Change Request

No material or non-substantive change to a currently approved collection

Pilot Implementation of the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in the US

OMB control number 0920-1356

Exp. Date 12/31/2024

Justification and Explanation of Changes

7/15/2022

Overview

This is a change request for a pilot study to make minor changes to question wording and study materials based on results of cognitive interviewing phase of the project. As a condition of the original review and approval of this project, OMB requested the cognitive interviewing be expanded from 9 participants to 30 participants and that any changes resulting from the cognitive interviewing would be reviewed expeditiously by OMB to maintain the project timeline. This non-substantive change request does not include changes to the currently approved burden or costs.

This project is a pilot of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) in the United States, specifically in Baltimore and Garrett County, Maryland. Goals of the pilot test are to (1) adapt the global VACS methodology for implementation in the U.S., (2) pilot the VACS methodology in Baltimore using a representative sample of youth ages 13-24, and (3) assess the feasibility of field procedures with a sample of rural Garrett County youth ages 13-24 to evaluate the adapted methodology in a rural location. The Information Collection Review for this study (approved 12/3/2021) included a pre-test cognitive interviewing phase to evaluate the questionnaire and assess comprehension. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 30 youth in Baltimore to assess their comprehension of the data collection tools and their ability and willingness to answer the survey questions with an interviewer and through tablet-based Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview procedures. Overall, results of the cognitive interviewing indicate that youth comprehension of the study questionnaire was good. Based on participants’ feedback that some of the questions touched on sensitive topics, questions in three sections are being moved from the interviewer-administered to the Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview portion of the questionnaire (gender and sexual identity, weapon carrying and gangs, and witnessing violence), which will not involve changes to the wording of the questionnaire. Cognitive interviews resulted in recommendations to make minor wording changes to a small number of questions to improve comprehension. The present change request reflects recommendations from the cognitive interview pre-test findings (Attachment X includes the Cognitive Interview Report).

Proposed changes

1. Questionnaire changes: The proposed changes to the questionnaires will improve clarity and data accuracy and reflect direct feedback from youth participants in cognitive interview pre-testing. The proposed changes reflect minor wording adjustments or clarifications, and include:

• Changes in wording to a few questions and answer options on the female and male questionnaire (Attachment J) to improve participant comprehension and removal of one question because it was repetitive (Table 1)

2. Attachment I: Minor changes made to the screener questionnaire.

   • Addition of an answer option to the screener questionnaire (Attachment I) to include a category of “do not identify as male or female” (Table 2).

   • The cognitive testing demonstrated the challenges of scheduling interviews with our target youth demographic. As a result, we added a small section in the phone and web-screener for contact and scheduling details to allow for greater efficiency in the field.

   • Added closing language for each screener for when there are not eligible participants and when there are eligible participants (Table 2).

Table 1. Changes to the Wording of Response Options of Survey Questions (Attachment J)

Question No.	Original, OMB Approved Item	New Item (changes in red)
Q5	Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself? Lesbian or gay? Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay? Bisexual? Or something else? Gay (lesbian or gay) Straight, that is, not gay (or lesbian or gay) Bisexual Something else Don’t know Declined	Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself? Lesbian or gay? Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay? Bisexual? Or something else? Gay (lesbian or gay) Straight, that is, not gay (or lesbian or gay) Bisexual I don’t know what this question is asking I don’t know how to answer this question/I’m still figuring it out Something else Don’t know Declined
Q6	What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate? Male Female Don’t know Declined	What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate? Male Female Don’t know the answer Declined to answer
Q7	What words to you use to describe your gender identity? Male, female, non-binary, or do you use another term? 1. Male 2. Female 3. I am transgender and identify as a boy or man 4. I am transgender and identify as a girl or woman 5. I am transgender and identify in some other way 8. None of these 98. Don’t know 99. Declined	What words to you use to describe your gender identity? Male, female, non-binary, or do you use another term? 1. Male 2. Female 3. I am transgender and identify as a boy or man 4. I am transgender and identify as a girl or woman 5. I am transgender and identify in some other way 6. I don’t know what this question is asking 7. I don’t know how to answer this question/I’m still figuring it out 8. None of these 98. Don’t know 99. Declined
Q8 Remove this item as it repeats information already captured in Q7	Just to confirm, you were assigned [FILL TEXT] at birth and now you describe yourself as [FILL TEXT], is that correct?	YES NO -98. don’t know -99. DECLINED
Q101, 113, 125, 138, Change wording to clarify meaning in question	Has [perpetrator] injured you in any of these ways more than once?	Now think back about any of these incidents when [perpetrator] was violent to you. Did this happen once or more than once?
Q313, 320 Change wording to clarify meaning in question	Has a [perpetrator] ever said these things to you more than once?	Now think back about any of these incidents when a [perpetrator] said or did these things to you. Did this happen once or more than once?
Q400, Q700 Change wording to clarify meaning in question	By sex we mean vaginal, oral, or anal sex or the insertion of hands, fingers, or other objects into your vagina or anus by someone else.	By sex we mean vaginal, oral, or anal sex or the insertion of hands, fingers, or other objects into your the vagina or anus by someone else.
Q1512A, Q1512B Change wording to clarify meaning in question	Unusual discharge or oozing from your [vagina / penis]? Unexplained sores or bumps on your [vagina / penis]?	Unusual discharge or oozing from your the [vagina / penis]? Unexplained sores or bumps on your the [vagina / penis]?

Table 2. Change to Screener Questionnaire (Attachment I)

Question	Original, OMB Approved Item	New Item (changes in red)
Household member	"What is the Gender of the Head of the Household? (1=Male, 2=Female)" "What is the Gender of this Household Member? (1=Male, 2=Female)"	"What is the Gender of the Head of the Household? (1=Male, 2=Female, 3=Do not identify as either Male or Female)" "What is the Gender of this Household Member? (1=Male, 2=Female, 3=Do not identify as either Male or Female)"
Household member	New question	[For only those who do not identify either as male or female] What Gender was this household member assigned at birth, on their original birth certificate? (1=Male, 2=Female)
Household member	New question	[IF NO ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT]: Thank you for taking the time to complete this information. There is no eligible participant in this household. [IF ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT] We would like to schedule an interview with your household! Please provide your preferred contact method so that we may contact you to schedule an interview. How would you prefer that we contact you? What is the best time for us to reach you?

Change to Burden and/or Cost

This non-substantive change request does not include changes to the currently approved burden and/or costs.