2021 National Survey of College Graduates

APPENDIX E

Proposed Pandemic-related Changes

for the 2021 NSCG Questionnaire

and

Draft Questionnaire

for New Sample Members

Proposed Changes for the 2021 NSCG Questionnaire in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Items with Modified Response Options

1. Reasons for not working (item A3 in the new sample member mail questionnaire)

   1. Two response options (“on layoff from a job” and “family responsibilities”) will be split into two versions (due to the coronavirus pandemic or not), as shown below in bold.

During the week of February 1, 2021, what were your reasons for not working?

Select Yes or No for each item.

1. Retired

2. On layoff from a job due to the coronavirus pandemic

3. On layoff from a job for reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

4. Student

5. Family responsibilities due to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., childcare, eldercare)

6. Family responsibilities unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

7. Chronic illness or permanent disability

8. Suitable job not available

9. Did not need or want to work

10. Other reason, specify ________________

2. Reasons for working fewer than 35 hours (item A34 in the new sample member mail questionnaire)

   1. Two response options (“family responsibilities” and “full-time job not available”) will be split into two versions (due to the coronavirus pandemic or not), and

   2. Two new response options will be added (“hours or work reduced” due to the coronavirus pandemic or not), as shown below in bold.

Why did you usually work fewer than 35 hours?

Select Yes or No for each item.

1. Previously retired or semi-retired

2. Student

3. Family responsibilities due to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., childcare, eldercare)

4. Family responsibilities unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

5. Full-time job not available due to the coronavirus pandemic

6. Full-time job not available unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

7. Hours or work reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic

8. Hours or work reduced unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

9. Held more than one job

10. Did not need or want to work more hours

11. Other reason, specify _________________

3. Available job benefits (item A35 in the new sample member mail questionnaire)

   1. One response option will be added (“New or additional paid leave due to the coronavirus pandemic”), and

   2. One response option will be revised (“Paid vacation, sick, or personal days unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic”), as shown below in bold.

Thinking of your principal job during the week of February 1, 2021, which of the following benefits were available to you even if you chose not to take them?”

Select Yes or No for each item.

1. Health insurance that was at least partially paid by your employer

2. A pension plan or a retirement plan to which your employer contributed

3. A profit-sharing plan

4. New or additional paid leave due to the coronavirus pandemic

5. Paid vacation, sick, or personal days unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic

4. Reasons for changing employer or job (item B3 in the new sample member mail questionnaire)

   1. Two response options (“family-related reasons” and “laid off or job terminated”) will be split into two versions (coronavirus pandemic or not), as shown below in bold.

Why did you change your employer or your job between the week of February 1, 2019, and the week of February 1, 2021?

Select Yes or No for each item.

1. Pay, promotion opportunities

2. Working conditions (e.g., hours, equipment, working environment)

3. Job location

4. Change in career or professional interests

5. Family-related reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., childcare, eldercare)

6. Family-related reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., children, spouse’s job moved)

7. School-related reasons (e.g., returned to school, completed a degree)

8. Laid off or job terminated due to the coronavirus pandemic

9. Laid off or job terminated for reasons other than the coronavirus pandemic (includes company closings, mergers, buyouts, grant or contract ended)

10. Retired

11. Some other reason, specify ___________________

5. Conference attendance (item C4 in the new sample member mail questionnaire)

   1. The wording of the “Yes” response option will be revised from “Yes” to “Yes, I attended in person or virtually (i.e., online or by remote access),” as shown below in bold.

During the past 12 months, did you attend any professional conferences or professional society or association meetings

Include regional, national, or international meetings.

• Yes, I attended in person or virtually (i.e., online or by remote access)

• No

New Items

1. Follow-up questions regarding SALARY (original question will remain unchanged)

[Original Question] As of the week of February 1, 2021, what was your basic annual salary on your principal job, before deductions?
Do not include bonuses, overtime, or additional compensation for summertime teaching or research.
If you are not salaried, please estimate your earned income, excluding business expenses.

$______________.00

Follow-up Questions:

1. For the principal job you held during the week of February 1, 2021, has your basic annual salary been affected at any time by the coronavirus pandemic?

• Yes

• No  SKIP to question e

(IF “Yes”)

2. Did the salary you provided above reflect the effects of the coronavirus pandemic?

• Yes, the salary I provided reflects changes due to the coronavirus pandemic

• No, I provided my usual salary

3. How has your basic annual salary been affected by the coronavirus pandemic?

• It was decreased temporarily but has returned to normal  SKIP to question d1

• It is currently decreased  SKIP to question d1

• It was increased temporarily but has returned to normal  SKIP to question d2

• It is currently increased  SKIP to question d2

• I did not receive an expected raise or cost of living increase  SKIP to question d1

• Other, specify ___________________________________  SKIP to question e

d1. By how much did your salary decrease due to the pandemic?

Your best estimate is fine.

It decreased by $______________.00  SKIP to question e

d2. By how much did your salary increase due to the pandemic?

Your best estimate is fine.

It increased by $______________.00

2. Follow-up questions regarding EARNED INCOME (original question will remain unchanged)

[Original Question] Counting all jobs held in 2020, what was your total earned income for 2020, before deductions?
Include all wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime, commissions, consulting fees, net income from businesses, summertime teaching or research, or other work associated with scholarships.
Do not include any Social Security, dividends, interest, pensions, gambling winnings, royalties, unemployment insurance, spouse's earnings, alimony received, or child support received.

$_______________.00

Follow-up Questions:

1. How was your total earned income for 2020 affected by the coronavirus pandemic?

• It decreased  SKIP to question b1

• It increased  SKIP to question b2

• It was not affected SKIP to question c

b1. By how much did your income for 2020 decrease due to the pandemic?

Your best estimate is fine.

It decreased by $_______________.00  SKIP to question c

b2. By how much did your income for 2020 increase due to the pandemic?

Your best estimate is fine.

It increased by $_______________.00

3. Telework

Thinking of your principal job during the week of February 1, 2021, were you allowed to telecommute or work remotely?

• Yes, allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic

• Yes, allowed regardless of the coronavirus pandemic

• No, it did not make sense for my job

• No, it was possible but not offered for my job

E-7