Testing of Proposed Revisions to the Identity Theft Supplement for the NCVS

Appendix 2: Cognitive Interviews - Recruitment Web Screener

Identity Theft Supplement (ITS)

INTRO1

Thank you for your interest in participating in our study. RTI International is working with the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) on a survey about experiences with identity theft. We are interested in meeting with people who can help us review and improve a survey instrument that is designed to measure the different types of identity theft. We are looking for people who are willing to participate in private, one-on-one interviews using videoconferencing technology to test some new questions we have developed for this survey. Our goal is to learn whether the questions are understood and can be answered by most people. This information will be used to finalize survey questions for a national study taking place in 2021.

If you meet the selection criteria, you will be emailed by a researcher from RTI to see if you want to set up an appointment for a 30-minute interview. You would be one of about 30 participants who will help test this survey. People who complete the interview will be given a $20 Amazon.com gift card to compensate for the costs associated with data and internet usage.

First, we need to ask a few questions to determine your eligibility and your ability to participate in the interview:

1. Do you currently live in the United States?

   1. Yes

   2. No  INELIGIBLE

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

Q2. Which of the following age groups includes your age?

1 Under 18  INELIGIBLE

2 18-25

3 26-34

4 35-49

5 50 or Older

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

Q3. Are you or any of your family members an employee of RTI International?

1 Yes  INELIGIBLE

2 No

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

Q4. Do you have a private and safe area of your home where you could complete a 30-minute interview out of earshot of other people and without interruption?

1. Yes

2. No  INELIGIBLE

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

Q5. Do you have a device with audio and video capabilities that you could use to complete the interview? This could be a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

1. Yes

2. No  INELIGIBLE

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

Q6. Do you have WiFi or internet service at your home with enough available data to participate in a 30-minute video interview?

1. Yes

2. No  INELIGIBLE

INELIGIBLE. I’m sorry but based on your response you are not eligible to participate in this study. Thank you for your interest.

[Programmer: END SURVEY]

INTRO2

Next, we have a couple of questions about experiences you may have had with identity theft. Identity theft means someone else using your personal information without your permission to buy something, get cash or services, pay bills, or avoid the law. We will not ask you for any specific account information.

Q7. During the past 12 months, that is, since [AUTOFILL DATE A YEAR AGO FROM SURVEY DATE], has someone, without your permission used your existing checking, savings, or credit card account?

1. Yes

2. No

Q8. During the past 12 months, has someone misused another type of existing account such as your telephone, cable, gas or electric accounts, online payment account like Paypal, insurance policies, entertainment account like ITunes, or something else?

1. Yes

2. No

Q9. During the past 12 months, that is from [AUTOFILL DATE 1st OF MONTH 1 YEAR PRIOR] until today, has someone, without your permission, used your personal information to open any NEW accounts such as wireless telephone accounts, credit card accounts, loans, bank accounts, online payment accounts, or something else?

1. Yes

2. No

Q10. During the past 12 months, has someone used your personal information for some other fraudulent purpose, such as filing a fraudulent tax return, getting medical care, applying for a job or government benefits; giving your information to the police when they were charged with a crime or traffic violation, or something else?

1. Yes

2. No

Q11. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

1 Less than High School diploma

2 High School Graduate/GED

3 Some College

4 College Graduate

5 Post-Graduate degree

Q12. What is your gender?

1 Male

2 Female

3 Transgender

4 None of these

Q13. Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?

1 Yes

2. No

Q14. Please choose one or more races that you consider yourself to be.

1 White

2 Black or African American

3 American Indian or Alaskan Native

4 Asian

5 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

6 Other (specify ____________________ )

FINAL. Thank you for your responses! If you would like to be contacted to conduct a 30-minute interview on your experiences and receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card, please use the link below:

[LINK TO NEW SURVEY]

Please enter the number below into the HIT to receive payment after you submit this survey.

[RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR]

NEW SURVEY.

Thank you for your interest in RTI’s study on experiences with identity theft! If you are eligible, someone will email you to set up a videoconferencing interview in the next couple of days. Please provide your contact information below.

First name______________________

Email __________________________

Phone __________________________

Thank you!