Field Testing Methodology

PRAMS Field Testing Methodology

Justification

Cognitive testing for newly developed questions for emerging supplements, call back surveys, the core questionnaire and standard modules are conducted OMB #0920-0222 (exp. 08/31/2021). In order to further ensure that newly developed questions are understood by new mothers PRAMS conducts field-testing of these questions. We will ask a convenience sample of new mothers to review and answer the questions in order to assess comprehension, appropriateness of response options, and overall quality of the question in terms of capturing the desired information (Attachment 18).

Summary of PRAMS Field Testing Activity

CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) project collects information on maternal behaviors and experiences before, during and after pregnancy by sending a survey to mothers who recently gave birth to a live infant, or by interviewing them by phone.

To field test the new and modified questions that have completed cognitive testing, PRAMS recruits mothers with infants who are about 1 year old or less to answer a short survey, and provide us with their feedback on the quality of our questions. We obtain the permission from the directors of relevant Health Department Clinics and pediatrician’s offices to recruit women in their office waiting rooms to complete the survey.

CDC PRAMS staff approach women who are waiting for appointments in the clinic setting. Each woman will be read a consent script that specifies that her participation is voluntary, no identifying information will be collected, and no information will be shared outside the PRAMS questionnaire group. She will also be informed that her participation will not affect any of the services at the clinic or office, nor will it change her place in line. After answering the questions, PRAMS staff will debrief with each woman asking her opinion of the questions. The process will take approximately 20 minutes per interview. Women will receive a small gift of minimal cash value for participating. Gifts are typically incentives left over from regular PRAMS data collection activities.

We will offer women a self-administered version of the survey, or will administer the questions to her in an interview format. Four different versions of the questionnaire will be randomly distributed to participants in English and Spanish (mail and phone versions of new questions being tested in each language). We plan to do a preliminary round of testing, and a round of repeat testing based on results over the course of approximately 2 months in clinics in Atlanta, Georgia and possibly additional sites coordinated by state PRAMS staff. We anticipate a total sample of about 50 women per testing cycle (plan for approximately 3 per year).