PC-2210 Peace Corps Awareness and Affinity: National Survey of U

ATTACHMENT 1: QUESTIONNAIRE

Note: Information in RED is programming instructions and will not be shown to respondents. OMB privacy act statement and information will be added upon OMB approval.

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, completing the form, and reviewing the collection of information. Comments on the burden or content of this instrument may be sent to the Peace Corps, Attn: Brianna Johnson, 1275 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20526. You are not required to respond to the collection unless the OMB control number and expiration date displayed on page 1 are current and valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).) OMB Control Number: 0420-xxxx. Expiration Date: January 31, 2026.

Thank you for your interest in this survey. We appreciate your time. All responses are confidential. We will begin with a few questions about you.

[ALL QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED. SINGLE ANSWER UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. RESPONDENT IS NOT ALLOWED TO GO BACK IN SURVEY – FORWARD ONLY.]

[DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS: GENERAL SCREENING AND QUOTA TO IDENTIFY TARGETED SAMPLE FOR COMPARISON GROUP]

1. What is your current age?

   1. 17 or under [TERMINATE]

   2. 18-19

   3. 20-24

   4. 25-29

   5. 30-34

   6. 35-39

   7. 40-44

   8. 45-50

   9. 50-54

   10. 55-59

   11. 60-64

   12. 65 or older [TERMINATE]

2. Do you describe yourself as?

   1. Male

   2. Female

   3. Transgender [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   4. Non-binary, gender fluid, or gender queer [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   5. None of these [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   6. Prefer not to answer

3. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?

   1. Yes

   2. No

   3. Prefer not to answer

4. How would you describe yourself? Please select all that apply. [SELECT ALL]

   1. White

   2. Black or African American

   3. Asian

   4. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS ASIAN]

   5. American Indian or Alaska Native

   6. Other

   7. Prefer not to answer

5. Which sexual orientation do you most closely identify with?

   1. Straight/Heterosexual

   2. Gay or lesbian [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   3. Bisexual

   4. Queer [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   5. Another term [FOR QUOTA COUNT AS LGBTQ]

   6. Prefer not to answer

6. Are you a citizen of the United States?

   1. Yes

   2. No [TERMINATE]

   3. Prefer not to answer [TERMINATE]

7. What region of the U.S. do you live in? [BALANCE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION]

   1. New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

   2. Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and D.C.)

   3. South (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia)

   4. Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin)

   5. Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas)

   6. West (Alaska, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming)

   7. U.S. Territory (e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, or American Samoa)

[TARGETED SAMPLE QUESTIONS]

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

   1. 8th grade or less [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

   2. Some high school (grades 9, 10, or 11) [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

   3. High school graduate or GED (High school equivalency) [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE UNLESS AGE= 18 to 19]

   4. Trade or technical school

   5. Some college (but no degree)

   6. Associate’s degree (2-year degree)

   7. Bachelor’s degree (4-year degree)

   8. Graduate degree

9. In which of the following areas do you have some experience or expertise through education, paid work, or volunteering? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

1. Education

2. Health or healthcare

3. Public health or mental health

4. Environmental science or climate change

5. Engineering or infrastructure

6. Agriculture

7. International affairs

8. Business or economic development

9. Computer science

10. Youth development

11. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR; DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

10. Which of the following caregiving activities do you routinely engage in? Please select all that apply. [SELECT ALL]

    1. Care for a child aged 12 or under [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

    2. Care for a child aged 13 to 16 [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

    3. Care for an adult family member or other adult [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

    4. None of the above

11. Do you currently have any pets at home that you are responsible for?

    1. Yes

    2. No

12. In the past 12 months, have you done any volunteer work – that is, giving of your time, skills, or energy for a nonprofit, charitable organization, school, or group for which you did not receive any pay?

    1. Yes [PROCEED TO Q13]

    2. No [SKIP TO Q15]

13. What type of volunteering activities have you engaged in during the last 12 months? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

    1. Organizing or supporting activities or events

    2. Sports coaching/refereeing

    3. Office work (e.g., bookkeeping, administration)

    4. Health care (e.g., home care, companionship)

    5. Counselling or providing advice

    6. Construction, maintenance, or repair

    7. Communications (e.g., writing, research)

    8. Technology/computer support

    9. Collecting or serving food/other goods

    10. Serving on committee/board

    11. Teaching/mentoring/tutoring

    12. Canvassing/fundraising/philanthropy

    13. Community building or youth work

    14. Activism and/or campaigning

    15. Other [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR; NOT QUALIFYING ON ITS OWN]

    16. Can’t answer/not sure [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR; DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE IF SELECTED ON ITS OWN; SKIP TO Q15]

14. In a typical month, how much time do you spend on volunteer activities?

    1. Less than one hour [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

    2. 1 to 4 hours

    3. 5 to 14 hours

    4. 15 or more hours

    5. Can’t answer/not sure [DOES NOT QUALIFY AS TARGETED SAMPLE]

TARGETED SAMPLE MUST MEET ALL THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• Q8: EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL, UNLESS AGED 18-19 (THEN HS ONLY QUALIFIES)

• Q9: EXPERIENCE IN QUALIFYING AREA (OPTIONS A-I)

• Q10: NO CURRENT CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES (OPTION D)

• Q12: CURRENTLY VOLUNTEERS (OPTION A)

• Q13: VOLUNTEERS FOR A QUALIFYING AREA (OPTIONS A-N)

• Q14: VOLUNTEERS 1 OR MORE HOURS PER MONTH (OPTIONS B-D)

[VOLUNTEERING AND INTERESTS]

15. Regardless of whether you personally volunteer, what do you see as the main reasons to take part in volunteer work? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

    1. Make a contribution/give back

    2. Support a cause

    3. Sense of accomplishment

    4. Use experiences and skills

    5. Have an experience or develop skills

    6. Explore personal strengths

    7. Network/meet people

    8. Improve job opportunities

    9. Improve well-being or health of others

    10. Part of upbringing, faith, or general values

    11. Can’t think of any reason to volunteer [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

16. How interested are you in volunteering in each of the following settings/ways? Please use a scale from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested. [SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

1. Locally

2. Nationally

3. Internationally

4. Virtually

17. How interested are you in each of the following issues? Please use a scale from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested. [ROTATE; SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT; REPEAT LABELS EVERY 5 ROWS OR AS NEEDED]

    1. Education

    2. Health or healthcare

    3. Public health or mental health

    4. Environment or climate change

    5. Engineering or infrastructure

    6. Agriculture

    7. International development

    8. Business or economic development

    9. Youth development

    10. Social justice

    11. COVID response and recovery

18. How do you see yourself? Please select all the words or phrases you would use to describe yourself. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

    1. Risk-taker

    2. Community-oriented

    3. Tolerant

    4. Family-oriented

    5. Ambitious

    6. Want to make a difference

    7. Good with people

    8. Leader

    9. Seeks change or enjoys new challenges

    10. Good communicator

    11. Desires stability/certainty

    12. Passionate

    13. Global citizen

    14. Hard worker

    15. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

[UNAIDED PEACE CORPS QUESTIONS]

19. How familiar are you with each of the following organizations? Please use a scale from 1, not at all familiar, to 7, very familiar. [ROTATE; SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

1. The Peace Corps [IF SELECT 1 OR 2, DO NOT SHOW Q20]

2. AmeriCorps

3. Teach for America

4. Doctors Without Borders

5. American Red Cross

6. Habitat for Humanity

20. [ONLY SHOWN TO THOSE FAMILIAR WITH PEACE CORPS = 3 OR HIGHER IN Q19] How much do you trust the Peace Corps? Please use a scale from 1, not at all, to 7, a great deal. [SHOW 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

21. Where have you come across any information about the Peace Corps? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

1. Know someone who is/was/will be a Peace Corps Volunteer or works for the Peace Corps

2. News story or report

3. Social media

4. On a television show

5. Advertisement

6. Attended information session or contacted a recruiter

7. Visited Peace Corps website or social media

8. Learned about it in school

9. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

[AIDED PEACE CORPS QUESTIONS]

22. Please review the following information about the Peace Corps.

• The Peace Corps is an independent agency of the U.S. government.

• The Peace Corps offers a unique opportunity to live and volunteer abroad. Volunteers partner with communities and work alongside local leaders to address challenges in areas such as education, health, environment, agriculture, economic development, youth development, and COVID response and recovery.

• Volunteers serve at the request of over 60 host countries around the world. Host countries get skilled support in tackling challenges that they identify.

• The Peace Corps welcomes U.S. citizens over the age of 18 with a variety of educational backgrounds and experience.

• The Peace Corps offers different in-country programs that include the traditional 2-year program. Shorter programs are available that last up to 12 months for more highly technical placements.

• Volunteers apply to a position based on their skills and the type of work they want to do. They can select a country where they want to serve or opt to go where they are needed most. Peace Corps will work with Volunteers to match their skills to an assignment.

• Volunteers receive training, housing, food, a living stipend, and medical support. The Peace Corps will also cover travel costs to and from a Volunteer’s country of service.

• Throughout service, Volunteers gain a unique intercultural perspective, as well as leadership, language, teaching, and community development skills that last beyond their time of service. When the Volunteer returns, they can share with their community greater perspectives of the country in which they served.

[SHOW FOR MINIMUM 35 SECONDS BEFORE ALLOWING RESPONDENT TO PROCEED]

23. How interested are you in learning more about the Peace Corps? Please rate your interest from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested. [SHOW 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

24. How interested are you in engaging in the following activities to learn more about the Peace Corps? Please rate your interest from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested, for each of the following: [SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

    1. Visiting a website or viewing a social media post

    2. Attending an information session or talking with a recruiter

    3. Talking with a current or returned Peace Corps Volunteer

    4. Reading a brochure

    5. Watching a video

25. How interested are you in volunteering with the Peace Corps for 2 years of service? Please rate your interest from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested, for each of the following: [SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

    1. Now

    2. In the next 5 years

26. How interested are you in volunteering with the Peace Corps for 3 to 12 months of service? Please rate your interest from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested, for each of the following: [SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

    1. Now

    2. In the next 5 years

27. How interested are you in volunteering virtually (i.e., you would stay in the United States) with the Peace Corps for 3 to 7 months of service? Please rate your interest from 1, not at all interested, to 7, very interested, for each of the following: [SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS SOMEWHAT]

    1. Now

    2. In the next 5 years

28. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please use a scale from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree. [ROTATE; SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS NEUTRAL; REPEAT LABELS EVERY 5 ROWS OR AS NEEDED]

1. Peace Corps is for people like me

2. Peace Corps makes the world a better place

3. Peace Corps Volunteers gain valuable life skills

4. Peace Corps service benefits communities

5. Peace Corps service helps my career

6. Peace Corps provides the opportunity for meaningful cultural exchange

7. Peace Corps service benefits other nations

8. Peace Corps service benefits the United States

9. Peace Corps supports world peace and friendship among nations

10. Serving for two years allows time to make an impact

11. Peace Corps is a good use of my time, energy, and skills

12. Peace Corps helps me develop a global network of friends and colleagues

13. Peace Corps allows me to share my skills and experience with others

29. How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Please use a scale from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree. [ROTATE; SHOW IN TABLE/GRID LABELED 1-7 WITH DESCRIPTOR LABELS AT EITHER END AND 4 LABELED AS NEUTRAL; REPEAT LABELS EVERY 5 ROWS OR AS NEEDED]

1. Peace Corps service requires challenging living conditions

2. Peace Corps service is for those who are privileged or financially secure

3. Two years is too long to serve

4. Peace Corps is a form of American colonialism

5. Peace Corps service happens too far from home

6. Peace Corps service is not safe

7. It’s more important to serve in the U.S. than abroad

8. Peace Corps service is not worth the commitment

9. Peace Corps service is a way to fill time before doing something else

10. Peace Corps service is outdated

11. Peace Corps service may negatively impact my mental or physical health

12. Peace Corps service is too unfamiliar or uncertain

30. Please select the top three reasons to serve in the Peace Corps. Drag items from the left-hand list into the right-hand list to order your top three selections. [ROTATE; DROP AND DRAG FROM LIST ON LEFT TO RIGHT; REQUIRE THREE SELECTIONS]

1. Cultural exchange

2. International experience

3. Make a positive, lasting impact on other communities

4. Support the needs of other nations

5. Give back/help others

6. Opportunity to travel

7. Learn a new language/become fluent

8. Learn new skills

9. Help or advance career

10. Make lasting friendships

11. Prestigious opportunity

31. Please select the top three reasons not to serve in the Peace Corps. Drag items from the left-hand list into the right-hand list to order your top three selections. [ROTATE; DROP AND DRAG FROM LIST ON LEFT TO RIGHT; REQUIRE THREE SELECTIONS]

1. Loss of income

2. Unable to pay ongoing living expenses or loans

3. Disrupts career

4. Difficult being away from family/friends

5. Family/friends wouldn’t approve

6. Too many current commitments

7. Caregiving duties (e.g., children, family, friends, pets)

8. Too uncertain

9. Not interested/not appealing

10. Do not want to live or serve abroad

11. Time commitment is too long

12. Don’t have the skills/not qualified

13. Too hard/complicated

[INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS]

Thank you. Now we have just a few final questions for you.

32. Where do you primarily get information or news? Please select all that apply. [SELECT ALL, RANDOMIZE]

    1. Television

    2. Print or online newspapers/magazines

    3. Radio

    4. Online news websites

    5. Facebook

    6. Twitter

    7. Snapchat

    8. Instagram

    9. YouTube

    10. TikTok

    11. Reddit

    12. Podcasts

    13. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER RESPONSE]

33. Which of the following sources of information would you trust for information about the Peace Corps? Please select all that apply. [SHOW ONLY ITEMS SELECTED IN Q32 FOR A-L; SELECT ALL, RANDOMIZE]

    1. Television

    2. Print or online newspapers/magazines

    3. Radio

    4. Online news websites

    5. Facebook

    6. Twitter

    7. Snapchat

    8. Instagram

    9. YouTube

    10. TikTok

    11. Reddit

    12. Podcasts

    13. Peace Corps website or social media

    14. Peace Corps recruiter or information session

    15. Peace Corps advertisement

    16. A class or school

    17. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

34. How would you describe the community where you live?

    1. Large city

    2. Suburb near a large city

    3. Small city or town

    4. Rural area

35. What is your current employment status?

    1. Work full-time

    2. Work part-time

    3. Retired

    4. Unemployed

    5. Not in the labor force

36. What is your current student status?

    1. Full-time student

    2. Part-time student

    3. Not a student

37. Do you have any mental or physical disabilities that impact your daily life?

    1. Yes

    2. No

38. Where do you currently reside?

    1. Home/apartment I own

    2. Home/apartment I rent

    3. Home/apartment owned or rented by friend or family member

    4. Dorm or other group quarters

    5. Do not currently have a home

39. Do you experience any of the following? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

    1. Deaf or serious difficulty hearing

    2. Blind or serious difficulty seeing

    3. Serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

    4. Serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs

    5. Difficulty dressing or bathing

    6. Difficulty doing errands alone

    7. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER RESPONSE]

    8. Prefer not to answer [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER RESPONSE]

40. Do you have any of the following types of debt? Please select all that apply. [ROTATE; SELECT ALL]

    1. Mortgage and/or home equity loan

    2. Student loans

    3. Medical bills

    4. Car payments

    5. Credit card debt

    6. Payday loan or car title loan

    7. Personal loan or debt consolidation loan

    8. Other [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

    9. None of the above [KEEP LAST/ANCHOR]

41. How would you describe your household’s financial situation?

    1. Live very comfortably

    2. Live comfortably

    3. Meet basic expenses with a little leftover for extras

    4. Just meet basic expenses

    5. Do not have enough to meet basic expenses

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. We appreciate your feedback.

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