WESTAT
Gainful Employment, u.s. department of education
SCREENER FOR CURRENT STUDENT FOCUS GROUP
(MD/DC METRO AREA)
Revised October 10, 2016
Screener for 2-hour focus group with first-generation (i.e., first in family to attend college), low-to-moderate income students enrolled in a career, training, or vocational program at a for-profit or public institution of higher education
INTRODUCTION FOR SHUGOLL, THE RECRUITMENT FIRM:
Westat, a social science research company in Rockville, MD, is working with the U.S. Department of Education on a project to ensure schools are providing students with important information about their career training and vocational programs. Westat will conduct a focus group with college students enrolled in these programs to see how students respond to information about these programs that will be posted on institutions’ websites. Students will be asked questions about this information and how it is displayed.
Respondents should know that participation in the focus group is important but voluntary and the information collected will be held confidential in that we will not include a respondent’s name or the name of their school in the study report.
If eligible, the Student will be invited to participate in a focus group to be held at Westat in Rockville, MD on date [TBD] at 5:30pm. We are offering a $75 incentive for participation.
Requirements to participate:
Ages 19-43 (We’d like a mix of 19 - 30 year olds and 31 - 43 year olds)
Hold a high school diploma or GED
Enrolled in a pre-baccalaureate career, training, or vocational program in a for-profit or public institution of higher education in the DC metropolitan area (see Westat list)
First-generation college student (i.e., parents did not attend or graduate from college)
Not earned a bachelor’s degree or beyond (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., J.D., M.D., etc.)
Low-moderate income
Questions Shugoll should use to ensure that the participant is eligible for the focus group:
How old are you? _______________
Under 19 years old………………………………….......................1 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
19 – 35 years old…………………………………………………..2 [CONTINUE]
31 – 43 year old ……...……………………………………… 3 [CONTINUE]
Older than 43………...……………………………………… 4 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
[NOTE: ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SIGN PERMISSION FORM AND BRING PHOTO ID TO DISCUSSION GROUP TO VERIFY AGE. IF THEY DO NOT BRING A PHOTO ID, THEY CANNOT PARTICIPATE]
Do you have a high school diploma or have you earned a GED?
Yes, high school diploma….……………………………………… 1 [CONTINUE]
Yes, earned a GED………………………………..……………… 2 [CONTINUE]
No high school diploma or GED ………………………………… 3 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
Have either one of your parents attended or graduated from a 2-year or 4-year college?
Yes ….………………………………………………………… 1 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
No ….………………………………………………………… 2 [CONTINUE]
Don’t Know ….………………………………………………… 3 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
What is the name of the school that you currently attend? (Refer to list of institutions that meet this criteria)
_______________________________________ [IF ON LIST, CONTINUE; IF NOT, TERMINATE
SCREENER]
In which of the following programs are you currently enrolled?
1-year vocational or career program leading to certificate………………...............................1 [CONTINUE]
2-year vocational or career program leading to certificate………………...............................2 [CONTINUE]
More than 2-year vocational or career program leading to a certificate…………………....3 [CONTINUE]
Software or hardware certification program (e.g., Microsoft, HP repair)…..4 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
Not enrolled in a certificate program, or don’t know ……………………...5 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
In what type of career or training program are you currently enrolled?
[EXAMPLES TO GIVE TO IF FOR-PROFIT SCHOOL: e.g., cosmetology, computer technology, nursing aide, etc.]
[EXAMPLES TO GIVE IF COMMUNITY COLLEGE: e.g., medical assistant, automotive specialist, computer technician, dental assistant, paralegal, etc.]
Program type: _____________________________________
6. Have you ever taken college-level courses at any other schools besides the one you currently attend?
Yes……………………………………… …. 1 [CONTINUE TO Q7]
No……………………………………..... …. 2 [SKIP TO Q8]
7. Did you earn a college degree or certificate from your previous education experience?
Yes……………………………………… 1 [TERMINATE SCREENER]
No………………………………………. 2 [SKIP TO Q8]
8. How many people currently live in your household, including you, your spouse, your children and/or parents, brothers or sisters who do not live at home year-round, extended family, and others living in and contributing to the household?
Number of people _____________________________
9. Which of the following best describes your current annual household income?
Annual Household Income Level (circle response) |
Number of people currently living in household (as listed in #8 above) (circle response) |
ACTION |
Less than $45,000 annually |
CONTINUE |
|
$45,001 to $75,000 annually |
1 |
TERMINATE |
2 to 3 people |
CONTINUE |
|
$75,001 to $95,000 annually |
1 to 3 people |
TERMINATE |
4 or more people |
CONTINUE |
|
$95,001 to 105,000 annually |
1 to 4 people |
TERMINATE |
5 or more people |
CONTINUE |
|
Over $105,000 |
TERMINATE |
|
10. How many total credits OR contact hours have you completed at your current school?
________ Credits……………………………………. 1 [CONTINUE]
________ Contact hours…………………………….. 2 [CONTINUE]
11. Are you enrolled full time or part time at your current school?
Full time …………………………………………………..1 [CONTINUE]
Part time …………………………………………………..2 [CONTINUE]
12. Do you have student loans?
Yes …………………………………………………….…...1 [CONTINUE]
No …………………………………………………………2 [CONTINUE]
13. Are you employed?
Full time………………….…………………………..................................1 [CONTINUE]
Part time……………………………………………….….........................2 [CONTINUE]
Not currently employed…………………………………………………3 [SKIP TO Q15]
14. Do you work in a job related to the certificate program in which you are currently enrolled?
Yes, working in a job related to certificate program……………………..1 [CONTINUE]
No, not working in a job related to the certificate program……………..2 [CONTINUE]
15. Are you Hispanic or non-Hispanic? [OPTIONAL, BUT THE DEPT. OF ED WANTS A DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOCUS GROUP]
(Circle 1)
Hispanic or Latino………………….…………………………………1 [CONTINUE]
Not Hispanic or Latino ……………………………………………….2 [CONTINUE]
16. How would you describe your race? [OPTIONAL, BUT THE DEPT. OF ED WANTS A DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOCUS GROUP]
(Circle all categories mentioned. Respondents may choose multiple categories.)
White ………………….……………………………………………..1 [CONTINUE]
Black or African American ………………….…………………..… …2 [CONTINUE]
Asian ………………….……………………………………………...3 [CONTINUE]
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander………………………… …4 [CONTINUE]
American Indian or Alaska Native ………………………………....…5 [CONTINUE]
IF GENDER NOT APPARENT BY NAME OR VOICE OF RESPONDENT, ASK THIS QUESTION:
17. Please confirm your gender as:
Female……………………………………………………………… 1
Male………………………………………………………………… 2
If respondent has any questions, they may contact:
Molly Hershey-Arista at 301-610-4908 (Westat)
Amy E. Wilson at 202-453-7003 (U.S. Department of Education)
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | WESTAT |
| Author | Angela Riggs |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-23 |