener questions.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition after second hang-up / call back request / termination or when a first time hang up will not be called back because of hard refusal or special circumstances and when household eligibility is NOT established. If the first occurrence is on 15th attempt, give final disposition.Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5050 (hang up, unknown if housing unit).
3130	No answer	Assign if telephone rings normally but no one answers. Assign if number reaches mailbox which has not yet been set up.	6-15 attempts	Give final disposition after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with plurality of interim dispositions of 5130 (no answer).
3140	Answering device, unknown whether eligible	ONLY assign if it is possible to leave a message or if a mailbox is full. Assign if answering device leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is not a residence or that the respondent is not eligible due to age. Assign for cellular tele-phone answering devices that may not be eligible.	10-15 attempts for landline telephones; up to 8 attempts for cellular telephones	Give final disposition after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with plurality of interim dispositions of 5140 (answering device, unknown if eligible residence or respondent).
3150	Telecommunication barrier	Assign if call blocking, call ID requirements or other respondent initiated block device leaves open the possibility of the number reaching an eligible household and/or respondent. Assign if call forwarded to other number and there is some potential for reaching household or actual respondent at later time.	1-6 attempts	Give final disposition after up to 3 calling occasions of no more than 2 attempts with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5150 (telecommunication barrier) and all others noncontact.
3200	Household, not known if respondent eligible	Assign for landline telephone sample if private residence confirmed without selecting respondent. (NOTE: If contact is made and household eligibility is unknown, use code 3100). Assign for cellular tele-phone if contact is made with household resident without determining whether cellular tele- phone number and respondent are eligible.Contact with group home may apply. Contact with vacation home may apply. Contact with household where residents are away for interview period may apply.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition after second hang-up/ termination or when a first time hang up will not be called back because of hard refusal or special circumstances and when respondent eligibility is NOT established. If the first occurrence is on 15th attempt, give final disposition. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5050 (hang up, unknown if respondent eligible).
3322	Physical or mental impairment (household level)	Assign if physical or mental impairment prevents determination of private residence or prevents determination of eligibility of household or resident. This is a household level assignment. If selected respondent is physically or mentally impaired, assign 2320 after first attempt.	1-6 attempts	Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5320 (physical or mental impairment).
3330	Language barrier, (household level)	Assign if language barrier prevents determination of private residence or prevents determination of eligibility of household or resident. This is a household level assignment. If selected respondent has language barrier assign 2330 when informed.	1-6 attempts	Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5330 (household language barrier). Do not assign if there are interviewers within the calling center who could complete the interview in language spoken by household (i.e. Spanish).
3700	On never call list	Assign only if supervisor can determine that respondent/ household is on never call list. Interviewer should not assign based on respondent information. (NOTE: If respondent insists that he/she is on never call list code assign household level refusal (2111) or respondent refusal (2112).	No attempt	Assign with confirmation by supervisor. Interviewer should not assign based on respondent information.
4100	Out of sample	Assign if out of state for landline telephone or out of country for cellular telephone. Assign if indication that number reaches vacation home or household members are not living in home during interview period. (NOTE: If contact is made with respondent who indicates that they have been reached at their vacation home where they live for at least 30 days per year, interview can continue).	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Assigned as soon as sample ineligibility determined. This should take priority over other final dispositions.
4200	Fax/data/modem	Assign if call reaches fax or data line without human contact.	1-6 attempts	May be assigned after one attempt. If states choose to use six attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. If states choose to use six attempts, cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. If six attempts are used, assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5200 (fax/data/modem) and all others noncontact with any person.
4300	Nonworking number/ disconnected	Assign if tritone. Assign if operator message of nonworking number. States may choose to assign for temporary nonworking number message on first attempt or after repeated temporary nonworking number messages. Assign if “number changed” message. Assign if correctly dialed number rings to incorrect number. Assign if respondent reports that connection has been made to wrong number. A number that does not accept incoming calls (such as a hospital line only used for outgoing calls)	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be assigned after one attempt. If states use six attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5400 (technological barrier), 5300 (possible nonworking) or 5550 (busy) and all others noncontact.
4400	Technological Barrier	Assign if repeated busy, fast busy or circuit busy messages. Assign if repeated ambiguous operator messages. Assign if repeated poor audio quality. Assign if number repeatedly does not connect. Assign if cellular telephone respondent is outside calling area. Assign if respondent is unable to receive calls. DO NOT assign if answering device (which permits leaving messages) is reached.	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be assigned after one attempt or pre assigned using precall status. Assign as soon as interviewer reaches number resulting in tritone. If states use six attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with interim dispositions of 5200 (fax/data/modem), 5400 (technological barrier), 5300 (possible nonworking) and/or 5550 (busy) and all others noncontact.
4430	Call forwarding / pager	Assign if message indicates number has been forwarded. Assign if number reaches a pager. Assign if connection produces series of beeps. Assign if informed that number forwarded to other number. (NOTE: Do not select respondents from household or location that is different from the original number. Do not enumerate the number of adults at location which is different from original number.)	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be assigned after one attempt. May give final disposition after respondent or automated message informs that the number has been forwarded after multiple attempts. May give final disposition after series of beeps indicates a pager has been reached. If states use six attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephone. Cellular telephone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts.
4450	Cellular telephone (landline telephone only)	Assign if landline telephone sample number connects to cellular tele-phone or if sample indicates that a number in the landline telephone sample has been ported to a cellular telephone.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone).	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions for the landline telephone sample. This disposition code should be pre-assigned to precall status code which indicates cellular telephone in the landline telephone sample.
4460	Landline telephone (cellular telephone only)	Assign if cellular telephone sample number connects to a landline telephone.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone).	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions for the cellular telephone sample.
4470	Cellular telephone respondent with landline telephone	Assign if cellular telephone respondent also has landline telephone and reports receiving less than 90% of all calls on cellular tele- phone.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone).	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions for the cell phone sample.
4500	Non-residence	Assign if business, government, or other organization. For cellular tele–phone, assign if telephone is used exclusively for business purposes.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions. This disposition should be assigned to numbers with a precall status of 5.
4510	Group home	Assign if respondent identifies number as reaching a group home, prison, halfway house, nursing home or hospital. College dormitories, graduate student housing, sorority/fraternity housing, or other college provided housing is not defined as group home. Persons living in college housing are eligible for interview.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions.
4700	Household, no eligible respondent	Assign if child telephone (landline telephone or cellular telephone). Assign if landline telephone household without eligible respondent.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions.
4900	Miscellaneous, non-eligible	Assign for null numbers, special data circumstances only. May be assigned if data are believed by state coordinator or data collection supervisor to be falsified or in error. Notify CDC when this code is used.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt. Assign only with supervisor approval.
5050	Unknown whether eligible	Respondent hangs up or refuses before establishing eligibility. The state location question is not needed to establish eligibility for cellular telephone respondents.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5100	Appointment	Respondent asks for an appointment or asked to be called at some other time. Assign if child answers the phone and does not get an adult to come to the phone. Appointments may be formal or informal statements that the respondent is temporarily not able to complete the interview from household members or selected respondent.		Schedule a callback for appropriate time.
5111	Household level refusal (landline telephone only)	Assign for landline telephone only if refusal after confirmation of reaching household phone line used by adults in correct state but before core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Refusal can be from any member of the household (note: if refusal by selected respondent, use code 2112). Automated messages should not count as refusals.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day. May assign final disposition of 2111 if hard refusal.
5112	Selected Respondent refusal: hang up or termination	Assign if refusal by selected respondent before Core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Automated messages should not count as refusals. Assign if cellular telephone respondent refuses after number determined to be personal (nonbusiness) phone and respondent confirms living in private residence or college housing.		Give interim disposition. Schedule callback for as long as practical for up to two weeks after initial refusal.
5120	Break off / termination in questionnaire	Assign after respondent completes through Core BRFSS Q1 with an answer other than “don’t know/not sure” or “refused” but breaks off prior to end of demographic section.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day.
5121	Call dropped	Assign for cellular telephone respondent if call is dropped.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back may occur immediately or rescheduled after an interval of one hour.
5130	No answer	Assign if number rings normally without answer. Assign if number reaches mailbox that has not yet been set up.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5140	Answering device, unknown whether eligible	Assign ONLY if it is possible to leave a message or if a mailbox is full or not yet established. Assign if answering device leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is not a residence or that the respondent is not eligible due to age. Assign for cellular telephone answering devices that may not be eligible.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5150	Telecommunication barrier	Assign if call blocking, call ID requirements or other respondent initiated block device leaves open the possibility of the number reaching an eligible household and/or respondent. Assign if call forwarded to other number and there is some potential for reaching household or actual respondent at later time.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5200	Fax/data/modem	Assign if number connects to data or fax line without human contact.		States may assign final disposition of 4200 at any attempt, including the first attempt. If states choose to call up to six attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one day.
5220	Answering device, confirms residence (landline telephone only)	The answering device gives a message confirming private residence by using the words “home,” “family,” “residence,” or “house” (landline telephone only). Due to potential for cellular tele-phone answering devices to be out-of-sample and/or not be connected to eligible respondents, do not assign this code to cell phone sample numbers.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5300	Possible nonworking	Assign if message indicates number might be nonworking. Assign if recorded message indicates number is temporarily out of service. Assign if message indicates telephone number cannot be reached at this time. Assign if recording indicates that the number is for outgoing calls only (such as a hospital line for outgoing calls only).		States may assign final disposition of 4300 at any attempt including the first attempt. If states choose to call up to six attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one hour.
5320	Physical or mental impairment	A household respondent or selected respondent is temporarily unable to be interviewed due to physical or mental impairment. NOTE: If selected respondent has permanent physical or mental impairment that renders him/her unable to complete the interview, assign final disposition of 2320 (physical or mental impairment) as soon as informed.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5330	Language barrier	Assign if a respondent who is not the selected respondent does not speak English or other language for which an interviewer is available. (NOTE: If selected respondent does not speak English or language for which there is an interviewer available, give final disposition of 2330 as soon as informed.)		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5400	Technological barrier	Assign if fast busy or circuit busy messages. Assign if ambiguous operator messages. Assign if poor audio quality. Assign if number does not connect. Assign if cell phone respondent is outside calling area. Assign if respondent is unable to receive calls. DO NOT assign if answering device (which permits leaving messages) is reached.		States may assign final disposition of 4400 at any attempt. If states choose to call up to six attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one day.
5550	Busy	Assign if number produces normal busy (not fast busy) signal.		States may assign final disposition of 4400 at any attempt. If states choose to call up to six attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one hour.
5560	Unsafe location/ activity for interview	Assign if respondent indicates he/she unable to continue due to safety concerns. May be assigned to numbers in cellular telephone or landline telephone sample.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Schedule a callback time or call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5700	Supervisor attention	Assign if special circumstances require supervisor attention		Assign only for special circumstances.
5900	Null attempt	Assign only with supervisor approval for special data circumstances.		Assign only with supervisor approval for special data circumstances.