Improving Surveys by Sharing Knowledge
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Abstract: This report documents findings from a cognitive interview evaluation of survey questions on the topic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Collaborating Center for Question Design and Evaluation Research (CCQDER) at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) conducted this study in support of federal surveys that have incorporated (or intend to incorporate) COVID-19 measurements into their questionnaires. The questions evaluated include items on the RANDS during COVID-19 survey (a methodological survey housed at NCHS) and other federal surveys, such as the NHIS (National Health Interview Survey) and the ECHO (Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes) adult primary questionnaire, a project supported by the National Institutes of Health. The findings of this study serve two purposes. First, the results serve as a validity study for COVID-19 questions, so that survey data analysts can understand what constructs the questions capture. As a validity study, the cognitive interviews provide information about the patterns of interpretation associated with these survey questions. Second, this study explored the question-response process which identified problems respondents had in answering the questions and, by extension, possible sources of response error. Information from these findings may be used to improve question design for future surveys.
Willson, S. . (2021). Cognitive Testing Evaluation of Survey Questions on COVID-19. National Center for Health Statistics - CCQDER. Hyattsville, MD https://wwwn.cdc.gov/QBank/Report.aspx?1214