SVS Attachments with Table of Contents

2016 SVS OMB Supporting Statement Attachments.pdf

Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)

SVS Attachments with Table of Contents

OMB: 1121-0302

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 1121-0302 can be found here:

2019-05-01 - Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection

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2016 SVS OMB Supporting Statement Attachments – Table of Contents
Attachment 1: BJS authorizing statute; Title 42, United States Code, Section 3732…………………2
Attachment 2: 2016 NCVS SVS survey instrument……………………………………………………………………7
Attachment 3: Stalking Victims in the United States – Revised, BJS Special Report………………….32
Attachment 4: NCVS-572s Census initial contact letter……………………………………………………………43
Attachment 5: NCVS-573s Census follow-up interview letter..………………………………………………..51
Attachment 6: Cognitive Pretesting of the National Crime Victimization Survey Supplemental
Victimization Survey Final Report…………………………………………………………………………………………....59
Attachment 7: 2016 National Crime Victimization Survey Supplemental Victimization Survey
Cognitive Pretesting Protocols.………………………………………………………………………………………………175

Attachment 1:
BJS authorizing statute; Title 42, United States Code, Section 3732

-CITE42 USC Sec. 3732

01/26/98

-EXPCITETITLE 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 46 - JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
SUBCHAPTER III - BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
-HEADSec. 3732. Bureau of Justice Statistics
-STATUTE(a) Establishment
There is established within the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, a
Bureau of Justice Statistics (hereinafter referred to in this subchapter as ''Bureau'').
(b) Appointment of Director; experience; authority; restrictions
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The Director shall have had experience in statistical programs. The Director shall have final authority for all
grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded by the Bureau. The Director shall report to the Attorney
General through the Assistant Attorney General. The Director shall not engage in any other employment than that of
serving as Director; nor shall the Director hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any organization, agency, or
institution with which the Bureau makes any contract or other arrangement under this Act.
(c) Duties and functions of Bureau
The Bureau is authorized to (1) make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with public agencies, institutions of higher
education, private organizations, or private individuals for purposes related to this subchapter; grants shall be made
subject to continuing compliance with standards for gathering justice statistics set forth in rules and regulations
promulgated by the Director;
(2) collect and analyze information concerning criminal victimization, including crimes against the elderly, and
civil disputes;
(3) collect and analyze data that will serve as a continuous and comparable national social indication of the
prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution, and attributes of crime, juvenile delinquency, civil disputes, and
other statistical factors related to crime, civil disputes, and juvenile delinquency, in support of national, State, and
local justice policy and decisionmaking;
(4) collect and analyze statistical information, concerning the operations of the criminal justice system at the
Federal, State, and local levels;
(5) collect and analyze statistical information concerning the prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution,
and attributes of crime, and juvenile delinquency, at the Federal, State, and local levels;
(6) analyze the correlates of crime, civil disputes and juvenile delinquency, by the use of statistical information,

about criminal and civil justice systems at the Federal, State, and local levels, and about the extent, distribution and
attributes of crime, and juvenile delinquency, in the Nation and at the Federal, State, and local levels;
(7) compile, collate, analyze, publish, and disseminate uniform national statistics concerning all aspects of
criminal justice and related aspects of civil justice, crime, including crimes against the elderly, juvenile delinquency,
criminal offenders, juvenile delinquents, and civil disputes in the various States;
(8) recommend national standards for justice statistics and for insuring the reliability and validity of justice
statistics supplied pursuant to this chapter;
(9) maintain liaison with the judicial branches of the Federal and State Governments in matters relating to
justice statistics, and cooperate with the judicial branch in assuring as much uniformity as feasible in statistical
systems of the executive and judicial branches;
(10) provide information to the President, the Congress, the judiciary, State and local governments, and the
general public on justice statistics;
(11) establish or assist in the establishment of a system to provide State and local governments with access to
Federal informational resources useful in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs under this Act;
(12) conduct or support research relating to methods of gathering or analyzing justice statistics;
(13) provide for the development of justice information systems programs and assistance to the States and units
of local government relating to collection, analysis, or dissemination of justice statistics;
(14) develop and maintain a data processing capability to support the collection, aggregation, analysis and
dissemination of information on the incidence of crime and the operation of the criminal justice system;
(15) collect, analyze and disseminate comprehensive Federal justice transaction statistics (including statistics
on issues of Federal justice interest such as public fraud and high technology crime) and to provide technical
assistance to and work jointly with other Federal agencies to improve the availability and quality of Federal justice
data;
(16) provide for the collection, compilation, analysis, publication and dissemination of information and
statistics about the prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution and attributes of drug offenses, drug related
offenses and drug dependent offenders and further provide for the establishment of a national clearinghouse to
maintain and update a comprehensive and timely data base on all criminal justice aspects of the drug crisis and to
disseminate such information;
(17) provide for the collection, analysis, dissemination and publication of statistics on the condition and
progress of drug control activities at the Federal, State and local levels with particular attention to programs and
intervention efforts demonstrated to be of value in the overall national anti-drug strategy and to provide for the
establishment of a national clearinghouse for the gathering of data generated by Federal, State, and local criminal
justice agencies on their drug enforcement activities;
(18) provide for the development and enhancement of State and local criminal justice information systems, and
the standardization of data reporting relating to the collection, analysis or dissemination of data and statistics about
drug offenses, drug related offenses, or drug dependent offenders;
(19) provide for research and improvements in the accuracy, completeness, and inclusiveness of criminal
history record information, information systems, arrest warrant, and stolen vehicle record information and
information systems and support research concerning the accuracy, completeness, and inclusiveness of other
criminal justice record information;
(20) maintain liaison with State and local governments and governments of other nations concerning justice
statistics;

(21) cooperate in and participate with national and international organizations in the development of uniform
justice statistics;
(22) ensure conformance with security and privacy requirement of section 3789g of this title and identify,
analyze, and participate in the development and implementation of privacy, security and information policies which
impact on Federal and State criminal justice operations and related statistical activities; and
(23) exercise the powers and functions set out in subchapter
VIII of this chapter.
(d) Justice statistical collection, analysis, and dissemination to insure that all justice statistical collection, analysis,
and dissemination is carried out in a coordinated manner, the Director is authorized to (1) utilize, with their consent, the services, equipment, records, personnel, information, and facilities of other
Federal, State, local, and private agencies and instrumentalities with or without reimbursement therefor, and to enter
into agreements with such agencies and instrumentalities for purposes of data collection and analysis;
(2) confer and cooperate with State, municipal, and other local agencies;
(3) request such information, data, and reports from any Federal agency as may be required to carry out the
purposes of this chapter;
(4) seek the cooperation of the judicial branch of the Federal Government in gathering data from criminal
justice records; and
(5) encourage replication, coordination and sharing among justice agencies regarding information systems,
information policy, and data.
(e) Furnishing of information, data, or reports by Federal agencies Federal agencies requested to furnish
information, data, or reports pursuant to subsection (d)(3) of this section shall provide such information to the
Bureau as is required to carry out the purposes of this section.
(f) Consultation with representatives of State and local government and judiciary In recommending standards for
gathering justice statistics under this section, the Director shall consult with representatives of State and local
government, including, where appropriate, representatives of the judiciary.
-SOURCE(Pub. L. 90-351, title I, Sec. 302, as added Pub. L. 96-157, Sec. 2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1176; amended Pub. L.
98-473, title II, Sec. 605(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2079; Pub. L. 100-690, title VI, Sec. 6092(a), Nov. 18, 1988,
102 Stat. 4339; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, Sec. 330001(h)(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2139.)
-REFTEXTREFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(11), is Pub. L. 90-351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 197, as amended,
known as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3711 of this title and Tables.
-MISC2PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior section 3732, Pub. L. 90-351, title I, Sec. 302, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 200; Pub. L. 93-83, Sec. 2, Aug. 6,
1973, 87 Stat. 201; Pub. L. 94-503, title I, Sec. 110, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2412, related to establishment of State
planning agencies to develop comprehensive State plans for grants for law enforcement and criminal justice
purposes, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-157.
AMENDMENTS
1994 - Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 103-322 substituted a semicolon for period at end.
1988 - Subsec. (c)(16) to (23). Pub. L. 100-690 added pars. (16) to (19) and redesignated former pars. (16) to
(19) as (20) to (23), respectively.
1984 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(1), inserted provision requiring Director to report to Attorney
General through Assistant Attorney General.
Subsec. (c)(13). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(A), (C), added par. (13) and struck out former par. (13) relating
to provision of financial and technical assistance to States and units of local government relating to collection,
analysis, or dissemination of justice statistics.
Subsec. (c)(14), (15). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(C), added pars. (14) and (15). Former pars. (14) and (15)
redesignated (16) and (17), respectively.
Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(A), (B), redesignated par. (14) as (16) and struck out former par.
(16) relating to insuring conformance with security and privacy regulations issued under section 3789g of this title.
Subsec. (c)(17). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(B), redesignated par. (15) as (17). Former par. (17) redesignated
(19).
Subsec. (c)(18). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(D), added par. (18).
Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(B), redesignated former par. (17) as (19).
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(3)(A), inserted '', and to enter into agreements with such agencies
and instrumentalities for purposes of data collection and analysis''.
Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(3)(B)-(D), added par. (5).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 98-473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98-473, set out as an
Effective Date note under section 3711 of this title.
-SECREFSECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 5603 of this title.

Attachment 2:
2016 NCVS SVS survey instrument

INTRO -

Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
SECTION I. NCVS SVS SCREENER QUESTIONS

SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
SQ_FOLLOWED
a. Followed you around and watched you?
____________________________________________________
SQ_SNEAKED
b. [Has anyone] Sneaked into your home, car, or any place
else and did unwanted things to let you know they had been
there?
____________________________________________________
SQ_WAITED
c. [Has anyone] Waited for you at your home, work, school,
or any place else when you didn’t want them to?

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the
past 12 months, has anyone…
SQ_SHOWEDUP
d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you were
when they had no business being there?
____________________________________________________
SQ_ITEMS
e. [Has anyone] Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters,
presents, flowers, or any other unwanted items?
____________________________________________________
SQ_HARASSED
f. [Has anyone] Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or
family for information about you or your whereabouts?

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or
behaviors using various technologies, such as your
phone, the Internet, or social media apps. Again, please
DO NOT include bill collectors, solicitors, or other
sales people. In the past 12 months, has anyone…
SQ_TELEPHONE
g. Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice
messages, sent text messages, or used the phone
excessively to contact you?
____________________________________________________
SQ_TECHNOLOGY
h. [Has anyone] Spied on you or monitored your activities
using technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

Page 1

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the
past 12 months, has anyone…
SQ_APPLICATION
i. Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on your
cell phone?
____________________________________________________
SQ_POSTS
j. [Has anyone] Posted or threatened to post
inappropriate, unwanted, or personal information about
you on the Internet, this includes private photographs,
videos, or spreading rumors?
____________________________________________________
SQ_WEBSITES
k. [Has anyone] Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using
the Internet, for example, using social media apps or
websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

SQ_SOCIALMEDIA
l. [Has anyone] Monitored your activities using social
media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
CHECK ITEM 1: If R answered “Yes” to one or more of SQ_FOLLOWED-SQ_SOCIALMEDIA, then skip to SQ2
(SQ_REPETITION). If R did not answer “Yes” to any of the above items, then skip to END INTERVIEW TEXT on page 3.
SQ_REPETITION
SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more
than once in the past 12 months?

1  Yes [skip to SQ3a (SQ_FEAR)]
2  No [skip to CHECK ITEM 2]

CHECK ITEM 2: If R answered “Yes” to more than one of SQ_FOLLOWED-SQ_SOCIALMEDIA, then skip to SQ3a
(SQ_FEAR). If R answered “Yes” to only one of SQ_FOLLOWED-SQ_SOCIALMEDIA, then skip to END INTERVIEW TEXT on
page 3.
SQ_FEAR
SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors
make you fear for your safety or the safety of someone close
to you?
SQ_DISTRESS
SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors
cause you substantial emotional distress?

1  Yes
2  No

Now I have some additional questions about the time
someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behaviorx…}.
Thinking about the person or persons who committed these
unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months, did
any of the following occur –
SQ_PROPERTY
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to
damage or destroy property belonging to you or someone
else in your household?

Page 2

1  Yes
2  No

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed
these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people…
SQ_ATTACK_SELF
Physically attack you?
____________________________________________________
SQ_ATTEMPT_SELF
Attempt to attack you?
____________________________________________________
SQ_THREAT_SELF
Threaten to attack you?

SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed
these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people…
SQ_ATTACK_OTH
Physically attack someone close to you or a pet?
____________________________________________________
SQ_ATTEMPT_OTH
Attempt to attack someone close to you or a pet?
____________________________________________________
SQ_THREAT_OTH
Threaten to attack someone close to you or a pet?

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No

SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS: See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey
should be ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
NOTE: This information is programmed into the CAPI instrument and skip patterns are driven automatically.
Number of
Behaviors (SQ1a-k)
________________
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

Repetition
(SQ2)
_____________
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Actual Fear or Emotional
Distress (SQ3a and SQ3b)
______________________
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

Reasonable Fear
(SQ4, SQ5, or SQ6)
________________
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes

Included in stalking
estimate/survey continuation?
________________________
No – end interview
No – end interview
No – end interview
No – end interview
No – end interview
Yes – continue
Yes – continue
Yes – continue
No – end interview
Yes – continue
Yes – continue
Yes – continue
No – end interview
Yes – continue
Yes – continue
Yes – continue

END INTERVIEW TEXT: “Thank you for your time, that ends the interview.”

Page 3

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

SECTION II. NCVS SVS OFFENDER INFORMATION
OFFENDER_NUMB
OFFENDER_NUMBSP
Q1. Thinking about the unwanted contacts or behaviors you
experienced in the past 12 months, how many different
people have done these things to you?

OFFENDER_ACT
Q2a. Did these people act alone or together as a team?

OFFENDER_MOST
Q2b. Of the people who did these things to you, is there ONE
person who you would consider to be the MOST responsible
for these unwanted contacts or behaviors?

1  One [skip to Q3 (OFFENDER1_SEX)]
2  Two [skip to Q2a (OFFENDER_ACT)]
3  Three or more – Enter number of people ________
[skip to Q2a (OFFENDER_ACT)]
4  Don’t know [skip to INTRO TEXT A]

1  Alone [skip to INTRO TEXT A]
2  Together [skip to Q2b (OFFENDER_MOST)]
3  Don’t know [skip to INTRO TEXT A]

1  Yes [skip to Q3 (OFFENDER1_SEX)]
2  No [skip to Q8a (OFFENDERS_SEX)]

SECTION III. SINGLE OFFENDER
INTRO TEXT A. Thinking about the person who has done this most recently…
OFFENDER1_SEX
Q3. Is this person male or female?

OFFENDER1_AGE
Q4. How old would you say this person is?

OFFENDER1_HISP
Q5. Is this person Hispanic or Latino/a?

OFFENDER1_RACE
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more
than one. Is this person… [Select one or more]

Page 4

1  Male
2  Female

1  Under 15
2  15-17
3  18-20
4  21-24
5  25-34
6  35-49
7  50-64
8  65+
9  Don’t know

1  Yes
2  No
3  Don’t know

1  White?
2  Black or African American?
3  American Indian or Alaska Native?
4  Asian?
5  Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
3  Don’t know

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

OFFENDER1_REL
OFFENDER1_RELSP
OFFENDER1_NONSP
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who
committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors when they
first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted
contacts or behaviors began and not at the time of the interview.]

RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
01  Spouse or partner
02  Ex-spouse or ex-partner
03  Parent or step-parent
04  Own child or step-child
05  Sibling/step-sibling
06  Other relative – Specify __________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
07  Boyfriend or girlfriend
08  Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
09  Other current romantic or sexual partner
10  Other former romantic or sexual partner
11  Friend or ex-friend
12  Acquaintance
13  In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
14  Roommate, housemate, boarder
15  Schoolmate
16  Neighbor
17  Customer/client
18  Student
19  Patient
20  Supervisor (current or former)
21  Employee (current or former)
22  Co-worker (current or former)
23  Teacher/school staff
24  Stranger
25  Other nonrelative – Specify __________
26  Unable to identify the person
[skip to Q14a (INC_DURATION)]

SECTION IV. MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
OFFENDERS_SEX
Q8a. Are these people male or female?

1  All male [skip to Q9 (OFFENDERS_AGE)]
2  All female [skip to Q9 (OFFENDERS_AGE)]
3  Don’t know sex of any offenders
[skip to Q9 (OFFENDERS_AGE)]
4  Both male and female [skip to CHECK ITEM 3]

CHECK ITEM 3: If only two offenders (OFFENDER_NUMB=2), then skip to Q9 (OFFENDERS_AGE). If more than two
offenders (OFFENDER_NUMB=3), then skip to Q8b (OFFENDERS_SEX2).
OFFENDERS_SEX2
Q8b. Are most of these people male or female?

Page 5

1  Most are male
2  Most are female
3  Evenly divided
4  Don’t know

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

OFFENDERS_AGE
Q9. How old would you say these people are? [Mark all that
apply]

OFFENDERS_HISP
Q10a. Are any of these people Hispanic or Latino/a?

1  Under 15
2  15-17
3  18-20
4  21-24
5  25-34
6  35-49
7  50-64
8  65+
9  Don’t know

1  Yes [skip to Q10b (OFFENDERS_HISP2)]
2  No [skip to Q11a (OFFENDERS_RACE)]
3  Don’t know [skip to Q11a (OFFENDERS_RACE)]

OFFENDERS_HISP2
Q10b. Are most of these people Hispanic, non-Hispanic, or an 1  Most are Hispanic or Latino/a
equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic?
2  Most are non-Hispanic
3  Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
4  Don’t know
OFFENDERS_RACE
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Are they…
[Select one or more]

1  White?
2  Black or African American?
3  American Indian or Alaska Native?
4  Asian?
5  Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
6  Don’t know

CHECK ITEM 4: If more than one selection at Q11a (OFFENDERS_RACE), then skip to Q11b (OFFENDERS_RACE2). If only
one selection at Q11a (OFFENDERS_RACE), then skip to Q12 (OFFENDERS_REL).
OFFENDERS_RACE2
Q11b. What race are most of these people?

Page 6

1  Most are White
2  Most are Black or African American
3  Most are American Indian or Alaska Native
4  Most are Asian
5  Most are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
Islander
6  Equal number of each race
7  Don’t know

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

OFFENDERS_REL
OFFENDERS_RELSP
OFFENDERS_NONSP
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who
committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors when they
first began? [Mark all that apply]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted
contacts or behaviors began and not at the time of the interview.]

RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
01  Spouse or partner
02  Ex-spouse or ex-partner
03  Parent or step-parent
04  Own child or step-child
05  Sibling/step-sibling
06  Other relative – Specify __________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
07  Boyfriend or girlfriend
08  Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
09  Other current romantic or sexual partner
10  Other former romantic or sexual partner
11  Friend or ex-friend
12  Acquaintance
13  In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
14  Friends of one of the offenders
15  Roommate, housemate, boarder
16  Schoolmate
17  Neighbor
18  Customer/client
19  Student
20  Patient
21  Supervisor (current or former)
22  Employee (current or former)
23  Co-worker (current or former)
24  Teacher/school staff
25  Stranger
26  Other nonrelative – Specify __________
27  Unable to identify the person

OFFENDERS_EACH
OFFENDERS_EACHSP
Q13. How do the people who committed these unwanted
contacts or behaviors know each other? Are they… [Mark all
that apply]

1  Friends?
2  Classmates or peers?
3  Co-workers?
4  In-laws or family members?
5  Members of a Fraternity or Sorority?
6  Members of a gang or other organized crime
group?
7  Or do they know each other in some other way?
– Specify ___________

SECTION V. DURATION OF STALKING
INC_DURATION
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors
been happening to you?

Page 7

1  Less than one month
2  One month to less than six months
3  Six months to less than one year
4  One year to less than two years
5  Two years to less than three years
6  Three years to less than five years
7  Five years or more
8  Don’t know

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

INC_DISCOVER
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or
behaviors were happening to you?

1  The offender told me
2  Someone else told me
3  I figured it out on my own
4  Don’t know, don’t remember

SECTION VI. FREQUENCY OF STALKING
INC_TIMES
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say
these unwanted contacts or behaviors occurred? Would you
say…

Page 8

1  Two to ten times
2  Eleven to fifty times
3  More than fifty times
4  Too many times to count
5  Don’t know, don’t remember

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

SECTION VII. MOTIVE FOR STALKING
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started
doing these things to you? Was it because…
INC_REVENGE
They wanted retaliation or revenge?
____________________________________________________
INC_AFFECTION
They wanted affection?
____________________________________________________
INC_REJECTED
They felt rejected?
____________________________________________________
INC_OBSESSED
They were obsessed with you?
____________________________________________________
INC_PLANNED
They planned to commit a crime?
____________________________________________________
INC_ALREADY
They had already committed a crime?
____________________________________________________
INC_POWER
They wanted power and control?
____________________________________________________
INC_FELT
They felt like they could do these things to you?
____________________________________________________
INC_OTHER
INC_OTHERSP
Any other reason?

1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes – Specify _____________
2  No

CHECK ITEM 5: If offender physically attacked or attempted to attack respondent (SQ_ATTACK_SELF=1 or
SQ_ATTEMPT_SELF=1), then skip to Q17a (INC_HIT). If offender only threatened to attack respondent
(SQ_THREAT_SELF=1 and SQ_ATTACK_SELF ne 1 and SQ_ATTEMPT_SELF ne 1), then skip to Q18a (INC_THREAT_HIT).
Else, skip to CHECK ITEM 6.

Page 9

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

SECTION VIII. REASONABLE FEAR FOLLOW-UP
Q17a. Earlier you indicated that (this person/these people)
physically attacked or attempted to attack you. Did they
attack or attempt to attack you…
INC_HIT
By hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
____________________________________________________
INC_CHOKE
By choking or strangling you?
____________________________________________________
INC_RAPE
By raping or sexually assaulting you?
____________________________________________________
INC_OBJECT
With a weapon or other object?
____________________________________________________
INC_VEHICLE
By hitting, chasing, or dragging you with a vehicle?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACKOTH
INC_ATTACKOTHSP
Or did they attack you in some other way?

CHECK ITEM 5a: If respondent answered “Yes” to being attacked with a weapon or other object (INC_OBJECT=1), then skip to
Q17b. If respondent answered “No” to being attacked with a weapon or other object and offender threatened to attack
respondent (INC_OBJECT=2 and SQ_THREAT_SELF=1), then skip to Q18a (INC_THREAT_HIT). Else, skip to CHECK ITEM
6.
INC_WEAPON
INC_WEAPONSP
Q17b. What was the weapon or object they used to attack or
attempt to attack you? Was there any other weapon or object
used? [Mark all that apply]

1  Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
2  Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
3  Knife
4  Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
5  Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
6  Other – Specify _________________

CHECK ITEM 5b: If offender threatened to attack respondent (SQ_THREAT_SELF=1), then skip to Q18a (INC_THREAT_HIT).
Else, skip to CHECK ITEM 6.

Page 10

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q18a. Earlier you indicated that (this person/these people)
threatened to attack you. Did they threaten…
INC_THREAT_HIT
To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_CHOKE
To choke or strangle you?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_RAPE
To rape or sexually assault you?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_OBJECT
To harm you with a weapon or other object?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_VEHICLE
To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_KILL
To kill you?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_ATTACKOTH
INC_THREAT_ATTACKOTHSP
Or did they threaten you in some other way?

CHECK ITEM 5c: If respondent answered “Yes” to being threatened with harm with a weapon or other object
(INC_THREAT_OBJECT=1), then skip to Q18b (INC_THREAT_WEAPON). Else, skip to CHECK ITEM 6.
INC_THREAT_WEAPON
INC_THREAT_WEAPONSP
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to
use? Was there any other weapon or object used? [Mark all
that apply]

1
2
3
4
5
6

Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
Knife
Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
Other – Specify _________________

CHECK ITEM 6: If offender physically attacked or attempted to attack someone close to respondent or a pet
(SQ_ATTACK_OTH=1 or SQ_ATTEMPT_OTH=1) then skip to Q19a. If offender only threatened to attack someone close to
respondent or a pet (SQ_THREAT_OTH=1 and SQ_ATTACK_OTH ne 1 and SQ_ATTEMPT_OTH ne 1), then skip to Q19b
(INC_THREAT_CHILD). Else, skip to Q20 (ASSIST_CALL).

Page 11

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q19a. Earlier you indicated that (this person/these people)
attacked or attempted to attack someone close to you or a
pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to attack?
INC_ATTACK_CHILD
A child?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACK_SPOUSE
A spouse or partner?
____________________________________________________
INC_ ATTACK_SIGNOTH
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACK_ FAMILY
Another family member?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACK_FRIEND
A friend or co-worker?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACK_PET
A pet or companion animal?
____________________________________________________
INC_ATTACK_OTHPERS
INC_ATTACK_OTHPERSSP
Someone else?

CHECK ITEM 6a: If offender threatened to attack someone close to respondent or a pet (SQ_THREAT_OTH=1), then skip to
Q19b (INC_THREAT_CHILD). Else, skip to Q20 (ASSIST_CALL).

Page 12

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q19b. Earlier you indicated that (this person/these people)
threatened to physically attack someone close to you or a
pet. Who did they threaten?
INC_THREAT_CHILD
A child?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_SPOUSE
A spouse or partner?
____________________________________________________
INC_ THREAT_SIGNOTH
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_ FAMILY
Another family member?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_FRIEND
A friend or co-worker?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_PET
A pet or companion animal?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_OFFENDER
Himself/herself (offender)?
____________________________________________________
INC_THREAT_OTH
INC_THREAT_OTHSP
Someone else?

SECTION IX. HELP-SEEKING
ASSIST_CALL
Q20. During the past 12 months did you or someone else call
or contact the police to report any of the unwanted contacts
or behaviors you experienced?

Page 13

1  Yes [skip to Q22 (ASSIST_YESREPORT)]
2  No [skip to Q21 (ASSIST_NOTREPORT)]

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ASSIST_NOTREPORT
ASSIST_NOTREPORTSP
Q21. What was the reason these unwanted contacts or
behaviors were not reported to the police?
[Mark all that apply]
Structured Probe
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it
wasn’t important enough to you, police wouldn’t do
anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was
there some other reason?

Dealt with it another way
01  Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager,
employer, hospital official, school official, military
official, etc.)
02  Private or personal matter (handled myself or family
member or friend handled it)
03  Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family
members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
04  Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
05  Not clear it was a crime
06  Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
07  Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
08  Could not find or identify offender
09  Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
10  Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or nocontact order
11  Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
12  Police wouldn’t believe respondent
13  Police would think it was respondent’s fault
14  Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t
want to be bothered or get involved
15  Offender was a police officer, justice officer
16  Police would be inefficient, ineffective
17  Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
18  Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the
offender or others
Other reasons
19  Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
20  Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
21  Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
22  Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
23  Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or nocontact order instead
24  Respondent moved away
25  Offender moved away
26  For the sake of the children
27  Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
28  Other – Specify __________
29  Don’t know

CHECK ITEM 6b: Skip to Q27 (ASSIST_AGENCYSEEK).

Page 14

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ASSIST_YESREPORT
ASSIST_YESREPORTSP
Q22. During the past 12 months, who reported these
unwanted contacts or behaviors to the police? Anyone else?
[Mark all that apply]

ASSIST_ACTION
ASSIST_ACTIONSP
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were
contacted in the past 12 months regarding these unwanted
contacts or behaviors, what did the police do? Anything
else? [Mark all that apply]

01  Respondent
02  Respondent’s friend
03  Neighbor
04  Respondent’s family, in-laws, spouse, parents,
children, relatives
05  Respondent’s girl/boyfriend, partner
06  Doctor, nurse
07  Clergy or faith leader
08  Social worker, counselor, other mental health
professional
09  School official, teacher, faculty, or staff
10  Boss, employer, co-worker
11  Stranger, bystander
12  Security guard, security department
13  Police on scene
14  Other – Specify __________
15  Don’t know

01  Took a report
02  Talked to or warned offender
03  Arrested the offender or took the offender into
custody
04  Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or
no-contact order
05  Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
06  Referred respondent to services, such as victim
assistance
07  Gave advice on how to protect self
08  Took respondent to another location, such as a
hospital or shelter
09  Asked for more information/evidence
10  Other – Specify __________
11  Don’t know
12  Took no action

CHECK ITEM 7: If the police took no action (ASSIST_ACTION=12), then skip to Q24 (ASSIST_NOACTION). Else, skip to Q25a
(ASSIST_CHARGES).

Page 15

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ASSIST_NOACTION
ASSIST_NOACTIONSP
Q24. Why do you think the police took no action? Any other
reason? [Mark all that apply]

ASSIST_CHARGES
Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the
(person/persons) who committed the unwanted contacts or
behaviors you experienced?
ASSIST_FILED
ASSIST_FILEDSP
ASSIST_FILEDBOTHSP
Q25b. What were the criminal charges filed?

ASSIST_OUTCOME
ASSIST_OUTCOMESP
Q26. What was the final outcome of the criminal charges
filed against the (person/persons) who committed these
unwanted contacts or behaviors? Anything else? [Mark all
that apply.]

ASSIST_AGENCYSEEK
Q27. In the past 12 months, did you seek any help or advice
concerning these unwanted contacts or behaviors from any
office or agency – other than police – that assists victims of
crime?

Page 16

01  Police did not think crime occurred
02  Could not find or identify offender
03  Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
04  Respondent lacked or had incorrect restraining,
protection, or no-contact order
05  Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
06  Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
07  Thought it was respondent’s fault
08  Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be
bothered or get involved
09  Were inefficient, ineffective
10  Offender was a police officer, justice officer
11  Offender was well-connected in the community, was
friend/relative with local authorities
12  Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e.
needed a guardian)
13  Other – Specify __________
14  Don’t know

1  Yes [skip to Q25b (ASSIST_FILED)]
2  No [skip to Q27 (ASSIST_AGENCYSEEK)]
3  Don’t know [skip to Q27 (ASSIST_ AGENCYSEEK)]

1  Stalking
2  Something else – Specify ________
3  Both, stalking and something else – Specify ________
4  Don’t know

01  Still pending
02  Dismissed/not guilty
03  Convicted/guilty
04  Plead to lesser charge
05  Fined
06  Court order intervention/counseling program
07  Criminal no-contact order
08  Probation
09  Jailed/imprisoned
10  Other – Specify __________
11  Don’t know

1  Yes [skip to Q28a (ASSIST_AGENCYHELP)]
2  No [skip to Q29 (ACTION_ACTIVITIES)]
3  Don’t know [skip to Q29 (ACTION_ACTIVITIES)]

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ASSIST_AGENCYHELP
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this
or these offices or agencies?

1  Yes [skip to Q28b (ASSIST_HOTLINE)]
2  No [skip to Q28c (ASSIST_AREA)]
3  Don’t know [skip to Q29 (ACTION_ACTIVITIES)]

Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
ASSIST_HOTLINE
Crisis hotline counseling?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_THERAPY
Counseling or therapy?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_LEGAL
Legal or court services?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_ORDER
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact
order?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_COMPENSATE
Federal or state victim compensation?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_FINANCIAL
Short term or emergency financial assistance?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_SHELTER
Shelter or safehouse services?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_SAFETY
Safety planning?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_RISK
Risk or threat assessment?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_MEDICAL
Medical advocacy?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_HELP_OTHER
ASSIST_HELP_OTHERSP
Any other services?

CHECK ITEM 8: Skip to Q29 (ACTION_ACTIVITIES).

Page 17

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q28c. You reported that you sought services from an office
or agency that assists victims of crime, but did not receive
them. Why did you not receive these services? Was it
because…
ASSIST_AREA
Services were not available in your local area?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_TRANSPORT
You did not have a means of transportation to and from the
service provider?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_CHILDCARE
You did not have childcare to go to get services?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_ACCOMODATE
The service provider could not accommodate you (e.g. no
beds available in shelter)?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_WORK
You were unable to take time off of work or school to get
services?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_LANGUAGE
There were language barriers?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_ELIGIBLE
You were not eligible for services?
____________________________________________________
ASSIST_NOHELP_OTHER
ASSIST_NOHELP_OTHERSP
Some other reason?

Page 18

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

SECTION X. SELF-PROTECTIVE ACTIONS
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect
themselves or stop unwanted contacts or behaviors from
continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors
you experienced. Have you…
ACTION_ACTIVITIES
Changed your day to day activities?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_ACTIVITIESLST
ACTION_ACTIVITIESLSTSP
What day to day activities did you change?

____________________________________________________
ACTION_BLOCKED
[Have you] Blocked unwanted calls, messages, or other
communications?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SECURITY
[Have you] Taken self-defensive actions or other security
measures?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SECURITYLST
ACTION_SECURITYLSTSP
What self-defensive actions or security measures did you
take?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_INFO
[Have you] Changed your personal information?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_INFOLST
ACTION_INFOLSTSP
What personal information did you change?

____________________________________________________
ACTION _ORDER
[Have you] Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact
order?
____________________________________________________
ACTION _PROTECT
ACTION _PROTECTSP
[Have you] Did you do anything else to protect yourself or
stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors from continuing?

Page 19

1  Yes [skip to ACTION_ACTIVITIESLST]
2  No [skip to ACTION_BLOCKED]
_______________________________________________
1  Take time off from work or school?
2  Change or quit a job or school?
3  Change the way (route or method of transportation)
you went to work or school?
4  Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
5  Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
6  Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with
you?
7  Move or change where you live?
8  Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
9  Other – Specify ___________
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes [skip to ACTION_SECURITYLST]
2  No [skip to ACTION_INFO]
_______________________________________________
1  Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
2  Get pepper spray?
3  Get a gun?
4  Get any other kind of weapon?
5  Change or install new locks or a security system?
6  Other – Specify ___________
_______________________________________________
1  Yes [skip to ACTION_INFOLST]
2  No [skip to ACTION_ORDER]
_______________________________________________
1  Change your social security number or name?
2  Change e-mail address?
3  Shut down or change information on social media
accounts?
4  Change telephone numbers?
5  Get a new phone or computer?
6  Other – Specify ___________
_______________________________________________
1  Yes
2  No
_______________________________________________
1  Yes – Specify ___________
2  No

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to
protect themselves or to stop unwanted contacts or
behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you…
ACTION_ADVICE
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_REQUEST
Ask people not to release information about you?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_INVESTIGATE
Hire a private investigator?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_ATTORNEY
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_COUNSELOR
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_DOCTOR
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_FAITH
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
____________________________________________________
ACTION _BOSS
Talk to your boss or employer?
____________________________________________________
ACTION _SCHOOL
Talk to your teacher or school official?
____________________________________________________
ACTION _WORKPLACE
Contact your building or workplace security person?

ACTION_CURRENT
Q31. Are these unwanted contacts or behaviors still going
on?

Page 20

1  Yes [skip to Q33 (ACTION_PEERS)]
2  No [skip to Q32 (ACTION_STOPPED)]
3  Don’t know [skip to Q33 (ACTION_PEERS)]

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ACTION_STOPPED
ACTION_STOPPEDSP
ACTION_STOPPEDSP2
Q32. Why do you think these unwanted contacts or
behaviors stopped? Anything else? [Mark all that apply]

Respondent took measures
01  Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
02  Moved
03  Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social
media account
04  Got a new phone or computer
05  Talked to the offender
06  Got married or started a new relationship with
someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
07  Was arrested
08  Was incarcerated
09  Started a new relationship with someone else
10  Moved
11  Died
12  Got help/counseling
Others intervened
13  Police intervened
14  Friend or relative intervened
15  Employer intervened
16  School official, faculty, or staff intervened
17  Clergy or faith leader intervened
18  Other – Specify __________
Other reason
19  Don’t know why it stopped
20  Other – Specify __________

SECTION XI. COST TO VICTIM
Unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in
different ways. Next I would like to ask you some questions
about how the unwanted contacts or behaviors you
experienced may have affected you.
ACTION_PEERS
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors
lead you to have significant problems with your job or
schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
ACTION_FIGHTS
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors
lead you to have significant problems with family members
or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights
than you did before, not feeling you could trust them as
much, or not feeling as close to them as you did before?
ACTION_DISTRESSING
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or
behaviors to you? Were they not at all distressing, mildly
distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?

Page 21

1  Yes
2  No
3  N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job

1  Yes
2  No

1
2
3
4

Not at all distressing
Mildly distressing
Moderately distressing
Severely distressing

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors that have occurred over the past year, did you
feel…
ACTION_FEARFUL
Fearful or terrified?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_WORRIED
Worried or anxious?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_ANGRY
Angry or annoyed?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SAD
Sad or depressed?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_HELPLESS
Vulnerable or helpless?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TRUST
Like you couldn’t trust people?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SICK
Sick?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_STRESSED
Stressed?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_UNSAFE
Unsafe?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SUICIDAL
Suicidal?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_FEELOTHER
Or did you feel some other way?

CHECK ITEM 9: If respondent reported feeling some other way at Q36a (ACTION_FEELOTHER=1), then skip to Q36b
(ACTION_FEELOTHERSP). Else, skip to Q37 (ACTION_KILLED).
ACTION_FEELOTHERSP
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or
behaviors make you feel?

Page 22

Specify ____________________________

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Q37. What were you afraid of happening as these unwanted
contacts or behaviors were occurring? Were you afraid of…
ACTION_KILLED
Being killed?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SELFHARM
Physical or bodily harm?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_OTHHARM
Someone close to you being harmed?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_JOB
Losing your job or job opportunities?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_FREEDOM
Losing your freedom?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_SOCIAL
Losing your social network, peers, or friends?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_FOREVER
The behaviors never stopping?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_UNSURE
Not knowing what might happen next?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_MENTAL
Losing your mind?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_AFRAIDOTHER
ACTION_AFRAIDOTHERSP
Anything else?

ACTION_FIRED
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or
asked to leave a job because of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
ACTION_INSURANCE
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that
was not covered by unemployment insurance, paid leave, or
some other source because of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?

Page 23

1  Yes
2  No
3  N/A, does not have a job

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

ACTION_SUSPENDED
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended
or expelled from school because of these unwanted contacts
or behaviors?

1  Yes
2  No
3  N/A, does not attend school

Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of
these unwanted contacts or behaviors for such things as…
ACTION_TIMEFEAR
Fear or concern for your safety?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMEPOLICE
Police-related activities?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMECOURT
Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection
order or testifying)?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMEPHONE
Changing your phone number or personal information?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMEMOVE
Moving?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMEPROPERTY
Fixing or replacing damaged property?
____________________________________________________
ACTION_TIMEOTHER
ACTION_TIMEOTHERSP
Anything else?

Page 24

FORM SVS-1 (1/14/2016)

Attachment 3:
Stalking Victims in the United States – Revised, BJS Special Report

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics

SEPTEMBER 2012

Special Report

NCJ 224527

Stalking Victims in the United
States - Revised
Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., BJS Statistician

n estimated 3.3 million persons age 18 or older
were victims of stalking during a 12-month period.
Stalking is defined as a course of conduct directed
at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to
feel fear. The data for this report are from the Supplemental
Victimization Survey (SVS) conducted in 2006 as part of
the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The SVS
identified seven types of harassing or unwanted behaviors
consistent with a course of conduct experienced by stalking
victims. The survey classified individuals as stalking victims
if they responded that they experienced at least one of these
behaviors on at least two separate occasions. In addition,
the individuals must have feared for their safety or that of a
family member as a result of the course of conduct, or have
experienced additional threatening behaviors that would
cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
The SVS measured the following stalking behaviors:

making unwanted phone calls

sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or e-mails

following or spying on the victim

showing up at places without a legitimate reason

waiting at places for the victim

leaving unwanted items, presents, or flowers

posting information or spreading rumors about the victim
on the internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.

While individually these acts may not be criminal,
collectively and repetitively these behaviors may cause a
victim to fear for his or her safety or the safety of a family

Errata: The original report, released in January 2009, was
written by Katrina Baum, Ph.D., Shannan M. Catalano, Ph.D.,
and Michael R. Rand of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and
Kristina Rose of the National Institute of Justice. See page 2
for details about the revisions.

member. These behaviors constitute stalking for the
purposes of this study. The federal government, all 50 states,
the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have enacted
laws making stalking a criminal act, although the elements
defining the act of stalking differ across states (see Stalking
Laws on page 3).
The SVS also identified victims who experienced the
behaviors associated with stalking but neither reported
feeling fear as a result of such conduct nor experienced
actions that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
This report characterizes such individuals as harassment
victims. These instances of harassment might eventually
have risen to the definitional requirement for stalking.
However, at the time of the interview, the offender’s actions
and victim’s responses did not rise to the threshold of
stalking victimization as measured by the SVS.
Few national studies have measured the extent and nature
of stalking in the United States. The Department of Justice
Office on Violence Against Women funded the 2006
SVS to enhance empirical knowledge about stalking (see
Methodology). The SVS, which represents the largest study of
stalking conducted to date, incorporated elements contained
in federal and state laws to construct a working definition of
stalking.

HIGHLIGHTS

During a 12-month period, an estimated 1.5% of persons
age 18 or older were victims of stalking.

Nearly 7 in 10 stalking victims knew their offender in some
capacity.

The percentage of stalking victims was highest for
individuals who were divorced or separated (3.3%),
compared to those married, never married, or widowed.

A greater percentage of females were stalked than
males; however, females and males were equally likely to
experience harassment.

BJS

Revisions to Stalking Victims in the
United States initially released
January 2009
The report Stalking Victimization in the United States was
initially released in January 2009. Recently, two errors in
the analysis were identified: some responses regarding
“repetitive and unsolicited communications” were incorrectly
classified as stalking or harassment; and the population
used to generate percents incorrectly used persons age 12
or older instead of persons age 18 or older. Implementing
these corrections resulted in revisions to point estimates of
stalking and harassment victim counts and percentages for
various demographic and victim characteristics. In addition,
previous estimates were presented as victimization rates
per 1,000 persons. The revised report presents stalking and
harassment as a prevalence estimate. Prevalence is defined as
the proportion of the population that experienced an event
or condition within a specified period of time.
In the sample selection procedure for the 2009 report, 170
cases where victims reported receiving “repetitive and
unsolicited communications” were actually spam email,
internet scams, and contacts from telemarketers or bill
collectors. The survey respondents were instructed to exclude
these types of incidents. A total of 133 cases were erroneously
included in the harassment category and 37 cases were
incorrectly included in the stalking victimization category
(table 1). When these cases are excluded, the estimate of
persons who experienced behaviors consistent with either
stalking or harassment dropped to 5.3 million from 5.9 million.
In conjunction with the National Crime Victimization Survey,
the Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS), the data
source for this report, was administered to persons age 18 or
older. However, the estimates presented in the 2009 release
were generated using populations for persons age 12 or
older. The population base for the two age groups varies by
demographic characteristics (table 2). Using populations
for persons age 18 or older, the estimated percentage of the
population experiencing stalking increased from 1.4% to
1.5%.
This revised report is not a comprehensive update of the
original report. The first five tables and figures presented in
the original report and the associated text have been revised,
reflecting the new numerator and denominator and statistical
testing. These tables cover the key stalking and harassment
variables. Also, the Methodology and some appendix material
received slight revision. The original report, tables and other
related documents are no longer available on the BJS website
or in print. The SVS dataset is available to users at the National
Archive of Criminal Justice Data at www.icpsr.umich.edu/
icpsrweb/NACJD/.

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

Table 1
Distribution of spam in unweighted prevalence estimates
of stalking and harassment
Total
Not spam
Flagged as spam

All
1,683
1,513
170

Stalking
983
946
37

Harassment
700
567
133

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

Table 2
Populations for persons ages 12 or older and 18 or older
by selected characteristics
Overall
Sex
Male
Female
Race
White
Black
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Two or more races
Hispanic origin
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Unknown
Age
18–19
20–24
25–34
35–49
50–64
65 or older
Household income
$7,499 or less
$7,500–$14,999
$15,000–$24,999
$25,000–$34,999
$35,000–$49,999
$50,000–$74,999
$75,000 or more
Unknown
Marital status
Never married
Married
Divorced or separated
Widowed
Unknown

Published
12 or older
246,500,200

Revised
18 or older
220,995,170

120,068,420
126,431,780

107,014,170
113,981,000

200,874,080
29,853,700
1,695,400
11,317,780
2,759,240

181,858,650
25,672,890
1,483,760
9,837,830
2,142,040

29,522,670
215,025,170
/

23,440,950
195,655,390
1,898,830

8,047,540
20,346,940
39,835,680
65,886,490
51,400,990
35,515,670

8,053,370
20,348,250
39,760,010
65,878,490
51,483,100
35,471,950

8,418,570
14,562,850
22,428,240
22,862,680
30,345,140
37,956,910
56,633,800
/

7,702,700
13,236,960
20,221,710
20,373,140
27,910,030
34,011,190
50,709,700
46,829,750

79,715,080
123,633,560
26,334,200
14,318,190
/

54,100,740
124,145,550
26,704,680
14,179,710
1,864,500

/Not reported in original report.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

This report presents information on stalking victims.
Harassment is discussed where appropriate to provide fuller
context. Persons interested in viewing the SVS data in its
entirety may obtain the data file from the University of
Michigan’s Archive of Criminal Justice Data at www.icpsr.
umich.edu/NACJD.

FIGURE 1
Duration of stalking and harassment victimization
6 months or less

39.3
12.3

7-11 months

During a 12-month period, an estimated 1.5% of
persons age 18 or older were a victim of stalking

16.9

Harassment
Stalking

10.3
13.4

1 year

An estimated 5.3 million U.S. residents age 18 or older
experienced behaviors consistent with either stalking or
harassment in the 12 months preceding the SVS interview
(table 3). Of the 5.3 million victims, more than half
experienced behavior that met the definition of stalking.
Approximately 1.5% of persons age 18 or older experienced
the repetitive behaviors associated with stalking in addition
to feeling fear or experiencing behaviors that would cause
a reasonable person to feel fear. About 0.9% of persons age
18 or older were classified as victims of harassment who
experienced a course of conduct consistent with stalking
but who did not report feeling fear. Many victims of stalking
reported being stalked over a period of months or years,
and 11% of victims said they had been stalked for 5 years or
more (figure 1).

44.0

6.5

2 years

9.0

3.2
4.6

3 years

1.4 !
2.8

4 years

6.9

5 years or more
Don't know

15.3

2.9
0

11.1

Percent

Note: All victims experienced at least one unwanted behavior in the year before
the interview. See appendix table 2 for standard errors.
! Interpret data with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or the
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

Table 3
Prevalence of stalking and harassment over the 12 months prior to interview
All victims
Stalking victims
Harassment victims

Published number
of victimizations
5,857,030
3,424,100
2,432,930

Revised number
of victims
5,305,730
3,300,570
2,005,160

Published victimization
rate per 1,000 persons
23.8
13.9
9.9

Revised percent
of persons
2.4%
1.5
0.9

Note: The total population age 18 or older was 220,995,170 in 2006. See appendix table 1 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

Stalking Laws
While the federal government, all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, and U.S. territories have enacted criminal
laws to address stalking, the legal definition of stalking
varies across jurisdictions. State laws vary regarding the
element of victim fear and emotional distress, as well
as the requisite intent of the stalker. Some state laws
specify that the victim must have been frightened by the
stalking, while others require only that the stalking would

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

have caused a reasonable person to experience fear. In
addition, states vary on what level of fear is required. Some
state laws require prosecutors to establish fear of death
or serious bodily harm, while others require only that
prosecutors establish that the victim suffered emotional
distress. Interstate stalking is defined by federal law 18
U.S.C. § 2261A.

Unwanted phone calls and message were the most
common type of stalking behavior experienced
Stalking victims were about twice as likely to report
experiencing following or spying on the victim, showing
up at places without a legitimate reason, or waiting outside
(or inside) places for the victim than individuals who were
harassed. For example, 34% of stalking victims reported that
the offender followed or spied on them, compared to 12% of
harassment victims who reported experiencing this behavior
(table 4). Thirty-two percent of stalking victims reported
that the offenders showed up in places where they had no
legitimate purpose being; approximately 12% of harassment
victims reported this type of unwanted behavior. Also, 29%
of stalking victims stated that the offender waited in places
for them, while 10% of harassment victims reported this
type of behavior.
Risk of victimization varied more for stalking than for
harassment
A greater percentage of females experienced stalking than
males (table 5). During the study period, 2.2% of females
experienced at least one stalking victimization compared
to 0.8% of males. Males and females were equally likely to
experience harassment.
Age
The percentage of persons stalked diminished with age.
Persons ages 18 to 19 and 20 to 24 experienced the highest
prevalence of stalking victimization. About 2.9% per 1,000
persons ages 18 to 19 were stalked during the study period,
and 2.8% of persons ages 20 to 24 experienced this type of
victimization.
Table 4
Nature of stalking and harassment behaviors experienced
by victims
Unwanted phone calls and messages
Unwanted letters and e-mail
Spreading rumors
Following or spying
Showing up at places
Waiting for victim
Leaving unwanted presents
Number of victims

All
63.5%
28.4
31.2
26.1
24.1
21.8
9.8
5,305,730

Percent of victims
Stalking Harassment
66.7%
58.3%
30.7
24.7
36.3
22.9
34.4
12.5
31.6
11.8
29.3
9.5
12.5
5.5
3,300,570
2,005,160

Table 5
Characteristics of stalking and harassment victims
Characteristics
Overall
Sex
Male
Female
Race
White
Black
American Indian/
Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific
Islander
Two or more races
Hispanic origin
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Unknown
Age
18–19
20–24
25–34
35–49
50–64
65 or older
Household income
$7,499 or less
$7,500–$14,999
$15,000–$24,999
$25,000–$34,999
$35,000–$49,999
$50,000–$74,999
$75,000 or more
Unknown
Marital status
Never married
Married
Divorced or
separated
Widowed
Unknown

Population
220,995,170

Percent of persons age 18 or older
All
Stalking Harassment
2.4%
1.5%
0.9%

107,014,170
113,981,000

1.6%
3.1

0.8%
2.2

0.9%
1.0

181,858,650
25,672,890

2.4%
2.4

1.5%
1.4

0.9%
1.1

1,483,760

3.8

2.2 !

1.5 !

9,837,830
2,142,040

1.3
6.3

0.6
4.1

0.6
2.3

23,440,950
195,655,390
1,898,830

1.9%
2.5
2.8

1.3%
1.5
1.2 !

0.6%
0.9
1.6 !

8,053,370
20,348,250
39,760,010
65,878,490
51,483,100
35,471,950

4.5%
4.4
2.9
2.7
1.7
0.8

2.9%
2.8
2.0
1.7
1.0
0.3

1.6%
1.6
0.9
1.0
0.7
0.4

7,702,700
13,236,960
20,221,710
20,373,140
27,910,030
34,011,190
50,709,700
46,829,750

4.8%
4.2
3.2
2.9
2.5
2.3
1.8
1.6

3.3%
2.9
2.2
1.7
1.7
1.4
1.0
0.9

1.5%
1.3
1.0
1.1
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.7

54,100,740
124,145,550

3.8%
1.4

2.4%
0.8

1.4%
0.6

26,704,680
14,179,710
1,864,500

4.8
1.4
1.9

3.3
0.7
1.5 !

1.5
0.7
0.4 !

Note: See appendix table 4 for standard errors.
! Interpret data with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or the
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

Note: Detail sums to more than 100% because multiple responses were
permitted. See appendix table 3 for standard errors.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

Race and Hispanic origin of victim

Relationship

A lower percentage of Asians and Pacific Islander (0.6% of
persons age 18 or older) experienced stalking than whites
(1.5%), blacks (1.4%), and persons of two or more races
(4.1%). Non-Hispanics and Hispanics were equally likely
to experience stalking. During the study period, 1.5% of
non-Hispanics experienced stalking. The percentage for
Hispanics during this period was 1.3% for persons age 18 or
older.

Nine percent of victims were stalked by a stranger, and
nearly 70% of all victims knew their offender in some
capacity (table 6). Stalking victims most often identified the
stalker as a former intimate (20%) or a friend, roommate, or
neighbor (15%).

Marital status
The percentage of individuals who were divorced or
separated and stalked was 3.3%—a higher percent than for
persons of other marital statuses. A higher percentage of
individuals who had never been married (2.4%) were stalked
than persons who were married (0.8%) or widowed (0.7%).
Income
As with crime more generally, persons residing in
households with higher incomes experienced a lower
percentage of stalking than those from households with
lower incomes. The percentage of individuals in households
with an annual income of $7,499 or less and those with
an income from $7,500 to $14,999 experienced about the
same percentage of stalking. However, the percentage of
individuals living in these households experienced a higher
percentage of stalking than persons in households with an
annual income at or above $25,000.

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

Table 6
Victim-offender relationship in stalking and harassment
Total
Known, intimate
Current intimate
Spouse
Boy/girlfriend
Former intimate
Ex-spouse
Ex-boy/girlfriend
Known, other
Friend/roommate/neighbor
Known from work or school
Acquaintance
Relative
Stranger
Unknown
Victim unable to identify
a single offender*
Number of victims

All
100%
24.1%
7.1
3.8
3.3
17.0
6.2
10.8
39%
14.6
8.8
8.2
7.4
9.3%
15.1%
12.5%
5,305,730

Percent of victims
Stalking
Harassment
100%
100%
28.1%
17.4%
8.2
5.3
5.2
1.4 !
3.0
3.9
20.0
12.1
7.8
3.6
12.2
8.5
41.8%
34.4%
15.2
13.5
9.2
8.2
9.1
6.8
8.3
5.9
9.0%
9.7%
14.2%
16.5%
6.8%
3,300,570

21.9%
2,005,160

Note: See appendix table 5 for standard errors.
! Interpret data with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or the
coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
*Includes victims who could not identify a single offender who was most
responsible.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey,
Supplemental Victimization Survey, 2006.

Methodology
The Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS) was
administered as a supplement to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey
(NCVS) during January through June, 2006. All NCVS
respondents age 18 and older were eligible for the
supplement. About 65,270 persons participated in the
supplemental survey. The response rate for eligible
individuals was 83%.
The estimates presented in this report are annual prevalence
estimates for persons age 18 or older victimized by stalking
or other harassing behaviors during the 12 months prior to
the interview. The interviews were conducted during the
first 6 months of 2006; therefore, the majority of the stalking
behaviors occurred during 2005.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and
BJS convened a 1-day forum with experts in the area of
stalking and violence against women. Researchers, law
enforcement officials, prosecutors, and victim advocates
comprised the expert group. Also included in the group
were representatives from the Census Bureau, the federal
agency that carries out survey development and data
collection for BJS. The purpose of the 1-day forum was to
discuss definitional and methodological issues surrounding
the crime of stalking, as well as to determine where gaps in
current information on stalking existed and how the SVS
could further the research and knowledge regarding this
crime.
Following this meeting, a small federal working group was
formed with representatives from OVW, BJS, and the Census
Bureau. The working group met weekly for approximately
12 months until a satisfactory survey instrument was
completed and approved. During the last phase of the survey
development, the Census Bureau conducted cognitive
interviews with stalking victims around the United States
to test the instrument before administering the SVS in the
field. Revisions were made to the instrument to incorporate
findings from these interviews.

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

The name of the SVS intentionally does not indicate that
the focus of the survey is stalking. This decision was made
to avoid biasing the responses of individuals and the
subsequent estimates. The respondent had to state that they
experienced all of the following in order for a course of
behavior to be counted as stalking victimization:

At least one of the harassing behaviors in the stalking
screener

Harassing behavior more than one time on separate days

At least one of multiple harassing contacts during the
12 months prior to the interview

Fear for their own or a family member’s safety or
experience of another crime committed by the offender
that would make a reasonable person fearful (see the
Screener questions box).

Victims of harassment met all the requirements for stalking
except those associated with induced fear or the commission
of additional associated crimes. Harassing acts by bill
collectors, telephone solicitors, or other sales people were
excluded from the estimates of stalking and harassment.
Standard error computations
Comparisons of percentages and counts made in this report
were tested to determine if observed differences were
statistically significant. Differences described as higher,
lower, or different passed a test at the .05 level of statistical
significance (95% confidence level). Differences described as
somewhat, lightly, marginally, or some indication passed a
test at the .10 level of statistical significance (90% confidence
level). Caution is required when comparing estimates not
explicitly discussed in the report.

Screener questions for stalking behaviors
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about any unwanted contacts or harassing behavior you may have
experienced that frightened, concerned, angered, or annoyed you. Please include acts committed by strangers, casual
acquaintances, friends, relatives, and even spouses and partners. I want to remind you that the information you provide is
confidential.
1. Not including bill collectors,
telephone solicitors, or other
sales people, has anyone, male
or female, EVER – frightened,
concerned, angered, or annoyed
you by …
a. making unwanted phone calls to
you or leaving messages?
b. sending unsolicited or unwanted
letters, e-mails, or other forms
of written correspondence or
communication?
c. following you or spying on you?
d. waiting outside or inside places
for you such as your home, school,
workplace, or recreation place?

2. During the last twelve months,
did this person attack or attempt to
attack you by...
a. hitting, slapping, or knocking you
down
b. choking or strangling you
c. raping or sexually assaulting you
d. attacking you with a weapon
e. chasing or dragging with a car
f. attacking you in some other way
3. Other than the attacks or
attempted attacks you just told me
about, during the last 12 months,
did this person threaten to...
a. kill you

Questions used to measure
fear
1. How did the behavior of (this
person/these persons) make
you feel when it FIRST started?
Anything else?
a. anxious/concerned
b. annoyed/angry
c. frightened
d. depressed
e. helpless
f. sick
g. suicidal
h. some other way–specify

b. rape or sexually assault you

2. How did you feel as the behavior
progressed? Anything else?

c. harm you with a weapon

a. no change in feelings

f. leaving unwanted items, presents,
or flowers?

d. hit, slap, or harm you in some other
way

b. anxious/concerned

g. posting information or spreading
rumors about you on the Internet, in
a public place, or by word of mouth?

e. harm or kidnap a child

e. showing up at places where you
were even though he or she had no
business being there?

h. none

Actions that would cause a
reasonable person to feel fear

f. harm another family member
g. harm a friend or co-worker
h. harm a pet
i. harm or kill himself/herself

1. In order to frighten or intimidate
you, did this person attack or
attempt to attack...

4. What were you most afraid of
happening as these unwanted
contacts or behaviors were
occurring?

a. a child

a. death

b. another family member

b. physical/bodily harm

c. a friend or co-worker

c. harm or kidnap respondent’s child

d. a pet

d. harm current partner/boyfriend/
girlfriend

c. annoyed/angry
d. frightened
e. depressed
f. helpless
g. sick
h. suicidal
i. some other way–specify

e. harm other family members
f. don’t know what would happen

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

Appendix table 1
Standard errors for table 3: Prevalence of stalking and harassment over the 12 months prior to interview
Published number
of victimizations
240,740
173,320
140,510

All victims
Stalking victims
Harassment victims

Revised number
of victims
226,660
169,450
124,810

Appendix table 2
Standard errors for figure 1: Duration of stalking and
harassment victimization
6 months or less
7–11 months
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years or more
Don’t know
Number of victims

All
1.7%
1.2
1.1
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.9
0.8
226,660

Percent of victims
Stalking
Harassment
2.1%
2.6%
1.5
1.6
1.4
1.5
1.1
1.2
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.5
1.2
1.2
0.6
1.8
169,450
124,810

~Not applicable.

Appendix table 3
Standard errors for table 4: Nature of stalking and
harassment behaviors experienced by victims
Unwanted phone calls and messages
Unwanted letters and e-mail
Spreading rumors
Following or spying
Showing up at places
Waiting for victim
Leaving unwanted presents
Number of victims

All
1.8%
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.0
226,660

Percent of victims
Stalking Harassment
2.1%
2.6%
1.9
2.2
2.0
2.1
2.0
1.6
2.0
1.6
1.9
1.4
1.3
1.1
169,450
124,810

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

Published victimzation
rate per 1,000 persons
1.0
0.7
0.6

Revised percent
of persons
0.1
0.1
0.1

Appendix table 4
Standard errors for table 5: Characteristics of stalking and
harassment victims
Overall
Sex
Male
Female
Race
White
Black
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Two or more races
Hispanic origin
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic
Unknown
Age
18–19
20–24
25–34
35–49
50–64
65 or older
Household income
$7,499 or less
$7,500– $14,999
$15,000– $24,999
$25,000–$34,999
$35,000–$49,999
$50,000–$74,999
$75,000 or more
Unknown
Marital status
Never married
Married
Divorced or separated
Widowed
Unknown

Percent of persons age 18 or older
All
Stalking
Harassment
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2

0.1
0.1

0.1
0.2
1.0
0.2
1.1

0.1
0.2
0.8
0.2
0.9

0.1
0.1
0.6
0.2
0.7

0.2
0.1
0.8

0.2
0.1
0.5

0.1
0.1
0.6

0.5
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1

0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

0.6
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1

0.5
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1

0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1

0.2
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.6

0.2
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.6

0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3

Appendix table 5
Standard errors for table 6: Victim-offender relationship in
stalking and harassment
Total
Known, intimate
Current intimate
Spouse
Boy/girlfriend
Former intimate
Ex-spouse
Ex-boy/girlfriend
Known, other
Friend/roommate/neighbor
Known from work or school
Acquaintance
Relative
Stranger
Unknown
Victim unable to identify
a single offender
Number of victims

All
~
1.5%
0.8
0.6
0.5
1.3
0.8
1.0
1.7
1.2
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.2
1.1
226,660

Percent of victims
Stalking
Harassment
~
~
1.9%
1.9%
1.1
1.1
0.8
0.5
0.6
0.9
1.6
1.6
1.0
0.9
1.3
1.3
2.1
2.5
1.4
1.7
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.4
1.4
1.9
1.0
169,450

2.1
124,810

~Not applicable.

STALKING VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES |SEPTEMBER 2012

The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice. James P. Lynch is the director.
This report was revised by Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., and Jennifer L.
Truman verified the report. The original report, released in January
2009, was written by Katrina Baum, Ph.D., Shannan Catalano, Ph.D., and
Michael Rand, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Kristina Rose, National
Institute of Justice .
Catherine Bird and Jill Thomas edited the report and Barbara Quinn
produced the report under the supervision of Doris J. James.
September 2012, NCJ 224527

Office of Justice Programs
Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods
www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Attachment 4:
NCVS-572s Census initial contact letter

NCVS-572(L) ATLANTA
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
101 MARIETTA ST NW STE 3200
ATLANTA GA 30303-2711
Telephone: 1–800–424–6974 EXT. 53943
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-572(L) CHICAGO
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
1111 W 22ND ST STE 400
OAK BROOK IL 60523-1918
Telephone: 1–800–865–6384
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-572(L) DENVER
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
6950 W JEFFERSON AVE STE 250
DENVER CO 80235-2377
Telephone: 1–800–852–6159 EXT. 23820
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-572(L) LOS ANGELES
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
15350 SHERMAN WAY STE 400
VAN NUYS CA 91406-4203
Telephone: 1–800–992–3530
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-572(L) NEW YORK
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
32 OLD SLIP 9TH FLOOR
NEW YORK NY 10005-3500
Telephone: 1–800–991–2520
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-572(L) PHILADELPHIA
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a survey for the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain
information on the type and amount of crime committed against households and individuals
throughout the country. A Census Bureau representative will be contacting you soon. Our
representative will show an official identification card and ask for some important information
on this subject from you and your household.
The information you provide our representative will help inform the country about how much
crime there is, where it occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments
of the population are most frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to the
police, information from this survey will show a more complete picture of the amount and types
of crime occurring in the United States. The survey results are used in many ways, including
by citizens to evaluate their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various
aspects of crime victimization.
Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses chosen throughout the
country for participation in this survey. Because this is a sample survey, your answers
represent not only you and your household, but also hundreds of other households like yours.
For this reason, your voluntary cooperation is very important. I hope you will answer all the
survey questions as completely and accurately as possible. Although there are no penalties for
failure to answer any question, each unanswered question substantially lessens the accuracy
of the final data. Your answers will be used only to prepare statistical summaries, and no
information about your household or you as an individual can be identified from these
statistics. The law completely protects your confidential answers from disclosure.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
833 CHESTNUT ST STE 504
PHILADELPHIA PA 19107-4405
Telephone: 1–800–262–4236
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

What is the National Crime Victimization Survey all about?
This survey, called the National Crime Victimization Survey, collects data measuring the types
and amount of crime involving people age 12 or older. Periodically, the survey includes such
additional topics as crime in schools, contacts with law enforcement, and identity theft.
How was I selected for this survey?
Actually, we selected your living quarters, not you personally for this survey. We scientifically
selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent the entire population. At each
selected address, we interview household members age 12 or older. If your household should
move away while your address is still in the survey, we would interview the new family that
moves in.
Will information I provide be confidential?
We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.),
Section 8. Section 9 of this law requires us to keep all information about you and your
household strictly confidential. We may use this information only for statistical purposes. Also,
Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of
Justice, to collect information using this survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential.
(OMB Number: 1121-0111; Expiration Date: 08/31/2018.)
Do I have to participate?
The survey is voluntary, and there are no penalties for not participating. We expect the interview
to take about 25 minutes. Your interview may be somewhat shorter or longer than this
depending on your circumstances. If you have any comments about this survey or have
recommendations for reducing its length, send them to the Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
How are the data used?
Data from this survey are used to provide information on many topics related to crime and
victimization, including crime in schools, trends in violent crime, costs of crime, and the response
of law enforcement to reports of victimization. To see examples of reports, tables, and charts
that use data from the survey, you can visit the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Web site at
.
I thought that the Census Bureau only operated every 10 years, when they
counted people. What is the Census Bureau doing now?
In addition to the decennial census, which is conducted every 10 years, the Census Bureau
collects many different types of statistics. We conduct other censuses required by law on a
regular basis, including the censuses of business and manufacturers and the census of state
and local governments. Additionally, we collect data on a monthly basis to provide current
information on such topics as labor force participation, retail and wholesale trade, various
manufacturing activities, and trade statistics, as well as yearly surveys of business,
manufacturing and governments, family income, and education.

NCVS-572(L)

Attachment 5:
NCVS-573s Census follow-up interview letter

NCVS-573(L) ATLANTA
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
101 MARIETTA ST NW STE 3200
ATLANTA GA 30303-2711
Telephone: 1–800–424–6974 EXT. 53943
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director
census.gov

NCVS-573(L) CHICAGO
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
1111 W 22ND ST STE 400
OAK BROOK IL 60523-1918
Telephone: 1–800–865–6384
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director
census.gov

NCVS-573(L) DENVER
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
6950 W JEFFERSON AVE STE 250
DENVER CO 80235-2377
Telephone: 1–800–852–6159 EXT. 23820
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director
census.gov

NCVS-573(L) LOS ANGELES
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
15350 SHERMAN WAY STE 400
VAN NUYS CA 91406-4203
Telephone: 1–800–992–3530
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director
census.gov

NCVS-573(L) NEW YORK
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
32 OLD SLIP 9TH FLOOR
NEW YORK NY 10005-3500
Telephone: 1–800–991–2520
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director

census.gov

NCVS-573(L) PHILADELPHIA
(9-2015)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

FROM THE DIRECTOR
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
Several months ago, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau contacted residents at your
address in connection with the National Crime Victimization Survey, which the Census Bureau
is conducting for the U.S. Department of Justice. The survey now calls for us to interview at
your address again. Our representative needs to update the characteristics and experiences of
the current residents of this address, whether we talked with you before or whether you moved
to this address since our last interview.
This survey collects important information on the extent to which individuals in this country are
victims of crime. The survey results are used in many ways, including by citizens to evaluate
their vulnerabilities, by legislators and policymakers to develop programs to aid crime victims
and prevent crime, and by researchers to understand various aspects of crime victimization.
A Census Bureau representative from our field office will contact you shortly to ask you and
other members of your household some questions on this subject. We conduct this survey
under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8. Section 9 of this law
requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may
use this information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3732, authorizes
the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, to collect information using this
survey. Title 42, U.S.C., Sections 3789g and 3735, also requires us to keep all information
about you and your household strictly confidential.
Because this is a sample survey, your answers represent not only you and your household, but
also hundreds of other households like yours. For this reason, your participation in this voluntary
survey is extremely important to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties for failure to answer any question, each unanswered question
substantially lessens the accuracy of the final data.
Answers to the most frequently asked survey questions are on the reverse side of this letter.
If you would like further information, contact the Census Bureau by writing or calling the
following office:
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
US CENSUS BUREAU
833 CHESTNUT ST STE 504
PHILADELPHIA PA 19107-4405
Telephone: 1–800–262–4236
Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau appreciates your help.
Sincerely,

John H. Thompson
Director
census.gov

NCVS-573(L)

Attachment 6:
Cognitive Pretesting of the National Crime Victimization Survey Supplemental Victimization
Survey Final Report

COGNITIVE PRETESTING OF
THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
SUPPLEMENTAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEY

Mandi Martinez
Amber Henderson
Jasmine Luck

Final Report

Center for Survey Measurement
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20233

Disclaimer: This report is released to inform interested parties of research and to encourage discussion. The views expressed
are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Table of Contents
1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................2

BACKGROUND ...........................................................................................................................2

LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................................3
4.1
FEAR STANDARD .............................................................................................................................. 3
4.2
TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSTALKING ........................................................................................................ 4
4.3
VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP....................................................................................................... 4

STUDY METHODOLOGY ..............................................................................................................5
5.1
DATA COLLECTION ........................................................................................................................... 5
5.1.1 Respondent Selection .............................................................................................................. 6
5.1.2 Respondent Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 8
5.1.3 The Cognitive Interview Protocol .......................................................................................... 12
5.1.4 Interviewer Staffing and Training ......................................................................................... 12
5.1.5 Interview Consent .................................................................................................................. 13

COGNITIVE INTERVIEW FINDINGS ............................................................................................. 13
6.1
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY: SCREENER QUESTIONS ......................................................... 14
6.2
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY: DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS .................................................. 21
6.2.1 Sexual Orientation Questions ................................................................................................ 22
6.2.2 Gender Identity Questions ..................................................................................................... 24
6.2.3 Additional Demographic Questions....................................................................................... 30
6.3
NCVS SUPPLEMENTAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEY: SCREENER QUESTIONS .................................................. 33
6.3.1 Unwanted Contacts and Behaviors ....................................................................................... 33
6.3.2 Repetition of Behaviors ......................................................................................................... 50
6.3.3 Actual Fear or Emotional Distress ......................................................................................... 51
6.3.4 Reasonable Fear .................................................................................................................... 55
6.3.5 Related Behaviors.................................................................................................................. 58
6.3.6 Noteworthy Cases with the NCVS SVS Screener Questions ................................................... 64
6.4
NCVS SUPPLEMENTAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEY: INCIDENT QUESTIONS ................................................... 68
6.4.1 Offender Information ............................................................................................................ 68
6.4.2 Single Offender Questions ..................................................................................................... 69
6.4.3 Multiple Offenders Questions ............................................................................................... 72
6.4.4 Duration of stalking ............................................................................................................... 81
6.4.5 Frequency of stalking ............................................................................................................ 82
6.4.6 Motive for stalking ................................................................................................................ 84
6.4.7 Reasonable fear follow-up .................................................................................................... 86
6.4.8 Help-seeking .......................................................................................................................... 92
6.4.9 Self-protective actions ......................................................................................................... 101
6.4.10
Cost to Victim .................................................................................................................. 107

CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................... 112

REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 113

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents findings from the cognitive testing of the redesigned 2016 Supplemental
Victimization Survey (SVS), a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).
Researchers conducted 60 cognitive interviews over five iterative rounds of testing. Respondents
included 21 victims of stalking, and 39 individuals who have not experienced stalking (see Section
5.1.1 Respondent selection for recruitment details). One of the changes from the 2006 to the
2016 SVS administration is the inclusion of minors. The sample included twenty 16 and 17 year
olds to ensure the questions worked well for teens as well as adults.
The findings from this study indicate that the original questions for the NCVS SVS generally
performed well. Most questions were easy for interviewers to administer, and easy for
respondents to understand and answer. These questions required no revisions. Of those
questions that required revisions, most were minor modifications.
With the inclusion of teens in the 2016 sample, the sponsors were concerned about the
possibility of teens incorrectly screening in to the survey. They wanted to assess the potential for
teens to become false positives as the result of reporting normative parental tracking and
monitoring as unwanted contacts and behaviors in the screener. Findings from this study indicate
that while such false positive are possible, they are highly unlikely. All but one teen were able to
distinguish between normative parental behaviors and the unwanted contacts and behaviors
asked about in the context of other typical stalking behaviors.
Question SQ7 was the most problematic question, and was difficult to fix. This question is used
to determine whether the contacts and behaviors reported in SQ1 were related; that is, were
they committed by the same person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people. If the
respondent says that the behaviors were not related, they are screened out of the survey, as a
series of unrelated unwanted contacts and behaviors do not constitute stalking. The question
was revised three times during this study. Each version of the question caused issues for at least
some of the respondents who answered it; they had trouble correctly interpreting what the
question was asking, which made it difficult to answer the question correctly in regards to their
experiences. Question SQ7 is critical in deciding who is screened into and out of the survey.
Therefore, any possible source of respondent confusion is problematic. After the cognitive
testing had concluded, the sponsors decided to remove question SQ7 to avoid incorrectly
screening victims of stalking out of the survey.
One major set of changes occurred when ten questions in the Incident Questions section were
changed from a mark-all format to a forced choice yes/no format. The original questions and
response options worked well to measure the concepts of interest. However, research shows
that the forced choice format performs better than the mark-all format with certain types of
questions (Smyth, Dillman, Christian, & Stern 2006). The changes were made to improve the
quality of the data collected.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is adding a series of demographic questions on sexual
orientation and gender identity, veteran status, citizenship, and disability to the NCVS. Most of
the questions come from existing government surveys, and have been cognitively tested with
adults. Since the research is still growing on measuring sexual orientation and gender identity,
and the questions have only been tested with adults; we used this opportunity to cognitively test
the questions with teenagers for the first time, and to collect additional data on how the
questions work with adults. Both teens and adults were able to understand and easily answer
the questions. Almost all respondents identified as straight while none identified as
transgendered individuals. These questions would benefit from additional cognitive testing with
LGBTQ teenagers.
The screener questions for the main NCVS questionnaire were not part of our focus in this study.
The questions were included in this study to provide some context for the new demographic
questions, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and to test the placement of these
questions in the context of the NCVS. After receiving unsolicited respondent feedback, we
identified some issues with the questions, indicating that they could benefit from additional
cognitive testing and possibly revision. This report also includes a discussion of findings for some
of the demographic questions that were included for context, but were outside of the scope of
this project.

2 INTRODUCTION
At the request of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the Center for Survey Measurement (CSM)
conducted cognitive testing of the National Crime Victimization Survey’s Supplemental
Victimization Survey (SVS). The SVS has only been administered once in 2006. It is currently being
redesigned before being fielded in 2016. The supplement is used to collect data on stalking
victimization. Questions measure the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of nonfatal
stalking.
Researchers conducted five iterative rounds of cognitive testing. The purpose of this cognitive
research was to test new and revised questions for the 2016 NCVS Supplemental Victimization
Survey instrument. The results of these cognitive interviews will help inform the final version of
the SVS questionnaire, which will be administered in 2016. This report presents the findings from
the sixty cognitive interviews that CSM conducted between September 2015 and November
2015.

3 BACKGROUND
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a self-report survey collected annually by the
Census Bureau on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Approximately 90,000
households in the United States, totaling 160,000 persons are sampled and asked about their
experiences with victimization over the past six months. The survey is completed by persons age
12 or older, and provides data on the characteristics of crime, the offender, and the victim's

experience with the criminal justice system after a crime occurs. Eligible participants are
interviewed every six months, and remain in the sample for three years.
In 2006, the SVS was fielded as a supplement to NCVS for six months to examine the prevalence
and characteristics of non-fatal stalking in the United States. The survey was administered to
approximately 65,270 persons age 18 or older. In 2015, a Technical Review Panel was held by
the Bureau of Justice Statistics to examine existing research on stalking and the use of the 2006
SVS. As a result, several limitations arose from the discussion. The 2016 revision of the SVS will
address the use of technology in stalking behaviors and the way in which stalking is defined.

4 LITERATURE REVIEW
The 2006 NCVS SVS was the largest national survey on stalking in the United States. As the
nation's primary resource on stalking data at the time, it revealed that stalking victims experience
seven types of unwanted contacts or behaviors by their perpetrators (Baum & Catalano, 2009).
Since collection, data from the NCVS SVS has been used by researchers, policymakers, victim
advocates, and law enforcement to inform the general public on the seriousness of stalking.
Texas modeled their crime victimization survey after NCVS as well as the 2006 stalking
supplement to produce state-level estimates (Kercher & Johnson, 2009).
One of the main strengths about the 2006 survey is that it did not ask respondents to self-identify
as stalking victims. There was also no mention of the word stalking until the final question.
Unwanted contacts or behaviors can be so complex in nature that they are difficult to categorize
and define.

4.1 Fear Standard
One important issue facing available stalking research is the inconsistency in the way in which
stalking may be defined (Nobles, Fisher, & Fox, 2011). Criminologists, policymakers, and
psychologists may differ about what types of victim and pursuit behavior constitutes stalking.
Due to these varying definitions, the methods employed to measure stalking may vary as well.
The requirement of an emotional reaction exhibiting fear is consistent amongst legislation in
many jurisdictions in the United States. Section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)) defines stalking as "engaging in a course of conduct directed at a
specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear". In the 2005 reauthorization
of the VAWA, the definition of stalking was updated and expanded to include behaviors that
cause the victim to feel fear or substantial emotional distress. The full definition is as follows:
“The term ‘stalking’ means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific
person that would cause a reasonable person to—
‘(A) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others;
or
‘(B) suffer substantial emotional distress,’” (H. R. 3402-8).

Some researchers challenge the fear requirement, questioning at what point fear must be
present for the respondent to acknowledge that stalking has taken place.
Fear on the victim's behalf may not only occur at onset, but may also progress over time.
"Measuring fear in the context of stalking creates an additional hurdle in that stalking is a crime
of repeated victimization. Therefore, the determinants of fear may be dynamic and changing over
the course of time" (Englebrecht & Reyns, 2012 p. 789). Victims' definitions for stalking may not
always be in agreeance with researchers definition of the crime. In the National Violence Against
Women survey, 12% of women, and 6% of men who self-identified as talking victims did not
report being fearful enough of their unwanted contacts, and therefore did not meet the legal
definition requirements (Englebrecht & Reyns, 2012). Various demographics such as one's
marital status, race, and age can play a role in one's level of fear. For example, married women
are less likely to report the fear standard than their single counterparts.
Englebrecht and Reyns (2012) recommend that future stalking research explore the different fear
time frames and examine how the fear factor changes over time. The fear time frame may impact
how the victim view's their offender’s behavior as there may be a correlation between stalking
frequency and victim's perceived seriousness of these events. Because stalking victims may not
initially acknowledge the seriousness of unwanted contacts and behaviors, the fear standard can
complicate and underestimate the percentage of stalking victims. The level of fear can be
measured on a continuum. The 2006 administration of the NCVS SVS asked respondents if they
were fearful of their offender's actions, but it did not asses their level of fear.

4.2 Technology & Cyberstalking
The use of the internet, mobile communications, and participation in social networks are various
forms of communication that many people use on a daily basis. The use of technology to foster
stalking behaviors has increased over time (Reyns, Fischer, Fox, & Nobles, 2014). They allow an
offender to contact their victim, or monitor their victim's behavior without physically being
present. Installing spyware or viruses on a computer or cellphone, or attaching a GPS monitoring
system/software to a car are modern forms of stalking behavior.
A weakness of the 2006 SVS is that it did not include self-protective behaviors for those who
experience cyberstalking, and the subsequent costs to the victim. Through daily use of social
media, perpetrators may harm individuals by posting or threatening to post private photos,
talking negatively about the victim online, or sending unwanted emails. Victims of cyberstalking
may feel forced to block their perpetrator from contacting them through social media and email,
or avoid social media altogether. These types of behaviors may lead victims to hiring technology
specialists to examine their phones, laptops, or cars for bugs.

4.3 Victim-Offender Relationship
Very little is known about the victim-offender relationship. Most victims know their stalker. Data
collected from the 2006 NCVS SVS shows that 3 out of 4 victims know their offender to some

degree. To understand more about stalking behaviors, the context of the victim-offender
relationship is important. Victims most often reported that their stalker was a current or former
spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend. The victim's relationship to their stalker also influenced whether
or not they perceived their unwanted contacts or behaviors as stalking. Learning more about the
victim-offender relationship can also yield more research on proxy stalking (when an offender
solicits another individual to help them stalk their victim), which is common, but difficult to
measure (NIJ Stalking Workshop, 2010).
Lastly, more recent research suggests that stalking behaviors occur amongst youth (Englebrecht
& Reyns, 2014) and not just adults. While the NCVS survey includes respondents under the age
of 18, the SVS does not. Due to the lack of research on this population, it is unknown what type
of self-protective actions and decision-making processes those under 18 utilize to cope with
unwanted contacts or behaviors they experience.

5 STUDY METHODOLOGY
This study consisted of five rounds of cognitive interviews. An iterative methodology was used to
identify and address problematic questions at the end of each round. After completing all of their
scheduled interviews in a round, each interviewer provided the project lead with a summary of
their interviews. These summaries included information on which questions were difficult for
interviewers to administer, which questions respondents had trouble comprehending or
answering, and a description of why those questions were problematic for the respondents.
The project lead used these summaries to identify which questions needed revisions and drafted
recommendations for new question wording. These recommendations were presented to the
sponsor for their approval in an update meeting or teleconference following each round.
Approved changes were incorporated into an updated version of the protocol to be used in the
following round.
This iterative method allowed us to assess whether or not the revised question wording
addressed the problems interviewers were observing during the previous round of interviews.
Question revisions that did not perform well could then be changed and re-tested again in the
next round of interviews.

5.1 Data Collection
From September to November 2015, 58 face-to-face and two phone cognitive interviews were
conducted in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area across five iterative rounds of cognitive
testing. The cognitive interviewing team for these interviews consisted of nine CSM staff
members. Results from each round informed any changes made to questions tested in the
subsequent round. The fifth and final round of testing was then conducted to assess whether or
not all revised questions perform as expected.

5.1.1 Respondent Selection
During recruitment, we targeted respondents who represented a variety of demographic
characteristics, comprising race, gender, and age. Recruitment efforts concentrated on finding
some individuals who had experienced stalking within the past three years. Some respondents
were referred to us by organizations that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or
stalking. Recruitment methods also consisted of advertisements through Craigslist.com, a
broadcast message sent to all U.S. Census Bureau employees who work in the headquarters, and
through personal contacts. All interviews were conducted in person in the local metropolitan
area (i.e., D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). Each respondent received $40 cash to compensate them
for their travel time.

5.1.1.1 Victims
For the purpose of this study, we use the term “victims” to refer to individuals who screened into
the NCVS Supplemental Victimization Survey incident questions. Respondents screened into the
incident questions if their answers to the SVS screener questions fit the criteria for stalking
victimization. To meet the criteria, respondents had to report experiencing either one unwanted
contact or behavior repeatedly or multiple unwanted contacts or behaviors, the contacts had to
cause actual fear in the respondent or have characteristics that would reasonably cause most
individuals to experience fear, and at least some of the contacts and behaviors had to be
committed by the same person or group of people working together.
It is important to note that some individuals who screened into the survey as victims may not
self-identify as a victim of stalking, and others may prefer to use a term other than victim (such
as survivor) when referring to their situation. The decision to use the terms victim and non-victim
when referring to the two groups of respondents was made to easily and clearly distinguish
between those who did screen in to the survey and those who did not.
A total of 21 victim respondents were selected to participate in the research study. Table 1 shows
the original recruitment goals for victims broken down by age and sex, the modified goals that
were changed due to recruitment difficulties, and the final number of completed interviews for
each group.
Table 1. Recruitment Goals for Victims

Males 16+
Females 16-17
Females 18+

Original Goals
10
10
10
30

Victims
Modified Goals
6
3
14
23

Completed Interviews
6
3
12
21

Nine of the 21 victim interviews were referred to us through our contacts with stalking and
domestic violence organizations. Researchers in CSM worked with the contacts to create a flyer
that included basic information about the purpose and logistics of the interview. The flyer
6

specified that we were looking for stalking victims/survivors who experienced stalking within the
past 12 months, but that we were open to interviewing victims/survivors who experienced
stalking within the past three years. Our contacts with the organizations shared the flyer with
their clients and with others in their professional networks who work with similar clientele. When
recruiting through that channel was no longer productive, we broadened our reach by posting
the flyer on Craigslist. Four of the respondents who screened in as victims were recruited via the
Craigslist flyer. We also created a broadcast message that was sent to all US Census Bureau
employees who work in the headquarters in Suitland, Maryland asking them to forward the
information to anyone they know who might fit the criteria. This resulted in five victim interviews.
Both Craigslist ads and Census Bureau broadcast messages are regularly used to recruit
respondents for other cognitive interview studies done by CSM.
One of the changes from the 2006 to the 2016 SVS administration is the inclusion of minors. To
obtain data on persons under the age of 18, we cognitively tested the survey questions on
respondents who were 16 and 17 years of age. Due to difficulties targeting this specific
population for recruitment, the three teen victims of stalking were ultimately recruited using the
personal networks of CSM employees. Our target was to recruit 10 females ages 16 and 17, and
10 males age 16 and older.
Time constraints on recruitment and the nature of the criteria for inclusion hindered our ability
to meet our target goal for some subgroups, specifically female teens and males over 16. We
altered our recruitment after interviewing had started in an attempt to interview as many victims
as possible. Though we reduced the goals for males and female teens, some individuals in those
categories unexpectedly screened in.
To avoid biasing their responses during the interview, we did not explicitly ask if individuals had
experienced stalking when scheduling them. Thus, we were not always able to predict who was
going to screen in or out of the survey ahead of time. Some individuals who were recruited as
victims ended up screening out, and some who were recruited as non-victims screened in to the
survey. While we were able to adjust our recruitment to accommodate these changes during
Rounds 1-4, time constraints prevented us from modifying recruitment during Round 5.
Therefore, our final number of completed interviews do not perfectly match our modified
recruitment goals for each category (see Table 1 and Table 2 for recruitment goals for victims and
non-victims, respectively).

5.1.1.2 Non-victims
A total of 39 non-victim respondents were selected to participate in the research study. Many of
these participants were referred to us through advertisements and personal networks within the
Census Bureau. We exceeded our recruitment goals for all categories, including the number of
female minors ages 16 and 17, and males age 16 and older. Table 2 shows the original
recruitment goals for non-victims broken down by age and sex, the modified goals that were
changed due to recruitment difficulties, and the final number of completed interviews for each
group.
7

Some respondents who do self-identify as victims of stalking screened out of the survey as nonvictims, meaning they were not asked the main incident questions as a result of their answers to
the screener questions. This occurred for two reasons. One reason is that some individuals’
concept of what constitutes stalking does not align with the official definition of stalking used to
guide the screener questions. So even though they think that they were stalked, the experiences
they think of as stalking do not meet the definition of stalking (i.e., being followed by a stranger
one time). Another reason is that some respondents had difficulty interpreting and answering
one or more of the screener questions and their answers resulted in them screening out when
they should have screened in to the survey. These individuals were victims of stalking, but
incorrectly screened out (see section 6.3.61 Potential False Negatives for details). These issues
helped identify and address problematic questions, and are discussed in depth in Section 6:
Cognitive Interview Findings.

Table 2. Recruitment Goals for Non-Victims

Males 16+
Females 16-17
Females 18+

Original Goals
10
10
10
30

Non-Victims
Modified Goals Completed Interviews
12
12
13
13
12
14
37
39

5.1.2 Respondent Characteristics
Interviewers conducted cognitive interviews with 60 respondents over five rounds. Protocols
were edited between the rounds. Though our goal was to recruit a diverse sample of all races
and socioeconomic statuses, the difficult nature of recruiting the target population for this study
and the reliance on respondent self-selection resulted in overrepresentation of some
characteristics. The majority of respondents were female. As for race, the majority of
respondents are white, with the second-most being black. There were four Asian and American
Indian respondents, and four respondents reported Hispanic origins. The majority of respondents
were in the 16-17 age range, due to the need to test certain questions with potential respondents
in that age group.
The teenagers recruited were mainly white, middle class females. Teens were hard to recruit for
this project, so they mostly came from the personal networks of the CSM employees, and a partial
snowball sample due to asking the teens that had participated to refer their friends.

The victims were largely 18+ years old and female. For race, the majority again was white or black
race with one identifying as Asian, and two reporting Hispanic origins. The sample of victims had
a disproportionate number of individuals with graduate degrees. While we do not know for sure
why this occurred, it could be that stalking victims with higher levels of education are more likely
to work closely with advocacy groups, which was a main source of victim recruitment. See Table
3 for a more detailed breakdown.
The non-victims again skewed more toward female, and white or black. However, due to the
need to recruit teenagers 16 and 17 years old, education skewed more towards a less than high
school degree. See Table 4 for a more detailed breakdown.

Table 3. Respondent Characteristics of Victims
Victims
Round 3
Round 4
1
3

Round 1
5

Round 2
6

Gender
Female
Male

4
1

2
4

0
1

Race
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American Indian
Multiple Races

2
3
0
0
0
0

4
2
0
0
0
0

Education
Less than High School
High School
Some College
College Graduate
Graduate Education

0
0
2
0
3

Age
16-17
18-25
26-40
41-60
Over 60
Household Income
Less than $25,000
$25,000-$50,000
$50,001 to $100,000
Over $100,000
Refused

Round 5
6

Total
21

3
0

6
0

15
6

0
1
0
0
0
0

0
2
1
0
0
0

4
0
1
1
0
0

10
8
2
1
0
0

1
2
0
0
3

0
0
0
0
1

0
1
1
0
1

2
1
0
0
3

3
4
3
0
11

0
1
1
3
0

1
0
1
4
0

0
1
0
0
0

0
0
1
2
0

2
0
4
0
0

3
2
7
9
0

2
1
2
0
0

1
1
1
3
0

0
1
0
0
0

0
0
1
2
0

1
0
1
4
0

4
3
5
9
0

Table 4. Respondent Characteristics of Non-Victims
Non-Victims
Round 3
Round 4
9
7

Round 1
10

Round 2
4

Gender
Female
Male

8
2

2
2

5
4

Race
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American Indian
Multiple Races

6
2
2
0
0
0

2
2
0
0
0
0

Education
Less than High School
High School
Some College
College Graduate
Graduate Education

3
0
0
4
3

Age
16-17
18-25
26-40
41-60
Over 60
Household Income
Less than $25,000
$25,000-$50,000
$50,001 to $100,000
Over $100,000
Refused

Round 5
9

Total
39

5
2

7
2

27
12

5
0
0
3
1
0

6
1
0
0
0
0

5
4
0
0
0
0

24
9
2
3
1
0

1
0
1
1
1

4
1
1
2
1

5
0
1
0
1

4
1
2
1
1

17
2
5
8
7

3
1
2
1
1

1
0
2
1
0

4
0
1
1
1

5
0
0
2
0

4
2
1
1
1

17
3
6
6
3

2
1
2
5
0

0
2
2
0
0

0
1
4
3
1

0
0
4
3
0

2
2
2
3
0

4
6
14
14
1

5.1.3 The Cognitive Interview Protocol
The protocols used in this study focused on respondents’ reactions to new and revised questions
in the National Crime Victimization Survey screener and demographic sections (specifically the
newly added series on sexual orientation and gender identity), as well as the NCVS Supplemental
Victimization Survey. At the start of the interview, Census Bureau staff told respondents that the
purpose of the study was to see how well the NCVS SVS worked. Respondents were also told that
information they provided would be confidential and their anonymity would be preserved.
Interviewers then asked respondents to complete the interview as if an interviewer had come to
their home. In addition to asking the NCVS and SVS questions, interviewers also asked
respondents probing questions that were designed to address specific testing issues for particular
questions. The specific type of cognitive interview consisted of both concurrent and quasiretrospective probing (Willis, 2015). Most probes were concurrent; interviewers asked probing
questions as a follow up immediately after the survey question being evaluated. Quasiretrospective probes were used when asking a probing question immediately after a survey
question would disrupt the flow of a set of questions. When retrospective probes were used,
interviewers let respondents know they were about to ask some follow up questions about the
questions they just answered. Interviewers re-read the question text before asking the probes.
After asking all retrospective probes for a given section, interviewers let respondents know that
they were returning to the main survey questions.
The interviewers made notes of any response difficulty experienced by respondents, including
question incomprehension and the inability to decide on a response. Interviewers also noted
questions that were difficult to administer. Difficulty administering questions can stem from
multiple factors, including question length and unnatural phrasing.
Finally, interviewers asked respondents a set of debriefing questions at the end of the interview.
The debriefing questions allowed respondents to define stalking in their own words. Individuals
who reported experiencing unwanted contacts and behaviors were asked if they consider those
contacts and behaviors to be stalking. Respondents were also given the opportunity to express
their overall impressions of the interview, as well as make any other final comments about the
survey.

5.1.4 Interviewer Staffing and Training
All 60 interviews were conducted by a team of nine interviewers from the US Census Bureau’s
Center for Survey Measurement. Before a new CSM employee begins conducting cognitive
interviews on CSM projects, they are thoroughly trained on cognitive interviewing techniques
during an intensive two-day training course. All interviewers working on this project had already
received this one-time training before being assigned to the team. The training covered the
purpose of cognitive interviews, how to design and use a cognitive interviewing protocol, and
how to effectively use probes during an interview.

Interviewers were trained on the NCVS SVS protocol prior to the first round of interviews. The
team went through the protocol question by question to discuss the purpose of the questions
and probes. All interviewers conducted a practice interview to ensure interviewer preparedness
before scheduling their first interview with a respondent. After changes were made to the
protocol between each round, the project lead met with interviewers individually to discuss all
revisions and confirm that the interviewers were prepared to administer the new version of the
protocol.

5.1.5 Interview Consent
All respondents were provided with a consent form prior to beginning the interview. The consent
form informs respondents of their rights as a participant in the study. It also provides
authorization for interviewers to audiotape the interview. The form explains that the purpose of
the audiotape is to have a complete record of all comments, that it will be used to improve the
questionnaire, and that only the staff directly involved in the project will have access to the tapes.
Respondents who deny the request to record the interview are still permitted to participate in
the study. All respondents who participated in the cognitive interviews consented to be
audiotaped.

6 COGNITIVE INTERVIEW FINDINGS
In this section, we present the question-by-question findings from the cognitive interviews. Each
question is presented with a round-by-round comparison highlighting any changes that occurred
from one round to the next. Analyses from the cognitive interviews are then used to explain why
those changes were made, and discuss how revised questions performed in the following rounds.
Questions that were not problematic and did not require revisions are included in the report for
context, but their performance during testing warrants no discussion.
In the following sections, when multiple direct quotes are used to illustrate the findings,
respondents are referred to using the following labeling convention:
 Adult respondents who screened into the Supplemental Victimization Survey (and thus
categorized as adult victims) are labeled as AV1, AV2, AV3, etc.
 Teen respondents who screened into the Supplemental Victimization Survey (and thus
categorized as teen victims) are labeled as TV1, TV2, TV3, etc.
 Adult respondents who screened out of the Supplemental Victimization Survey (and thus
categorized as adult non-victims) are labeled as ANV1, ANV2, ANV3, etc.
 Teen respondents who screened out of the Supplemental Victimization Survey (and thus
categorized as teen non-victims) are labeled as TNV1, TNV2, TNV3, etc.

6.1 National Crime Victimization Survey: Screener Questions
The questions in this section come from the National Crime Victimization Survey Basic Screen
Questionnaire. They were included in the questionnaire used in this study to provide some
context in order to test the addition of the sexual orientation and gender identity questions in
the demographic section (see Section 6.2.1 and Section 6.2.2 for the discussion of the sexual
orientation and gender identity questions). These questions are outside of the scope of this
study. For this reason, probing questions were not built into the questionnaire, though
interviewers were free to spontaneously probe in response to respondent comments or nonverbal cues. Again, since these questions were outside the scope of the study, no changes were
made to the question wording. In this section, we present findings on the NCVS basic screen
questions.
NCVS Screener Question 1
Original Question Q1: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this
study covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last
6 months, that is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q1 Findings:
While all respondents were ultimately able to answer this question, it is difficult for interviewers
to administer, and may be difficult for respondents to process as it is read aloud. The length of
the question makes it cumbersome to read fluently. Respondents may not process all items listed
in the various categories, as they are trying to listen to the question while also thinking about
whether or not a given item was stolen. While it is a single question, Q1 contains three distinct
questions: “Was something belonging to YOU stolen?” “Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?” and “Did any incidents of this type happen to you?”
Respondents are supposed to provide a yes or no answer to the question “Did any incidents of
this type happen to you?” after hearing the complete list. However, at the beginning of the

question, the text prompts respondents to let the interviewer know if any of the items were
stolen as the interviewer reads through the list (“As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you”).
Respondents frequently interrupted the interviewers as they were reading the question, further
complicating the reading of the question. These interruptions occurred both when respondents
were reporting that items were stolen and to indicate that items had not been stolen. Some
respondents replied “no” after every item. The length of the question frustrated some
respondents. One interviewer wrote, “She interrupted me after item (d) to say nothing had been
stolen in the past 6 months. She repeated this answer after reading the next two items,” (ANV19).
Due to the difficulties experienced during the interviews, we recommend further cognitive
testing of this question to guide recommendations for revisions.

NCVS Screener Question 2
Original Question Q2: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____,
were you attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant,
bank, or airport (e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing
or
hunting OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you
from any of these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q2 Findings:
Findings for question Q2 are similar to those for question Q1. Respondents were able to answer
the question, but the length of and phrasing used in the question make it difficult for interviewers
to administer and for respondents to process as it is being read. Additionally, the question is

asking respondents to think about six different concepts while answering the question, making it
cognitively burdensome.
While listening to a long list of locations where incidents may occur (concept 1), respondents
must think about whether they were attacked (concept 2), threatened (concept 3), had
something stolen (concept 4), experienced an attempted attack (concept 5), or experienced an
attempted theft (concept 6).
The fact that respondents were able to provide a yes or no answer does not necessarily mean
that they were easily able to process the question, or that their answer is accurate. Difficulty
processing this question may result in an underreporting of incidents. For example, if a
respondent is only focusing on one type of incident, an attack, as the list of locations is being
read, they may respond “no,” when they have experienced a theft in one of the locations listed.
Due to the fact that the question is difficult to administer and creates a cognitive burden for
respondents, we recommend further cognitive testing of this question to guide
recommendations for revisions.
NCVS Screener Question 3
Original Question Q3: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened
you in any of these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q3 Findings:
The same issues that exist for questions Q1 and Q2 exist for question Q3. The question is lengthy,
difficult to administer, and creates a cognitive burden since respondents must consider multiple
distinct concepts when answering the question. In the findings for question Q2, it was mentioned
that respondents might focus on one or some of the concepts while neglecting others while
16

answering. The summaries for question Q3 provide evidence of this occurring. Two respondents
interrupted the interviewer to say that they have not been threatened; they make no mention
of whether or not they were attacked. This suggests that respondents might focus on one type
of incident, rather than on all types of incidents the questions are intending to measure.
This question is also problematic in that the list of ways one can attack or threaten the
respondent uses inconsistent grammatical phrasing, most specifically with d “include any
grabbing, punching, or choking”.
We recommend further cognitive testing of this question to guide recommendations for
revisions.
NCVS Screener Question 4
Original Question Q4: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were
you attacked or threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q4 Findings:
Respondents were able to answer this question without obvious complications. However, this
question requires respondents to consider three different types of incidents as they are listening
to the list of possible offenders. This has the potential to place a cognitive burden on the
respondent. Further cognitive testing should be conducted on this item to suggest and test
revisions to reduce cognitive burden on the respondents.

NCVS Screener Question 5
Original Question Q5: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about.
(Other than any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to
engage in unwanted sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q5 Findings:
This question did not cause any issues during testing. It was easy for interviewers to administer,
and there was no indication that it was difficult for respondents to understand. While this
question does not appear to be problematic, it would benefit from cognitive testing in the context
of the other screener questions that do require additional cognitive testing.
NCVS Screener Question 6
Original Question Q6: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call
the police to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a
crime?
 Yes [skip to Q7]
 No [skip to Q8]
Original Question Q6 Findings:
Overall, this question performed well. One respondent said that he thought this was a good
question (unprompted), but did not elaborate on why he thought that.
Two respondents did have trouble answering the question, but this trouble seemed to stem from
their difficulty categorizing their experience, rather than from the way the question is worded.
One respondent asked if he could explain the situation to the interviewer and have the
interviewer code “yes” or “no.” The interviewer replied that she could not answer his questions
or interpret the situation for him. He ultimately responded “yes.” The second respondent
explained her situation, debated out loud, and chose to respond “no.”
Like question Q5, this question is not problematic, but would benefit from cognitive testing if the
rest of the series is being cognitively tested.

NCVS Screener Question 7
Original Question Q7: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q7. [If Q6= Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to
steal something that belonged to you or another household member?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q7 Findings:
Question Q7 is a follow-up question to Q6. It is intended to capture whether the incident referred
to in question Q6 was an attack, threat, theft, or attempted theft. As worded, there is nothing in
Q7 that indicates that it is a follow-up question referring to the incident reported in Q6. The way
Q7 is worded, it may be interpreted as a stand-alone question, which appears to ask about the
same information in question Q4. For this reason, it is problematic.
Most respondents were able to easily provide a yes or no response to this question. However,
without probing, there is no way to know if they were responding to Q7 as a follow-up to Q6, or
as a stand-alone question. The unprompted comments of one respondent indicate that at least
some individuals interpret this as a stand-alone question. After hearing the question, the
respondent (AV5) said, “Didn’t we already answer that? ... I felt like I already answered that.” She
then went on to describe some moments that her stalker had put her through. When answering
this question, she was thinking about various attacks, threats, and thefts she experienced, not
just the incidents reported to the police as indicated in Q6.
Though it is not specific to this question, the aforementioned respondent (AV5) mentioned that
she had done a survey on this topic conducted by the Montgomery County Family Violence
Center. She said the questions in that survey were short and specific, whereas the questions in
this questionnaire are long, and that she would still be thinking about the previous question as
the next question was being read. These comments support the critique that the screen
questions in this section are long and difficult for respondents to process efficiently. It is
concerning that a respondent voiced frustration with the questions so early in the questionnaire.
We recommend further cognitive testing of this question to guide recommendations for
revisions. The revised version of this question needs to somehow indicate that it is a follow-up
question referring to the incident(s) reported in Q6.

NCVS Screener Question 8
Original Question Q8: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything
which you thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
 Yes [skip to Q9]
 No [skip to Q10]
Original Question Q8 Findings:
Overall, this question performed well. There were no apparent problems in administering or
answering this question.
Like other questions in this section, this question is not problematic, but would benefit from
cognitive testing if the rest of the series is being cognitively tested.
NCVS Screener Question 9
Original Question Q9: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to
steal something that belonged to you or another household member?
 Yes
 No
Original Question Q9 Findings:
Question Q9 is a follow-up question to Q8. It is intended to capture whether the incident referred
to in question Q6 was an attack, threat, theft, or attempted theft. As worded, there is nothing in
Q9 that indicates that it is a follow-up question referring to the incident reported in Q8. The way
Q9 is worded, it may be interpreted as a stand-alone question. For this reason, it is problematic.
Twenty-one respondents answered this question. As with Q7, the ability to easily provide a yes
or no answer does not confirm that the respondents correctly interpreted this question as a
follow-up to Q8. Two respondents provided responses beyond a simple “yes” or “no” that
indicates that they did not interpret this as a follow-up question.
When answering Q8, one respondent (ANV18) provided unprompted details on the incident he
was thinking of when answering yes, saying that something was stolen from his car. When
answering the follow-up question Q9, the same respondent said yes, that he had lost packages,
but that he didn’t know if they were stolen or lost by the delivery people. These remarks indicate
that the respondent did not interpret Q9 as a follow-up, but instead as a separate question asking
if he has been attacked, threatened, or the victim of theft.
The second respondent, AV5, had a similar reaction to Q9 as she did to Q7. She responded,
“Didn’t I just answer that? … I feel like I’ve been asked the exact some question five times now.”
The respondent said she would ask smaller questions. She then asked if the questions were

different or not. The interviewer told her that Q9 is referring to the incident she was thinking of
when she said “yes” to Q8. The respondent then said that she hadn’t realized the two questions
(Q8 and Q9) were related.
The respondents comment that she feels like she just answered the same question five times is
important. Many of these screener questions ask about the same types of incidents occurring
under slightly different circumstances. The purpose of each question is not always immediately
clear. When the questions are being read aloud to the respondent, and are cognitively
burdensome, it becomes even more difficult for them to discern what exactly the question is
asking. If respondents are not able to easily determine what the question is asking, their
interpretation of the question might be incorrect, negatively affecting data quality.
We recommend further cognitive testing of this question to guide recommendations for
revisions. The revised version of this question needs to somehow indicate that it is a follow-up
question referring to the incident(s) reported in Q8.

6.2 National Crime Victimization Survey: Demographic Questions
LGBTQ individuals experience many crimes at a disproportionately high rate. Data from the NCVS
informs critical reports, which have the ability to influence public policy, and government funding
for crime prevention and intervention services and research. Including the respondents’ sexual
orientation and gender identity with other demographic characteristics provides more accurate
and detailed data that can be used to inform public policy debates and funding decisions
regarding this vulnerable population. BJS has decided to include sexual orientation and gender
identity questions in the 2016 NCVS.
The sexual orientation questions that are being added to the NCVS come from the National
Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
The questions had been previously tested using cognitive interviews and have performed well
with people that were 18 years or older. Since these questions will be administered to people 16
years or older, these questions needed to be cognitively tested with 16 and 17 year olds. The
NCVS main screener questions and subsets of the demographic questions were included in the
protocol to assess whether any context effects occur.
The gender identity questions come from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). The
second gender identity question was modified for inclusion in the NCVS as the result of feedback
from transgendered individuals, so it had not yet been cognitively tested. NCVS wants to ask
these items of respondents 16 years or older, so the modified versions needed to be cognitively
tested. NCVS is curious about the use of sex labels (male/female) versus gender labels
(man/woman), and about how to correctly record people that identify as transgendered.

6.2.1 Sexual Orientation Questions
The 16 and 17-year-old respondents were all able to understand and easily answer the sexual
orientation questions. There were no significant differences between the responses to the
questions and probes given by adults and teens.
NCVS Demographic Question Q24a – asked only of males
Original Question Q24a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q24a. Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
 Gay
 Straight, that is, not gay
 Bisexual
 Something else
 I don’t know the answer
 Refused
Original Question Q24a Findings:
Eighteen respondents heard this question. All respondents were able to easily answer this item.
We have no revision suggestions for this question. However, further cognitive testing may be
needed because only one respondent identified as something other than straight (he identified
as gay).
NCVS Demographic Question Q24b – asked only of females
Original Question Q24b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q24b. Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
 Lesbian or gay
 Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
 Bisexual
 Something else
 I don’t know the answer
 Refused
Original Question Q24b Findings:
Forty-two respondents heard this question and most were able to understand it. One respondent
(ANV14) had problems with this question. She initially said “Married,” and had to be probed to
answer ‘straight,’ but the interviewer said she was hesitant to pick that option. This respondent
was a naturalized citizen, so there may have been a language barrier in place. This respondent
reported being married to a man.
Two respondents expressed preference for the term ‘heterosexual’ over the term ‘straight.’ One
of them (ANV3) first said ‘something else,’ then quickly said heterosexual. The other one (AV14)
answered ‘straight’ but said she preferred heterosexual, but figured it was okay not to use here

because homosexual isn’t used either. A third respondent (TNV12) answered ‘straight’ and
wondered why the answer choice didn’t just read ‘straight.’
We have no revision suggestions for this question. However, further cognitive testing may be
needed because only 5 respondents identified with an orientation other than straight.
NCVS Demographic Question Q25 – asked only if Q24a or Q24b was “something else”
Original Question Q25: Round 1 – Round 5
Q25. What do you mean by something else?
 You are not straight, but identify with another label such as queer, trisexual,
omnisexual or pansexual
 You are transgender, transsexual or gender variant
 You have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out your sexuality
 You do not think of yourself as having sexuality
 You do not use labels to identify yourself
 You mean something else
 Refused
 Don't know
Question Q25 Revision 1: Final Recommendation:
We recommend removing question Q25.

Original Question Q25 Findings:
Only two respondents were asked this question. Respondent ANV3, mentioned in the Q24
findings, answered ‘heterosexual,’ which is another term for ‘straight.’ The other considered
sexuality to be fluid, which does not exactly line up with the answer choices in Q25, but could be
considered ‘you do not use labels to identify yourself.’
After testing, we suggest dropping this follow up question. The National Center for Health
Statistics has done testing on similar questions before ultimately deciding to drop them. Few
respondents receive this follow-up question, as seen in our testing with only two of 60
respondents hearing this question. Most responses to this question are derivations of categories
that are already offered in the preceding question, a finding supported in our testing where one
of the two respondents giving an answer that would fit into the response options of Q24.

NCVS Demographic Question Q26
Original Question Q26: Round 1 – Round 5
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
 You don’t understand the words
 You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of
figuring out your sexuality
 You mean something else
 Refused
 Don’t know
Question Q26 Revision 1: Final Recommendation:
We recommend removing question Q26.

Original Question Q26 Findings:
None of the respondents heard this question in testing since this question is only asked when a
‘don’t know’ response is given in question Q24a/b.
After testing, we suggest dropping this follow up question. NCHS has done testing on similar
questions before ultimately deciding to drop them. This type of question is infrequently asked,
as seen in our testing with no respondents hearing this question.

6.2.2 Gender Identity Questions
The teenage respondents in this sample were all able to understand and easily answer the
gender identity questions. There were no significant differences between the responses to the
questions and probes given by adults and teens.
NCVS Demographic Question Q27
Original Question Q27: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
 Male
 Female
 Refused
 Don’t know
Original Question Q27 Findings:
Respondents were able to easily answer this item.
The CHIS has used two versions of question Q27 in the past. The original wording was “What sex
were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate?” The CHIS is currently using the
revised wording of the question that we used in question Q27. There has not been separate
cognitive testing or experimental field tests for either of these two versions. We used the wording

shown in question Q27, but included the original version of the question along with probing
questions after Q27 to test how easily respondents can understand and answer the question,
whether the alternative version resulted in a different answer, and to elicit respondent feedback
on both versions of the question.
When asked “What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate?” almost all
respondents either said the same answer (male or female) or just said they would answer ‘the
same way.’ Two respondents (AV13 and TNV13) said they would answer “woman,” and one
respondent (ANV14) said she would answer ‘girl.’
Thirty-five respondents preferred the original modified item. Seventeen preferred the item in the
structured probe. Five had no preference.
Many respondents that preferred the first version of the question (rather than the alternate
version asked during probing) said that it was clearer, more grammatically correct, or more direct
than the alternate probed version. Some said that this version focused on the birth certificate:
ANV13: “The first way. Because it kind of takes emotion out of it I guess? Because
it takes the legal document, focusing on that.”
TNV4: “I prefer the first one. I just feel like it’s easier to comprehend. Probably
because like you sort of assign… you mention birth certificate first.”
Others liked that it was close-ended:
TNV9: “Probably the way it was stated the first time. Well, the first one it gives
you male or female so then there’s no confusion as to like what the answer could
have been.”
Respondents that liked the structured probe version liked that it was open-ended. Some
respondents thought this version would be more sensitive to transgendered persons:
ANV12: “I like the second one better. It just sounds more like sensitive to how
people would identify. I have a lot of friends who would use that terminology
versus the other one I guess.”
ANV10: “I think the first is slightly more clear, but if I was trans I might be more
comfortable with the open ended.”
However, some respondents felt like this version may cause transgendered people to answer
incorrectly:
ANV12: “I like the second one. It was easier to understand. I feel like if I was
transgender, the first one would have been better. The second one, since I’m not
transgender, I feel like it’s more to the point. But if I was, I would have felt like
there was a wrong answer with the second one. I don’t know why.”
25

Respondents that preferred the structured probe version said that it was the wording they heard
most often:
ANV6: “I think I like the second one. I’m not really sure, I guess maybe it seems
more comprehensive somehow. The first one just feels more clinical and it’s
shorter and I hear it less often. What I usually here is “what sex were you assigned
at birth.” And so I guess that feels like it’s a little more like what I’m used to
hearing.”
ANV19: She preferred the second one, she said, “it’s the one you usually hear, I
was surprised the way you phrased the first question.” She said she does a lot of
online research and research studies, so hearing the first question caused her to
pause and comment on how weird it was (She had said, “It’s so funny how they
have to change these questions.”)
Fifty-one respondents said that both versions were understood equally well. Some respondents
said that one version was better for them, but both are understood:
TNV5: When asked about her preference, she said the first one is more detailed,
she would understand the first one more. She said both are understood well.
TNV13: “Yeah, the first one just processes better, I guess.”
Some respondents said that one wording might be clearer for one group of people, and the other
version clearer for a different group.
AV8: He said that both were understood equally well. “The versions are different
for sure, and for somebody who does not describe themselves as a man or woman
they may prefer one over another”. [This seems to be a common theme where
respondents are hesitant to say what transgender people prefer and they say so].
Because the majority of the respondents preferred the original item, and no respondents had
problems with answering it, we have no revision suggestion for this question.

NCVS Demographic Question Q28a
Original Question Q28a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
 Man
 Woman
 Transgender person
 None of these
Original Question Q28a Findings:
The CHIS uses the following wording in the second question of the two-part gender identity
questions, “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?” Previous
research has shown that transgender and other minority gender individuals prefer using gender
labels (man/woman) over sex labels (male/female). For this reason, we used a modified version
of the CHIS question in the questionnaire (“Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman,
or transgender person?”).
We also placed a scripted probe into the protocol, asking the respondents the original version of
the question currently used by CHIS to test the use of gender versus sex labels. After reading
respondents the alternate version of this question, “Do you currently describe yourself as male,
female, or transgender?” we asked them how they would answer this item, which item they
prefer, and if they believed both items were understood equally. Fifty-five respondents were
asked some or all of the scripted probes for this question.
Respondents were able to easily answer question Q28a and the follow-up probes.
All respondents answered in a way that follows the sex/gender dichotomy (e.g. if they had said
man earlier, they said male to answer the alternate version), or they said ‘they would answer it
the same way.’
Eleven respondents preferred the item as asked; 28 respondents preferred the alternate version
asked during probing; 16 respondents had no preference.
The majority of respondents preferred to use sex labels over gender labels:
TNV10: “The second one. It’s easier to understand… I guess I’m just more familiar
with being identified as male or female rather than man or woman.”
TNV13: “The second one. I just use the word female more often than I use woman.
I guess it’s… not more familiar but… I would say I was a female before I’d say I was
a woman, I guess.”

There was disagreement on what would work for all ages. Several adults pointed out that younger
respondents might not consider themselves to be men and women. This idea was supported by
teens’ comments on the terms.
ANV14: The respondent preferred male/female and said it was easier to
understand because if you talk to a younger person they may not consider
themselves a man/woman.
AV14: She also mentioned that age was a factor in this question and that the term
female “covered everything” including girls.
ANV22: She prefers female because she could be a girl [child].
ANV7: He preferred [the first version] because male/female/transgender could be
a “little boy” or “infant” and they have not yet developed their real gender. “When
you say man there is no question that it is an adult person.”
TV1: “Probably male or female. I feel like man or woman seems adult like and male
or female is just strictly gender.”
TNV3: He said he prefers the second version, that ‘male and female’ have a wider
audience.
TNV15: The respondent prefers the second because he is a minor so he isn’t a man
yet, ‘male’ describes a child better.
While we did not have a respondent that identified as transgendered, or mentioned transitioning,
a few respondents commented about how transgender individual might use different terms to
describe their gender identify:
ANV10: “The same, but I think a trans person would just say they are a man or
woman. I know some people that say neither or both.”
AV3: The respondent believes first is more about gender, and the second one
about sex. "It seems like someone's sex and gender might not match up if they are
transitioning."
AV12: “Even if they are transgender they either identify with male or female.”
There were other comments on the sensitivity of this question to all potential respondents:
TNV16: “I like the second question better because when it says transgender
person, it just sounds kinda derogatory. It sounds kinda rude.”
ANV19: She said it really depends on what a transgendered person would want,
because both would work for her. She said she leaned toward the second one, “In
general, when you do a research study, they usually ask ‘male/female,’” but that
whatever most transgendered people would agree on, she would be fine with.
TV3: “I don’t think either of them really fit because there’s more than three
genders. There’s a whole spectrum. I think the question would be better asked,
‘What do you identify as your gender? If any.’”

Seven respondents simply said that they had not preference. Seven respondents commented
that the questions were ‘the same’ or ‘similar:’
TNV4: “Either one, I mean they’re kind of the same question. To me, at least.”
TV2: “They’re both the same to me.”
Two respondents (ANV13 and TV3) didn’t like either question, and suggested new wording to be
more inclusive to people would wouldn’t identify as man/woman/transgendered person.
TV3: “I don’t think either of them really fit because there’s more than three
genders. There’s a whole spectrum. I think the question would be better asked,
‘What do you identify as your gender? If any.’”
ANV13: “I would… I don’t know, maybe I would say… I guess you might not be able
to do this for the survey, but I would have it more open ended for people who
might be gender nonconforming. I don’t know if it would just be an “other”
option… Could you do it, ‘Do you describe yourself as a man, woman, transgender
person, or other?’ There’s so much more that can go into that rather than just
breaking it down to those things.”
The majority of respondents said that both questions were understood equally well.
There were no issues with answering question Q28a, so we have no revision suggestion for this
question. However, further cognitive testing may be needed because the majority of respondents
did not identify as a transgender person.

NCVS Demographic Question Q28b
Original Question Q28b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
 Specify ________________________
 Refused
 Don’t know
Original Question Q28b Findings:
No respondents were asked this question, so we have no revision suggestion for this question.
However, further cognitive testing may be needed because none of respondents identified as a
transgender person.

NCVS Demographic Question Q28c
Original Question Q28c: Round 1
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now
describe yourself as a {Q28a or Q28b}. Is that correct?
 Yes
 No
 Refused
 Don’t know
Question Q28c Revision 1: Round 2 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now
describe yourself as a {Q28a or Q28b}. Is that correct?
 Yes
 No
 Refused
 Don’t know
Original Question Q28c Findings:
No respondents were asked this item. However, since Q28b directly asks what a respondent’s
current gender identity is there is no need to ask Q28c. The question Q28b fill option was
removed, since individuals answering question Q28b should not be asked question Q28c.
Question Q28c Revision 1 Findings:
No respondents were asked this item, so we have no further revisions to suggest. However,
further cognitive testing may be needed because none of the respondents answered Q27 and
Q28a differently (man/woman answers at Q27 led to male/female answers at Q28a,
respectively).

6.2.3 Additional Demographic Questions
This section discusses findings from additional demographic questions that were included in the
testing.. These questions were beyond the scope of the study and only included in the
questionnaire for context, so they were not probed on or revised. Nonetheless, the cognitive
interviews resulted in some findings worth discussing. There were other demographic questions
included in the questionnaire for context that did not result in any findings, and thus are not
included in this report.

NCVS Demographic Question Q13
Original Question Q13: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q13. Ask or verify Which of the following best describes your job? Were you employed in the ...
 Medical Profession?
 Mental Health Services Field?
 Teaching Profession?
 Law Enforcement or Security Field?
 Retail Sales?
 Transportation Field?
 Something else? _____________________
Original Question Q13 Findings:
Respondents had no issues in answering this question, however, across all rounds, the majority
of respondents could not fit their job into the categories provide, and had to wait for the
‘something else’ option to report it. One respondent picked two of the fields instead of just one.
One respondent chose a specific field, but the interviewer was concerned that the choice was
not exactly a good one. One respondent asked for clarification if her job would fit into a specified
field, before ultimately picking ‘something else.’ One respondent asked why the specific fields
were chosen as answers, and said, “I feel like it’s very specific.”
All respondents were able to answer the question, despite the majority choosing ‘something
else,’ so we have no revision suggestion for this question.
NCVS Demographic Question Q14
Original Question Q14: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q14. Ask or verify Is your job with –
 A private company, business, or individual for wages?
 The Federal government?
 A State, county, or local government?
 Yourself (Self-employed) in your own
 Business, professional practice, or farm?
Original Question Q14 Findings:
Most respondents were able to select an answer. Some respondents only said ‘yes.’ Some
respondents worked for non-profit organizations and were unsure if their job would fit into any
of these categories. One respondent said she does volunteer work, and she was also unable to
tell if her job would fit into any of these categories. One respondent chose multiple options.
One respondent felt like this question should be asked “more openly first, then narrow down.”
Another said that the first option and the last option were similar. We have no specific

suggestions for revisions for this question. It may be useful to look at how other surveys such as
the American Community Survey ask this question.
NCVS Demographic Question Q17
Original Question Q17: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q17. Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National
Guard? [Mark one box.]
 Never served in the military
 Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard
 Now on active duty
 On active duty in the past, but not now
Original Question Q17 Findings:
Most respondents were able to easily answer this item. Two respondents required probing to
determine which branch and whether they were currently active duty, but otherwise understood
the question fine. We have no revision suggestion for this question.
NCVS Demographic Question Q19
Original Question Q19: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States,
born in a U.S. territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
 Yes, born in the United States
 Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
 Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
 Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
 No, not a U.S. citizen
Original Question Q19 Findings:
Some respondents had a hard time with this question. A few answered ‘yes’ to the first sentence
of the question, and thought that the next sentence was a separate question. Many respondents
said ‘yes’ when they heard both ‘born in the United States,’ and ‘born of U.S. citizen parent(s).’ A
few individuals reported being confused or thinking this question was actually multiple questions.
One respondent just said ‘yes’ and had to be probed to get to an answer.
All respondents understood the intent of the question, even though some were confused while
answering, so we have no specific revision suggestion for this question. As with question Q14, it
may be useful to look at the version of this question used in the American Community Survey.

6.3 NCVS Supplemental Victimization Survey: Screener Questions
6.3.1 Unwanted Contacts and Behaviors
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ1
Original Question SQ1: Round 1
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
a. Followed you around and watched you?

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

f. Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

__ YES

___ NO

Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or behaviors using various technologies, such as your
phone, the Internet, or social media apps. In the past 12 months, has anyone –
g. Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice
messages, sent text messages, or used the phone
excessively to contact you?
h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software
or “spyware?”

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application
__ YES
on your cell phone?
Posted or threatened to post inappropriate,
unwanted, or personal information about you on
the Internet, this includes private photographs,
videos, or spreading rumors?

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like __ YES
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

___ NO

Question SQ1 Revision 1: Round 2 – Round 4
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
a. Followed you around and watched you?

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

f. Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

__ YES

___ NO

Posted or threatened to post inappropriate, unwanted,
or personal information about you on the Internet, this
includes private photographs, videos, or spreading rumors?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?
or “spyware?”
i.

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

Question SQ1 Revision 2: Round 5
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
a. Followed you around and watched you?

__ YES

___ NO

b. [Has anyone] Sneaked into your home, car, or any
place else and did unwanted things to let you know
they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. [Has anyone] Waited for you at your home, work, school,
or any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. [Has anyone] Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters,
presents, flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

f. [Has anyone] Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends
or family for information about you or your whereabouts?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

h. [Has anyone] Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

__ YES

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
i. Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?
j. [Has anyone] Posted or threatened to post inappropriate,
unwanted, or personal information about you on
the Internet, this includes private photographs,
videos, or spreading rumors?
k. [Has anyone] Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using
the Internet, for example, using social media apps or
websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
l. [Has anyone] Monitored your activities using social
media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Question SQ1 Revision 3: Final Recommendation
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
a. Followed you around and watched you?

__ YES

___ NO

b. [Has anyone] Sneaked into your home, car, or any
place else and did unwanted things to let you know
they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. [Has anyone] Waited for you at your home, work, school,
or any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. [Has anyone] Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters,
presents, flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

f. [Has anyone] Harassed or repeatedly asked your
friends or family for information about you or
your whereabouts?

__ YES

___ NO

h. [Has anyone] Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

__ YES

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
i.

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?
[Has anyone] Posted or threatened to post inappropriate,
unwanted, or personal information about you on
the Internet, this includes private photographs,
videos, or spreading rumors?

k. [Has anyone] Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using
the Internet, for example, using social media apps or
websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
l.

[Has anyone] Monitored your activities using social
media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

All 60 respondents answered SQ1. The protocol included quasi-retrospective probes to ask
respondents to provide more details about the contacts and behaviors they experienced, to
define certain phrases in their own words, and to give examples of behaviors that they think
would fit in the various categories. Respondents were also asked if there are any types of contacts
or behaviors that should be included in an existing category in SQ1. To avoid disrupting the flow
of the questions, interviewers asked SQ1 items A through F, then told respondents that they were
going to ask questions about some of the items they just answered. After asking the first set of
probes, interviewers told respondents they were returning to the survey questions, asked items
G through K, and then told respondents they were about to ask another set of questions about
the previous items.

Original Question SQ1 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Overall, non-victim respondents were able to easily answer question SQ1. Of the 10 non-victims
who answered this question in Round 1, seven answered “no” to all items, two answered “yes”
to item A about being followed or watched, and one answered “yes” to items A, B, C, and G.

examples provided indicate that respondents understood the intent of item B. Respondents gave
examples of leaving items, taking items, moving things around, or destroying things. For example,
one respondent (ANV12) said, “Like leaving notes or taking things that are identifiable as
something [the offender] would take or something that’s important to you.” Another woman
(ANV4) said that an “unwanted thing” would be “leaving a window open or ransacking the place.”
A second probe for item B asks participants to tell interviewers some places other than your
home or car where someone could do unwanted things to let them know they had been there.
Responses included at work, at school, or any place you go regularly. For example, one adult
respondent said, “I would say work and school, or if you go to a normal coffee shop or gym, places
that you go to on a regular basis that they could leave things at.”
Both teen respondents included school as a place someone could do unwanted things. Both
mentioned a classroom where they go everyday, like homeroom. One teen mentioned that
someone could leave or do something by their locker. The sponsors were particularly interested
in whether or not items needed to be modified to include examples specific to teens, such as
adding the word “locker”. The responses to this probe suggest that teens do think of their school
and locker in the context of this question. No changes were made to this item after Round 1; we
decided collect more data on this item before deciding how to change the wording.

SQ1c. “Waited for you at your home, work, school, or any place else when you didn’t want them
to?”
For item C, respondents were asked if there are places other than home, work or school where
someone could wait for them. A few respondents replied “no” or “no other places.” Individuals
who listed other places mentioned the gym, places you go regularly like a favorite coffee shop,
and the houses of friends or significant others. Multiple respondents mentioned places relating
to a commute, such as a bus stop, a metro stop, or any place along your regular route. One adult
(ANV13) said, “Not too many other places that I would be consistently at. I guess maybe the same
route that you take to work everyday, someone could be waiting or follow that pattern.” There
was no indication that item C was difficult to understand or phrased in a way that led respondents
to exclude certain locations.

presence to you.” A teen (TNV2) replied, “It would mean they were basically showing up to a
place you would never expect them to be. Like a private place they don’t have a membership to.
Like somebody passing by Gold’s Gym if I was working out there and they don’t go to that gym.”

SQ1e. “Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents, flowers, or any other unwanted
items?”
For item E, respondents were asked to give an example of another unwanted item that would fit
in the category. Respondents had a hard time coming up with additional items, often giving an
example that was already listed. Their comments indicate that they understand the types of
items the question is asking about, but that the list covers the most common types of items.
TNV1: “Did you say presents? I can’t think of anything else.”
ANV10: “Other than the things you just mentioned. I don’t know other stuff.”

SQ1g. “Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice messages, sent text messages, or used the
phone excessively to contact you?”
The first probe on item G asks respondents what the word “excessively” means to them in this
question. Some respondents tried to provide a frequency for what constitutes being excessively
contacted via phone.
ANV3: “More than three times.”
TNV1: “Like maybe daily or more than daily.”
Most respondents said some variation of the idea that it becomes excessive when it is unwanted
and continues to happen. For example, someone (ANV4) responded, “When the recipient has
made it known to the person that these kinds of contacts are unwanted. Any contact beyond that
notice would be excessive.”
The second probe on item G asks, “What does an unwanted phone call mean to you?” Eight of
the ten non-victims in Round 1 defined “unwanted phone calls” as calls from someone you didn’t
want to talk to, whether or not you told the other person you didn’t want to talk to them. As one
respondent (ANV13) put it, an unwanted phone call can be “Anything that you don’t want to be
a part of. It can be something that makes you feel uncomfortable, or just that you don’t feel like
you have a choice in or a sense of autonomy.” One respondent (TNV2) did include wrong numbers
that continued to call after informing them that it is the wrong number, and another respondent
(ANV3) tried to include telemarketers, but ultimately defined it as a call from “Someone I don’t
know or someone I have not asked to call me.” Since the probe only asked what an unwanted
phone call meant to them, the last two responses do not necessarily indicate that they would
include wrong numbers and telemarketers when answering item G. Therefore, the probe was
changed to “What does an unwanted phone call mean to you in this question?” to provide
clarification.

SQ1h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using technologies such as a listening device,
camera, or computer or cell phone monitoring software or “spyware?”
The probe for item H asked respondents to give an example of spyware. Five of the ten
participants explicitly said that they do not know an example of spyware, though some of them
tried to guess.
ANV12: “No… [laughs]. Maybe put a virus on your computer? I don’t know if that’s
a thing. I’m not super technology savvy though.”
ANV13: “I don’t actually know. I’m not sure what a type of spyware is.”
Two individuals were able to provide appropriate examples (“Software to spy on keystrokes.”)
The remaining three individuals responded with broad examples that indicate that they do not
know what spyware is.
ANV1: “Webcams, anything that can track your whereabouts.”
TNV1: “Like when people hack your phone.”
Since many respondents did not know what constitutes spyware, the decision was made to
remove the term “spyware” from the question. The description of technologies included in item
G (“technologies such as a listening device, camera, or computer or cell phone monitoring
software”) is easy for respondents to understand, and essentially defines spyware. The modified
wording provides enough context for respondents to include incidents involving spyware even if
the word “spyware” is not used.

SQ1I. Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking device or application, such as GPS or
an application on your cell phone?
Probes for item I ask respondents to give an example of an application that can track location,
and an example of an electronic tracking device. Not all respondents were able to provide specific
examples, but they knew that such applications existed and what they are used for. Respondents
who were able to provide examples named the application Find My Friends, and said that GPS is
an electronic tracking device, and said that it can be “a physical device that you can put on
someone’s vehicle or something,” (ANV1).

SQ1k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet, for example, using social media
apps or websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
All respondents understood what was meant by “Social media apps” in item K. Most responded
that they were thinking of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. Some individuals listed
social dating apps, like Tinder, Hinge. One respondent (ANV13) provided her definition, “I don’t
take it necessarily as it has to be an app or related to your phone, but just any social media
platform. It could include a few other kinds as well; it doesn’t have to be Instagram or whatever.
Something that first came to mind would be like a dating app.”
Findings for Victims:
Five victims answered SQ1 in Round 1. Four of those respondents answered “yes” to every item
in SQ1. The fifth respondent said “yes” to every item except item SQ1f, “Harassed or repeatedly
asked your friends or family for information about you or your whereabouts?” Overall, victim
respondents were able to easily answer question SQ1.

SQ1b. “Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted things to let you know they had been
there?”
During probing for item B, respondents were asked to give an example of an “unwanted thing”
someone could do to let them know they had been in their home, car, or any place else. The
examples provided indicate that respondents understood the intent of item B. Respondents gave
the same types of examples that non-victims gave - leaving items, taking items, moving things
around, or destroying things. The difference between victims and non-victims is that victims
provided examples from their personal experiences. For example, one respondent (AV2) said,
“He left items, tampered with possessions or stole them, removed items from the home and
brought them back at another date.”
One respondent (AV5) did provide an example that suggests her interpretation of the question
extended beyond physical places. This respondent said that online stalking or activity would
count. When probed, he told the interviewer that he could tell his LinkedIn profile was visited by
the offender and people related to her, and that he knew the same group was looking at his
Facebook page and sending him emails.
There were no significant differences between the types of examples non-victims and victims
provided, suggesting that most individuals understand the intent of the question, even if they
have not experienced unwanted contacts or behaviors.

SQ1c. “Waited for you at your home, work, school, or any place else when you didn’t want them
to?”
For item C, respondents were asked if there are places other than home, work or school where
someone could wait for them. Respondents included the grocery store, bus stops, and places
they frequent such as their favorite bar. Again, responses to this probe show that all respondents
understand and interpret the question in a similar way, regardless of victimization status.

SQ1d. “Showed up, rode or drove by places where you were when they had no business being
there?”
The probe for item D asks respondents what the phrase “no business being there” means to them
in the question. All respondents were able to provide a fitting definition of the phrase, and to
give an appropriate example of a situation like that, indicating that they understand what the
phrase means in the context of this question. As one respondent explained, “[It means] a place
where a person would not ‘regularly’ need to go. They are there because you are there in that
circumstance.”
One respondent (AV1) did elaborate on his definition, which may provide deeper insight to how
someone who has experienced unwanted contacts and behaviors thinks of the phrase “no
business being there.” He said that this includes places, even if they’re public, that the individual
asks the offender not to follow them there. He said that “the person engages in this unwanted
activity even though [the victim] pleads to not infringe upon personal choices and rights and
privacy even if it’s in a public arena.”

SQ1e. “Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents, flowers, or any other unwanted
items?”
For item E, respondents were asked to give an example of another unwanted item that would fit
in the category. Respondents provided examples of items they had received. One respondent
(AV1) said his offender sent him lunch at work when he had not asked her to and did not want to
receive it. One woman (AV5) said that the offender had left drugs in her home.
Victims did not provide any examples of items that suggest the list in SQ1e is insufficient. Their
inclusion of unlisted items (a delivered lunch and drugs) indicates that victims think about
unwanted items they received, even if they are not specifically included in the list.

SQ1h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using technologies such as a listening device,
camera, or computer or cell phone monitoring software or “spyware?”
The probe for item H asked respondents to give an example of spyware. Like non-victims, victims
also had trouble providing an example of spyware.
AV5: “Isn’t spyware just putting a tracker on someone’s computer?”
Though they could not give a specific example of spyware, victims discussed their experiences in
which their offenders used technology to access information about them and monitor their
activities.
AV1: “Going into my system and corrupting it, watching what I do on my
computer, creating viruses, copying and pasting from my system to hers, even
taking pictures from my emails or photos.” This respondent said that he could tell
she was on his computer, but did not know how she was able to do that.
AV2: “I have outlook. My outlook is hacked. I have emails that just disappear.”
The fact that victims are not able to provide an example of spyware, but are able to categorize
such experiences under item SQ1h supports the decision to remove the term “spyware” from the
question.

SQ1i. Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking device or application, such as GPS or
an application on your cell phone?
Probes for item I ask respondents to give an example of an application that can track location,
and an example of an electronic tracking device. None of the victims were able to name a standalone application that can track location. One respondent mentioned that Facebook might be
used to track location, since some posts are geo-tagged, and some features will provide your
location if it is turned on (such as the chat feature).
When asked to give examples of both tracking applications and electronic tracking devices, most
respondents just referred to the GPS location feature on a cell phone and how it can be used by
others to track you.
AV1: he “discovered through the police department that [his offender] had the
ability to track his phone by use of GPS and location on every place he frequents.”
He did not elaborate on exactly how she accesses this information.
Only one respondent (AV5) was able to provide an example of an electronic tracking device,
saying that her stalker had put a tracer on her car.

SQ1k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet, for example, using social media
apps or websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
Only two respondents received the probe asking what “social media apps” means to them in this
question. Both mentioned Facebook, and one respondent listed LinkedIn as well. Though only
two victims received the probe in Round 1, all five were able to easily answer this question and
gave no indication that they were unsure about what social media apps are.
One respondent (AV5) mentioned that his stalker could see activity on his Facebook, and that she
would send him texts saying, “I’ve seen you in such a place” and that she could see who he was
talking to. The same respondent mentioned this and other instances of his social being monitored
by his offender. Since this monitoring behavior is distinct from sending messages via social media
apps or sites, we decided to include additional probes to determine whether or not respondents
think to include monitoring of social media when answering SQ1k. The following probes were
asked after the follow-up probe to SQ1k:
What if I had asked, “Monitored your activities using social media apps like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?” How would you answer? What were you
thinking of when I said “monitored your activities using social media apps?

Question SQ1 Revision 1 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Twenty non-victims answered this question in rounds two, three, and four. For the most part,
responses to the probing questions did not differ from those in Round 1 in any significant way.
Noteworthy findings are discussed below.
SQ1b. “Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted things to let you know they had been
there?”
We continued to probe on this question to determine if the category should be modified to be
more applicable to teens. Almost every teenager mentioned their locker as a place where
someone could do unwanted things to let them know they had been there. As previously
mentioned, this is something BJS was particularly interested in at the start of this project.
Responses during probing indicate that teens do think of their school and locker as a place where
someone could do unwanted things. Rather than add the words “school” or “locker” to this item,
we added the phrase “or any place else” to capture applicable incidents that occurred in places
other than one’s home, car, school, or locker.
SQ1h. “Spied on you or monitored your activities using technologies such as a listening device,
camera, or computer or cell phone monitoring software?”
The modified version of item H (with the removal of the term “spyware”) performed well in
rounds two through four.
SQ1k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet, for example, using social media
apps or websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
In probing after SQ1k, we tested the phrase “Monitored your activities using social media apps
like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?” When asked the follow-up probe "what were you thinking
about when I said monitored your activities using social media apps?" most respondents
mentioned using social media to track the whereabouts or behaviors of someone else.
TNV9: “I was thinking of stalking. Like keeping track of your location when you’re
on the app, where you’re going, who you’re contacting through that app.”
TNV15: “I was thinking about maybe they are spying on you and constantly looking
at your profile and posts. Reading about everything you do and everywhere you
have been so they are updated to what you have been doing in your life.”
Many teens responded to this probe using a variation of the word stalk (stalking, stalkerish) even
though the word stalk(ing) is not mentioned in any of the survey questions. The phrase
“monitored your activities” does not seem to have a negative connotation for some teen
respondents, though. Two teens mentioned the fact that they know or think their parents
monitor their social media presence, but that it is not unwanted. After round 4, the decision was

made to include the phrase “Monitored your activities using social media apps like Instagram,
Twitter, or Facebook?” as a standalone item (item L) in SQ1. The aforementioned follow-up probe
was kept in the protocol to continue to assess how frequently individuals (particularly teens)
interpret this item without a negative connotation.
Findings for Victims:
Ten victims answered question SQ1 in rounds two through four. Noteworthy findings are
discussed below.
SQ1b. “Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted things to let you know they had been
there?”
We continued to probe on this question to determine if the category should be modified to be
more applicable to teens. We only interviewed one teen victim in rounds two through four. She
did not mention her school or locker in response to the probe. She said, “I guess wherever you
work, maybe a friend’s house or a different family member’s house.” As discussed in the nonvictim section on item B in Question SQ1 Revision 1, the decision was made to change the item
to “Sneaked into your home, car, or any place else and did unwanted things to let you know they
had been there?” to capture applicable incidents that occurred in places other than one’s home,
car, school, or locker.
SQ1h. “Spied on you or monitored your activities using technologies such as a listening device,
camera, or computer or cell phone monitoring software?”
The modified version of item h (with the removal of the term “spyware”) performed well for
victims in rounds two through four.
SQ1k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet, for example, using social media
apps or websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
In probing after SQ1k, we tested the phrase “Monitored your activities using social media apps
like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?” When asked the follow-up probe "what were you thinking
about when I said monitored your activities using social media apps?" most respondents
mentioned using social media to track the whereabouts or behaviors of someone else.
AV10: “Just being on your Facebook page or on any social media page that you
have. Kind of like spying on your page.”
TV1: “I was thinking of them seeing what you’re up to or where you’re at or seeing
where you post, constantly checking.”
When answering question SQ1, multiple victims mentioned that their activity has been
monitored through Facebook and other websites before interviewers asked the probe on
monitoring activities via social media. The comments were offered without probing, and were
not in response to a specific item. These instances further supported the idea that SQ1 would

benefit from an additional item specifically addressing the issue. After round 4, the decision was
made to include the phrase “Monitored your activities using social media apps like Instagram,
Twitter, or Facebook?” as a standalone item (item L) in SQ1. The aforementioned follow-up probe
was kept in the protocol to continue to assess how well the new item works, and how frequently
individuals (particularly teens) interpret this item without a negative connotation (see the nonvictim section on item K in Question SQ1 Revision 1 for more information).
Changes that were not item specific:
Since the list of items in SQ1 is so long, there is the possibility that respondents will lose the
context of the stem about unwanted behaviors and contacts as they answer each item. The
wording in items I and L has no negative connotation. To remind respondents that all items are
referring to unwanted contacts and behaviors, we included the text “Still thinking about
unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…” at two places in SQ1 –
after item C and item H. We also included the optional text “[Has anyone]” before every item
that is not immediately preceded by that phrase. Interviewers have the option to read this text
if it becomes necessary to read the item as a complete sentence. For example, if the respondent
interrupts the flow of the question by asking for clarification or describing an incident they
experienced, it may sound unnatural or confusing for the interviewer to return to the survey by
reading an incomplete sentence as a question.

Question SQ1 Revision 2 Findings:
Overall, the second revised version of SQ1 performed well in Round 5. The six victims and nine
non-victims were able to easily answer the question. At this point, we reached the point of
saturation with the responses to probing questions; victim and non-victim responses in Round 5
are consistent with those in previous rounds. For this reason, items that performed well and
probes that did not provide new information during Round 5 are not discussed further in this
section. All questions and probes that did provide new insight are discussed below. The changes
discussed are not the result of findings specific to victims or non-victims, so there are not
separate write-ups by victim status.
SQ1g: Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice messages, sent text messages, or used the
phone excessively to contact you?
Two respondents asked for clarification about whether unwanted phone calls from bill collectors
and others like that should be included. After item G, one female teen (B33) asked, “And this isn’t
including weird bill collectors or anything?” When probed, she said that she would have said yes
in a real interview because she probably would have forgotten that they were not supposed to
be included.
The note to exclude sales people and bill collectors is not repeated before the technology
questions, which is where it is more applicable. To remind respondents to exclude sales people,
solicitors, and bill collectors when answering items G through L, the text between items F and G
was modified to read, “Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or behaviors using various
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technologies, such as your phone, the Internet, or social media apps. Again, please DO NOT
include bill collectors, solicitors, or other sales people. In the past 12 months, has anyone…”
SQ1l: Monitored your activities using social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
Most adults and teens seemed to interpret this item as others using social media to monitor their
actions in a manner consistent with stalking.
AV16: “I was thinking of someone following what I’m doing on Facebook. My sister
would post information about where we would be hanging out and [the offender]
would go there.”
Teens frequently used the term stalking in their response to the probes without any mention of
stalking from the interviewers.
TV2: “Like they stalk your profile page, then try to see who is hanging out with
you, who is tagging you in what, basically what you’re doing.”
TV3: “That they’re always on and they’re always on your profile and stalking you.”
One adult male non-victim (ANV9) responded to the probe “What were you thinking of when I
said ‘monitored your activities using social media apps?” by saying that he was “thinking of a
stalker.” When probed about what actions the stalker would be doing, he said, “observing how
often I log in to Facebook, or how many pictures I had liked on Instagram.”
A few of teens did mention thinking about their parents looking at their social media accounts to
make sure they’re not doing anything bad. While some teens indicated that this monitoring is
unwanted, all but one (TNV17) answered “no” to item L (TNV17 was a unique cases, and is
discussed in depth in Section 6.3.6 Noteworthy Cases with the NCVS SVS Screener Questions).
This suggests that most teens are able apply the context of SQ1 as a whole to differentiate
between parental monitoring of social media and the type of unwanted monitoring the question
is trying to capture.

6.3.2 Repetition of Behaviors
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ2 – asked if “yes” to any of the SQ1 questions
Original Question SQ2: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12
months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
Original Question SQ2 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Fifteen of the 39 non-victim respondents answered question SQ2. Of those fifteen, nine
answered yes and six answered no. There did not appear to be any issues with the question
wording. Some respondents did have trouble answering, but this was due to their uncertainty
about whether or not the behavior was repeated. One respondent (ANV22) said, “It’s hard to
answer because once they make a friend request on Facebook, it’s there, it’s hard to know if they
do it multiple times. I think one person did do it twice.”
Findings for Victims:
Twenty of the twenty-one victims responded “yes” to this question. The final respondent, a teen,
initially answered “no” and was screened out since she only reported one contact or behavior in
SQ1. During the debriefing it became clear that she misinterpreted SQ2, and that she had
experienced other behaviors that are covered in SQ1, but that she did not report. This unique
case is discussed in depth in Section 6.3.6 Noteworthy Cases with the Screener Questions.
Respondents had no trouble understanding and answering this question. Unlike the non-victims,
victims had no uncertainty about whether the contacts or behaviors were repeated. One woman
(AV2) replied, “Yes. This is daily.” When probed on which behaviors were repeated, most
respondents said that all of the contacts and behaviors reported in SQ1 were repeated.

6.3.3 Actual Fear or Emotional Distress
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ3a
Original Question SQ3a: Round 1 – Round 4
SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or
the safety of someone known to you?
 Yes
 No
Question SQ3a Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or
the safety of someone close to you?
 Yes
 No
Original Question SQ3a Findings:
Finding for Non-Victims:
Twelve non-victims answered question SQ3a; five of them answered “yes” and seven of them
answered “no.”
Two probing questions were included in the protocol for SQ3a. All respondents who answered
the question were asked to say what “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to
you” means to them in this question. Respondents who did not answer “yes” to this question
were asked to give an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would make them fear
for their safety or the safety of someone known to them.
Many non-victims screened out before this question. We wanted to collect as much data as
possible to examine whether victims and non-victims had different interpretations of the phrase
“fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you.” Starting in Round 3, non-victims
who screened out were read the text for question SQ3a and asked the follow-up probes. These
respondents were not asked to provide an actual answer for SQ3a, as the question is not
applicable to them.
Most respondents defined “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you,” as
worrying about their wellbeing or the wellbeing of people they care about, feeling like they are
in danger, and that they could possibly be hurt.
Some respondents specified that the fear is about physical wellbeing, for example, “Grievous
bodily harm intending to maliciously hurt you or threaten you,” (ANV20). While others
mentioned that the fear can extend beyond worrying about physical harm. One respondent
(TNV15) explained, “Fear of safety means if the safety would be of any type of physical, mental,
or emotional danger. If they would be negatively affected in any of those ways, that would cause

fear for safety.” There were no significant differences between the ways in which men and
women interpreted the phrase.
When asked to provide an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would make them
fear for their safety or the safety of someone known to them, respondents mostly mentioned
receiving threats of harm to them or someone they care about, whether the threats are verbal,
sent via text, or done in person with a weapon. Men differed from women in that all five men
mentioned direct, explicit threats. One male (ANV18) said that he would be fearful if someone
showed up to his house, but if they were just calling and texting him, he would just ignore them
and would not be fearful. While many women did mention direct threats, some also included
other behaviors such as someone constantly following them, or tracking their whereabouts using
a GPS or a device on their phone.
Findings for Victims:
Fifteen victims answered SQ3a in rounds one through four. Only one victim said “no” to this
question. Like non-victims, almost all victims defined the phrase as worrying that someone will
physically harm them or someone they care about.
AV6: “Fear for the health and well being of myself and my family members. As in
they intend to hurt me and my family.”
TV1: “don’t have the slightest doubt that if he thought he could get away with it,
I would already be dead.”
Only one respondent defined the phrase in a way that did not explicitly mention fear of being
physically harmed or killed. This respondent (AV1) said, “Fear is that broken trust and a once
secure place no longer feels secure. You feel that person becomes capable of doing the unknown
or unwanted.”
When asked to provide an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would make them
fear for their safety or the safety of someone known to them, the one individual who received
this probing question said, “If the person said that they were going to drive by and kill me. Of if
the person was sending pictures that would imply that a friend or family member was being
followed.”
The original wording for question SQ3a was not difficult for respondents to understand, or for
interviewers to administer. Both SQ3a and SQ6 refer to other individuals in the respondent’s life.
The original wording for SQ3a uses the phrase “someone known to you,” while question SQ6 uses
the phrase “someone close to you.” The phrase in question SQ3a was changed to “someone close
to you” for consistency.
Question SQ3a Revision 1 Findings:
Finding for Non-Victims:
Two non-victims answered SQ3a in Round 5; one answered “no” and the second answered “yes.”
The respondent who answered “yes” is a female teen (TNV17). In response to the probe on what
52

the phrase “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you” means to her, she replied
“My emotional stability. My friendships,” (she did not elaborate on what exactly she meant by
this). This is the only respondent whose explanation of the phrase differs from the common
interpretation of worrying about the possibility of being harmed. Her definition is not entirely
different from the common interpretation, as an effect on emotional stability can be considered
emotional harm.
Aside from the aforementioned respondent, responses to probes after SQ3a Revision 1 did not
differ from those in previous rounds. The revised version of the question worked well for nonvictims.
Findings for Victims:
Six victims answered SQ3a in Round 5. Only one of the six respondents answered “no.” All six
individuals defined the phrase “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you” as
worrying that someone is going to be harmed in some way.
AV18: “It means that he would harm or kill us, specifically me.”
TV3: “That someone can come to my house and attack me or attack my family or
attack my friends.”
The individual who responded “no” to this question (TV2) interpreted the phrase the same as the
others. She just clarified, “I don’t think anything bad would have happened in my personal
experience, it was just annoying.” When asked to provide an example that would cause her fear,
she replied, “Threats, if someone kept leaving you messages like ‘hey, if you don’t answer, I’m
going to do this and that and that…’”
The revised version of SQ3a worked well for victims in Round 5.
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ3b
Original Question SQ3b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional
distress?
 Yes
 No
Original Question SQ3b Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Twelve non-victims answered SQ3b; four individuals responded “yes” and the other eight
responded “no.” Most individuals had no trouble answering this question. Two respondents had
to talk through their thoughts while answering. For example, one woman (ANV19) told the
interviewer that this question was hard to answer because she didn’t know how to categorize
her answer. She said that the theft of her car caused her distress, but the distress was only the
result of the theft, not of the contact (this respondent answered “no”).

Respondents were probed on what “substantial emotional distress” means to them in this
question, and asked to provide an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would cause
them substantial emotional distress if they answered “no”. Starting in Round 3, non-victims who
screened out of the survey were read this question for the purpose of answering the two probes;
they did not have to provide an answer to question SQ3b as it did not apply to them.
Most respondents defined substantial emotional distress as distress or anxiety that disrupts daily
functioning in some way.
ANV13: “I would say that it impacts your daily life for an extended period of time.
So it interrupts any kind of daily schedule and changes your lifestyle.”
TNV10: “So much emotional pain that you can’t function in everyday life or
everyday society.”
Only two of the non-victims who responded to the probes provided definitions of substantial
emotional distress that do not adequately define it. The first (ANV21) said, “Substantial
emotional distress means fearing that you are always being watched.” While this does not
provide an actual definition, this respondent had experienced unwanted contacts and behaviors
that caused substantial emotional distress, so she was likely defining the phrase in terms of her
experiences. The second inaccurate definition was provided by a teen male (TNV15). He said,
“Substantial emotional distress means it’s not too serious to me. In general, I would consider it
to not be as serious as my family in danger, making you in any way uncomfortable.”
When asked to provide an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would cause them
substantial emotional distress, respondents gave examples that align with behaviors that are
commonly thought to cause substantial distress. The most frequent answer was sexual assault.
Other examples include sexual harassment, blackmail, and threats to loved ones. Four teens
talked about cyberbullying, threats to post private information or messages, and someone
spreading lies about them as having the potential to cause substantial emotional distress; no
adult non-victims discussed these types of incidents in response to this probe.
Findings for Victims:
All 21 victims answered this question. Of those, only two victims answered “no,” the other 19
answered “yes.”
Like non-victims, victims were asked to define “substantial emotional distress.” Victims also
tended to define substantial emotional distress as distress and anxiety that impacts your
everyday life. Most victims went beyond that, though, and provided more in-depth, concrete
examples, referring to their own experiences.
AV5: “Difficulty sleeping, the cardinal signs of PTSD and depression, isolating
yourself, fear of contacting others, difficulty trusting others, jumpiness,
depression, nightmares, difficulty at work.”
AV18: “I had panic attacks. I would need to increase the security of my home by
installing a security camera. Having episodes of terror being triggered by random
things. I still to this day am hyper vigilant. A lot of panic attacks.”
54

There were no significant differences between the broad definitions provided by men and
women. However, none of the six men provided concrete examples from their own experiences.
For example, multiple men provided definitions similar to this adult male’s definition, “Making
you very nervous, scared, fearing for your life,” (AV6). Whereas many women started with similar
definitions, but then went on to describe their post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and
changes they made to their behavior in response to their distress.
The two victims who said the unwanted contacts and behaviors did not cause substantial
emotional distress did provide appropriate definitions for the phrase. For example, “If you think
about it for a large portion of the day or it causes sleeplessness or insomnia. Or any other physical
issues, that is substantial emotional distress,” (AV8). Of these two individuals, one was an adult
male, and the other was a teen female. Both answered “yes” to question SQ3a, indicating that
the behaviors caused them to fear for their safety.
There was no indication that any victims had an inaccurate interpretation of the phrase
“substantial emotional distress.”

6.3.4 Reasonable Fear
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ4
Original Question SQ4: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Now I have some additional questions about the time someone {behavior 1}, {behavior2},
and {behaviorx…}.
[Include all behaviors the respondent reported in SQ1a-k.]
Thinking about the person or people who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past 12 months, did any of the following occur –
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to damage or destroy property
belonging to you or someone else in your household?
 Yes
 No
Original Question SQ4 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Twelve non-victims answered question SQ4. Of those, only two answered “yes” to this question.
This question presented no problems for interviewers or non-victim respondents.
Finding for Victims:
Of the 21 victims who answered this question, 14 answered “yes” and seven answered “no.” This
question presented no problems for interviewers or victim respondents. One respondent, (AV5)
said that this question was too long. This respondent had answered “yes” to every item in SQ1,

which are re-read in the text immediately preceding SQ4. This is likely why she felt the question
was too long.

NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ5
Original Question SQ5: Round 1 – Round 4
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people physically attack,
attempt to attack, or threaten to attack you?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
Question SQ5 Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people…
Physically attack you?
● Yes ● No
Attempt to attack you?
● Yes ● No
Threaten to attack you?
● Yes ● No
Original Question SQ5 Findings:
Finding for Non-Victims:
Five non-victims answered this question in Rounds 1 through 4. Three individuals replied “no,”
and two replied “yes.” Interviewers had to probe to determine whether someone physically
attacked, attempted to attack, or threatened to attack them.
Findings for Victims:
Fifteen victims answered this question in Rounds 1 through 4. Four of the victims responded “no”
to this item. Four of the victims responded “yes” to all three options (physically attack, attempt
to attack, and threaten to attack). Four of the victims responded “yes” to threaten to attack. Two
responded “yes” to attempt to attack, and one responded “yes” to physically attack.
Six of the victims answered the question by saying, “yes.” As with the non-victims, victims tended
to answer this question as a yes/no question. Interviewers then had to clarify that they need to
choose which options apply – physically attack, attempt to attack or threatened to attack. For
this reason, question SQ5 was changed to a stem question with a forced-choice yes/no format
for each of the three options (see Question SQ5 Revision 1 above).
Question SQ5 Revision 1 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
56

Three non-victims answered this question in Round 5. Two answered “no” to all items. The third
answered “yes” to “Threaten to attack you?” The new version of the question performed well for
non-victims.
Findings for Victims:
Six victims answered this question in Round 5. Three answered “no” to all items, two answered
“yes” to all three items, and the final person answered “yes” to “Attempted to attack you?” and
“Threatened to attack you?” There were no problems with this version of the question.
Interviewers reported that it was much easier to administer than the previous version, and that
they no longer had to probe to get responses.
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ6
Original Question SQ6: Round 1 – Round 4
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to attack
someone close to you or a pet?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
Question SQ6 Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people…
Physically attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
Attempt to attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
Threaten to attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
Original Question SQ6 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Eight non-victims answered question SQ6 in rounds one through four. Six of them responded,
“no,” one responded, “yes, attempt to attack,” and one responded “yes” to all three. Before
answering, one individual (ANV17) asked if he was supposed to choose one of them or all of them
as a group. After the interviewer reread the question slowly, the respondent said, “I should say
yes to all of them.”
Findings for Victims:
Fifteen victims answered question SQ6 in rounds one through four. Eight of those respondents
answered “no.” Two respondents answered “yes” to all three types of incidents; one responded
“yes” to both physically attack and threaten to attack, one responded “yes” to physically attack,
and one responded “yes” to threaten to attack. Of the seven respondents who reported
57

experiencing a physical attack, attempted attack, or threat to attack, four of them answered this
question as a yes/no question without specifying which type of incident it was. Interviewers had
to probe to elicit specific responses.
Since the original format of the question often does not elicit appropriate responses without
interviewer probing, question SQ6 was changed to a stem question with a forced-choice yes/no
format for each of the three options (see Question SQ6 Revision 1 above).
Question SQ6 Revision 1 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Three non-victims answered the revised version of question SQ6 in Round 5. Of those, two said
“no” to all three items, and one said “yes” to “Threaten to attack someone close to you or a pet?”
There were no issues with the revised version of SQ6 for non-victims.
Findings for Victims:
Six victims answered the revised version of this question in Round 5. Five of the victims answered
“no” to all three items, and one answered “yes” to “Threaten to attack someone close to you or
a pet?”
There were no issues with the revised version of SQ6 for victims. Interviewers reported that it
was much easier to administer than the previous version, and that they no longer had to probe
to get appropriate responses.

6.3.5 Related Behaviors
NCVS SVS Screener Question SQ7
Original Question SQ7: Round 1 – Round 2
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} more than once
in the past 12 months. Do you know or suspect that these unwanted contacts or behaviors
were related?
By that we mean that the unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
 Yes
[go to survey instructions]
 No
[end survey]
 Don’t know [go to survey instructions]
Question SQ7 Revision 1: Round 3 – Round 4
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} {(fill If SQ2=Yes)
more than once} in the past 12 months. Do you know or suspect that any of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors were related?

By that we mean that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the
same person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
 Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
 No
[end survey ]
 Don’t know [go to survey instructions on page 16]

Question SQ7 Revision 2: Round 5
SQ7. Thinking about all of the unwanted contacts or behaviors you reported experiencing,
do you know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed
by the same person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
 Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 17]
 No
[go to intro 4 text on page 20]
 Don’t know [go to survey instructions on page 17]

Question SQ7 Revision 3: Changes made after Round 5
SQ7a. Think about all of the unwanted contacts or behaviors you reported experiencing
and the person or people who committed them. Do you know or suspect that ANY of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same person or people?
 Yes
[go to survey instructions]
 No
[go to SQ7b]
 Don’t know [go to survey instructions]

SQ7b. Do you know or suspect that ANY of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
committed by others on behalf of the same person or people?
 Yes
[go to survey instructions]
 No
[go to survey instructions]
 Don’t know [go to survey instructions]
Question SQ7 Final Recommendation
SQ7 has been removed as it was not performing well. BJS will receive feedback on the
removal of SQ7 from the TRP members.

Original Question SQ7 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Three non-victims answered question SQ7 in rounds one and two. All three answered “no,” which
resulted in them being screened out of the survey. None of the non-victims indicated that they
had trouble understanding SQ7. However, one of the three respondents (ANV17) that was
screened out on the basis of answering “no” to SQ7 was very likely a victim that should have
continued with the survey (See Section 6.3.6.1 Potential False Negatives for a more detailed
discussion of this case).

Findings for Victims:
All 11 victims ultimately responded “yes” to this question. Respondents were probed on how
they were thinking about the term “related” in this question. While most individuals provided a
correct interpretation within the context of the question, two individuals indicated that they
were thinking of family when thinking about the term “related” in this question.
AV4: “I was thinking of family.”
AV6: “It’s a family, so the same person, or people.”
One respondent (AV5) initially said that the question was “too long” and “weird.” The interviewer
had to repeat the question before the respondent answered “yes.” Even though she answered,
she said that she wasn’t sure what the question was getting at.
This question was confusing for individuals who experienced multiple behaviors from multiple
perpetrators. One respondent (TV1) initially answered “no” because she thought that all of the
behaviors had to be from the same individual. Through probing, it became clear that she
misinterpreted the question.
TV1: “It’s happened more than once, but two different people have done two
different things. So I thought you meant every experience had to be related.”
This respondent would have incorrectly screened out of the survey in a regular interview as the
result of not understanding SQ7. After Round 2, we modified the question in two places to
indicate that it is asking if any of the contacts were related, rather than all of the contacts. “Do
you know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were related? By that we
mean that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.”
The phrase “You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} more than
once in the past 12 months.” can be incorrect if a respondent experienced multiple stalking
behaviors, but those behaviors did not happen more than once (for example, someone followed
them, waited for them, and showed up where they were one time each). In this example, the
respondent would say no to item SQ2 about repetition, but will not screen out. It then becomes
incorrect to say that they indicated that someone did those behaviors more than once. After

Round 2, the question was also changed to make the phrase “more than once” a fill if the
respondent said yes to SQ2. With this change, the first revision of question SQ7 read:
“You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} {(fill If
SQ2=Yes) more than once} in the past 12 months. Do you know or suspect that
any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were related?
By that we mean that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
committed by the same person/people or by others on behalf of that
person/people.”

Question SQ7 Revision 1 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Five non-victims answered “no” to this question in rounds three and four. None of the
respondents indicated that they had trouble understanding the question. The respondents’
discussion of the contacts and who committed them confirm that the incidents were not related.
Findings for Victims:
Four victims answered “yes” to this question in rounds three and four.
Two of the victims were able to easily answer this question, while the other two required
interviewer probing to help them make sense of the question. The first respondent (AV12)
thought the question was trying to “examine if your husband is physically abusive.” It is difficult
to make sense of this response without further clarification from the respondent. When asked
about how the behaviors were related, she said that “it’s just anything to control her,” indicating
that she was thinking of “related” in the sense of what they all have in common.
The second respondent who had trouble answering this question indicated that she was confused
because she had two offenders and did not realize the question was asking if some of the acts
were committed by the same person. The interviewer noted that she had to spontaneously probe
at this point, since the respondent had conveyed, when describing incidents in previous
questions, that the same person committed some of the acts.
Question SQ7 is a critical screener question since a respondent’s answer is the final deciding
factor in whether or not they screen in to the incident portion of the survey, regardless of the
answers to all other screener questions. Depending on their answers, some respondents screen
out of the survey before reaching SQ7. If an individual has not screened out by SQ7, if they answer
“yes,” they are automatically included in the survey; if they answer “no,” they are immediately
screened out. Since this question is so critical, any confusing language that may result in a false
positive (someone who is not a stalking victim but who screens in to the survey) or a false
negative (a stalking victim who screens out of the survey) must be fixed.

In an attempt to reduce respondent confusion with question SQ7, it was re-written as follows:
“Thinking about all of the unwanted contacts or behaviors you reported
experiencing, do you know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors were committed by the same person/people or by others on behalf of
that person/people?”

Question SQ7 Revision 2 Findings:
Findings for Non-Victims:
Three non-victims answered question SQ7 in Round 5. Two respondents answered “no” to this
question. One respondent (TNV17) answered “yes” to this question. The interviewer made the
decision to screen the respondent out based on information provided throughout the interview.
This case is discussed in depth in Section 6.3.6 Noteworthy Cases with the NCVS SVS Screener
questions.
Two of the respondents were able to accurately interpret what the question was asking.
TNV17: “Do you believe that you were tracked by the same people?” (The
respondent reported being tracked by her parents using her phone).
ANV21: “This question is asking if the attacker is having someone do anything to
her on their behalf, or if there is any correlation between any of the incidents.”
The third respondent’s interpretation is not straightforward, and suggests that she was only
thinking of one aspect of the question.
ANV15: “This question is asking if someone I know would be willing to talk to a
mutual person they know, and see if they would reach out to her.
This respondent seemed to focus only on the part of the question asking if the acts were
committed by others on behalf of someone else. She also seems to have limited potential
offenders to people known by her, as indicated by her mention of a “mutual person they know.”
Findings for Victims:
All six victims answered “yes” to this question. Three of the respondents were able to easily
answer the question and provide an appropriate interpretation of the question.
One respondent (AV16) was able to answer the question after having it re-read. Her
interpretation of the question was, “The question is asking if any incidents were caused by her
attacker.” Though this interpretation is not entirely accurate about the question as a whole, she
was able to process the fact that it is asking whether one person committed multiple contacts
and behaviors.
The final two respondents had a very hard time understanding and answering this question. After
the interviewer read the question, one respondent (AV18) said, “I have no idea what you just
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said.” The interviewer repeated the question, to which the respondent replied, “that’s a really
weirdly phrased question. I’m not processing it at all.” The interviewer had to pause after the
first comma, wait for the respondent to process and talk through what that language meant, then
read the second half of the question. The respondent said that two ex-boyfriends were harassing
her, but gave no indication about whether or not either committed multiple contacts or
behaviors. The interviewer had to extensively probe on the situation to determine that at least
one of the offenders committed multiple contacts or behaviors. The respondent offered an
unsolicited opinion, “I don’t like that question at all.”
The other respondent who had trouble with this question (TV2) initially replied, “What do you…
like... that was a long sentence. Can I read it?” After reading the question herself, she was able
to break apart the question and provide an accurate interpretation of what it was asking. When
probed on why the question was confusing, she said that the length of the question made it
difficult to understand.
Since this version of the question made it difficult for respondents to answer without interviewer
probing and assistance, it was revised again. Multiple respondents processed only on one aspect
of the question, focusing on the phrase “by others on behalf of that person/people.” To make it
clear that this question applies to either a single main offender or other offenders working on
behalf of a main offender, it was split into a two-part question, with each part addressing only
one concept. This change also shortens the question somewhat. Both factors are important for
reducing cognitive burden on the respondents. The third revised version of SQ7 is as follows:
SQ7a. Think about all of the unwanted contacts or behaviors you reported
experiencing and the person or people who committed them. Do you know or
suspect that ANY of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by
the same person or people?

Yes
[go to survey instructions]

No
[go to SQ7b]

Don’t know [go to survey instructions]

Question SQ7 Final Recommendation:
As discussed above, because question SQ7 is so important in deciding who is screened out of the
survey, any possible source of respondent confusion is problematic. Though we revised question
SQ7 after Round 5 (discussed above under “Question SQ7 Revision 2 Findings”), we were not able
to cognitively test the new version of the question. Since we cannot confirm that the revised
question reduces respondent confusion, the decision was made to remove question SQ7. The
sponsor decided that they are more comfortable screening individuals into the survey without
question SQ7 than incorrectly screening victims out because they say that the contacts and
behaviors related as a result of not understanding the question. BJS is consulting with experts in
the field of stalking and victimization who attended the Technical Review Panel to see if they had
any concerns with question SQ7 being dropped.

6.3.6 Noteworthy Cases with the NCVS SVS Screener Questions
For the most part, the screener questions performed well with accurately screening victims of
stalking into the survey, and screening individuals who have not been stalked out of the survey.
Of the 60 individuals who went through the screener, only six of them were potentially screened
in or out incorrectly. These cases were important in guiding decisions to modify questions to
reduce future errors in the screening process.
Two additional cases of interest are explained in section 6.3.6.3 Self-Identified Victims who
Correctly Screened Out.
The noteworthy aspects of all aforementioned interviews are discussed below.

6.3.6.1 Potential False Negatives
TV1:
Respondent TV1 initially answered yes to one item in SQ1 (SQ1g, unwanted phone calls or
messages). She answered no to SQ2 and was screened out. During the debriefing, she started
discussing other behaviors she experienced that were done by the same person. These behaviors
could have been categorized in the SQ1 items, but were phrased slightly different (i.e., handing
her gifts at school rather than sending or leaving them), so the respondent did not report them
when answering SQ1.
Because of her comments in the debriefing, we returned to the interview to proceed as a victim.
The decision to proceed with the interview even though her answers screened her out (a false
negative) was made because at this point, we had not found any teen victims to test the main
incident questions on.
This respondent also would have incorrectly screened out at SQ7 had it not been for her
comments during the first debriefing. When answering SQ7, she was thinking of the stalking
behaviors done by a boy at school, as well as repeated unwanted phone calls from her boyfriend

after they get in a fight. She interpreted SQ7 meaning ALL behaviors had to be done by the same
person. Through probing, we established her understanding of the question, as well as the fact
that multiple stalking behaviors were committed by the same boy at school.
Evidence from other teen victims suggests that her failure to categorize certain behaviors
(showing up at her bus stop or outside of her classroom at school) in the SQ1 items were unique
to her interpretation. Many other teens gave examples similar to her experiences as things that
would fit in the existing categories. Her difficulty with SQ7 was used as evidence that the question
needed to be revised for clarification (and ultimately removed).
ANV17:
Respondent ANV17 screened out after answering “no” to question SQ7. The respondent was not
probed on his interpretation of SQ7, but all of the circumstances surrounding this interview
suggest that he did misinterpret it. This respondent self-identified as a victim of stalking by
responding to the recruiting email distributed by our contact at the Stalking Resource Center. He
reported experiencing multiple unwanted contacts and behaviors, said that they were repeated,
caused him to fear for his safety, and caused him substantial emotional distress. He responded
yes to at least one item in both of the reasonable fear questions (SQ5 and SQ6). When discussing
his experiences throughout the interview, he always refers to one offender, his ex-wife. During
debriefing, the interviewer asked if he believes the contacts and behaviors he experienced were
stalking; he said that he did believe he was stalked.
ANV15:
This respondent replied yes to SQ1a (followed around or watched), SQ1d (showed up, rode or
drove by places where she was), and SQ1k (sent unwanted emails or messages using the
internet). These behaviors did not cause her fear for her safety (because she is “feisty”); they did
cause her substantial emotional distress. The respondent screened out after answering “no” to
SQ7. The interviewer did not probe to elicit details that would indicate whether or not the
behaviors were related. However, when asked what the question means in her own words, this
respondent was unable to provide an accurate interpretation of SQ7. During debriefing, the
respondent said she did believe the contacts and behaviors she experienced were stalking. This
case is a possible false negative due to a misunderstanding of SQ7.
ANV21:
This respondent said “yes” to SQ1a through SQ1f, SQ1g, SQ1h, SQ1k, and SQ1L. The contacts and
behaviors were repeated, caused her to fear for her safety, and caused substantial emotional
distress. When answering SQ7, she replied “no” because the behaviors were from two different
people. However, this is likely a false negative due to a misunderstanding of the question. When
discussing incidents reported in SQ1, it became clear that she experienced two separate stalking
incidents at different times with two different men each doing multiple behaviors/repeated
behaviors. During debriefing, this respondent said she did believe the contacts and behaviors she
experienced were stalking.

6.3.6.2 Potential False Positives
With the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds in the 2016 sample, this study was necessary to assess
possible issues that are specific to teens. Of particular importance to the sponsor was the
possibility of false positives in cases where teens interpret their parents’ normal monitoring of
their behaviors and activities as a version of stalking. Many teens use the term stalk(ing) liberally,
applying it to situations that do not actually constitute stalking (i.e. viewing a new crush’s
Facebook page to see old pictures and learn about their interests may be jokingly referred to as
“stalking” their page). Some parents use cell-phone applications to track their teens’
whereabouts for safety reasons, and this type of behavior might be considered unwanted. For
these reasons, it was critical to determine whether or not teens can distinguish between these
behaviors, and the types of unwanted contacts and behaviors measured in the SVS.
Of the twenty teen interviews, only one respondent (TNV17) incorrectly screened in to the survey
by reporting that her parents track her whereabouts and monitor her online activity. This case is
discussed below. It is important to note that it is possible for parents to stalk their children. For
example, an ex-husband who is stalking or harassing his ex-wife may extend the unwanted
contacts and behaviors to their children. For this reason, not all teen reports of being stalked by
a parent can be considered a false positive.
TNV17:
This respondent said yes to being tracked (SQ1i) and her social media being monitored (SQ1l),
both by her parents. When probed about the unwanted contacts and behaviors, she said that her
mom tracked her using the ‘track my iPhone’ application just in case she lost her phone. When
probed more, the teen explained that she found out her mom tracked her because they were in
the same room when her mom turned on that app, and the app lets an iPhone user know who is
tracking it. The teen said that it was ‘creepy’ so she turned off some settings within the app, but
said her mom may still be able to track her. The interviewer noted that she “seemed to be
laughing a little about this app and that her mom used it.” When probed about her social media
being monitored, she said her mom had monitored her, and she considers it to be a bad thing.
When probed, she said that her mom will tell her that she was looking at her social media, or that
she will look at it in front of her. She also said the behaviors have happened more than once (yes
to question SQ2.)
Some other teens in the survey mentioned that their parents monitored their social media or
tracked their whereabouts, but did not respond “yes” to items I or L. They were able to deduce
that, though the behavior might be unwanted, it does not apply within the context of the survey
questions.
Based on how teens in the study define fear for their safety and substantial emotional distress,
it appears that even if they reported experiencing these behaviors, most teens would then screen
out at SQ3a/b (fear and emotional distress). This teen said yes to both SQ3a and SQ3b. Her
definitions of the concepts were somewhat different from those provided by all other
respondents. She defined fear for her safety as her “emotional stability [and her] friendships,”

and defined substantial emotional distress as “a lot of crying.” Most importantly, though her
responses to the screener questions qualify her as a victim of stalking, when she was asked if she
believes the unwanted contacts and behaviors she experienced were stalking, she said “no” while
laughing. This further confirms that this teen was not a victim of stalking. It is possible that she
did not consider the context of SQ1 when answering each individual item, and that her
interpretation of fear for her safety was different from it’s intended meaning. Evidence from all
teen interviews suggests that her case was unique, and that most teens will not have the same
issues when responding to the survey.
TV3:
This case is not quite a potential false positive, but is worth mentioning for further consideration.
The respondent is a female teen. Based on her responses to the screener questions, she meets
the criteria for a victim of stalking. She said yes to SQ1j (posted or threatened to post
inappropriate, unwanted, or personal info online) and SQ1k (sent unwanted emails or messages
using the internet). The contacts and behaviors were repeated. They caused her to fear for her
safety, saying she thought the offenders were going to go to her house and attack her. The
behaviors caused substantial emotional distress in the form of panic attacks and suicidal
tendencies. The behaviors were related, in that they were committed by a group of three teens
from school working together.
The victim labeled the situation as cyberbullying, and her experiences do meet the criteria for
cyberbullying, as well as the criteria for stalking. When asked during debriefing if she thought the
unwanted contacts and behaviors were stalking, she replied that she did not. The respondent
defined stalking as, “Someone who’s overly obsessed with a person to the point of following
them, watching them, being overly infatuated to the point where they can’t get enough of the
person and it’s making the other person uncomfortable.” The overlaps between
bullying/cyberbullying and stalking warrant further consideration regarding whether and how to
distinguish between the two.

6.3.6.3 Self-identified Victims Who Correctly Screened Out
Two individuals self-selected into the survey, identifying as victims of stalking in response to the
recruiting message. Their conception of what it means to be a stalking victim did not align with
the official definition, and the screener questions resulted in them correctly screening out of the
survey.
ANV14:
This respondent said yes to SQ1a (being followed or watched), and SQ1f (the offender harassing
or repeatedly asking others for information about her). She said the contacts and behaviors
caused her to fear for her safety, and yes to “attempt to attack” [someone close to her] in SQ6.
In reference to item SQ1a about being followed, she said, “yes, once when I was walking.” When
discussing the incident in SQ1f, she said that an unwanted thing “happened to her neighbor. She
parked her car and they got into her car and they stole some of her stuff. She reported it to the
police.” This is also the incident she referenced when answering SQ6, saying someone attempted
67

to attack her neighbor. It is unclear why she included this incident in SQ1f, as it does not fit in
that category and did not happen to her.
The respondent correctly screened out after answering “no” to SQ7. During debriefing, this
respondent said she did believe the contacts and behaviors she experienced were stalking. She
defined stalking as “Someone looking at you very closely and trying to figure out where this
person lives and what they do for a living and trying to find the person’s information.” This
individual responded to the ad seeking victims of stalking because she believed that being
followed once constituted stalking.
ANV18:
The respondent answered “yes” to SQ1 items C, D, E, G, J, K. He said the contacts were repeated,
and caused him to fear for his safety. When discussing items C, and D, he said he was thinking of
sales people who go door to door. For item D, he was thinking of sales people leaving flyers and
junk mailing. For item G, he again referenced sales people, even commenting that he’s received
text messages from sales people. In item J, he was thinking of friends posting pictures of him on
their social media without his permission. He did not elaborate on the behaviors referenced in
item K. When discussing why the behaviors caused him to fear for his safety, he said that he
didn’t like that sellers knew his address to mail things or come to his home, and that he feels
intimidated when a sales person is at his home.
This respondent self-identified as a victim of stalking when responding to the message seeking
stalking victims. After going through the survey questions, he said that he did not believe the
contacts and behaviors he experienced were stalking. It is unclear why he initially self-identified
as a victim of stalking.

6.4 NCVS Supplemental Victimization Survey: Incident Questions
6.4.1 Offender Information
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q1
Original Question Q1: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q1. Thinking about these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months, how
many different people have done these things to you?
• One
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Two
[ask Q2a]
• Three or more – Enter number of people. ______ [ask Q2a]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A]

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q2a
Original Question Q2a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q2a. Did these people act alone or together as a team?
• Alone
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Together
[ask Q2b]
• Don’t know [skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q2b
Original Question Q2b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q2b. Of the people who did these things to you, is there ONE person who you would
consider to be the MOST responsible for these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Intro Text A –– SINGLE OFFENDER]
• No
[skip to Q8a– MULTIPLE OFFENDERS]

6.4.2 Single Offender Questions
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q3
Intro Text A. Thinking about the person who has done this most recently, …
Original Question Q3: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q3. Is this person male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Don’t know
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q4
Original Question Q4: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q4. How old would you say this person is?
• Under 15
• 15-17
• 18-20
• 21-24
• 25-34
• 35-49
• 50-64
• 65+
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q5
Original Question Q5: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q5. Is this person Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
Original Question Q5 Findings:
Most respondents were able to easily answer this item. One respondent did not answer this
question, they instead gave a race. They needed to be probed to give the correct answer. One
respondent said “I hope there is a, ‘are they middle eastern?’ question in there.” One respondent
asked why Hispanic origins was a separate question. We have no revision suggestion for this
question.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q6
Original Question Q6: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Original Question Q6 Findings:
One respondent, who had given a race as their first answer to Q5, chose to say ‘other’ and say
what their offender’s ethnicity is. One respondent said that her offender would have answered
differently if asked this question. “Out of those options he might go for White. He would have
said Latino for race.” One respondent answered but said that there are categories that are
missing from this question. Otherwise, all respondents answered this question with no problems.
While answering the previous item, one respondent said she would like ‘middle eastern’ to be
added. We have no revision suggestion for this question.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q7
Original Question Q7: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began
and not at the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person
Original Question Q7 Findings:
Two respondents (AV1 and AV5) answered, but they missed the time frame of the question (“…
when they first began?”). They required probing in order to get to their correct answer. One
respondent (AV8) would not answer until he heard all the answer choices. Aside from these, all
the other respondents answered this question with no problems. We have no revision suggestion
for this question.
71

6.4.3 Multiple Offenders Questions
The Multiple Offenders questions collect data on the demographic characteristics of offenders,
relationship to the victim, and relationship between offenders. These questions are asked when
more than one individual is responsible for the unwanted contacts and behaviors, the individuals
worked together as a team, and the respondent indicates that there is not one person they would
consider most responsible.

6.4.3.1 Use of Vignettes in the Multiple Offenders section
Questions in the Multiple Offenders section were only applicable to three of the 21 respondents
who screened into the survey as victims. To ensure we could gather sufficient data during the
cognitive testing, we added a vignette during Round 4 to end of the survey for respondents who
screened out as non-victims.
Vignettes are a useful tool in cognitive interviews when only a small number of respondents go
through a particular series of questions in a survey. Though those questions are only applicable
to respondents who have experienced a particular situation, previous research on vignettes has
shown that a respondent does not need to experience that situation to interpret how it should
be reported (Martin, 2006). By using a vignette, we were able to cognitively test the multiple
offender questions on an additional 16 respondents (seven respondents from Round 4, nine from
Round 5).
The vignette provided respondents with a hypothetical situation in which an individual is
experiencing unwanted contacts and behaviors committed by three people. Respondents were
asked to read the vignette and then pretend they are the individual experiencing the behaviors
as they answer a series of questions to the best of their ability.
Two variants of the vignette were created; female respondents received a vignette using the
name Maria, while male respondents received a vignette using the name Mark. The two variants
of the vignette were identical in every other way.
Interviewers read the following intro text to respondents before providing them with the vignette
and asking them the multiple offender questions.
“There is one last task I would like your help with. We would like to gather more
information on how the next questions work for different situations. Please
take a few minutes to read the following situation.” [Interviewer hands vignette
to respondent]
After they have had a chance to read the vignette: “Now I’d like you to pretend
that you are Maria/Mark as I ask a few questions. Please answer the questions
to the best of your ability.”

Vignette Version 1 (used in Round 4):
“A group of friends has been sending Maria/Mark threatening emails and text
messages a few times a week. In this group, there are two males and one female.
One of the males is Asian, and the other two people are white. The Asian male
appears to be in his 20s. The other two individuals are 18 years old. Maria/Mark
works with all three individuals.
Pretend you are Maria/Mark as you answer the next questions.”
While the first version of the vignette worked well to allow respondents to answer the questions
as if they were Maria/Mark, the phrasing used in the vignette caused some confusion about the
age of the Asian male and the relationships of the three offenders. We slightly modified the
vignette to reduce respondent confusion to ensure that any problems that respondents
encountered were due to the question wording rather than the vignette.
Vignette Version 2 (used in Round 5):
Maria/Mark has been getting threatening emails and text messages a few times
a week from some of her coworkers. In this group of coworkers, there are two
males and one female. One of the males is Asian, and the other two people are
white. The Asian male appears to be around 24 or 25. The other two individuals
are 18 years old. The three individuals sending the messages are all friends with
each other.
Pretend you are Maria/Mark as you answer the next questions.”
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q8a
Original Question Q8a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
[skip to Q9]
• All female
[skip to Q9]
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
[skip to Q9]
• Both male and female
[continue to check item #3]

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q8b
Original Question Q8b: Round 1 – Round 5
Q8b. Were these people mostly male or mostly female?
 Mostly male
 Mostly female
 Evenly divided
 Don’t know
Question Q8b Revision 1: Final Recommendation
Q8b. Are most of these people male or female?
 Most are male
 Most are female
 Evenly divided
 Don’t know
Testing Gender Identity Findings:
Researchers were concerned that using the phrases “mostly male” and “mostly female” may
cause some confusion. There is increasing awareness of the concept of gender fluidity, a gender
identity in which gender can vary over time or consist of a combination of identities. By using the
phrases “mostly male” and “mostly female” there is a possibility of some respondents
interpreting this as a question about the gender identity of the offenders.
Original Question Q8b Findings:
Overall, this question was not problematic. Individuals who had experienced unwanted contacts
and behaviors, as well as non-victims who received the vignette were able to answer this
question without difficulty. However, one teen respondent who received the vignette in Round
5 confirmed the researchers concern. The respondent correctly answered the question, but made
a face upon hearing the question, prompting the interviewer to probe on why she made the face.
The respondent (TNV12) replied, “Because you can interpret that question as, like, are the people
themselves mostly male. Like, do they identify mostly as male on the gender spectrum.”
Since the researchers were already concerned about the potential for misinterpretation of the
question, this response confirmed that some respondents might think of gender identity or
gender fluidity when hearing the original question wording. To address this issue, the final
recommendation for this question wording is “Are most of these people male or female?”
Response options were also changed to match the new question wording.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q9
Original Question Q9: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q9. How old would you say these people are?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Under 15
□ 15-17
□ 18-20
□ 21-24
□ 25-34
□ 35-49
□ 50-64
□ 65+
□ Don’t know
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q10a
Original Question Q10a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q10a. Are any of these people Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
[ask Q10b]
• No
[skip to Q11a]
• Don’t know [skip to Q11a]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q10b
Original Question Q10b: Round 1 – Round 5
Q10b. Were these people mostly Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal number of
Hispanic and non-Hispanic?
• Mostly Hispanic or Latino/a
• Mostly non-Hispanic
• Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
• Don’t know
Question Q10b Revision 1: Final Recommendation
Q10b. Are most of these people Hispanic, non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic
and non-Hispanic?
• Most are Hispanic or Latino/a
• Most are non-Hispanic
• Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
• Don’t know
Original Question Q10b Findings:
Respondents did not have trouble answering the original version of Q10b. Similar to question
Q8b, though, use of the phrases “mostly Hispanic” and “mostly non-Hispanic” could result in
misinterpretation of the question. Some respondents might interpret this as asking about the
proportion of their ethnicity that is Hispanic (e.g. a person with only one Hispanic grandparent
identifying as one-quarter Hispanic, thus being mostly non-Hispanic). To clarify, the question
75

wording and response options the final recommendation removes the potentially problematic
phrases.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q11a
Original Question Q11a: Round 1 – Round 5
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Question Q11a Revision 1: Final Recommendation
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Are they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Original Question Q11a Findings:
The original wording for question Q11a did not cause any issues during the cognitive testing.
However the final recommendation fixes the inconsistency in grammatical tense throughout the
question.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q11b
Original Question Q11b: Round 1 – Round 5
Q11b. What race were most of these people?
• Mostly White
• Mostly Black or African American
• Mostly American Indian or Alaska Native
• Mostly Asian
• Mostly Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Equal number of each race
• Don’t know

Question Q11b: Final Recommendation
Q11b. What race are most of these people?
• Most are White
• Most are Black or African American
• Most are American Indian or Alaska Native
• Most are Asian
• Most are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Equal number of each race
• Don’t know
Original Question Q11b Findings:
The original wording for question Q11b did not cause any issues during the cognitive testing. The
final recommendation suggests changing response options to keep the phrasing consistent with
the phrasing used in the question. Additionally, the word “were” was changed to “are” to remain
consistent with the tense used in other questions in this section.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q12
Original Question Q12: Round 1 – Round 4
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts
or behaviors when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person

Question Q12 Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts
or behaviors when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend of the respondent
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Friends of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Original Question Q12 Findings:
The original wording for question Q12 did not cause any issues during the cognitive testing.
A response option, “Friends of one of the offenders,” was added to capture situations in which
some of the offenders have no direct relationship with the respondent, but are friends with
another offender who does have a relationship with the respondent. For example, one offender
is the respondent’s ex-boyfriend, and the other offenders are the ex-boyfriend’s friends who
have no other connection to the respondent.

Since the newly added option includes the word friends, another response option was changed
from “Friend or ex-friend” to “Friend or ex-friend of the respondent” to provide further
distinction between the two categories.
Question Q12 Revision 1 Findings:
The revised version of question Q12 performed well with the modified and newly added response
options.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q13
Original Question Q13: Round 1 – Round 4
Q13. Please describe the general nature of the group. For example, was it an ex-partner
working with others, friends, classmates or peers, co-workers, in-laws or family
members or friends of the offender, fraternity, sorority, members of a gang or other
organized crime group, etc.?
• Ex-partner working with others
• Friends
• Classmates or peers
• Co-workers
• In-laws or family members of the offender
• Friends of the offender
• Fraternity or Sorority
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group
Other – specify _____________
Question Q13 Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q13. How do the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors know each
other? Are they…
[Mark all that apply]
• Friends?
• Classmates or peers?
• Co-workers?
• In-laws or family members?
• Members of a Fraternity or Sorority?
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group?
• Or do they know each other in some other way? – specify _____________
Original Question Q13 Findings:
The original question was difficult for interviewers to administer and for respondents to answer.
The length of the question, number of response options listed, and the phrasing of the response
options made it difficult for interviewers to read the question fluently. Long, complex questions
may become confusing to respondents, and potentially increase the likelihood of respondents
answering the question without fully understanding what is being asked.

With this question in particular, the usage of conjunctions makes it a more difficult sentence to
parse. The word "or" is being used to provide alternate entities/paraphrases for some of the
possible groups (classmates OR peers, in-laws OR family members OR friends of the
offender). This is already a long list with an implicit "or" between each of the answer options, so
it's cognitively difficult to try to separate it into phrases that make sense with or's that list subgroups within each individual option. When people hear "or," they have to decide on the spot
whether you are using "or" to mean that you are adding another entry to the list and the "or"
delineates the new possibility, or using "or" to mean that there's another entity or term in the
existing item.
Between Round 1 and Round 4, nine respondents answered this question; two were victims and
seven were non-victims who received the vignette. Of those nine respondents, three were
initially unsure about how to interpret the question. One respondent (TNV10) asked, “Their
relationship to me or their relationship to each other?” The other two responded in a way that
clearly indicated they were describing their relationship to the offenders.
Question Q13 Revision 1 Findings:
The revised version of question Q13 performed well in Round 5. Two victims and seven nonvictims who received the vignette were able to easily answer the question without issue.
Interviewers provided feedback that the revised question was much easier to administer than
the original version of the question.

6.4.4 Duration of stalking
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q14a
Original Question Q14a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
 Less than one month
 One month to less than six months
 Six months to less than one year
 One year to less than two years
 Two years to less than three years
 Three years to less than five years
 Five years or more
 Don’t know
Original Question Q14a Findings:
Most respondents had no issue when answering this question. However, one respondent said
that this amount was hard to measure, she is unsure if her offender was exhibiting these
behaviors while they were still married, but she didn’t notice the behavior until she started
divorce proceedings. We have no revision suggestion for this question.

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q14b
Original Question Q14b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation(no changes made)
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to
you?
 The offender told me
 Someone else told me
 I figured it out on my own
 Don’t know, don’t remember
Original Question Q14b Findings:
Many respondents gave different answers that amounted to ‘I figured it out on my own:’
AV3: "Yea they were happening to me (chuckles)".
AV5: She said “Well, he assaulted me. I saw them.”
AV11: He said, “I thought about everything that was happening.” He said he tested
his stalker by changing his schedule, and she still followed him.
AV13: (Raises her voice slightly) "Probably because I was getting attacked!"
No respondents answered that they didn’t know/remember. One respondent would not answer
until the answer choices were read to him. We have no revision suggestion for this question.

6.4.5 Frequency of stalking
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q15
Original Question Q15: Round 1 – Round 4
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or
behaviors occurred? ___________________ [Interviewer: enter number of times or estimate
from R.]
Question Q15 Revision 1: Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or
behaviors occurred? Would you say…
 Two to ten times
 Eleven to fifty times
 More than fifty times
 Too many times to count
 Don’t know, don’t remember
Reasons for testing Question Q15:
The sponsors were interested in testing an open-ended version of this question. They wanted to
know how easy it would be to code a respondent’s answer. The sponsors were curious if there

needed to be common frequencies in the answer options in order for interviewers to code them,
e.g. once a day = 365, once a week = 52.
Original Question Q15 Findings:
Some respondents reported that answering this question was difficult:
AV3: “That's a tough question…” they went on to say they didn’t know if
simultaneous communication attempts counted as one attempt, or as multiple
attempts. They said it would have been even harder to answer if the behaviors
had gone on for a long time.
AV13: “It was very hard because that’s not the correct answer. It's probably more
than that its been going on for a year…You can't pinpoint how many times
someone has contacted you excessively or followed you excessively. How would
you know?”
Some respondents gave a frequency instead of a number or estimate.
TV1: “A specific number? Pretty often. I would just say it happened often when
we were in contact.”
Some respondents gave a range.
AV10: The respondent answered “How many times? I’m gonna say 50+. Because
if you’re saying 12 months, I know it’s more than 20, I know it’s more than 30.”
Some respondents said this range (or their number answer if they gave one) was easy to come
up with, they knew a behavior happened a certain amount of times a week or month, so they
multiplied. Others, as mentioned earlier, said it was hard to answer and count every instance of
behavior. Some respondents said their answer was just a guess.
AV13: "I just guessed. That's not going to be a correct estimate. I just guessed. I
don’t know, a lot, excessive, that's the word excessive right?”
It was not easy to determine a single number for every respondent, and some respondents
reported difficulty or expressed frustration when trying to recall how many times the behaviors
happened. We decided to test a version that had broad ranges as answer choices, in order to
decrease burden on the respondents.
Question Q15 Revision 1 Findings:
All respondents were able to answer this question, and reported that answering was easy. One
respondent gave a specific number. One respondent said the behaviors occurred a certain
amount of times per day, and had been going on for 3 years. The other four respondents gave an
answer as one of the ranges read aloud. Some said what made it easier to answer were the ranges
in the response options.
83

AV18: “Between the two of them I know it was more than 10 and it was definitely
less than 50.” She said it was easy to choose a category and was thinking of all
behaviors. The interviewer asked if she could have come up with a more precise
number and she said no.
There were no other comments on this question, so it was kept this way for the final
recommendation.

6.4.6 Motive for stalking
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q16
Original Question Q16: Round 1 – Round 3
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you? Was
it because…? Any other reasons?
[Read and mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Question Q16 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you? Was
it because…? Any other reasons?
[Read and mark all that apply.]
They wanted retaliation or revenge?
● Yes ● No
They wanted affection?
● Yes ● No
They felt rejected?
● Yes ● No
They were obsessed with you?
● Yes ● No
They planned to commit a crime?
● Yes ● No
They had already committed a crime?
● Yes ● No
They wanted power and control?
● Yes ● No
They felt like they could do these things to you?
● Yes ● No
Any other reason?
● Yes ● No
– Specify ________________________
Don’t know

Original Question Q16 Findings:
Respondents first heard this item as an open-ended question, and then were asked the question
again with the response options read. This initial test was done to see if these categories
adequately capture the most common motives for stalking, as perceived by the victim. Most of
the responses to the open ended item were not exactly the same wording to the response
options, but could be easily categorized.
AV3: “I think it was with the intent to sexually assault me but I'm not totally sure.”
AV5: “Because I tried to leave. Because they think you’re their property.”
After asking the question with the answer choices read, almost all respondents were able to
answer, and all selected more than one answer.
One respondent reacted negatively to this question. She felt that this question could be traumatic
for victims; it made her feel like she was responsible for the behavior of the offender, when she
really was unsure of his motivations both now and at the time they started.
Some respondents selected ‘any other reason,’ as well.
AV2: “Ignorance of the law.”
AV3: Rooted in domestic violence.
AV6: He said his “antagonists had connections with law enforcement, and that
those law enforcement officers overlooked everything they did.”
AV9: “Mental problems.”
One respondent (AV8), when hearing ‘any other reason,’ repeated one of the reasons already
listed and that he had already said yes to: “I guess retaliation.”
While responses to the open-ended question could be aligned with one or two of the response
options provided, most respondents selected multiple response options when they heard them.
The original question wording for Q16 was not problematic. However, existing research shows
that the forced-choice format performs better that the mark-all format for two reasons. Previous
studies found that respondents endorse more response options in a forced-choice format than
in a mark-all format (Smyth, Dillman, Christian, & Stern 2006). Research also shows that
respondents take longer to answer in the forced-choice format, suggesting that the format
stimulates deeper processing of the question and options than the mark-all format (Smyth et al.,
2006). The wording used in question Q16 was not changed, but the format of the question was
changed from mark-all to forced-choice.

Question Q16 Revision 1 Findings:
Three respondents offered other reasons. One (AV13) interrupted the interviewer to say “Drugs.
That's it.” Another (AV15) said that she has something her offender wants. A third (AV16) said
their offender was crazy.
There were no other issues with this question, so it was kept this way for the final
recommendation.

6.4.7 Reasonable fear follow-up
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q17a
Original Question Q17a: Round 1 – Round 3
Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted
to attack you. How did they attack or attempt to attack you?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
□ Choking or strangling you?
SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO CHECK
□ Raping or sexually assaulting you?
ITEM 7
□ Attacking you with a weapon or other object?
[ask Q17b]
□ Hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Attacking you in some other way?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO CHECK
Specify ___________________________
ITEM 7

Question Q17a: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted
to attack you. Did they attack or attempt to attack you...
By hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
● Yes ● No
By choking or strangling you?
● Yes ● No
By raping or sexually assaulting you?
● Yes ● No
With a weapon or other object?
● Yes ● No [if “YES” ask Q17b]
By hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
● Yes ● No
Or did they attack you in some other way?
● Yes ● No
Specify ___________________________

Original Question Q17a Findings:
The original wording for question Q17a did not cause any issues during the cognitive testing.
When asked during probing if there were other ways that someone could attack them, some
respondents suggested that it can be non-physical, such as using social media to post private
photos. However, these methods are outside the scope of the question, since it is referring to
physical attacks. Additionally, those types of non-physical behaviors are covered in the screener
question SQ1 on unwanted contacts and behaviors. The lack of other alternatives proposed by
respondents suggests that this list adequately covers the common ways in which someone
physically attacks another person.
As previously mentioned, existing research shows that the forced-choice format performs better
than the mark-all format. For this reasons, question Q17a was changed from mark-all-that-apply
to a forced response of yes or no for each item.
Question Q17a Revision 1 Findings:
The respondents did not have any difficulty understanding the modified version of question
Q17a.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q17b
Original Question Q17b: Round 1 – Round 3
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
□ Other – Specify __________________________

ASK Q18a if R answered
“yes, threaten to
attack” in SQ5, ELSE
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

Question Q17b Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Was there any other weapon or object used?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Knife
“yes, threaten to
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
attack” in SQ5, ELSE
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6
□ Other – Specify __________________________
Original Question Q17b Findings:
While the original wording for question Q17b did not present any problems for interviewers or
respondents, the follow-up phrase “Anything else?” was modified for clarification. It is useful to
re-orient the respondent to what the question is referring to. In the event that a respondent
87

provides additional context surrounding the use of a weapon or object, the follow-up question,
“Anything else?” may no longer appear to reference weapons or objects, and may possibly be
misunderstood or misinterpreted by the respondent.
Question Q17b Revision 1 Findings:
The revised version of the question, which now includes the follow-up, “Was there any other
weapon or object used?” performed well in Round 5. No further revisions are needed.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q18a
Original Question Q18a: Round 1 – Round 3
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. What
was the threat?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
□ To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
[skip to Q19a]
□ To choke or strangle you?
[skip to Q19a]
□ To rape or sexually assault you?
[skip to Q19a]
□ To harm you with a weapon or other object?
[ask Q18b]
□ To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
[skip to Q19a]
□ To kill you?
[skip to Q19a]
□ Threaten you in some other way?
Specify _______________________
[skip to Q19a]

Question Q18a Revision 1: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. Did
they threaten…?
To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
● Yes ● No
To choke or strangle you?
● Yes ● No
To rape or sexually assault you?
● Yes ● No
To harm you with a weapon or other object?
[if “YES” ask Q18b]
● Yes ● No
To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
● Yes ● No
To kill you?
● Yes ● No
Or did they threaten you in some other way?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________

Original Question Q18a Findings:
Similar to the findings of Q17a, the original wording of the question did not cause any issues for
respondents during cognitive testing, but was changed from a mark-all format to a forced-choice
format. This was done because the forced-choice format tends to capture more responses and
promote a deeper processing of the question and options than the mark-all format (Smyth et al.,
2006).
When asked if there were other ways that someone could threaten to harm them, some
respondents suggested there are psychological ways that someone could threaten to harm them,
like social media.
Question Q18a Revision 1 Findings:
The modification of question Q18a performed well during the cognitive testing.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q18b
Original Question Q18b: Round 1 – Round 3
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________
Question Q18b Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Was there any other
weapon or object used?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________
Original Question Q18b Findings:
Like question Q17b, the original wording for question Q18b did not present any problems for
interviewers or respondents, but the follow-up phrase “Anything else?” was modified for
clarification and to reorient the respondent to what the question is referring to.
Question Q18b Revision 1 Findings:
The revised version of the question, which now includes the follow-up, “Was there any other
weapon or object used?” performed well in Round 5. No further revisions are needed.
89

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q19a
Original Question Q19a: Round 1 – Round 3
Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted
to attack someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to
attack?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
SKIP TO
□ Another family member?
Q20 OR
□ A friend or co-worker?
ask Q19b
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Someone else?
Specify ___________________________________
Question Q19a Revision 1: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted
to attack someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to
attack?
A child?
● Yes ● No
A spouse or partner?
● Yes ● No
ASK Q19b if R answered
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
● Yes ● No
“yes, threaten to attack”
Another family member?
● Yes ● No
in SQ6, ELSE SKIP TO Q20
A friend or co-worker?
● Yes ● No
A pet or companion animal?
● Yes ● No
Someone else?
● Yes ● No
Specify ___________________________________
Original Question Q19a Findings:
Four victims answered the original version of this question used in Round 1 through Round 3.
In the summary about this question, the interviewer wrote of one respondent (AV6), “After
reading the first three answers, he said his wife. After reading ‘another family member,’ he said
both children. I asked about his pet and he said yes, they had poisoned his pet.”
The fact that the respondent did not say yes to “A child?” and “A spouse or partner?” as they
were read may indicate that the format of the question affects how a respondent processes the
question as the interviewer reads it. For example, the respondent may have been waiting to hear
the complete list before responding to a given category. Alternatively, he may have required
more time to process each category, but the interviewer interpreted his non-response during the
pause as a “no” and moved on to the next category too quickly.
Changing the question format from mark-all to forced choice addresses both of these potential
issues. The forced-choice format requires the respondent to process each response option on it’s
90

own, rather than as part of a list, and the interviewer must wait to receive a yes or no answer
before moving on to the next category. As previously mentioned, the forced-choice format may
also promote deeper processing of the question, and result in respondents endorsing more
response options than the mark-all method (Smyth et al., 2006).
Question Q19a Revision 1 Findings:
The modification of question Q19a performed well during the cognitive testing in Round 4 and
Round 5.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q19b
Original Question Q19b: Round 1 – Round 3
Q19b. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to physically attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they threaten?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
□ Another family member?
□ A friend or co-worker?
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Himself/herself (offender)?
□ Someone else?
Specify _______________________________

Question Q19b Revision 1: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q19b. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to physically attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they threaten?
A child?
● Yes ● No
A spouse or partner?
● Yes ● No
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
● Yes ● No
Another family member?
● Yes ● No
A friend or co-worker?
● Yes ● No
A pet or companion animal?
● Yes ● No
Himself/herself (offender)?
● Yes ● No
Someone else?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________________

Original Question Q19b Findings:
Similar to previous questions, the original wording of the question did not cause any issues for
respondents during cognitive testing, but was changed from a mark-all format to a forced-choice
format. This was done because the forced-choice format tends to capture more responses and

promote a deeper processing of the question and options than the mark-all format (Smyth et al.,
2006).
Question Q19a Revision 1 Findings:
The modification of question Q19b performed well during the cognitive testing in Round 4 and
Round 5.

6.4.8 Help-seeking
Again, questions that were not problematic during cognitive testing and that did not require
revisions are not discussed in this section of the report.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q20
Original Question Q20: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q20. During the past 12 months did you or someone else call or contact the police to report
any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
 Yes
[skip to Q22]
 No
[ask Q21]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q21
Original Question Q21: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the
police?
[INTERVIEWER: READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS THAT APPLY]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you,
police wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some
other rejason?
 Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official,
school official, military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
 Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
 Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction

□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
 Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get
involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
 Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
 Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q22
Original Question Q22: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q22. During the past 12 months, who reported (the/these) unwanted contacts or behaviors
to the police? Anyone else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Respondent
□ Respondent’s friend
□ Neighbor
□ Respondent’s family, in-laws, spouse, parents, children, relatives
□ Respondent’s girl/boyfriend, partner
□ Doctor, nurse
□ Clergy or faith leader
□ Social worker, counselor, other mental health professional
□ School official, teacher, faculty, or staff
□ Boss, employer, co-worker
□ Stranger, bystander
□ Security guard, security department

□ Police on scene
□ Other – specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q23
Original Question Q23: Round 1 – Round 3
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were contacted in the past 12 months
regarding these unwanted contacts or behaviors, what did they do? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Took a report
□ Talked to or warned offender
□ Arrested the offender or took the offender into custody
□ Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
SKIP TO
□ Referred respondent to services, such as victim assistance
Q25A
□ Gave advice on how to protect self
□ Took respondent to another location such as a hospital or shelter
□ Asked for more information/evidence
□ Other – specify _________________________
□ Don’t know
□ Took no action
[ ASK Q24 ]
Question Q23 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were contacted in the past 12 months
regarding these unwanted contacts or behaviors, what did the police do? Anything
else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Took a report
□ Talked to or warned offender
□ Arrested the offender or took the offender into custody
□ Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
SKIP TO
□ Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
Q25A
□ Referred respondent to services, such as victim assistance
□ Gave advice on how to protect self
□ Took respondent to another location such as a hospital or shelter
□ Asked for more information/evidence
□ Other – specify _________________________
□ Don’t know
□ Took no action
[ ASK Q24 ]
Original Question Q23 Findings:
Six victims answered this question during rounds one, two, and three. The original wording for
the question caused no problems; all respondents were easily able to answer the question, and
interviewers were able to categorize their open-ended responses using the response options
listed. Though the wording did not cause problems with the six respondents, we changed the
94

word “they” to the “the police” for clarity. With the original wording, the word “they” can be
vague, and leaves the possibility that respondents might interpret it to mean “what did the
offenders do?” or “What did the person contacting the police on your behalf do?”
Question Q23 Revision 1 Findings:
The revised version of question Q23 performed well and did not require further revisions. One
respondent said that the police escorted her to court, which did not fit in the existing categories,
but the interviewer categorized under “other” and specified what the respondent said.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q24
Original Question Q24: Round 1 – Round 3
Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Police did not think crime occurred
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
□ Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
□ Thought it was respondent’s fault
□ Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Were inefficient, ineffective
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Offender was well-connected in the community, was friend/relative with local
authorities
□ Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
□ Other – specify _________________________________________________
□ Don’t know
Question Q24 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Police did not think crime occurred
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Respondent lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
□ Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
□ Thought it was respondent’s fault
□ Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Were inefficient, ineffective
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Offender was well-connected in the community, was friend/relative with local
authorities
□ Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
□ Other – specify _________________________________________________
95

□ Don’t know
Original Question Q24 Findings:
Three victims answered this question during rounds one, two, and three. The original wording
for question caused no problems; all respondents were easily able to answer the question, and
interviewers were able to categorize their open-ended responses using the response-options
listed. One respondent (AV9) would not give a reason until the interviewer read the options.
The question wording and response options did not cause problems with the three respondents
or affect the interviewers ability to categorize the open-ended responses. However, we modified
the response option, “Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order,” to
“Respondent lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order.” This was done
to make it clear to interviewers that the category is referring to a respondent not receiving a
restraining order or having an incorrect one. The original wording can be interpreted as either
the respondent lacking or having an incorrect restraining order or the police lacking or having an
incorrect restraining order.
Question Q24 Revision 1 Findings:
No respondents received question Q24 in rounds four and five. The revision was minor and added
clarification to the response option, and the question performed well before the revision, so
there is no reason to believe that the revised question is problematic.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q25a
Original Question Q25a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted
contacts or behaviors?
 Yes
[ask Q25b]
 No
[skip to Q27]
 Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q25b
Original Question Q25b: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q25b. What were the criminal charges filed?
 Stalking
 Something else – Specify _______________________
 Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
 Don’t know

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q26
Original Question Q26: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q26. What was the final outcome of the criminal charges filed against the person(s) who
committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors? Anything else? [Mark all that
apply.]
□ Still pending
□ Dismissed/not guilty
□ Convicted/guilty
□ Plead to lesser charge
□ Fined
□ Court order intervention/counseling program
□ Criminal no-contact order
□ Probation
□ Jailed/imprisoned
□ Other – Specify _______________________________
□ Don’t know
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q27
Original Question Q27: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q27. In the past 12 months, did you seek any help or advice concerning these unwanted
contacts or behaviors from any office or agency – other than police – that assists
victims of crime?
o Yes
[ask Q28a]
o No
[skip to Q29]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q28a
Original Question Q28a: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know [skip to Q29]

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q28b
Original Question Q28b: Round 1 – Round 2
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Financial assistance
Shelter or safehouse services
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Victim compensation?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
●Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

Question Q28b Revision 1: Round 3 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
● Yes
Counseling or therapy?
● Yes
Legal or court services?
● Yes
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order? ● Yes
Federal or state victim compensation?
● Yes
Short-term or emergency financial assistance?
● Yes
Shelter or safehouse services?
● Yes
Safety planning?
● Yes
Risk or threat assessment?
● Yes
Medical advocacy?
● Yes
Victim compensation?
●Yes
Any other services? – specify _________________
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

Original Question Q28b Findings:
When answering question Q28b, respondents were asked probing questions to determine what
they believe the categories are referring to. For each service a respondent reported receiving,
they were asked what types they received. If respondents indicated that they do not know what
a response option meant, they were asked what they think the response option might mean.
When respondents replied “no” to an option, they were asked what they think is included in the
service.
Respondents were able to accurately identify what services most of the response options are
referring to. However, respondents in Round 1 and Round 2 had some difficulty distinguishing
between financial assistance and victim compensation. One respondent, who works in victim
assistance and advocacy, told the interviewer that financial assistance and victim compensation
are linked, and wondered if others who do not work in that field would be able to know the
98

difference between the two options. Despite her comments suggesting that she is better able to
differentiate between the categories than others not working in that field, this respondent was
still unsure of which category would cover certain expenses, such as parking fees [directly related
to dealing with the victimization].
Due to the difficulty respondents had in differentiating between the two categories, the decision
was made to change the wording of the two response options to provide more context and
distinguish between the categories. The sponsors at BJS provided us with more specific phrasing
for the response options. The category “Victim compensation” was changed to “Federal or state
victim compensation,” and “Financial assistance” was changed to “Short-term or emergency
financial assistance.”
Question Q28b Revision 1 Findings:
Four respondents answered this question in rounds three through five. The modified response
options did not present any problems for respondents. Three of the four respondents were able
to accurately identify what victim compensation is referring to in the new response option. One
respondent (AV12) said, “Federal or state victim compensation is being compensated for the
costs associated with being a victim, so like medical bills.” The fourth (AV13) respondent was said
that federal and state victim compensation includes “just helping out with the case.” She was
able to define short-term or emergency financial assistance, saying she received it to move out
of her house when her offender still posed a threat to her.
Some victims who have not received federal or state victim compensation or short-term or
emergency financial assistance may not know exactly what each service entails. Victims who have
received the services are better able to accurately identify which category is applicable to them.
Cognitive interview results show that the new response options provide a greater level of detail
to help respondents better differentiate between the two options.

NCVS SVS Incident Question 28c
Original Question Q28c: Round 1 – Round 3
Q28c. You reported that you sought services from an office or agency that assists victims of
crime, but did not receive them. Why did you not receive these services? Was it because…
Any other reason?
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

[Mark all that apply.]

Services were not available in your local area?
You did not have a means of transportation to and from the service provider?
You did not have childcare to go to seek services?
The service provider could not accommodate you (e.g. no beds available in shelter)?
You were unable to take time off of work or school to seek services?
There were language barriers?
You were not eligible for services?
Some other reason? – specify ________________

Question Q28c Revision 1: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q28c. You reported that you sought services from an office or agency that assists victims of
crime, but did not receive them. Why did you not receive these services? Was it because…
Services were not available in your local area?
● Yes ● No
You did not have a means of transportation to and from the service provider?
● Yes ● No
You did not have childcare to go to seek services?
● Yes ● No
The service provider could not accommodate you (e.g. no beds available in shelter)?
● Yes ● No
You were unable to take time off of work or school to seek services?
● Yes ● No
There were language barriers?
● Yes ● No
You were not eligible for services?
● Yes ● No
Some other reason?
● Yes ● No – Specify ________________

Original Question Q28c Findings:
Only one respondent answered the original version of this question. This respondent was easily
able to answer this question. As previously mentioned, the decision to change some questions
from the mark-all format to the forced-choice format was made to promote a deeper processing
of the question, and to increase the likelihood that respondents will endorse more of the
applicable response options.
100

Question Q28c Revision 1 Findings:
Only one respondent answered the revised version of this question. This respondent did not have
any problems answering the forced-choice version of this question.

6.4.9 Self-protective actions
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q29
Original Question Q29: Round 1 – Round 3
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…


Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or
school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?



101



□
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?
Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
o Yes
o No
Did you do anything else to protect yourself or stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors
from continuing?
o Yes – Specify ____________________
o No

Question Q29 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…




Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
□
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?



102

□
□
□
□

Shut down or change information on social media accounts?
Change telephone numbers?
Get a new phone or computer?
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?



Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
o Yes
o No



Did you do anything else to protect yourself or stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors
from continuing?
o Yes – Specify ____________________
o No

Question Q29 Revision 2: Final Recommendation
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…




Blocked unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?
o Yes
o No



□
□
□

Change or install new locks or a security system?
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?
Other – specify _______________



Changed your personal information?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R what personal information changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Change your social security number or name?
□
Change e-mail address?
□
Shut down or change information on social media accounts?
□
Change telephone numbers?
□
Get a new phone or computer?
□
Other – specify _______________



Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
o Yes
o No



Did you do anything else to protect yourself or stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors
from continuing?
o Yes – Specify ____________________
o No

Original Question Q29 Findings:
The original placement of one response item, “Block unwanted calls, messages, or other
communications,” did not capture all occurrences of these actions. One respondent (AV10)
mentioned blocking unwanted calls as a security measure, but answered no to the category that
includes blocking calls, “Changed your personal information?” Also, multiple respondents only
mentioned blocking calls or messages, and changing their phone number after further probing.
The decision was made to move "Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications"
from the heading “Changed your personal information?” to “Taken self-defensive actions or
other security measures?”
Question Q29 Revision 1 Findings:
For the most part the revised version of the question performed well with the modified response
option. However, one respondent mentioned that they blocked their perpetrator when asked if
they changed their personal information, and not when asked about other security measures
they have taken to protect themselves. Other respondents had mentioned blocking calls and
texts at other points in the interview, but said no to both “Changed your personal information?”
and “Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?” Because of the inconsistencies in
how respondents categorized blocking calls, and the frequency with which respondents
mentioned blocking calls throughout the interviews, the decision was made to break out the
"Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications" response option into a stand-alone
question.
104

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q30
Original Question Q30: Round 1 – Round 3
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the
unwanted contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
[Mark all that apply.]
□
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
□
Ask people not to release information about you?
□
Hire a private investigator?
□
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
□
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
□
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
□
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
□
Talk to your boss or employer?
□
Talk to your teacher or school official?
□
Contact your building or workplace security person?
□
None of the above
Question Q30 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the
unwanted contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
● Yes ● No
Ask people not to release information about you?
● Yes ● No
Hire a private investigator?
● Yes ● No
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
● Yes ● No
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
● Yes ● No
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your boss or employer?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your teacher or school official?
● Yes ● No
Contact your building or workplace security person? ● Yes ● No
None of the above
Original Question Q30 Findings:
The original wording for question Q30 did not cause any issues during the cognitive testing.
Response options were changed from mark all that apply to a forced choice of yes or no. The
question was modified to encourage respondents to think about the items individually when
answering each question.
Question Q30 Revision 1 Findings:
The respondents did not have any difficulty understanding the modified version of question Q30.

105

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q31
Original Question Q31: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q32
Original Question Q32: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________

106

6.4.10 Cost to Victim
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q33
Original Question Q33: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would
like to ask you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have
affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant
problems with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or
peers?
 Yes
 No
 N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q34
Original Question Q34: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant
problems with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or
fights than you did before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as
close to them as you did before?
 Yes
 No

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q35
Original Question Q35: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at
all distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
 Not at all distressing
 Mildly distressing
 Moderately distressing
 Severely distressing

107

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q36a
Original Question Q36a: Round 1 – Round 3
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the
past year, did you feel… [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fearful or terrified?
□ Worried or anxious?
□ Angry or annoyed?
□ Sad or depressed?
□ Vulnerable or helpless?
□ Like you couldn’t trust people?
□ Sick?
□ Stressed?
□ Unsafe?
□ Suicidal?
□ Or did you feel some other way? [ask Q36b]
Question Q36a Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the
past year, did you feel… [Mark all that apply.]
Fearful or terrified?
● Yes ● No
Worried or anxious?
● Yes ● No
Angry or annoyed?
● Yes ● No
Sad or depressed?
● Yes ● No
Vulnerable or helpless?
● Yes ● No
skip to
Like you couldn’t trust people?
● Yes ● No
Q37
Sick?
● Yes ● No
Stressed?
● Yes ● No
Unsafe?
● Yes ● No
Suicidal?
● Yes ● No
Or did you feel some other way? ● Yes ● No [If yes, ask Q36b]
Original Question Q36a Findings:
The original wording for question Q36a did not cause any substantial issues during the cognitive
testing. Response options were changed from mark all that apply to a forced choice of yes or no.
This question was modified to encourage respondents to think about the items individually when
answering each question. Some respondents suggested that certain conjoined items should be
separated, such as sad or depressed, and worried or anxious because they consider them
different emotions.
Question Q36a Revision 1 Findings:
Respondents reported no issues with the modifications to the response items. One respondent
(AV17) did specify upon answering that while they did experience vulnerability, they did not feel
helpless, differentiating the two emotions from one another.

108

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q36b
Original Question Q36: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q37
Original Question Q37: Round 1 – Round 3
Q37. What were you most afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors
were occurring? Were you most afraid of… [Mark all that apply.]
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

Death?
Physical or bodily harm?
Harm or kidnap your child?
Harm current partner/boyfriend/girlfriend?
Harm other family members?
Loss of job/job opportunities?
Loss of freedom?
Loss of social network, peers, or friends?
Behavior would never stop?
General fear of not knowing what might happen next?
Losing your mind?
Anything else – specify ___________________
Don’t know

Question Q37 Revision 1: Round 4 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q37. What were most you afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors
were occurring? Were you most afraid of… [Mark all that apply.]
Being killed?
● Yes ● No
Physical or bodily harm?
● Yes ● No
Someone close to you being harmed?

● Yes ● No

Losing your job or job opportunities?
Losing your freedom?
Losing your social network, peers, or friends?

● Yes ● No
● Yes ● No
● Yes ● No

The behaviors never stopping?

● Yes ● No

Not knowing what might happen next?
Losing your mind?

● Yes ● No
● Yes ● No

Anything else – specify ___________________
Don’t know

● Yes ● No

109

Original Question Q37 Findings:
There were no comprehension issues with the original wording for question Q37 during the
cognitive testing. Some respondents were confused, and waited for a list of options to choose
from. This question was changed from mark all that apply to a forced choice of yes or no.
Additionally, the word "most" was removed to capture the various situations the respondent may
have been afraid of potentially happening.
Question Q37 Revision 1 Findings:
After converting the question to a forced yes/no, respondents did not have any difficulty with
the modified version of question Q37.
NCVS SVS Incident Question Q38
Original Question Q38: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or asked to leave a job because
of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q39
Original Question Q39: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that was not covered by
unemployment insurance, paid leave, or some other source because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q40
Original Question Q40: Round 1 – Round 5 and Final Recommendation (no changes made)
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school
because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school

110

NCVS SVS Incident Question Q41
Original Question Q41: Round 1 – Round 3
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors for such things as –
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Fear or concern for your safety?
□ Police-related activities?
□ Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
□ Changing your phone number or personal information?
□ Moving?
□ Fixing or replacing damaged property?
□ Anything else – specify _____________
□ None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
□ N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
Question Q41 Revision 1: Round 4 - Round 5 and Final Recommendation
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors for such things as – [Mark all that apply.]
Fear or concern for your safety?
● Yes ● No
Police-related activities?
● Yes ● No
Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
● Yes ● No
Changing your phone number or personal information?
● Yes ● No
Moving?
● Yes ● No
Fixing or replacing damaged property?
● Yes ● No
Anything else
● Yes ● No – Specify _____________
N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
Original Question Q41 Findings:
The original wording for question Q41 did not cause any substantial issues during the cognitive
testing. Response options were changed from mark all that apply to a forced choice of yes or no.
This question was modified to encourage respondents to think about the items individually when
answering each question. A couple of respondents mentioned that they would consider policerelated activities and court-related activities as the same things and thought of going to court
when asked about a police-related activity.

111

Question Q41 Revision 1 Findings:
Respondents reported no issues with the modifications to the response items. However, when
probed about police-related activities, they mentioned providing testimony as an example of a
police-related activity.

7 CONCLUSIONS
Taken as a whole, the findings from this study indicate that the original questions for the NCVS
SVS were a strong start. A majority of the questions performed well and required no revisions.
Of those questions that required revisions, most were minor tweaks. Only three of the original
questions were truly problematic, SQ7 (related behaviors), Q13 (the nature of the group of
offenders), and Q15 (frequency of stalking).
Question SQ7 was the most problematic question, and was difficult to fix. At least some
respondents had trouble understanding and answering every version of the question. Because
question SQ7 is so important in deciding who is screened into and out of the survey, any possible
source of respondent confusion is problematic. Ultimately, the decision was made to remove
question SQ7 to avoid incorrectly screening victims of stalking out of the survey. For Q13, the
original question was lengthy and difficult to read fluently. Though the wording was revised, the
concepts measured in the question worked well and were retained in the new version. For Q15,
the question wording worked well, but the open ended format made it difficult to code the
victims’ responses as a single number.
A major change that occurred was converting ten questions in the Incident Questions section
from a mark-all format to a forced choice yes/no format. The original versions of these questions
were not problematic; the questions worked well to measure the concepts of interest. The
changes were made because research shows that the forced choice format performs better than
the mark-all format with certain types of questions (Smyth et. Al. 2006).
While the screener questions for the main NCVS questionnaire were not part of our focus in this
study, we identified some issues with the questions, indicating that they could benefit from
additional cognitive testing.

112

8 REFERENCES
Baum, Katrina., & S. Catalano. (2009). Stalking Victimization in the United States. Bureau of
Justice Statistics Special Report NCJ 224527.
Kercher, Glen A., & M. C. Johnson. (2009). "Identifying Predictors of Negative Psychological
Reactions to Stalking Victimization." Journal of Interpersonal Violence 24(5): 866-882.
Martin, E. (2006). Using Vignettes and Respondent Debriefing for Questionnaire Design and
Evaluation. U.S. Census Bureau Research Report Series 2006-8.
National Institute of Justice. (2010). Stalking Research Workshop Meeting Summary. National
Institute of Justice.
Nobles, Matt R., B.S. Fisher, & K.A. Fox. (2011) A Method Behind the Madness: An Examination
of Stalking Measurements. Aggression and Violent Behavior 16(1): 74–84.
Reyns, Bradford W., & C.M. Englebrecht. (2012). "The Fear Factor: Exploring Predictors of Fear
Among Stalking Victims Throughout the Stalking Encounter." Crime & Delinquency
59(5): 788–808.
Reyns, Bradford W., & C.M. Englebrecht. (2014). " Informal and Formal Help-Seeking Decisions
of Stalking Victims in the United States." Criminal Justice and Behavior 41(10): 1178–
1194.
Reyns, Bradford W., B.S. Fisher, K.A. Fox, & M. R. Nobles. (2014). "Protection Against Pursuit: A
Conceptual and Empirical Comparison of Cyberstalking and Stalking Victimization
Among a National Sample" Justice Quarterly 31(6): 986-1014.
Smyth, Jolene D., D. A. Dillman, L. M. Christian, & M. J. Stern. (2006). “Comparing Check-All and
Forced-Choice Question Formats in Web Surveys.” Public Opinion Quarterly 70(1):66-77.
Violence Against Women Act Pub. L. No. 103-322 (1994).
Violence Against Women Act 2005 Reauthorization Act. H.R. 3171 (2005).
Willis, Gordon. (2015). “Analysis of the Cognitive Interview In Questionnaire
Design: Understanding Qualitative Research.” New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

113

Attachment 7: 2016 National Crime Victimization Survey Supplemental Victimization Survey
Cognitive Pretesting Protocols

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

2016 Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
to the
National Crime Victimization Survey

PROTOCOL – Round 1

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

Cognitive Testing of NCVS SVS
PARTICIPANT ID #: _________________________

DATE: ____ / ____ / 2015

INTERVIEWER’S NAME: _________________________________________________________________
START TIME: ______: ______ AM / PM

SECTION I. INTERVIEW CONSENT
A. Hello, I’m [NAME OF INTERVIEWER]. I work for the Census Bureau. Thanks for agreeing to
help me today.
PLACE THE CONSENT FORM IN FRONT OF PARTICIPANT

Before we start, I would like you to read over the document in front of you. This
document explains a little bit about this interview and provides information about your
rights as a participant, such as all information you provide is confidential and we won’t
use your name or specific circumstances in any report. It also asks for your permission to
have this session audio recorded. Please ask me any questions you have about this
document. Once you have finished reading the document, please sign it.
PARTICIPANT READS FORM THEN SIGNS AND DATES FORM
INTERVIEWER SIGNS AND DATES FORM
B. IF PARTICIPANT PROVIDES CONSENT TO HAVE THE SESSION AUDIO-TAPED: I will now turn
on the audio recorder.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

SECTION
SECTION
II. II.
NCVS
THINK-ALOUD
SCREENER PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
INTERVIEWER: READ/PARAPHRASE
“Let me begin by telling you a little more about what we’ll be doing today. The United States Census
Bureau counts the population in the U.S and also conducts various kinds of surveys.
Today, with your help, we will be testing some new questions that were developed for a supplement
to the National Crime Victimization Survey. I will first ask you some survey questions and you’ll
answer the questions just as you would if you were doing it with an interviewer in a regular survey. I
am interested in your answers, but I am mainly interested in how you understand these questions and
how these questions work for you. From time to time, I’ll ask you some questions about your answers,
or about the questions themselves.
Our goal here is to get a better idea of how well the new questions work for people such as yourself
before we actually use them in the survey. Therefore, the purpose of our session today is to collect
your thoughts and opinions on these new questions and materials. I just want to remind you that I'm
only asking for your thoughts and opinions on these materials. There is no right or wrong answer. We
are simply trying to make sure the question wording is clear and easy for most people to understand.
Your feedback will be very useful for helping make sure these questions will make sense to other
people.
Your participation in this interview is very important because it will help the Census Bureau with
improving these questions. Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and you may decline to
answer any question, or stop the interview at any time.
Do you have any questions before we begin?”
Okay, let’s get started with the interview.
Remember, please answer the questions as you would if an interviewer had come to your home.
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months, that
is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport
(e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting
OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than any
incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were you attacked or
threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
• Yes [skip to Q7]
• No [skip to Q8]
Q7. Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
• Yes [skip to Q9]
• No [skip to Q10]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Thank you.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

SECTION III. NCVS DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS
Now we have some questions about your demographic characteristics.
Q10. Did you have a job or work at a business LAST WEEK? (Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.)
• Yes [skip to Q13]
• No [skip to Q11]
Q11. [If Q10 = No]
Ask or verify –
Did you have a job or work at a business DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
• Yes [skip to Q12]
• No [skip to Q17]
Q12. Did that (job/work) last 2 consecutive weeks or more?
• Yes [skip to Q13]
• No [skip to Q17]
Q13. [If Q10 or Q12 = Yes]
Ask or verify Which of the following best describes your job? Were you employed in the ...
• Medical Profession?
• Mental Health Services Field?
• Teaching Profession?
• Law Enforcement or Security Field?
• Retail Sales?
• Transportation Field?
• Something else? _____________________
Q14. Ask or verify Is your job with –
• A private company, business, or individual for wages?
• The Federal government?
• A State, county, or local government?
• Yourself (Self-employed) in your own
• Business, professional practice, or farm?
Q15. Are you employed by a college or university?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q16. While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
• A city?
• Suburban area?
• Rural area?
• Combination of any of these?
Q17. [If screener age question = 18 years or older, else skip to Q19]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
[Mark one box.]
• Never served in the military [skip to Q19]
• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard [skip to Q19]
• Now on active duty [skip to Q18]
• On active duty in the past, but not now [skip to Q18]
Q18. When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? [Mark all that apply, even if just
for part of the time period.]
□ September 2001 or later
□ August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
□ May 1975 to July 1990
□ Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
□ February 1955 to July 1967
□ Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
□ January 1947 to June 1950
□ World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
□ November 1941 or earlier
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of the U.S. through
naturalization?
• Yes, born in the United States
• Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
• Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
• Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
• No, not a U.S. citizen
Q20. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
• Yes
• No
Q21. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
• Yes
• No
Q22. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
a. Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Yes
• No
8

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

b. Walking or climbing stairs?
• Yes
• No
c. Dressing or bathing?
• Yes
• No
Q23. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?
• Yes
• No
Q24a. Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
[If screener sex question = Male]
• Gay [skip to Q27]
• Straight, that is, not gay [skip to Q27]
• Bisexual [skip to Q27]
• Something else [skip to Q25]
• I don’t know the answer [skip to Q26]
• Refused [skip to Q27]
Q24b. Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
[If screener sex question = Female]
• Lesbian or gay [skip to Q27]
• Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay [skip to Q27]
• Bisexual [skip to Q27]
• Something else [ask Q25]
• I don’t know the answer [skip to Q26]
• Refused [skip to Q27]
Q25. What do you mean by something else?
• You are not straight, but identify with another label such as queer, trisexual, omnisexual or
pansexual [skip to Q27]
• You are transgender, transsexual or gender variant [skip to Q27]
• You have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out your sexuality [skip to Q27]
• You do not think of yourself as having sexuality [skip to Q27]
• You do not use labels to identify yourself [skip to Q27]
• You mean something else [skip to Q27]
• Refused [skip to Q27]
• Don't know [skip to Q27]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
• You don’t understand the words
• You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out
your sexuality
• You mean something else
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
• Man [if Q27 ne Male, then skip to Q28c; else, skip to SQ1]
• Woman [if Q27 ne Female, then skip to Q28c; else skip to SQ1]
• Transgender person [skip to SQ1]
• None of these [skip to Q28b]
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
• Specify ________________________ [skip to SQ1]
• Refused [skip to SQ1]
• Don’t know [skip to SQ1]
ASK IF Q27 and Q28a DO NOT MATCH
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now describe
yourself as a {Q28a or Q28b}. Is that correct?
• Yes
• No
• Refused
• Don’t know

Before continuing I have a couple of questions about the last items I asked.
One of the questions I asked was “On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or
female?”
Now, what if I had asked it this way: “What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth
certificate?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?
10

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Another question was asked “Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender
person?”
What if I had asked it this way: “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

SECTION IV. NCVS SVS SCREENER QUESTIONS
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about times when you may have experienced unwanted
contacts or behaviors. I want to remind you that the information you provide is confidential. When
answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things, including current or former
spouses or partners, other people you may know, or strangers. However, please DO NOT include bill
collectors, solicitors, or other sales people.
The next questions are going to ask about events that may have occurred in the past 12 months. For
the purposes of this interview, we are expanding the time frame to the past 3 years, so please include
any incidents that have occurred in the past 3 years.
SQ1. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any unwanted contacts or behaviors?
By that I mean has anyone –
a. Followed you around and watched you?

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

Before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” TO B: What unwanted things did they do to let you know they had been there?
IF “NO” TO B: Please give me an example of an “unwanted thing” someone could do?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO B: Please tell me some places other than your home or car where someone
could do unwanted things to let you know they’d been there?
IF “YES” TO C: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO C: Are there places other than home, work, or school where someone could
have waited for you?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
IF “YES” or ”NO” TO D: What does the phrase “no business being there” mean to you in this
question? Please give me an example of a situation like that?
IF “YES” TO E: Please tell me more about the unwanted item(s) that were left or sent to you?
What’s another example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
IF “NO” to E: Please give me an example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
This is very helpful, thank you. Let’s return to the interview.
Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or behaviors using various technologies, such as your
phone, the Internet, or social media apps. In the past 12 months, has anyone –
g. Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice
messages, sent text messages, or used the phone
excessively to contact you?
h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software
or “spyware?”

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

__ YES

___ NO

Posted or threatened to post inappropriate, unwanted,
or personal information about you on the Internet, this
__ YES
includes private photographs, videos, or spreading rumors?

___ NO

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

Again, before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
First, what time frame were you thinking of when you were answering these questions?
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO G: What does the word “excessively” mean to you in this question?
What does an unwanted phone call mean to you?
H & I - INTERVIEWER NOTE: We want to make sure people who are routinely monitored by their
employer, the government, or their parents (16-17yr olds) are not going to be false positives.
Encourage them to think aloud and try to find out who is monitoring them without explicitly asking.
IF “YES” TO H: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO H: Please give me an example of spyware?
13

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

IF “YES” TO I: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO I: Please give me an example of an app that can do this?
Can you give me an example of an electronic tracking device?
IF “YES” TO K: What social media apps did they use to send unwanted messages?
Can you tell me more about your experience with the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
IF “NO” TO K: What do you think “social media apps” means in this question?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #1:
___ Participant answered “YES” to one or more of the above behaviors?
___ Participant did not answer “YES” to any of the above behaviors?

ASK SQ2
END INTERVIEW

SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12 months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
IF “YES” ON SQ2: What behaviors were you thinking about when you answered this question?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2:
_____ More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
_____ Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?

ASK SQ3
END INTERVIEW

SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or the safety of
someone known to you?
• Yes
• No
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO SQ3A: Please tell me how you would define “fear” in this question?
IF YES – Did some of the unwanted contacts or behaviors make you more afraid than others?
Please tell me more about that difference.
Did your level of fear change over time? How so?

SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional distress?
• Yes
• No
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO SQ3B: Please tell me what “substantial emotional distress” means to you in this
question?
IF “YES” TO SQ3B and more than one stalking behavior: Did you have more emotional distress for
some behaviors than others?
14

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Please tell me about that difference.
Did your level of emotional distress change over time? How so?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Now I have some additional questions about the time someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and
{behaviorx…}.
[Include all behaviors the respondent reported in SQ1a-k.]
Thinking about the person or people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the
past 12 months, did any of the following occur –
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to damage or destroy property belonging to
you or someone else in your household?
• Yes
• No
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or
threaten to attack you?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to attack someone
close to you or a pet?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} more than once in the past
12 months. Do you know or suspect that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were related?
By that we mean that the unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
• Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
• No
[end survey ]
• Don’t know
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
IF YES ON SQ7: Which of the behaviors do you think were related?
Did any of the unwanted contacts or behaviors occur at the same time?
IF “YES” or “NO” ON SQ7: Please tell me how you are thinking about the term “related” in this
question?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey should be
ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
Number of
Behaviors
(SQ1 a-k)

Repetition
(SQ2)

Actual Fear or
Emotional Distress
(SQ3a and SQ3b)

Reasonable Fear
(Q4, Q5, Q6)

Related
Behaviors
(SQ7)

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK

Included in
stalking
estimate/survey
continuation?
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
No – end survey
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue
No – end survey
Yes – continue

IF R IS A NONVICTIM – END INTERVIEW
“This ends the survey portion of the interview. I have a few more questions for you before we finish
today.” Interviewer, proceed to debriefing questions at the end of the protocol.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

SECTION V. NCVS SVS INCIDENT QUESTIONS
Offender information
Q1. Thinking about these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months, how many different
people have done these things to you?
• One
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Two
[ask Q2a]
• Three or more – Enter number of people. ______ [ask Q2a]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A]
Q2a. Did these people act alone or together as a team?
• Alone
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Together
[ask Q2b]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
Q2b. Of the people who did these things to you, is there ONE person who you would consider to be
the MOST responsible for these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• No
[skip to Q8a on page 19 – MULTIPLE OFFENDERS]
SINGLE OFFENDER
Intro Text A. Thinking about the person who has done this most recently, …
Q3. Is this person male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Don’t know
Q4. How old would you say this person is?
• Under 15
• 15-17
• 18-20
• 21-24
• 25-34
• 35-49
• 50-64
• 65+
• Don’t know
Q5. Is this person Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
18

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person

[skip to Q14a on page 22]
19

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
• All female
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
• Both male and female
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4:
_____ ONLY 2 OFFENDERS
_____ MORE THAN 2 OFFENDERS

[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[continue to check item #4]

SKIP TO Q9
ASK Q8B

Q8b. Were these people mostly male or mostly female?
• Mostly male
• Mostly female
• Evenly divided
• Don’t know
Q9. How old would you say these people are?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Under 15
□ 15-17
□ 18-20
□ 21-24
□ 25-34
□ 35-49
□ 50-64
□ 65+
□ Don’t know
Q10a. Are any of these people Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
[ask Q10b]
• No
[skip to Q11a]
• Don’t know
[skip to Q11a]
Q10b. Were these people mostly Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic and
non-Hispanic?
• Mostly Hispanic or Latino/a
• Mostly non-Hispanic
• Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #5:
_____ More than one box marked in Q11A
_____ Only one box marked Q11A

ASK Q11B
SKIP TO Q12

Q11b. What race were most of these people?
• Mostly White
• Mostly Black or African American
• Mostly American Indian or Alaska Native
• Mostly Asian
• Mostly Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Equal number of each race
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Q13. Please describe the general nature of the group. For example, was it an ex-partner working with
others, friends, classmates or peers, co-workers, in-laws or family members or friends of the
offender, fraternity, sorority, members of a gang or other organized crime group, etc.?
• Ex-partner working with others
• Friends
• Classmates or peers
• Co-workers
• In-laws or family members of the offender
• Friends of the offender
• Fraternity or Sorority
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group
• Other – specify _____________
22

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Duration of stalking
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
• Less than one month
• One month to less than six months
• Six months to less than one year
• One year to less than two years
• Two years to less than three years
• Three years to less than five years
• Five years or more
• Don’t know
When did you first find out these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to you?
• The offender told me
• Someone else told me
• I figured it out on my own
• Don’t know, don’t remember
Frequency of stalking
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or behaviors
occurred? ___________________ [Interviewer: enter number of times or estimate from R.]
How did you come up with that estimate?
Was it easy or difficult for you to come up with that estimate? What made it [easy/difficult]?
IF R EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE STALKING BEHAVIOR:
Which contacts or behaviors were you thinking about when you were answering that question?
[Interviewer note: Remember to note respondents’ verbatim answer before converting it to a
number for the year. We are interested in whether or not it is difficult to record the respondents’
answers as a single number for the year. Please include a comment in the summary of any issues
that arise with this question.]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Motive for stalking
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM. MARK THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY. NOTE IF
NO CATEGORIES APPLY, AND RECORD THE VERBATIM ANSWER IN THE SUMMARY.
[Mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: REPEAT THE QUESTION BUT READ CATEGORIES AND MARK ANSWERS]
Was it because…? Any other reasons?
[Read and mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Reasonable fear follow-up
CHECK ITEM #6: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ5
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q17A
SKIP TO Q18A
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 7

Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
you. How did they attack or attempt to attack you?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
□ Hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
ASK Q18a if R answered
“yes, threaten to attack” in
□ Choking or strangling you?
SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO CHECK
□ Raping or sexually assaulting you?
□ Attacking you with a weapon or other object?
[ask Q17b]
□ Hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Attacking you in some other way?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
24

SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO CHECK

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Specify ___________________________
Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to attack you that aren’t listed
here?
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
□ Other – Specify __________________________

ASK Q18a if R answered
“yes, threaten to attack”
in SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO
CHECK ITEM 7

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ5]
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. What was the
threat?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
□ To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
[skip to check item 7]
□ To choke or strangle you?
[skip to check item 7]
□ To rape or sexually assault you?
[skip to check item 7]
□ To harm you with a weapon or other object? [ask Q18b]
□ To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
[skip to check item 7]
□ To kill you?
[skip to check item 7]
□ Threaten you in some other way?
Specify _______________________
[skip to check item 7]

ASK IF Q17A WAS SKIPPED: Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to
attack you that aren’t listed here?
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________
CHECK ITEM #7: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ6
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q19A
SKIP TO Q19B
SKIP TO Q20

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to attack?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
ASK Q19b if R answered
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
□ Another family member?
SQ6, ELSE SKIP TO Q20
□ A friend or co-worker?
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Someone else?
Specify ___________________________________

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ6]

Q19b. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to physically attack someone
close to you or a pet. Who did they threaten?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
□ Another family member?
□ A friend or co-worker?
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Himself/herself (offender)?
□ Someone else?
Specify _______________________________
Help-seeking
Q20. During the past 12 months did you or someone else call or contact the police to report any of
these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q22 on page 27]
• No
[ask Q21]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the police?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “OE”. REPEAT
QUESTION AND READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “RC”]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you, police
wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some other reason?
Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official, school official,
military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
Can you tell me more about that?
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27 on page 28]
27

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

Q22. During the past 12 months, who reported (the/these) unwanted contacts or behaviors to the
police? Anyone else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Respondent
□ Respondent’s friend
□ Neighbor
□ Respondent’s family, in-laws, spouse, parents, children, relatives
□ Respondent’s girl/boyfriend, partner
□ Doctor, nurse
□ Clergy or faith leader
□ Social worker, counselor, other mental health professional
□ School official, teacher, faculty, or staff
□ Boss, employer, co-worker
□ Stranger, bystander
□ Security guard, security department
□ Police on scene
□ Other – specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were contacted in the past 12 months regarding
these unwanted contacts or behaviors, what did they do? Anything else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Took a report
□ Talked to or warned offender
□ Arrested the offender or took the offender into custody
□ Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
SKIP TO
□ Referred respondent to services, such as victim assistance
Q25A
□ Gave advice on how to protect self
□ Took respondent to another location such as a hospital or shelter
□ Asked for more information/evidence
□ Other – specify _________________________
□ Don’t know
□

[ ASK Q24 ]

Took no action

How many times were the police contacted in the past 12 months?
Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Police did not think crime occurred
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
□ Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
□ Thought it was respondent’s fault
□ Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Were inefficient, ineffective
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
28

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
□
□
□
□

Offender was well-connected in the community, was friend/relative with local authorities
Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
Other – specify _________________________________________________
Don’t know

Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
• Yes
[ask Q25b]
• No
[skip to Q27]
Please tell me more, then
• Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
skip to Q27
Q25b.
•
•
•
•

What were the criminal charges filed?
Stalking
Something else – Specify _______________________
Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
Don’t know

Please tell me more about the charges?
Q26. What was the final outcome of the criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed
these unwanted contacts or behaviors? Anything else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Still pending
Any idea of when it may be finalized?
□ Dismissed/not guilty
□ Convicted/guilty
□ Plead to lesser charge Please tell me more about this lesser charge
□ Fined
□ Court order intervention/counseling program
□ Criminal no-contact order
□ Probation
□ Jailed/imprisoned
□ Other – Specify _______________________________
□ Don’t know
Q27. In the past 12 months, did you seek any help or advice concerning these unwanted contacts or
behaviors from any office or agency – other than police – that assists victims of crime?
o
o
o

Yes
No
Don’t know

[ask Q28a]
[skip to Q29]
[skip to Q29]

IF “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: PLEASE TELL ME MORE
IF “YES” OR “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: Can you think of some examples of offices or agencies that
deal with victims of crime?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Financial assistance?
Shelter or safehouse services?
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Victim compensation?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

If YES on “Legal or court services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “Financial assistance” –what type of assistance did you receive?
If YES on “Shelter or safehouse services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “Safety planning” – Please describe this type of assistance?
If Yes on “Risk or threat assessment” – Please tell me how this assessment is completed?
If Yes on “Medical advocacy” – Please tell me more about this type of assistance

For each “Don’t Know” – Please tell me what you think XXXXX may mean?
For each “NO” - Please tell me what you think is included in XXXXX?

CHECK ITEM #8
___ Answered “No” on Q28a
___ Answered “Yes” on Q28a

ASK Q28C
SKIP TO Q29

[Mark all that apply.]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Self-protective actions
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…
•

Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
If no: What type of “day-to-day” activities did you include when answering this item?
•

Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply
below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
If no: What do you think “self-defense actions” means in this question?
What would be an example of an “other security measure”?
•

Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
o Yes
o No
Did you do anything else to protect yourself or stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors from
continuing?
o Yes – Specify ____________________
o No
31

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
[Mark all that apply.]
□
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
□
Ask people not to release information about you?
□
Hire a private investigator?
□
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
□
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
□
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
□
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
□
Talk to your boss or employer?
□
Talk to your teacher or school official?
□
Contact your building or workplace security person?
□
None of the above
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
• No
[ask Q32]
• Don’t know
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Cost to victim
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would like to ask
you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job
If “Yes” – Please tell me more about the significant problems you experienced?
If “No” – What are some examples of “significant problems” with job, school, colleagues?
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did
before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
• Yes
• No
Please tell me what you think this question is trying to explore?
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at all
distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
• Not at all distressing
• Mildly distressing
• Moderately distressing
• Severely distressing
How did you come up with your answer to this question?
What do you think “distressing” means in this question? Can you give me other similar words?
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the past year,
did you feel… [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fearful or terrified?
□ Worried or anxious?
□ Angry or annoyed?
□ Sad or depressed?
□ Vulnerable or helpless?
In what way?
skip to
□ Like you couldn’t trust people?
Q37
□ Sick?
Tell me more, please? What were your symptoms?
□ Stressed?
□ Unsafe?
□ Suicidal?
□ Or did you feel some other way?
[ask Q36b]
Were you experiencing any of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Please tell me how your feelings changed over time as you were experiencing the unwanted
contacts?
Any feelings missing from this list?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
Q37. What were you most afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
occurring? Were you most afraid of…
[Mark all that apply.]
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM. MARK THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY.
NOTE IF NO CATEGORIES APPLY, AND RECORD THE VERBATIM ANSWER IN THE SUMMARY.
□ Death?
□ Physical or bodily harm?
□ Harm or kidnap your child?
□ Harm current partner/boyfriend/girlfriend?
□ Harm other family members?
□ Loss of job/job opportunities?
□ Loss of freedom?
□ Loss of social network, peers, or friends?
□ Behavior would never stop?
□ General fear of not knowing what might happen next?
□ Losing your mind?
□ Anything else – specify ___________________
□ Don’t know
Q37. What were you most afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
occurring? Were you most afraid of…
[Mark all that apply.]
[INTERVIEWER: REPEAT THE QUESTION BUT READ CATEGORIES AND MARK ANSWERS]
□ Death?
□ Physical or bodily harm?
□ Harm or kidnap your child?
□ Harm current partner/boyfriend/girlfriend?
□ Harm other family members?
□ Loss of job/job opportunities?
□ Loss of freedom?
□ Loss of social network, peers, or friends?
□ Behavior would never stop?
□ General fear of not knowing what might happen next?
□ Losing your mind?
□ Anything else – specify ___________________
□ Don’t know
If more than one category selected: Which of these were you most afraid of happening?
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or asked to leave a job because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
If “Yes”: Please tell me more.
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment
insurance, paid leave, or some other source because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
34

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Did you experience any other financial costs due to the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school
If “Yes”: Please tell me more.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors for
such things as –
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Fear or concern for your safety?
Please tell me more?
□ Police-related activities?
What do you consider as police-related activities?
□ Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
□ Changing your phone number or personal information? “Personal Info” means what?
□ Moving?
□ Fixing or replacing damaged property?
□ Anything else – specify _____________
□ None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
□ N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 1

SECTION VI. DEBRIEFING QUESTIONS
ASK OF VICTIMS:
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

Have you ever answered survey questions about your experiences with unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past? If yes, what was the survey? What was the experience like for you?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

•

Do you believe the repeated unwanted contacts or behaviors were stalking?

ASK OF NON VICTIMS
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

(IF R REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACTS OR BEHAVIORS (IN SQ1a-k) BUT DIDN’T SCREEN IN)
Do you believe the unwanted contacts or behaviors you experienced were stalking?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

ASK OF ALL
•

What does stalking mean to you?

•

Were there any questions you think some people might find difficult to answer?

•

Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention
yet?

That ends the interview. Thank you very much for your participation.
Here is an envelope containing your $40.
Here is a voucher form that verifies I gave you the money.
Please complete the information in the highlighted areas and sign and date
TURN OFF THE TAPE RECORDER.
HAND THE CASH INCENTIVE TO THE PARTICIPANT.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

2016 Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
to the
National Crime Victimization Survey

PROTOCOL – Round 2

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

Cognitive Testing of NCVS SVS
PARTICIPANT ID #: _________________________

DATE: ____ / ____ / 2015

INTERVIEWER’S NAME: _________________________________________________________________
START TIME: ______: ______ AM / PM

SECTION I. INTERVIEW CONSENT
A. Hello, I’m [NAME OF INTERVIEWER]. I work for the Census Bureau. Thanks for agreeing to
help me today.
PLACE THE CONSENT FORM IN FRONT OF PARTICIPANT

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

SECTION
SECTION
II. II.
NCVS
THINK-ALOUD
SCREENER PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
INTERVIEWER: READ/PARAPHRASE
“Let me begin by telling you a little more about what we’ll be doing today. The United States Census
Bureau counts the population in the U.S and also conducts various kinds of surveys.
Today, with your help, we will be testing some new questions that were developed for a supplement
to the National Crime Victimization Survey. I will first ask you some survey questions and you’ll
answer the questions just as you would if you were doing it with an interviewer in a regular survey. I
am interested in your answers, but I am mainly interested in how you understand these questions and
how these questions work for you. From time to time, I’ll ask you some questions about your answers,
or about the questions themselves. So that we can keep the interview within an hour, I may ask you
to hold your thoughts on a particular question and we will go back to it at the end if there is still time.
Our goal here is to get a better idea of how well the new questions work for people such as yourself
before we actually use them in the survey. Therefore, the purpose of our session today is to collect
your thoughts and opinions on these new questions and materials. There is no right or wrong answer.
We are simply trying to make sure the question wording is clear and easy for most people to
understand. Your feedback will be very useful for helping make sure these questions will make sense
to other people.
Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and you may decline to answer any question, or stop
the interview at any time.
Do you have any questions before we begin?”
Okay, let’s get started with the interview.
Remember, please answer the questions as you would if an interviewer had come to your home.
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months, that
is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport
(e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting
OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than any
incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were you attacked or
threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
• Yes [skip to Q7]
• No [skip to Q8]
Q7. Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
• Yes [skip to Q9]
• No [skip to Q10]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Thank you.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q16. While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
• A city?
• Suburban area?
• Rural area?
• Combination of any of these?
Q17. [If screener age question = 18 years or older, else skip to Q19]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
[Mark one box.]
• Never served in the military [skip to Q19]
• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard [skip to Q19]
• Now on active duty [skip to Q18]
• On active duty in the past, but not now [skip to Q18]
Q18. When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? [Mark all that apply, even if just
for part of the time period.]
□ September 2001 or later
□ August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
□ May 1975 to July 1990
□ Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
□ February 1955 to July 1967
□ Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
□ January 1947 to June 1950
□ World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
□ November 1941 or earlier
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of the U.S. through
naturalization?
• Yes, born in the United States
• Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
• Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
• Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
• No, not a U.S. citizen
Q20. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
• Yes
• No
Q21. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
• Yes
• No
Q22. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
a. Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Yes
• No
45

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
• You don’t understand the words
• You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out
your sexuality
• You mean something else
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
• Man [if Q27 ne Male, then skip to Q28c; else, skip to SQ1]
• Woman [if Q27 ne Female, then skip to Q28c; else skip to SQ1]
• Transgender person [skip to SQ1]
• None of these [skip to Q28b]
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
• Specify ________________________ [skip to SQ1]
• Refused [skip to SQ1]
• Don’t know [skip to SQ1]
ASK IF Q27 and Q28a DO NOT MATCH
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now describe
yourself as a {Q28a}. Is that correct?
• Yes
• No
• Refused
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Another question was asked “Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender
person?”
What if I had asked it this way: “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

Before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” TO B: What unwanted things did they do to let you know they had been there?
IF “NO” TO B: Please give me an example of an “unwanted thing” someone could do?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO B: Please tell me some places other than your home or car where someone
could do unwanted things to let you know they’d been there?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO C: Are there places other than home, work, or school where someone could
have waited for you?
IF “YES” or ”NO” TO D: What does the phrase “no business being there” mean to you in this
question? Please give me an example of a situation like that?
49

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

IF “YES” TO E: Please tell me more about the unwanted item(s) that were left or sent to you?
What’s another example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
IF “NO” to E: Please give me an example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
This is very helpful, thank you. Let’s return to the interview.
Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or behaviors using various technologies, such as your
phone, the Internet, or social media apps. In the past 12 months, has anyone –
g. Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice
messages, sent text messages, or used the phone
excessively to contact you?

__ YES

___ NO

h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

__ YES

___ NO

Posted or threatened to post inappropriate, unwanted,
or personal information about you on the Internet, this
__ YES
includes private photographs, videos, or spreading rumors?

___ NO

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

Again, before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
First, what time frame were you thinking of when you were answering these questions?
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO G: What does the word “excessively” mean to you in this question?
What does an unwanted phone call mean to you in this question?
H & I - INTERVIEWER NOTE: We want to make sure people who are routinely monitored by their
employer, the government, or their parents (16-17yr olds) are not going to be false positives.
Encourage them to think aloud and try to find out who is monitoring them without explicitly asking.
IF “YES” TO H: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” TO I: Please tell me more about that.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO I: Please give me an example of an app that can do this?
Can you give me an example of an electronic tracking device?
50

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

IF “YES” TO K: What social media apps did they use to send unwanted messages?
Can you tell me more about your experience with the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
IF “NO” TO K: What do you think “social media apps” means in this question?
What if I had asked, “Monitored your activities using social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or
Facebook?” How would you answer? What were you thinking of when I said “monitored your
activities using social media apps?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #1:
___ Participant answered “YES” to one or more of the above behaviors?
___ Participant did not answer “YES” to any of the above behaviors?

ASK SQ2
END INTERVIEW

SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12 months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
IF “YES” ON SQ2: What behaviors were you thinking about when you answered this question?
IF “YES” ON SQ2 AND MORE THAN ONE BEHAVIOR MARKED: Thinking of the behaviors you said yes
to, which of those unwanted contacts or behaviors happened more than once?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2:
_____ More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
_____ Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?

ASK SQ3
END INTERVIEW

SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or the safety of
someone known to you?
• Yes
• No
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO SQ3A: Please tell me what “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known
to you” means to you in this question?
IF “NO” TO SQ3A: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
make you fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you?

SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional distress?
• Yes
• No
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO SQ3B: Please tell me what “substantial emotional distress” means to you in this
question?
IF “NO” TO SQ3B: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
cause you substantial emotional distress?
51

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Now I have some additional questions about the time someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and
{behaviorx…}.
[Include all behaviors the respondent reported in SQ1a-k.]
Thinking about the person or people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the
past 12 months, did any of the following occur –
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to damage or destroy property belonging to
you or someone else in your household?
• Yes
• No
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or
threaten to attack you?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to attack someone
close to you or a pet?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} more than once in the past
12 months. Do you know or suspect that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were related?
By that we mean that the unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
• Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
• No
[end survey ]
• Don’t know
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
IF “YES” ON SQ7: Can you tell me more about how these behaviors were related?
If needed after previous probe: Did the same person/people do all of the behaviors or some of the
behaviors?
Can you tell me more about the timing of when these related contacts or behaviors occurred?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey should be
ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
Number of
Behaviors
(SQ1 a-k)

Repetition
(SQ2)

Actual Fear or
Emotional Distress
(SQ3a and SQ3b)

Reasonable Fear
(Q4, Q5, Q6)

Related
Behaviors
(SQ7)

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person

[skip to Q14a on page 22]
55

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
• All female
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
• Both male and female
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #3:
_____ ONLY 2 OFFENDERS
_____ MORE THAN 2 OFFENDERS

[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[continue to check item #3]

SKIP TO Q9
ASK Q8B

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4:
_____ More than one box marked in Q11A
_____ Only one box marked Q11A

ASK Q11B
SKIP TO Q12

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Q13. Please describe the general nature of the group. For example, was it an ex-partner working with
others, friends, classmates or peers, co-workers, in-laws or family members or friends of the
offender, fraternity, sorority, members of a gang or other organized crime group, etc.?
• Ex-partner working with others
• Friends
• Classmates or peers
• Co-workers
• In-laws or family members of the offender
• Friends of the offender
• Fraternity or Sorority
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group
• Other – specify _____________
58

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Duration of stalking
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
• Less than one month
• One month to less than six months
• Six months to less than one year
• One year to less than two years
• Two years to less than three years
• Three years to less than five years
• Five years or more
• Don’t know
When did you first find out these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to you?
• The offender told me
• Someone else told me
• I figured it out on my own
• Don’t know, don’t remember
Frequency of stalking
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or behaviors
occurred? ___________________ [Interviewer: enter number of times or estimate from R.]
How did you come up with that estimate?
Was it easy or difficult for you to come up with that estimate? What made it [easy/difficult]?
IF R EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE STALKING BEHAVIOR:
Which contacts or behaviors were you thinking about when you were answering that question?
[Interviewer note: Remember to note respondents’ verbatim answer before converting it to a
number for the year. We are interested in whether or not it is difficult to record the respondents’
answers as a single number for the year. Please include a comment in the summary of any issues
that arise with this question.]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Motive for stalking
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM. MARK THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY. NOTE IF
NO CATEGORIES APPLY, AND RECORD THE VERBATIM ANSWER IN THE SUMMARY.]
[Mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: REPEAT THE QUESTION BUT READ CATEGORIES AND MARK ANSWERS]
Was it because…? Any other reasons?
[Read and mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Reasonable fear follow-up
CHECK ITEM #5: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ5
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q17A
SKIP TO Q18A
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
you. How did they attack or attempt to attack you?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
ASK Q18a if R answered “yes,
□ Hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
threaten to attack” in SQ5, ELSE
□ Choking or strangling you?
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6
□ Raping or sexually assaulting you?
□ Attacking you with a weapon or other object?
[ask Q17b]
□ Hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
ASK Q18a if R answered “yes,
□ Attacking you in some other way?
threaten to attack” in SQ5, ELSE
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Specify ___________________________
Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to attack you that aren’t listed
here?
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
□ Other – Specify __________________________

ASK Q18a if R answered
“yes, threaten to attack”
in SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO
CHECK ITEM 6

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ5]
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. What was the
threat?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
□ To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To choke or strangle you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To rape or sexually assault you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To harm you with a weapon or other object? [ask Q18b]
□ To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To kill you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ Threaten you in some other way?
Specify _______________________
[skip to check item 6]

ASK IF Q17A WAS SKIPPED: Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to
attack you that aren’t listed here?
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________
CHECK ITEM #6: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ6
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q19A
SKIP TO Q19B
SKIP TO Q20

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to attack?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
ASK Q19b if R answered
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
□ Another family member?
SQ6, ELSE SKIP TO Q20
□ A friend or co-worker?
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Someone else?
Specify ___________________________________

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ6]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the police?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “OE”. REPEAT
QUESTION AND READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “RC”]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you, police
wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some other reason?
Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official, school official,
military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
Can you tell me more about that?
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27 on page 28]
63

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

[ ASK Q24 ]

Took no action

Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Police did not think crime occurred
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
□ Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
□ Thought it was respondent’s fault
□ Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Were inefficient, ineffective
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Offender was well-connected in the community, was friend/relative with local authorities
64

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
□
□
□

Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
Other – specify _________________________________________________
Don’t know

Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
• Yes
[ask Q25b]
• No
[skip to Q27]
• Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
Q25b.
•
•
•
•

What were the criminal charges filed?
Stalking
Something else – Specify _______________________
Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
Don’t know

Q26. What was the final outcome of the criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed
these unwanted contacts or behaviors? Anything else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Still pending
□ Dismissed/not guilty
□ Convicted/guilty
□ Plead to lesser charge
□ Fined
□ Court order intervention/counseling program
□ Criminal no-contact order
□ Probation
□ Jailed/imprisoned
□ Other – Specify _______________________________
□ Don’t know
Q27. In the past 12 months, did you seek any help or advice concerning these unwanted contacts or
behaviors from any office or agency – other than police – that assists victims of crime?
o
o
o

Yes
No
Don’t know

[ask Q28a]
[skip to Q29]
[skip to Q29]

IF “YES” OR “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: Can you think of some examples of offices or agencies that
deal with victims of crime?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Financial assistance?
Shelter or safehouse services?
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Victim compensation?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

Ask of all - Please tell me what you think is included in victim compensation.
For each “Don’t Know” – Please tell me what you think XXXXX may mean.
If YES on “Legal or court services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “Financial assistance” –what type of assistance did you receive?
If YES on “Shelter or safehouse services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “Safety planning” – Please describe this type of assistance?
If Yes on “Risk or threat assessment” – Please tell me how this assessment is completed?
If Yes on “Medical advocacy” – Please tell me more about this type of assistance

CHECK ITEM 7
___ Answered “No” on Q28a
___ Answered “Yes” on Q28a

ASK Q28C
SKIP TO Q29

[Mark all that apply.]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Self-protective actions
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…
•

Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
If no: What type of “day-to-day” activities were you thinking of when answering this question?
•

Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply
below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
If no: What do you think “self-defense actions” means in this question?
If no: What would be an example of an “other security measure”?
•

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
[Mark all that apply.]
□
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
□
Ask people not to release information about you?
□
Hire a private investigator?
□
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
□
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
□
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
□
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
□
Talk to your boss or employer?
□
Talk to your teacher or school official?
□
Contact your building or workplace security person?
□
None of the above
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
• No
[ask Q32]
• Don’t know
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Cost to victim
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would like to ask
you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job
If “No” – What are some examples of “significant problems” with job, school, or coworkers?
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did
before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
• Yes
• No
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at all
distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
• Not at all distressing
• Mildly distressing
• Moderately distressing
• Severely distressing
How did you come up with your answer to this question?
What do you think “distressing” means in this question? Can you give me other similar words?
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the past year,
did you feel… [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fearful or terrified?
□ Worried or anxious?
□ Angry or annoyed?
□ Sad or depressed?
□ Vulnerable or helpless?
In what way?
skip to
□ Like you couldn’t trust people?
Q37
□ Sick?
In what way?
□ Stressed?
□ Unsafe?
□ Suicidal?
□ Or did you feel some other way?
[ask Q36b]
Were you experiencing any of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
69

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

Q37. What were you most afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
occurring? [Mark all that apply.]
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM. MARK THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY.
NOTE IF NO CATEGORIES APPLY, AND RECORD THE VERBATIM ANSWER IN THE SUMMARY.]
□ Death?
□ Physical or bodily harm?
□ Harm or kidnap your child?
□ Harm current partner/boyfriend/girlfriend?
□ Harm other family members?
□ Loss of job/job opportunities?
□ Loss of freedom?
□ Loss of social network, peers, or friends?
□ Behavior would never stop?
□ General fear of not knowing what might happen next?
□ Losing your mind?
□ Anything else – specify ___________________
□ Don’t know
Q37. What were you most afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were
occurring? Were you most afraid of…
[Mark all that apply.]
[INTERVIEWER: REPEAT THE QUESTION BUT READ CATEGORIES AND MARK ANSWERS]
□ Death?
□ Physical or bodily harm?
□ Harm or kidnap your child?
□ Harm current partner/boyfriend/girlfriend?
□ Harm other family members?
□ Loss of job/job opportunities?
□ Loss of freedom?
□ Loss of social network, peers, or friends?
□ Behavior would never stop?
□ General fear of not knowing what might happen next?
□ Losing your mind?
□ Anything else – specify ___________________
□ Don’t know
If more than one category selected: Which of these were you most afraid of happening?
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or asked to leave a job because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment
insurance, paid leave, or some other source because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
70

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2
Did you experience any other financial costs due to the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors for
such things as – [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fear or concern for your safety?
□ Police-related activities?
What do you consider as police-related activities?
□ Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
□ Changing your phone number or personal information?
□ Moving?
□ Fixing or replacing damaged property?
□ Anything else – specify _____________
□ None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
□ N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
What does personal information mean to you in this question?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 2

SECTION VI. DEBRIEFING QUESTIONS
ASK OF VICTIMS:
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

Have you ever answered survey questions about your experiences with unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past? If yes, what was the survey? What was the experience like for you?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

•

Do you believe the repeated unwanted contacts or behaviors were stalking?

ASK OF NON VICTIMS
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

(IF R REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACTS OR BEHAVIORS (IN SQ1a-k) BUT DIDN’T SCREEN IN)
Do you believe the unwanted contacts or behaviors you experienced were stalking?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

ASK OF ALL
•

What does stalking mean to you?

•

Were there any questions you think some people might find difficult to answer?

•

Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention
yet?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

2016 Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
to the
National Crime Victimization Survey

PROTOCOL – Round 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

Cognitive Testing of NCVS SVS
PARTICIPANT ID #: _________________________

DATE: ____ / ____ / 2015

INTERVIEWER’S NAME: _________________________________________________________________
START TIME: ______: ______ AM / PM

SECTION I. INTERVIEW CONSENT
A. Hello, I’m [NAME OF INTERVIEWER]. I work for the Census Bureau. Thanks for agreeing to
help me today.
PLACE THE CONSENT FORM IN FRONT OF PARTICIPANT

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

SECTION
SECTION
II. II.
NCVS
THINK-ALOUD
SCREENER PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
INTERVIEWER: READ/PARAPHRASE
“Let me begin by telling you a little more about what we’ll be doing today. The United States Census
Bureau counts the population in the U.S and also conducts various kinds of surveys.
Today, with your help, we will be testing some new questions that were developed for a supplement
to the National Crime Victimization Survey. I will first ask you some survey questions and you’ll
answer the questions just as you would if you were doing it with an interviewer in a regular survey. I
am interested in your answers, but I am mainly interested in how you understand these questions and
how these questions work for you. From time to time, I’ll ask you some questions about your answers,
or about the questions themselves. So that we can keep the interview within an hour, I may ask you
to hold your thoughts on a particular question and we will go back to it at the end if there is still time.
Our goal here is to get a better idea of how well the new questions work for people such as yourself
before we actually use them in the survey. Therefore, the purpose of our session today is to collect
your thoughts and opinions on these new questions and materials. There is no right or wrong answer.
We are simply trying to make sure the question wording is clear and easy for most people to
understand. Your feedback will be very useful for helping make sure these questions will make sense
to other people.
Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and you may decline to answer any question, or stop
the interview at any time.
Do you have any questions before we begin?”
Okay, let’s get started with the interview.
Remember, please answer the questions as you would if an interviewer had come to your home.
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months, that
is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport
(e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting
OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than any
incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were you attacked or
threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
• Yes [skip to Q7]
• No [skip to Q8]
Q7. Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
• Yes [skip to Q9]
• No [skip to Q10]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Thank you.

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q16. While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
• A city?
• Suburban area?
• Rural area?
• Combination of any of these?
Q17. [If screener age question = 18 years or older, else skip to Q19]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
[Mark one box.]
• Never served in the military [skip to Q19]
• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard [skip to Q19]
• Now on active duty [skip to Q18]
• On active duty in the past, but not now [skip to Q18]
Q18. When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? [Mark all that apply, even if just
for part of the time period.]
□ September 2001 or later
□ August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
□ May 1975 to July 1990
□ Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
□ February 1955 to July 1967
□ Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
□ January 1947 to June 1950
□ World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
□ November 1941 or earlier
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of the U.S. through
naturalization?
• Yes, born in the United States
• Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
• Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
• Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
• No, not a U.S. citizen
Q20. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
• Yes
• No
Q21. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
• Yes
• No
Q22. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
a. Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Yes
• No
80

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
• You don’t understand the words
• You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out
your sexuality
• You mean something else
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
• Man [if Q27 ne Male, then skip to Q28c; else, skip to SQ1]
• Woman [if Q27 ne Female, then skip to Q28c; else skip to SQ1]
• Transgender person [skip to SQ1]
• None of these [skip to Q28b]
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
• Specify ________________________ [skip to SQ1]
• Refused [skip to SQ1]
• Don’t know [skip to SQ1]
ASK IF Q27 and Q28a DO NOT MATCH
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now describe
yourself as a {Q28a}. Is that correct?
• Yes
• No
• Refused
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Another question was asked “Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender
person?”
What if I had asked it this way: “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

Before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” TO B: What unwanted things did they do to let you know they had been there?
IF “NO” TO B: Please give me an example of an “unwanted thing” someone could do?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO B: Please tell me some places other than your home or car where someone
could do unwanted things to let you know they’d been there?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO C: Are there places other than home, work, or school where someone could
have waited for you?
IF “YES” or ”NO” TO D: What does the phrase “no business being there” mean to you in this
question? Please give me an example of a situation like that?
84

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

__ YES

___ NO

h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

__ YES

___ NO

Posted or threatened to post inappropriate, unwanted,
or personal information about you on the Internet, this
__ YES
includes private photographs, videos, or spreading rumors?

___ NO

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

Again, before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
First, what time frame were you thinking of when you were answering these questions?
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO G: What does the word “excessively” mean to you in this question?
What does an unwanted phone call mean to you in this question?
H & I - INTERVIEWER NOTE: We want to make sure people who are routinely monitored by their
employer, the government, or their parents (16-17yr olds) are not going to be false positives.
Encourage them to think aloud and try to find out who is monitoring them without explicitly asking.
IF “YES” TO H: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” TO I: Please tell me more about that.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO I: Please give me an example of an app that can do this?
Can you give me an example of an electronic tracking device?
85

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

ASK SQ2
END INTERVIEW

SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12 months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
IF “YES” ON SQ2: What behaviors were you thinking about when you answered this question?
IF “YES” ON SQ2 AND MORE THAN ONE BEHAVIOR MARKED: Thinking of the behaviors you said yes
to, which of those unwanted contacts or behaviors happened more than once?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2:
_____ More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
_____ Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?

ASK SQ3
END INTERVIEW

SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional distress?
• Yes
• No
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO SQ3B: Please tell me what “substantial emotional distress” means to you in this
question?
IF “NO” TO SQ3B: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
cause you substantial emotional distress?
86

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Now I have some additional questions about the time someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and
{behaviorx…}.
[Include all behaviors the respondent reported in SQ1a-k.]
Thinking about the person or people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the
past 12 months, did any of the following occur –
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to damage or destroy property belonging to
you or someone else in your household?
• Yes
• No
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or
threaten to attack you?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to attack someone
close to you or a pet?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} {(fill If SQ2=Yes) more than
once} in the past 12 months. Do you know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors were related?
By that we mean that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
• Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
• No
[end survey ]
• Don’t know
[go to survey instructions on page 16]
IF “YES” ON SQ7: Can you tell me more about how these behaviors were related?
If needed after previous probe: Did the same person/people do all of the behaviors or some of the
behaviors?
Can you tell me more about the timing of when these related contacts or behaviors occurred?
87

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey should be
ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
Number of
Behaviors
(SQ1 a-k)

Repetition
(SQ2)

Actual Fear or
Emotional Distress
(SQ3a and SQ3b)

Reasonable Fear
(Q4, Q5, Q6)

Related
Behaviors
(SQ7)

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person

[skip to Q14a on page 22]
90

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
• All female
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
• Both male and female
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #3:
_____ ONLY 2 OFFENDERS
_____ MORE THAN 2 OFFENDERS

[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[continue to check item #3]

SKIP TO Q9
ASK Q8B

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4:
_____ More than one box marked in Q11A
_____ Only one box marked Q11A

ASK Q11B
SKIP TO Q12

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Q13. Please describe the general nature of the group. For example, was it an ex-partner working with
others, friends, classmates or peers, co-workers, in-laws or family members or friends of the
offender, fraternity, sorority, members of a gang or other organized crime group, etc.?
• Ex-partner working with others
• Friends
• Classmates or peers
• Co-workers
• In-laws or family members of the offender
• Friends of the offender
• Fraternity or Sorority
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group
• Other – specify _____________
93

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Duration of stalking
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
• Less than one month
• One month to less than six months
• Six months to less than one year
• One year to less than two years
• Two years to less than three years
• Three years to less than five years
• Five years or more
• Don’t know
When did you first find out these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to you?
• The offender told me
• Someone else told me
• I figured it out on my own
• Don’t know, don’t remember
Frequency of stalking
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or behaviors
occurred? ___________________ [Interviewer: enter number of times or estimate from R.]
How did you come up with that estimate?
Was it easy or difficult for you to come up with that estimate? What made it [easy/difficult]?
IF R EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE STALKING BEHAVIOR:
Which contacts or behaviors were you thinking about when you were answering that question?
[Interviewer note: Remember to note respondents’ verbatim answer before converting it to a
number for the year. We are interested in whether or not it is difficult to record the respondents’
answers as a single number for the year. Please include a comment in the summary of any issues
that arise with this question.]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Motive for stalking
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM. MARK THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY. NOTE IF
NO CATEGORIES APPLY, AND RECORD THE VERBATIM ANSWER IN THE SUMMARY.]
[Mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
[INTERVIEWER: REPEAT THE QUESTION BUT READ CATEGORIES AND MARK ANSWERS]
Was it because…? Any other reasons?
[Read and mark all that apply.]
□ They wanted retaliation or revenge?
□ They wanted affection?
□ They felt rejected?
□ They were obsessed with you?
□ They planned to commit a crime?
□ They had already committed a crime?
□ They wanted power and control?
□ They felt like they could do these things to you?
□ Any other reason? – Specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Reasonable fear follow-up
CHECK ITEM #5: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ5
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q17A
SKIP TO Q18A
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
you. How did they attack or attempt to attack you?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
ASK Q18a if R answered “yes,
□ Hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
threaten to attack” in SQ5, ELSE
□ Choking or strangling you?
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6
□ Raping or sexually assaulting you?
□ Attacking you with a weapon or other object?
[ask Q17b]
□ Hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
ASK Q18a if R answered “yes,
□ Attacking you in some other way?
threaten to attack” in SQ5, ELSE
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Specify ___________________________
Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to attack you that aren’t listed
here?
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
□ Other – Specify __________________________

ASK Q18a if R answered
“yes, threaten to attack”
in SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO
CHECK ITEM 6

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ5]
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. What was the
threat?
[Read all options and mark all that apply.]
□ To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To choke or strangle you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To rape or sexually assault you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To harm you with a weapon or other object? [ask Q18b]
□ To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
[skip to check item 6]
□ To kill you?
[skip to check item 6]
□ Threaten you in some other way?
Specify _______________________
[skip to check item 6]

ASK IF Q17A WAS SKIPPED: Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to
attack you that aren’t listed here?
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________
CHECK ITEM #6: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ6
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q19A
SKIP TO Q19B
SKIP TO Q20

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to attack?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ A child?
□ A spouse or partner?
ASK Q19b if R answered
□ A boyfriend or girlfriend?
“yes, threaten to attack” in
□ Another family member?
SQ6, ELSE SKIP TO Q20
□ A friend or co-worker?
□ A pet or companion animal?
□ Someone else?
Specify ___________________________________

[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ6]

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the police?
[INTERVIEWER: FIRST ASK AS AN OPEN-ENDED ITEM AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “OE”. REPEAT
QUESTION AND READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS WITH “RC”]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you, police
wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some other reason?
Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official, school official,
military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
Can you tell me more about that?
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27 on page 28]
98

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

[ ASK Q24 ]

Took no action

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
□
□
□

Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
Other – specify _________________________________________________
Don’t know

Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
• Yes
[ask Q25b]
• No
[skip to Q27]
• Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
Q25b.
•
•
•
•

What were the criminal charges filed?
Stalking
Something else – Specify _______________________
Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
Don’t know

Yes
No
Don’t know

[ask Q28a]
[skip to Q29]
[skip to Q29]

IF “YES” OR “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: Can you think of some examples of offices or agencies that
deal with victims of crime?

100

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Federal or state victim compensation?
Short term or emergency financial assistance?
Shelter or safehouse services?
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

Ask of all - Please tell me what you think is included in federal or state victim compensation.
For each “Don’t Know” – Please tell me what you think XXXXX may mean.
If YES on “Legal or court services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “short term or emergency financial assistance” –what type of assistance did you receive?
If YES on “Shelter or safehouse services” –what type of services did you receive?
If YES on “Safety planning” – Please describe this type of assistance?
If Yes on “Risk or threat assessment” – Please tell me how this assessment is completed?
If Yes on “Medical advocacy” – Please tell me more about this type of assistance

CHECK ITEM 7
___ Answered “No” on Q28a
___ Answered “Yes” on Q28a

ASK Q28C
SKIP TO Q29

[Mark all that apply.]

Self-protective actions
101

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…
•

Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
If no: What type of “day-to-day” activities were you thinking of when answering this question?
•

Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply
below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
If no: What do you think “self-defense actions” means in this question?
If no: What would be an example of an “other security measure”?
•

102

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
[Mark all that apply.]
□
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
□
Ask people not to release information about you?
□
Hire a private investigator?
□
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
□
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
□
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
□
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
□
Talk to your boss or employer?
□
Talk to your teacher or school official?
□
Contact your building or workplace security person?
□
None of the above
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
• No
[ask Q32]
• Don’t know
[skip to Cost to Victim intro on page 32]
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________

103

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Cost to victim
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would like to ask
you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job
If “No” – What are some examples of “significant problems” with job, school, or coworkers?
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did
before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
• Yes
• No
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at all
distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
• Not at all distressing
• Mildly distressing
• Moderately distressing
• Severely distressing
How did you come up with your answer to this question?
What do you think “distressing” means in this question? Can you give me other similar words?
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the past year,
did you feel… [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fearful or terrified?
□ Worried or anxious?
□ Angry or annoyed?
□ Sad or depressed?
□ Vulnerable or helpless?
In what way?
skip to
□ Like you couldn’t trust people?
Q37
□ Sick?
In what way?
□ Stressed?
□ Unsafe?
□ Suicidal?
□ Or did you feel some other way?
[ask Q36b]
Were you experiencing any of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
104

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3
Did you experience any other financial costs due to the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors for
such things as – [Mark all that apply.]
□ Fear or concern for your safety?
□ Police-related activities?
What do you consider as police-related activities?
□ Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
□ Changing your phone number or personal information?
□ Moving?
□ Fixing or replacing damaged property?
□ Anything else – specify _____________
□ None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
□ N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
What does personal information mean to you in this question?

106

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 3

SECTION VI. DEBRIEFING QUESTIONS
ASK OF VICTIMS:
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

Have you ever answered survey questions about your experiences with unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past? If yes, what was the survey? What was the experience like for you?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

•

Do you believe the repeated unwanted contacts or behaviors were stalking?

ASK OF NON VICTIMS
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

(IF R REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACTS OR BEHAVIORS (IN SQ1a-k) BUT DIDN’T SCREEN IN)
Do you believe the unwanted contacts or behaviors you experienced were stalking?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

ASK OF ALL
•

What does stalking mean to you?

•

Were there any questions you think some people might find difficult to answer?

•

Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention
yet?

107

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

2016 Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
to the
National Crime Victimization Survey

PROTOCOL – Round 4

108

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

Cognitive Testing of NCVS SVS
PARTICIPANT ID #: _________________________

DATE: ____ / ____ / 2015

INTERVIEWER’S NAME: _________________________________________________________________
START TIME: ______: ______ AM / PM

SECTION I. INTERVIEW CONSENT
A. Hello, I’m [NAME OF INTERVIEWER]. I work for the Census Bureau. Thanks for agreeing to
help me today.
PLACE THE CONSENT FORM IN FRONT OF PARTICIPANT

109

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

SECTION
SECTION
II. II.
NCVS
THINK-ALOUD
SCREENER PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
INTERVIEWER: READ/PARAPHRASE
“Let me begin by telling you a little more about what we’ll be doing today. The United States Census
Bureau counts the population in the U.S and also conducts various kinds of surveys.
Today, with your help, we will be testing some new questions that were developed for a supplement
to the National Crime Victimization Survey. I will first ask you some survey questions and you’ll
answer the questions just as you would if you were doing it with an interviewer in a regular survey. I
am interested in your answers, but I am mainly interested in how you understand these questions and
how these questions work for you. From time to time, I’ll ask you some questions about your answers,
or about the questions themselves. So that we can keep the interview within an hour, I may ask you
to hold your thoughts on a particular question and we will go back to it at the end if there is still time.
Our goal here is to get a better idea of how well the new questions work for people such as yourself
before we actually use them in the survey. Therefore, the purpose of our session today is to collect
your thoughts and opinions on these new questions and materials. There is no right or wrong answer.
We are simply trying to make sure the question wording is clear and easy for most people to
understand. Your feedback will be very useful for helping make sure these questions will make sense
to other people.
Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and you may decline to answer any question, or stop
the interview at any time.
Do you have any questions before we begin?”
Okay, let’s get started with the interview.
Remember, please answer the questions as you would if an interviewer had come to your home.
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months, that
is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

110

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport
(e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting
OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

111

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than any
incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were you attacked or
threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
• Yes [skip to Q7]
• No [skip to Q8]
Q7. Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
• Yes [skip to Q9]
• No [skip to Q10]

112

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Thank you.

113

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

114

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q16. While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
• A city?
• Suburban area?
• Rural area?
• Combination of any of these?
Q17. [If screener age question = 18 years or older, else skip to Q19]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
[Mark one box.]
• Never served in the military [skip to Q19]
• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard [skip to Q19]
• Now on active duty [skip to Q18]
• On active duty in the past, but not now [skip to Q18]
Q18. When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? [Mark all that apply, even if just
for part of the time period.]
□ September 2001 or later
□ August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
□ May 1975 to July 1990
□ Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
□ February 1955 to July 1967
□ Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
□ January 1947 to June 1950
□ World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
□ November 1941 or earlier
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of the U.S. through
naturalization?
• Yes, born in the United States
• Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
• Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
• Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
• No, not a U.S. citizen
Q20. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
• Yes
• No
Q21. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
• Yes
• No
Q22. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
a. Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Yes
• No
115

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

116

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
• You don’t understand the words
• You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out
your sexuality
• You mean something else
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
• Man [if Q27 ne Male, then skip to Q28c; else, skip to SQ1]
• Woman [if Q27 ne Female, then skip to Q28c; else skip to SQ1]
• Transgender person [skip to SQ1]
• None of these [skip to Q28b]
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
• Specify ________________________ [skip to SQ1]
• Refused [skip to SQ1]
• Don’t know [skip to SQ1]
ASK IF Q27 and Q28a DO NOT MATCH
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now describe
yourself as a {Q28a}. Is that correct?
• Yes
• No
• Refused
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Another question was asked “Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender
person?”
What if I had asked it this way: “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?

118

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

__ YES

___ NO

b. Sneaked into your home or car and did unwanted
things to let you know they had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?

__ YES

___ NO

d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters, presents,
flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends or family
for information about you or your whereabouts?

Before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” TO B: What unwanted things did they do to let you know they had been there?
IF “NO” TO B: Please give me an example of an “unwanted thing” someone could do?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO B: Please tell me some places other than your home or car where someone
could do unwanted things to let you know they’d been there?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO C: Are there places other than home, work, or school where someone could
have waited for you?
IF “YES” or ”NO” TO D: What does the phrase “no business being there” mean to you in this
question? Please give me an example of a situation like that?
119

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

__ YES

___ NO

h. Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

__ YES

___ NO

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

__ YES

___ NO

Posted or threatened to post inappropriate, unwanted,
or personal information about you on the Internet, this
__ YES
includes private photographs, videos, or spreading rumors?

___ NO

k. Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using the Internet,
for example, using social media apps or websites like
Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

Again, before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
First, what time frame were you thinking of when you were answering these questions?
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO G: What does the word “excessively” mean to you in this question?
What does an unwanted phone call mean to you in this question?
H & I - INTERVIEWER NOTE: We want to make sure people who are routinely monitored by their
employer, the government, or their parents (16-17yr olds) are not going to be false positives.
Encourage them to think aloud and try to find out who is monitoring them without explicitly asking.
IF “YES” TO H: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” TO I: Please tell me more about that.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO I: Please give me an example of an app that can do this?
Can you give me an example of an electronic tracking device?
120

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

ASK SQ2
GO TO INTRO TEXT 3

SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12 months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
IF “YES” ON SQ2: What behaviors were you thinking about when you answered this question?
IF “YES” ON SQ2 AND MORE THAN ONE BEHAVIOR MARKED: Thinking of the behaviors you said yes
to, which of those unwanted contacts or behaviors happened more than once?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2:
_____ More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
_____ Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?

ASK SQ3a
GO TO INTRO TEXT 3

Intro Text 3:
IF “NO” to all the above behaviors: “You answered no to the questions about all types of unwanted
contacts and behaviors. Now I am going to read questions that you would have gotten if you had
experienced one or more of those behaviors just to get your thoughts on the question.”
IF “YES” to only one behavior in SQ1A-K (AND the behavior did not happen more than once – “NO” to
SQ2): “Suppose that {behavior x} had happened more than once in the past twelve months. Now I’m
going to ask you a few questions while you think about that.”
[Interviewer note: We are not having non-victim respondents actually answer SQ3a and SQ3b. After Intro
Text 3, read them the questions and then move on to the probes below.]
SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or the safety of
someone known to you?
• Yes
• No
Please tell me what “fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you” means to you in this
question?
IF “NOT YES” TO SQ3A: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
make you fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you?
121

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional distress?
• Yes
• No
Please tell me what “substantial emotional distress” means to you in this question?
IF “ NOT YES” TO SQ3B: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
cause you substantial emotional distress?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2a
_____
_____
_____

More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K and “YES” to SQ2?
Otherwise

ASK SQ4
ASK SQ4

GO TO INTRO TEXT 4 ON PAGE 20

Now I have some additional questions about the time someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and
{behaviorx…}.
[Include all behaviors the respondent reported in SQ1a-k.]
Thinking about the person or people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the
past 12 months, did any of the following occur –
SQ4. Did this person or these people damage or attempt to damage or destroy property belonging to
you or someone else in your household?
• Yes
• No
SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or
threaten to attack you?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…]
Did this person or these people physically attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to attack someone
close to you or a pet?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Yes, physically attack
□ Yes, attempt to attack
□ Yes, threaten to attack
□ No

122

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
SQ7. You indicated that someone {behavior1}, {behavior2}, and {behavior…} {(fill If SQ2=Yes) more than
once} in the past 12 months. Do you know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or
behaviors were related?
By that we mean that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
• Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 17]
• No
[go to intro 4 text on page 20]
• Don’t know
[go to survey instructions on page 17]
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
IF “YES” ON SQ7: Can you tell me more about how these behaviors were related?
If needed after previous probe: Did the same person/people do all of the behaviors or some of the
behaviors?
Can you tell me more about the timing of when these related contacts or behaviors occurred?

123

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey should be
ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
Number of
Behaviors
(SQ1 a-k)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

Repetition
(SQ2)
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Actual Fear or
Emotional Distress
(SQ3a and SQ3b)
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Reasonable Fear
(Q4, Q5, Q6)
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

124

Related
Behaviors
(SQ7)
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK
No
Yes or DK

Included in stalking
estimate/survey
continuation?
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

SECTION V. NCVS SVS INCIDENT QUESTIONS
Offender information
Q1. Thinking about these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months, how many different
people have done these things to you?
• One
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Two
[ask Q2a]
• Three or more – Enter number of people. ______ [ask Q2a]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A]
Q2a. Did these people act alone or together as a team?
• Alone
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Together
[ask Q2b]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
Q2b. Of the people who did these things to you, is there ONE person who you would consider to be
the MOST responsible for these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• No
[skip to Q8a on page 20 – MULTIPLE OFFENDERS]
SINGLE OFFENDER
Intro Text A. Thinking about the person who has done this most recently, …
Q3. Is this person male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Don’t know
Q4. How old would you say this person is?
• Under 15
• 15-17
• 18-20
• 21-24
• 25-34
• 35-49
• 50-64
• 65+
• Don’t know
Q5. Is this person Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
125

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person

[skip to Q14a on page 23]
126

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Intro Text 4:
IF RESPONDENT IS A NON-VICTIM WHO HAS SCREENED OUT BUT IS TESTING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
HAND THEM THE VIGNETTE: “There is one last task I would like your help with. We would like to
gather more information on how the next questions work for different situations. Please take a few
minutes to read the following situation.”
AFTER THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE VIGNETTE: “Now I’d like you to pretend that you are
Maria/Mark as I ask a few questions. Please answer the questions to the best of your ability.”
MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
• All female
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
• Both male and female

[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[continue to check item #3]

INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #3:
_____ ONLY 2 OFFENDERS
_____ MORE THAN 2 OFFENDERS/R IS A NON-VICTIM

SKIP TO Q9
ASK Q8B

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
•
•

Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
Don’t know

Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
□
□
□
□
□
□

[Select one or more.]
White?
Black or African American?
American Indian or Alaska Native?
Asian?
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
Don’t know

INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4:
_____ More than one box marked in Q11A
_____ Only one box marked Q11A

ASK Q11B
SKIP TO Q12

128

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Q13. Please describe the general nature of the group. For example, was it an ex-partner working with
others, friends, classmates or peers, co-workers, in-laws or family members or friends of the
offender, fraternity, sorority, members of a gang or other organized crime group, etc.?
• Ex-partner working with others
• Friends
• Classmates or peers
• Co-workers
• In-laws or family members of the offender
• Friends of the offender
• Fraternity or Sorority
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group
• Other – specify _____________
129

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4a:
_____ Respondent is a victim
_____ Respondent is a non-victim

ASK Q14a
END INTERVIEW, READ TEXT BELOW

“This ends the survey portion of the interview. I have a few more questions for you before we finish
today.” Interviewer, proceed to debriefing questions at the end of the protocol.
Duration of stalking
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
• Less than one month
• One month to less than six months
• Six months to less than one year
• One year to less than two years
• Two years to less than three years
• Three years to less than five years
• Five years or more
• Don’t know
When did you first find out these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to you?
• The offender told me
• Someone else told me
• I figured it out on my own
• Don’t know, don’t remember
Frequency of stalking
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or behaviors
occurred? ___________________ [Interviewer: enter number of times or estimate from R.]
How did you come up with that estimate?
Was it easy or difficult for you to come up with that estimate? What made it [easy/difficult]?
IF R EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE STALKING BEHAVIOR:
Which contacts or behaviors were you thinking about when you were answering that question?
[Interviewer note: Remember to note respondents’ verbatim answer before converting it to a
number for the year. We are interested in whether or not it is difficult to record the respondents’
answers as a single number for the year. Please include a comment in the summary of any issues
that arise with this question.]

130

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Motive for stalking
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
Was it because…?
They wanted retaliation or revenge?
● Yes ● No
They wanted affection?
● Yes ● No
They felt rejected?
● Yes ● No
They were obsessed with you?
● Yes ● No
They planned to commit a crime?
● Yes ● No
They had already committed a crime?
● Yes ● No
They wanted power and control?
● Yes ● No
They felt like they could do these things to you?
● Yes ● No
Any other reason?
● Yes ● No
– Specify ________________________
Don’t know
Reasonable fear follow-up
CHECK ITEM #5: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ5
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q17A
SKIP TO Q18A
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

Q17a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
you. Did they attack or attempt to attack you...
By hitting, slapping, pushing, or knocking you down?
● Yes ● No
By choking or strangling you?
● Yes ● No
By raping or sexually assaulting you?
● Yes ● No
With a weapon or other object?
● Yes ● No [if “YES” ask Q17b]
By hitting, chasing or dragging you with a vehicle?
● Yes ● No
Or did they attack you in some other way?
● Yes ● No
Specify ___________________________
Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to attack you that aren’t listed
here?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #5a:
_____ R answered yes to “With a weapon or other object”
_____ R answered “no” to “with a weapon or other object”
and “yes, threaten to attack” in SQ5
_____ Otherwise
131

ASK Q17B
SKIP TO Q18a
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Was there any other weapon or object used?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Knife
“yes, threaten to attack”
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
in SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
CHECK ITEM 6
□ Other – Specify __________________________
[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ5]
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. Did they
threaten…?
To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
● Yes ● No
To choke or strangle you?
● Yes ● No
To rape or sexually assault you?
● Yes ● No
To harm you with a weapon or other object? [if “YES” ask Q18b]
● Yes ● No
To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
● Yes ● No
To kill you?
● Yes ● No
Or did they threaten you in some other way?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________

ASK IF Q17A WAS SKIPPED: Are there any other ways in which someone could attack or attempt to
attack you that aren’t listed here?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #5b:
_____ R answered yes to “To harm you with a weapon or other object” ASK Q18B
_____ Otherwise
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6
Q18b. What was the weapon or object they threatened to use? Was there any other weapon or object
used?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
□ Knife
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
□ Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
□ Other Specify ____________________________________

132

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
CHECK ITEM #6: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ6
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q19A
SKIP TO Q19B
SKIP TO Q20

Q19b. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to physically attack someone
close to you or a pet. Who did they threaten?
A child?
● Yes ● No
A spouse or partner?
● Yes ● No
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
● Yes ● No
Another family member?
● Yes ● No
A friend or co-worker?
● Yes ● No
A pet or companion animal?
● Yes ● No
Himself/herself (offender)?
● Yes ● No
Someone else?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________________
[Interviewer note: Please note if the respondent immediately responds with the person they threatened to
attack before you read the options. Please be sure to read all options even if they provide an immediate
answer.]
Help-seeking
Q20. During the past 12 months did you or someone else call or contact the police to report any of
these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q22 on page 28]
• No
[ask Q21]

133

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the police?
[INTERVIEWER: READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS THAT APPLY]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you, police
wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some other reason?
Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official, school official,
military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
Can you tell me more about that?
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27 on page 29]

134

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q22. During the past 12 months, who reported (the/these) unwanted contacts or behaviors to the
police? Anyone else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Respondent
□ Respondent’s friend
□ Neighbor
□ Respondent’s family, in-laws, spouse, parents, children, relatives
□ Respondent’s girl/boyfriend, partner
□ Doctor, nurse
□ Clergy or faith leader
□ Social worker, counselor, other mental health professional
□ School official, teacher, faculty, or staff
□ Boss, employer, co-worker
□ Stranger, bystander
□ Security guard, security department
□ Police on scene
□ Other – specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were contacted in the past 12 months regarding
these unwanted contacts or behaviors, what did the police do? Anything else? [Mark all that
apply.]
□ Took a report
□ Talked to or warned offender
□ Arrested the offender or took the offender into custody
□ Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
SKIP TO
□ Referred respondent to services, such as victim assistance
Q25A
□ Gave advice on how to protect self
□ Took respondent to another location such as a hospital or shelter
□ Asked for more information/evidence
□ Other – specify _________________________
□ Don’t know
□ Took no action
[ ASK Q24 ]
Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

Police did not think crime occurred
Could not find or identify offender
Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
Respondent lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
Didn’t have evidence/lack of proof
Didn’t believe respondent/take respondent seriously
Thought it was respondent’s fault
Didn’t think it was important enough, didn’t want to be bothered or get involved
Were inefficient, ineffective
Offender was a police officer, justice officer
Offender was well-connected in the community, was friend/relative with local authorities
Respondent was not old enough to file a report (i.e. needed a guardian)
Other – specify _________________________________________________
Don’t know

135

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
• Yes
[ask Q25b]
• No
[skip to Q27]
• Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
Q25b.
•
•
•
•

What were the criminal charges filed?
Stalking
Something else – Specify _______________________
Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
Don’t know

Yes
No
Don’t know

[ask Q28a]
[skip to Q29]
[skip to Q29]

IF “YES” OR “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: Can you think of some examples of offices or agencies that
deal with victims of crime?

136

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Federal or state victim compensation?
Short term or emergency financial assistance?
Shelter or safehouse services?
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

CHECK ITEM 7
___ Answered “No” on Q28a
___ Answered “Yes” on Q28a

ASK Q28C
SKIP TO Q29

137

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q28c. You reported that you sought services from an office or agency that assists victims of crime, but
did not receive them. Why did you not receive these services? Was it because…
Any other reason?
Services were not available in your local area?
● Yes ● No
You did not have a means of transportation to and from the service provider?
● Yes ● No
You did not have childcare to go to seek services?
● Yes ● No
The service provider could not accommodate you (e.g. no beds available in shelter)?
● Yes ● No
You were unable to take time off of work or school to seek services?
● Yes ● No
There were language barriers?
● Yes ● No
You were not eligible for services?
● Yes ● No
Some other reason?
● Yes ● No – Specify ________________
Self-protective actions
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…
•

Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
If no: What type of “day-to-day” activities were you thinking of when answering this question?

138

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
•

Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply
below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
□
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?
□
If no: What do you think “self-defense actions” means in this question?
If no: What would be an example of an “other security measure”?
•

Applied for a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
o Yes
o No
• Did you do anything else to protect yourself or stop the unwanted contacts or behaviors from
continuing?
o Yes – Specify ____________________
o No
Q30. Some people might ask others for help in order to protect themselves or to stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, did you —
Ask for advice or help from friends or family?
● Yes ● No
Ask people not to release information about you?
● Yes ● No
Hire a private investigator?
● Yes ● No
Ask for advice or help from an attorney?
● Yes ● No
Talk to a counselor or therapist?
● Yes ● No
Talk to a doctor or nurse?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your Clergy or faith leader?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your boss or employer?
● Yes ● No
Talk to your teacher or school official?
● Yes ● No
Contact your building or workplace security person?
● Yes ● No
None of the above

139

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
[skip to Cost to Victim intro]
• No
[ask Q32]
• Don’t know
[skip to Cost to Victim intro]
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________
Cost to victim
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would like to ask
you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job
If “No” – What are some examples of “significant problems” with job, school, or coworkers?

140

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did
before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
• Yes
• No
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at all
distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
• Not at all distressing
• Mildly distressing
• Moderately distressing
• Severely distressing
How did you come up with your answer to this question?
What do you think “distressing” means in this question? Can you give me other similar words?
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the past year,
did you feel…
Fearful or terrified?
● Yes ● No
Worried or anxious?
● Yes ● No
Angry or annoyed?
● Yes ● No
Sad or depressed?
● Yes ● No
Vulnerable or helpless?
● Yes ● No
In what way?
skip to
Like you couldn’t trust people?
● Yes ● No
Q37
Sick?
● Yes ● No
In what way?
Stressed?
● Yes ● No
Unsafe?
● Yes ● No
Suicidal?
● Yes ● No
Or did you feel some other way?
● Yes ● No [If yes, ask Q36b]
IF R ANSWERED “NO” TO “OR DID YOU FEEL SOME OTHER WAY” ASK: Were you experiencing any
of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
Were you experiencing any of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?

141

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q37. What were you afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Were you afraid of…
Being killed?
● Yes ● No
Physical or bodily harm?
● Yes ● No
Someone close to you being harmed?
● Yes ● No
Losing your job or job opportunities?
● Yes ● No
Losing your freedom?
● Yes ● No
Losing your social network, peers, or friends?
● Yes ● No
The behaviors never stopping?
● Yes ● No
Not knowing what might happen next?
● Yes ● No
Losing your mind?
● Yes ● No
Anything else – specify ___________________
● Yes ● No
Don’t know
If more than one category selected: Which of these were you most afraid of happening?
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or asked to leave a job because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment
insurance, paid leave, or some other source because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Did you experience any other financial costs due to the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school

142

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors for
such things as –
Fear or concern for your safety?
● Yes ● No
Police-related activities?
What do you consider as police-related activities?
● Yes ● No
Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
● Yes ● No
Changing your phone number or personal information?
● Yes ● No
Moving?
● Yes ● No
Fixing or replacing damaged property?
● Yes ● No
Anything else
● Yes ● No – Specify _____________
None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
What does personal information mean to you in this question?

143

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 4

SECTION VI. DEBRIEFING QUESTIONS
ASK OF VICTIMS:
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

Have you ever answered survey questions about your experiences with unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past? If yes, what was the survey? What was the experience like for you?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

•

Do you believe the repeated unwanted contacts or behaviors were stalking?

ASK OF NON VICTIMS
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

(IF R REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACTS OR BEHAVIORS (IN SQ1a-k) BUT DIDN’T SCREEN IN)
Do you believe the unwanted contacts or behaviors you experienced were stalking?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

ASK OF ALL
•

What does stalking mean to you?

•

Were there any questions you think some people might find difficult to answer?

•

Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention
yet?

144

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

2016 Supplemental Victimization Survey (SVS)
to the
National Crime Victimization Survey

PROTOCOL – Round 5

145

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

Cognitive Testing of NCVS SVS
PARTICIPANT ID #: _________________________

DATE: ____ / ____ / 2015

INTERVIEWER’S NAME: _________________________________________________________________
START TIME: ______: ______ AM / PM

SECTION I. INTERVIEW CONSENT
A. Hello, I’m [NAME OF INTERVIEWER]. I work for the Census Bureau. Thanks for agreeing to
help me today.
PLACE THE CONSENT FORM IN FRONT OF PARTICIPANT

146

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

SECTION
THINK-ALOUD
SECTION
II. II.
NCVS
SCREENER PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
INTERVIEWER: READ/PARAPHRASE
“Let me begin by telling you a little more about what we’ll be doing today. The United States Census
Bureau counts the population in the U.S and also conducts various kinds of surveys.
Today, with your help, we will be testing some new questions that were developed for a supplement
to the National Crime Victimization Survey. I will first ask you some survey questions and you’ll
answer the questions just as you would if you were doing it with an interviewer in a regular survey. I
am interested in your answers, but I am mainly interested in how you understand these questions and
how these questions work for you. From time to time, I’ll ask you some questions about your answers,
or about the questions themselves. So that we can keep the interview within an hour, I may ask you
to hold your thoughts on a particular question and we will go back to it at the end if there is still time.
Our goal here is to get a better idea of how well the new questions work for people such as yourself
before we actually use them in the survey. Therefore, the purpose of our session today is to collect
your thoughts and opinions on these new questions and materials. There is no right or wrong answer.
We are simply trying to make sure the question wording is clear and easy for most people to
understand. Your feedback will be very useful for helping make sure these questions will make sense
to other people.
Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and you may decline to answer any question, or stop
the interview at any time.
Do you have any questions before we begin?”
Okay, let’s get started with the interview.
Remember, please answer the questions as you would if an interviewer had come to your home.
Q1. I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months, that
is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools –
(e) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
(f) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

147

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q2. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since ________________, 20 ____, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport
(e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting
OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q3. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
(Exclude telephone threats)
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats –
OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No

148

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q4. People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they know. (Other than any
incidents already mentioned,) did you have something stolen from you OR were you attacked or
threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q5. Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. (Other than
any incidents already mentioned,) have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by –
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance –
OR
(c) Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
• Yes
• No
Q6. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
• Yes [skip to Q7]
• No [skip to Q8]
Q7. Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Q8. During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already mentioned,) did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
• Yes [skip to Q9]
• No [skip to Q10]

149

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q9. [If Q8 = Yes]
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
• Yes
• No
Thank you.

150

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

151

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q16. While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
• A city?
• Suburban area?
• Rural area?
• Combination of any of these?
Q17. [If screener age question = 18 years or older, else skip to Q19]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
[Mark one box.]
• Never served in the military [skip to Q19]
• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard [skip to Q19]
• Now on active duty [skip to Q18]
• On active duty in the past, but not now [skip to Q18]
Q18. When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces? [Mark all that apply, even if just
for part of the time period.]
□ September 2001 or later
□ August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
□ May 1975 to July 1990
□ Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
□ February 1955 to July 1967
□ Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
□ January 1947 to June 1950
□ World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
□ November 1941 or earlier
Q19. Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or did you become a citizen of the U.S. through
naturalization?
• Yes, born in the United States
• Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
• Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
• Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
• No, not a U.S. citizen
Q20. Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
• Yes
• No
Q21. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
• Yes
• No
Q22. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
a. Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
• Yes
• No
152

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

153

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q26. What do you mean by don't know?
• You don’t understand the words
• You understand the words, but you have not figured out or are in the process of figuring out
your sexuality
• You mean something else
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q27. On your original birth certificate, was your sex assigned as male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Refused
• Don’t know
Q28a. Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender person?
• Man [if Q27 ne Male, then skip to Q28c; else, skip to SQ1]
• Woman [if Q27 ne Female, then skip to Q28c; else skip to SQ1]
• Transgender person [skip to SQ1]
• None of these [skip to Q28b]
Q28b. What is your current gender identity?
• Specify ________________________ [skip to SQ1]
• Refused [skip to SQ1]
• Don’t know [skip to SQ1]
ASK IF Q27 and Q28a DO NOT MATCH
Q28c. Just to confirm, you were assigned {INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q27} at birth and now describe
yourself as a {Q28a}. Is that correct?
• Yes
• No
• Refused
• Don’t know

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

Another question was asked “Do you currently describe yourself as a man, woman, or transgender
person?”
What if I had asked it this way: “Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?”
How would you answer this item?
Which item do you prefer?
Are both versions understood equally well?

155

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

__ YES

___ NO

b. [Has anyone] Sneaked into your home, car, or any
place else and did unwanted things to let you know they
had been there?

__ YES

___ NO

c. [Has anyone] Waited for you at your home, work, school, or
any place else when you didn’t want them to?
__ YES

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
d. Showed up, rode or drove by places where you
were when they had no business being there?

__ YES

___ NO

e. [Has anyone] Left or sent unwanted items, cards, letters,
presents, flowers, or any other unwanted items?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

[Has anyone] Harassed or repeatedly asked your friends
or family for information about you or your whereabouts?

Before continuing I have a few questions about some of the items you just answered.
INTERVIEWERS: RE-READ QUESTION TO PARTICIPANT AND MENTION THEIR ANSWER BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO PROBE.
IF “YES” TO B: What unwanted things did they do to let you know they had been there?
IF “NO” TO B: Please give me an example of an “unwanted thing” someone could do?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO B: Please tell me some places other than your home or car where someone
could do unwanted things to let you know they’d been there?
IF “YES” or “NO” TO C: Are there places other than home, work, or school where someone could
have waited for you?
156

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

IF “YES” or ”NO” TO D: What does the phrase “no business being there” mean to you in this
question? Please give me an example of a situation like that?
IF “YES” TO E: Please tell me more about the unwanted item(s) that were left or sent to you?
What’s another example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
IF “NO” to E: Please give me an example of an unwanted item that could fit here?
This is very helpful, thank you. Let’s return to the interview.
Now I want to ask about unwanted contacts or behaviors using various technologies, such as your
phone, the Internet, or social media apps. In the past 12 months, has anyone –
g. Made unwanted phone calls to you, left voice
messages, sent text messages, or used the phone
__ YES
___ NO
excessively to contact you?
h. [Has anyone] Spied on you or monitored your activities using
technologies such as a listening device, camera, or
__ YES
computer or cell phone monitoring software?

___ NO

Still thinking about unwanted contacts and behaviors, in the past 12 months, has anyone…
i.

Tracked your whereabouts with an electronic tracking
device or application, such as GPS or an application on
your cell phone?

[Has anyone] Posted or threatened to post inappropriate,
unwanted, or personal information about you on
the Internet, this includes private photographs,
videos, or spreading rumors?

k. [Has anyone] Sent unwanted e-mails or messages using
the Internet, for example, using social media apps or
websites like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?
l.

[Has anyone] Monitored your activities using social
media apps like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook?

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

__ YES

___ NO

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
H & I - INTERVIEWER NOTE: We want to make sure people who are routinely monitored by their
employer, the government, or their parents (16-17yr olds) are not going to be false positives.
Encourage them to think aloud and try to find out who is monitoring them without explicitly asking.
IF “YES” TO H: Please tell me more about that?
IF “YES” TO I: Please tell me more about that.
IF “YES” or “NO” TO I: Please give me an example of an app that can do this?
Can you give me an example of an electronic tracking device?
IF “YES” TO K: What social media apps did they use to send unwanted messages?
Can you tell me more about your experience with the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
IF “NO” TO K: What do you think “social media apps” means in this question?
IF “YES” OR “NO” TO L: What were you thinking of when I said “monitored your activities using
social media apps?”
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #1:
___ Participant answered “YES” to one or more of the above behaviors?
___ Participant did not answer “YES” to any of the above behaviors?

ASK SQ2
GO TO INTRO TEXT 3

SQ2. Has anyone done (this/any of these things) to you more than once in the past 12 months?
o Yes
GO TO SQ3
o No
GO TO CHECK ITEM 2
IF “YES” ON SQ2: What behaviors were you thinking about when you answered this question?
IF “YES” ON SQ2 AND MORE THAN ONE BEHAVIOR MARKED: Thinking of the behaviors you said yes
to, which of those unwanted contacts or behaviors happened more than once?
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2:
_____ More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
_____ Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?

ASK SQ3a
GO TO INTRO TEXT 3

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
SQ3a. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you fear for your safety or the safety of
someone close to you?
• Yes
• No
Please tell me what “fear for your safety or the safety of someone close to you” means to you in this
question?
IF “NOT YES” TO SQ3A: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
make you fear for your safety or the safety of someone close to you?
SQ3b. Did any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors cause you substantial emotional distress?
• Yes
• No
Please tell me what “substantial emotional distress” means to you in this question?
IF “ NOT YES” TO SQ3B: Could you give me an example of an unwanted contact or behavior that would
cause you substantial emotional distress?

INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #2a

_____
_____
_____

More than one behavior checked in SQ1A-K?
Only one behavior checked in SQ1A-K and “YES” to SQ2?
Otherwise

ASK SQ4
ASK SQ4

GO TO INTRO TEXT 4 ON PAGE 20

SQ5. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people…
Physically attack you?
● Yes ● No
Attempt to attack you?
● Yes ● No
Threaten to attack you?
● Yes ● No

159

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
SQ6. [Thinking about the person or persons who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors in
the past 12 months…] Did this person or these people…
Physically attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
Attempt to attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
Threaten to attack someone close to you or a pet?
● Yes ● No
SQ7. Thinking about all of the unwanted contacts or behaviors you reported experiencing, do you
know or suspect that any of these unwanted contacts or behaviors were committed by the same
person/people or by others on behalf of that person/people.
• Yes
[go to survey instructions on page 17]
• No
[go to intro 4 text on page 20]
• Don’t know
[go to survey instructions on page 17]
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
IF “YES” ON SQ7: Can you tell me more about how these behaviors were related?
If needed after previous probe: Did the same person/people do all of the behaviors or some of the
behaviors?
Can you tell me more about the timing of when these related contacts or behaviors occurred?

160

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS
See the table below for all combinations of the questions used to determine when the survey should be
ended or continued on to the questions about the incident.
Number of
Behaviors
(SQ1 a-k)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+
2+

Repetition
(SQ2)
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Actual Fear or
Emotional Distress
(SQ3a and SQ3b)
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Reasonable Fear
(Q4, Q5, Q6)
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes

161

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue
No -go to intro 4 text on page 20

Yes – continue

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

SECTION V. NCVS SVS INCIDENT QUESTIONS
Offender information
Q1. Thinking about these unwanted contacts or behaviors in the past 12 months, how many different
people have done these things to you?
• One
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Two
[ask Q2a]
• Three or more – Enter number of people. ______ [ask Q2a]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A]
Q2a. Did these people act alone or together as a team?
• Alone
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• Together
[ask Q2b]
• Don’t know
[skip to Intro Text A – SINGLE OFFENDER]
Q2b. Of the people who did these things to you, is there ONE person who you would consider to be
the MOST responsible for these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q3 – SINGLE OFFENDER]
• No
[skip to Q8a on page 20 – MULTIPLE OFFENDERS]
SINGLE OFFENDER
Intro Text A. Thinking about the person who has done this most recently, …
Q3. Is this person male or female?
• Male
• Female
• Don’t know
Q4. How old would you say this person is?
• Under 15
• 15-17
• 18-20
• 21-24
• 25-34
• 35-49
• 50-64
• 65+
• Don’t know
Q5. Is this person Hispanic or Latino/a?
• Yes
• No
• Don’t know
162

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

Q6. What race or races is this person? You may select more than one. Is this person. . .
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
Q7. What was your relationship to the person who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Spouse or partner
• Ex-spouse or ex-partner
• Parent or step-parent
• Own child or step-child
• Sibling/step-sibling
• Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offender was the respondent’s –
• Boyfriend or girlfriend
• Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• Other current romantic or sexual partner
• Other former romantic or sexual partner
• Friend or ex-friend
• Acquaintance
• In-laws or relative of spouse or ex-spouse
• Roommate, housemate, boarder
• Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
• Neighbor
• Customer/client
• Student
• Patient
• Supervisor (current or former)
• Employee (current or former)
• Co-worker (current or former)
• Teacher/school staff
• Stranger
• Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
• Unable to identify the person

[skip to Q14a on page 23]
163

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

Intro Text 4:
IF RESPONDENT IS A NON-VICTIM WHO HAS SCREENED OUT BUT IS TESTING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
HAND THEM THE VIGNETTE: “There is one last task I would like your help with. We would like to
gather more information on how the next questions work for different situations. Please take a few
minutes to read the following situation.”
AFTER THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE VIGNETTE: “Now I’d like you to pretend that you are
Maria/Mark as I ask a few questions. Please answer the questions to the best of your ability.”
MULTIPLE OFFENDERS
Q8a. Are these people male or female?
• All male
• All female
• Don’t know sex of any offenders
• Both male and female

[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[skip to Q9]
[continue to check item #3]

INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #3:
_____ ONLY 2 OFFENDERS
_____ MORE THAN 2 OFFENDERS/R IS A NON-VICTIM

SKIP TO Q9
ASK Q8B

164

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q10b. Were these people mostly Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic and
non-Hispanic?
• Mostly Hispanic or Latino/a
• Mostly non-Hispanic
• Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
• Don’t know
Q11a. What race or races are these people? Were they…
[Select one or more.]
□ White?
□ Black or African American?
□ American Indian or Alaska Native?
□ Asian?
□ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
□ Don’t know
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4:
_____ More than one box marked in Q11A
_____ Only one box marked Q11A

ASK Q11B
SKIP TO Q12

165

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q12. What was your relationship to the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors
when they first began?
[Mark all that apply.]
[Instruction: Record the relationship at the time the unwanted contacts or behaviors began and not at
the time of this interview.]
RELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Spouse or partner
□ Ex-spouse or ex-partner
□ Parent or step-parent
□ Own child or step-child
□ Sibling/step-sibling
□ Other relative – Specify ______________
NONRELATIVE – offenders were the respondent’s –
□ Boyfriend or girlfriend
□ Ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
□ Other current romantic or sexual partner
□ Other former romantic or sexual partner
□ Friend or ex-friend of the respondent
□ Acquaintance
□ In-laws or relative of one of the offenders
□ Friends of one of the offenders
□ Roommate, housemate, boarder
□ Schoolmate
IF MENTIONED: PROBE TO SEE IF FROM SAME/DIFFERENT SCHOOL
□ Neighbor
□ Customer/client
□ Student
□ Patient
□ Supervisor (current or former)
□ Employee (current or former)
□ Co-worker (current or former)
□ Teacher/school staff
□ Stranger
□ Other nonrelative – Specify _____________
□ Unable to identify the person
Q13. How do the people who committed these unwanted contacts or behaviors know each other?
Are they…
[Mark all that apply]
• Friends?
• Classmates or peers ?
• Co-workers?
• In-laws or family members?
• Members of a Fraternity or Sorority?
• Members of a gang or other organized crime group?
• Or do they know each other in some other way? – specify _____________
166

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #4a:
_____ Respondent is a victim
_____ Respondent is a non-victim

ASK Q14a
END INTERVIEW, READ TEXT BELOW

“This ends the survey portion of the interview. I have a few more questions for you before we finish
today.” Interviewer, proceed to debriefing questions at the end of the protocol.
Duration of stalking
Q14a. How long have these unwanted contacts or behaviors been happening to you?
• Less than one month
• One month to less than six months
• Six months to less than one year
• One year to less than two years
• Two years to less than three years
• Three years to less than five years
• Five years or more
• Don’t know
When did you first find out these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Q14b. How did you find out that these unwanted contacts or behaviors were happening to you?
• The offender told me
• Someone else told me
• I figured it out on my own
• Don’t know, don’t remember
Frequency of stalking
Q15. In the past 12 months, how many times would you say the unwanted contacts or behaviors
occurred? Would you say…
• Two to ten times
• Eleven to fifty times
• More than fifty times
• Too many times to count
• Don’t know, don’t remember
How did you come up with that estimate?
Was it easy or difficult for you to come up with that estimate? What made it [easy/difficult]?
IF R EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE STALKING BEHAVIOR:
Which contacts or behaviors were you thinking about when you were answering that question?

167

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
[Interviewer note: Remember to note respondents’ verbatim answer before converting it to a
number for the year. We are interested in whether or not it is difficult to record the respondents’
answers as a single number for the year. Please include a comment in the summary of any issues
that arise with this question.]
Motive for stalking
Q16. Why do you think (this person/these people) started doing these things to you?
Was it because…?
They wanted retaliation or revenge?
● Yes ● No
They wanted affection?
● Yes ● No
They felt rejected?
● Yes ● No
They were obsessed with you?
● Yes ● No
They planned to commit a crime?
● Yes ● No
They had already committed a crime?
● Yes ● No
They wanted power and control?
● Yes ● No
They felt like they could do these things to you?
● Yes ● No
Any other reason?
● Yes ● No
– Specify ________________________
Don’t know
Reasonable fear follow-up
CHECK ITEM #5: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ5
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q17A
SKIP TO Q18A
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6

168

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
INTERVIEWER CHECK ITEM #5a:
_____ R answered yes to “With a weapon or other object”
ASK Q17B
_____ R answered “no” to “with a weapon or other object”
and “yes, threaten to attack” in SQ5
SKIP TO Q18a
_____ Otherwise
SKIP TO CHECK ITEM 6
Q17b. What was the weapon or object? Was there any other weapon or object used?
[Mark all that apply.]
□ Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
□ Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
ASK Q18a if R answered
□ Knife
“yes, threaten to attack”
□ Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
in SQ5, ELSE SKIP TO
□ Blunt object (rock, club, bat, etc.)
CHECK ITEM 6
□ Other – Specify __________________________
[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ5]
Q18a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to attack you. Did they
threaten…?
To hit, slap, push, or knock you down?
● Yes ● No
To choke or strangle you?
● Yes ● No
To rape or sexually assault you?
● Yes ● No
To harm you with a weapon or other object? [if “YES” ask Q18b]
● Yes ● No
To hit, chase, or drag you with a vehicle?
● Yes ● No
To kill you?
● Yes ● No
Or did they threaten you in some other way?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
□
□

Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
Other Specify ____________________________________

CHECK ITEM #6: RECORD ANSWER TO SQ6
___ Yes, physically attack AND/OR Yes, attempt to attack
___ Yes, threaten to attack ONLY
___ No

ASK Q19A
SKIP TO Q19B
SKIP TO Q20

Q19a. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people physically attacked or attempted to attack
someone close to you or a pet. Who did they physically attack or attempt to attack?
A child?
● Yes ● No
A spouse or partner?
● Yes ● No
ASK Q19b if R answered
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
● Yes ● No
“yes, threaten to attack” in
Another family member?
● Yes ● No
SQ6, ELSE SKIP TO Q20
A friend or co-worker?
● Yes ● No
A pet or companion animal?
● Yes ● No
Someone else?
● Yes ● No
Specify ___________________________________
[Interviewer note: Please note if the respondent immediately responds with the person they attacked before
you read the options. Please be sure to read all options even if they provide an immediate answer.]
[universe is those who answered “yes, threaten to attack” on SQ6]
Q19b. Earlier you indicated that this person/these people threatened to physically attack someone
close to you or a pet. Who did they threaten?
A child?
● Yes ● No
A spouse or partner?
● Yes ● No
A boyfriend or girlfriend?
● Yes ● No
Another family member?
● Yes ● No
A friend or co-worker?
● Yes ● No
A pet or companion animal?
● Yes ● No
Himself/herself (offender)?
● Yes ● No
Someone else?
● Yes ● No
Specify _______________________________
[Interviewer note: Please note if the respondent immediately responds with the person they threatened to
attack before you read the options. Please be sure to read all options even if they provide an immediate
answer.]

Help-seeking
Q20. During the past 12 months did you or someone else call or contact the police to report any of
these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
[skip to Q22 on page 28]
• No
[ask Q21]

170

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q21. What was the reason the unwanted contacts or behaviors were not reported to the police?
[INTERVIEWER: READ STRUCTURED PROBE BELOW AND MARK ANSWERS THAT APPLY]
STRUCTURED PROBE –
Was the reason because you dealt with it another way, it wasn’t important enough to you, police
wouldn’t do anything, police wouldn’t help, you fear the person, or was there some other reason?
Dealt with it another way
□ Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, employer, hospital official, school official,
military official, etc.)
□ Private or personal matter (handled myself or family member or friend handled it)
□ Told other non-officials (parents, friends, other family members, etc.)
Not important enough to respondent
□ Too minor, not a police matter, not serious enough
□ Not clear it was a crime
□ Not sure that harm was intended
Police wouldn’t do anything
□ Didn’t think the police would be able to stop behaviors
□ Could not find or identify offender
□ Had no legal authority/wrong jurisdiction
□ Lacked or had incorrect restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Not enough evidence/lack of proof
Police wouldn’t help
□ Police wouldn’t believe respondent
□ Police would think it was respondent’s fault
□ Police didn’t think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
□ Offender was a police officer, justice officer
□ Police would be inefficient, ineffective
□ Had previous negative experience with the police
Feared offender
□ Afraid of reprisal or escalation of behavior by the offender or others
Other reasons
□ Respondent does not trust or is afraid of police
□ Respondent felt ashamed or embarrassed
□ Didn’t want offender to get in trouble with the law
□ Offender was (ex)spouse or (ex)partner
□ Respondent obtained a restraining, protection, or no-contact order instead
□ Respondent moved away
□ Offender moved away
□ For the sake of the children
□ Unwanted contacts/behaviors stopped
□ Other – specify _______________
□ Don’t know
Can you tell me more about that?
[WHEN COMPLETED WITH Q21, SKIP TO Q27 on page 29]

171

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q22. During the past 12 months, who reported (the/these) unwanted contacts or behaviors to the
police? Anyone else? [Mark all that apply.]
□ Respondent
□ Respondent’s friend
□ Neighbor
□ Respondent’s family, in-laws, spouse, parents, children, relatives
□ Respondent’s girl/boyfriend, partner
□ Doctor, nurse
□ Clergy or faith leader
□ Social worker, counselor, other mental health professional
□ School official, teacher, faculty, or staff
□ Boss, employer, co-worker
□ Stranger, bystander
□ Security guard, security department
□ Police on scene
□ Other – specify ________________________
□ Don’t know
Q23. Taking into account all of the times the police were contacted in the past 12 months regarding
these unwanted contacts or behaviors, what did the police do? Anything else? [Mark all that
apply.]
□ Took a report
□ Talked to or warned offender
□ Arrested the offender or took the offender into custody
□ Told respondent to get a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Referred respondent to a court or prosecutor’s office
SKIP TO
□ Referred respondent to services, such as victim assistance
Q25A
□ Gave advice on how to protect self
□ Took respondent to another location such as a hospital or shelter
□ Asked for more information/evidence
□ Other – specify _________________________
□ Don’t know
□ Took no action
[ ASK Q24 ]
Q24. Why do YOU think the police took no action? Any other reason? [Mark all that apply.]
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□
□

172

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

Q25a. Were criminal charges filed against the person(s) who committed these unwanted contacts or
behaviors?
• Yes
[ask Q25b]
• No
[skip to Q27]
• Don’t know
[skip to Q27]
Q25b.
•
•
•
•

What were the criminal charges filed?
Stalking
Something else – Specify _______________________
Both, stalking and something else – Specify [other charge] ______________________
Don’t know

Yes
No
Don’t know

[ask Q28a]
[skip to Q29]
[skip to Q29]

IF “YES” OR “NO” OR “DON’T KNOW”: Can you think of some examples of offices or agencies that
deal with victims of crime?

173

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q28a. Did you receive any services or assistance from this or these offices or agencies?
o Yes
[ask Q28b]
o No
[skip to Q28c]
o Don’t know
[skip to Q29]
Q28b. What type of services did you receive?
Crisis hotline counseling?
Counseling or therapy?
Legal or court services?
Assistance getting a restraining, protection, or no-contact order?
Federal or state victim compensation?
Short term or emergency financial assistance?
Shelter or safehouse services?
Safety planning?
Risk or threat assessment?
Medical advocacy?
Any other services? – specify __________________

● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes
● Yes

● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No
● No

CHECK ITEM 7
___ Answered “No” on Q28a
___ Answered “Yes” on Q28a

ASK Q28C
SKIP TO Q29

174

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q28c. You reported that you sought services from an office or agency that assists victims of crime, but
did not receive them. Why did you not receive these services? Was it because…
Any other reason?
Services were not available in your local area?
● Yes ● No
You did not have a means of transportation to and from the service provider?
● Yes ● No
You did not have childcare to go to seek services?
● Yes ● No
The service provider could not accommodate you (e.g. no beds available in shelter)?
● Yes ● No
You were unable to take time off of work or school to seek services?
● Yes ● No
There were language barriers?
● Yes ● No
You were not eligible for services?
● Yes ● No
Some other reason?
● Yes ● No – Specify ________________
Self-protective actions
Q29. There are things that people might try to do to protect themselves or stop the unwanted
contacts or behaviors from continuing. In the past 12 months, have you done any of the
following because of the unwanted contacts or behaviors. Have you…
•

Changed your day-to-day activities?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which activities they changed and mark all that apply below.]
o No
□
Take time off from work or school?
□
Change or quit a job or school?
□
Change the way (route or method of transportation) you went to work or school?
□
Avoid relatives, friends, or holiday celebrations?
□
Change your usual activities outside of work or school?
□
Stay with friends or relatives or had them stay with you?
□
Move or change where you live?
□
Alter your appearance to be unrecognizable?
If no: What type of “day-to-day” activities were you thinking of when answering this question?

175

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
•

Taken self-defensive actions or other security measures?
o Yes
[If yes, ask R which self-defensive actions they took and mark all that apply
below.]
o No
□
Take self-defense or martial arts classes?
□
Get pepper spray?
□
Get a gun?
□
Get any other kind of weapon?
□
Change or install new locks or a security system?
□
Block unwanted calls, messages, or other communications?
□
If no: What do you think “self-defense actions” means in this question?
If no: What would be an example of an “other security measure”?
•

176

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q31. Are the unwanted contacts or behaviors still going on?
• Yes
[skip to Cost to Victim intro]
• No
[ask Q32]
• Don’t know
[skip to Cost to Victim intro]
Q32. Why do you think the unwanted contacts or behaviors stopped? Anything else?
[Mark all that apply.]
Respondent took measures
□ Got a restraining, protection, or no-contact order
□ Moved
□ Changed phone number, e-mail account, or social media account
□ Got a new phone or computer
□ Talked to the offender
□ Got married or started a new relationship with someone else
Offender stopped (because he/she…)
□ Was arrested
□ Was incarcerated
□ Started a new relationship with someone else
□ Moved
□ Died
□ Got help/counseling
Others intervened
□ Police intervened
□ Friend or relative intervened
□ Employer intervened
□ School official, faculty, or staff intervened
□ Clergy or faith leader intervened
□ Others – Specify ____________________
Other reason
□ Don’t know why it stopped
□ Other – Specify _____________________
Cost to victim
These unwanted contacts or behaviors may affect people in different ways. Next I would like to ask
you some questions about how these unwanted contacts or behaviors may have affected you.
Q33. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with your job or schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school or does not have a job
If “No” – What are some examples of “significant problems” with job, school, or coworkers?

177

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q34. Did experiencing these unwanted contacts or behaviors lead you to have significant problems
with family members or friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did
before, not feeling you could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
• Yes
• No
In your own words, can you tell me what this question is asking?
Q35. How distressing were these unwanted contacts or behaviors to you? Were they not at all
distressing, mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
• Not at all distressing
• Mildly distressing
• Moderately distressing
• Severely distressing
How did you come up with your answer to this question?
What do you think “distressing” means in this question? Can you give me other similar words?
Q36a. Considering all of these unwanted contacts or behaviors that have occurred over the past year,
did you feel…
Fearful or terrified?
● Yes ● No
Worried or anxious?
● Yes ● No
Angry or annoyed?
● Yes ● No
Sad or depressed?
● Yes ● No
Vulnerable or helpless?
● Yes ● No
In what way?
skip to
Like you couldn’t trust people?
● Yes ● No
Q37
Sick?
● Yes ● No
In what way?
Stressed?
● Yes ● No
Unsafe?
● Yes ● No
Suicidal?
● Yes ● No
Or did you feel some other way?
● Yes ● No [If yes, ask Q36b]
IF R ANSWERED “NO” TO “OR DID YOU FEEL SOME OTHER WAY” ASK: Were you experiencing any
of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?
Q36b. What other way did these unwanted contacts or behaviors make you feel?
Specify __________________________
Were you experiencing any of these feelings before the unwanted contacts started?
Are there any feelings missing from this list?

178

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q37. What were you afraid of happening as these unwanted contacts or behaviors were occurring?
Were you afraid of…
Being killed?
● Yes ● No
Physical or bodily harm?
● Yes ● No
Someone close to you being harmed?
● Yes ● No
Losing your job or job opportunities?
● Yes ● No
Losing your freedom?
● Yes ● No
Losing your social network, peers, or friends?
● Yes ● No
The behaviors never stopping?
● Yes ● No
Not knowing what might happen next?
● Yes ● No
Losing your mind?
● Yes ● No
Anything else – specify ___________________
● Yes ● No
Don’t know
If more than one category selected: Which of these were you most afraid of happening?
Q38. During the past 12 months, have you been fired from or asked to leave a job because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Q39. During the past 12 months, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment
insurance, paid leave, or some other source because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not have a job
Did you experience any other financial costs due to the unwanted contacts and behaviors?
Q40. During the past 12 months, have you been suspended or expelled from school because of these
unwanted contacts or behaviors?
• Yes
• No
• N/A, does not attend school

179

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5
Q41. Did you lose any time from work or school because of these unwanted contacts or behaviors for
such things as –
Fear or concern for your safety?
● Yes ● No
Police-related activities?
What do you consider as police-related activities?
● Yes ● No
Court-related activities (i.e. getting a restraining/protection order or testifying)?
● Yes ● No
Changing your phone number or personal information?
● Yes ● No
Moving?
● Yes ● No
Fixing or replacing damaged property?
● Yes ● No
Anything else
● Yes ● No – Specify _____________
None (did not lose time from work or school for any of these reasons)
N/A, does not attend school AND does not have a job
What does personal information mean to you in this question?

180

NCVS SVS PROTOCOL: ROUND 5

SECTION VI. DEBRIEFING QUESTIONS
ASK OF VICTIMS:
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

Have you ever answered survey questions about your experiences with unwanted contacts or
behaviors in the past? If yes, what was the survey? What was the experience like for you?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

•

Do you believe the repeated unwanted contacts or behaviors were stalking?

ASK OF NON VICTIMS
• Overall, what did you think of this interview? Was it easy or difficult?
•

(IF R REPORTED UNWANTED CONTACTS OR BEHAVIORS (IN SQ1a-k) BUT DIDN’T SCREEN IN)
Do you believe the unwanted contacts or behaviors you experienced were stalking?

•

Have you experienced any type of unwanted contacts or behaviors that we did not ask about?
Can you tell me more about them?

ASK OF ALL
•

What does stalking mean to you?

•

Were there any questions you think some people might find difficult to answer?

•

Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention
yet?

181

File Type	application/pdf
Author	Truman, Jennifer
File Modified	2016-04-06
File Created	2016-04-05