2017 NSCG Data Collection Pathway

APPENDIX G

2017 NSCG
Data Collection Pathway

Table G.1. 2017 NSCG New Sample Data Collection Methodology
Web First Pathway
(DEFAULT)

Data Collection
Phase
Week 0
Prenotice letter (NSCG-PNW0)
Invitation
Phase
(Weeks 1-4)

Week 1
Web invite letter (NSCG-WN1)
Week 2
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Reminder
Phase
(Weeks 5-7)

Week 5
MANILA ENVELOPE Web invite letter (NSCG-W5)
Week 6
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Week 8
Web/Mail invite letter and questionnaire (NSCG-MW8)
Additional
Mode
Phase
(Weeks 8-11)

Week 9
Reminder postcard (NSCG-RP)
Week 10
Automated phone call

Week 12
Web/Telephone Invite Letter (NSCG-TW12)
Telephone
Follow-up
Phase
(Weeks 12-22)

Week 12 – Week 22
Telephone calls
Week 13
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)
Week 18
PRIORITY Web invite letter and questionnaire (NSCG-MW18)

Final
Contact Phase
(Weeks 23-26)

Week 23
Web invite letter (NSCG-W23)
Week 24
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Note:
(1) Incentivized cases will receive slight variations of the weeks 1 and 2 letters that include wording regarding the debit card incentive. The
incentivized cases will receive the NSCG-IWN1 letter at week 1 and the NSCG-RLY letter at week two.
(2) The Contact Strategy Experiment treatment cases will receive a different set of contacts throughout the data collection period.
(3) Depending on the results of the Contact Strategy Experiment, respondents may receive a post-survey mailing that thanks them for their
participation and highlights the importance of the NSCG data.

Table G.2. 2017 NSCG Returning Sample Data Collection Methodology
Data Collection
Phase

Invitation Phase
(Weeks 1-4)

Web First Pathway
(DEFAULT)

Mail First
Pathway

Week 0
Prenotice letter (NSCG-POW0)

Week 0
Prenotice letter (NSCG-POW0)

Week 1
Web invite letter (NSCG-WO1)

Week 1
Web/Mail invite letter and
questionnaire (NSCG-MWO1)

Week 2
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Week 2
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

CATI First
Pathway

Week 1
Web/Telephone invite letter
(NSCG-TWO1)
Week 2
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)
Week 2.5
Automated phone call

Reminder Phase
(Weeks 5-7)

Additional
Mode
Phase
(Weeks 8-11)

Week 5
MANILA ENVELOPE Web
invite letter (NSCG-W5)

Week 5
MANILA ENVELOPE Web
invite letter (NSCG-W5)

Week 6
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Week 6
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Week 8
Web/Mail invite letter and
questionnaire (NSCG-MW8)

Week 8
Web/Mail invite letter and
questionnaire (NSCG-MW8)

Week 8
Web/Mail invite letter and
questionnaire (NSCG-MW8)

Week 9
Reminder postcard (NSCG-RP)

Week 9
Reminder postcard (NSCG-RP)

Week 9
Reminder postcard (NSCG-RP)

Week 10
Automated phone call

Week 10
Automated phone call

Week 10
Email reminder

Weeks 3-7
Telephone calls

Week 12
Web/Telephone invite letter (NSCG-TW12)
Week 12 – Week 22
Telephone calls
Telephone
Follow-up
Phase
(Weeks 12-22)

Week 16
Reminder email or Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)
Week 18
PRIORITY Web invite letter (NSCG-W18) or Web invite letter and
questionnaire (NSCG-MW18)
Week 20
Reminder email or Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Final
Contact Phase
(Weeks 23-26)

Week 23
Web invite letter (NSCG-W23)
Week 24
Reminder letter (NSCG-RLN)

Notes:
(1) Incentivized cases will receive slight variations of the weeks 1 and 2 letters that include wording regarding the debit card incentive. The
incentivized cases will receive the NSCG-IWO1, NSCG-IMW01, or NSCG-ITW01 letter at week 1 and the NSCG-RLY letter at week two.
(2) Returning sample cases without email addresses will postal contacts at weeks 16 and 20.
(3) At week 18, previous cycle respondents will receive the web invite letter (NSCG-W18) and previous cycle nonrespondents will receive the
web invite letter and questionnaire (NSCG-MW18).
(4) The Contact Strategy Experiment treatment cases will receive a different set of contacts throughout the data collection period.
(5) Depending on the results of the Contact Strategy Experiment, respondents may receive a post-survey mailing that thanks them for their
participation and highlights the importance of the NSCG data.