National Survey of Family Growth

2006-2010 NSFG Questionnaires

Print
Related Pages
On This Page

Description of the two questionnaire formats

The questionnaires for the 2006-2010 NSFG are available in two formats:

  • CAPI-Lite format
  • CAPI Reference Questionnaire (CRQ) format

Both formats represent the basic content and routing of the full NSFG interviews, including the computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) administered by interviewers and the audio computer-assisted self-interviews (ACASI) that respondents completed on their own. However, each format of the questionnaire offers users a different level of detail and perspective on how the interview was conducted. Because changes to the questionnaires were implemented in July 2007 and July 2008, there are 3 sets of CAPI-lites and CRQs for the 2006-2010 NSFG: the original 2006 version, the 2007 version and the 2008 version. The 2008 version was used from July 2008 through June 2010.

CAPI-Lite format

In the “CAPI-Lite” format, the male and female interviews are shown in their entirety, but with abridged representations of the question wording variants and short descriptions of skip patterns through the interview. With this format, users get a clear and concise picture of how the questions were asked, in what order, and of which respondents.

NOTE: The PDF files are applicable to the 2006-2010 NSFG although they reference NSFG 2006-2008

CAPI Reference Questionnaire (CRQ) format

The CRQ represents the fully detailed specifications for the interview that NSFG staff provided to the computer programmers who created the instrument using the Blaise software system.

  • All question wording variants are shown, along with the conditions defining when each variant should be used.
  • “Flow Checks” specify the precise routing through the interview based on earlier questionnaire items so that the appropriate next questions for a particular respondent appear onscreen. In addition, in some instances flow checks are devoted to the creation of a new variable from one or more of the “raw,” or “asked” variables. These are called “computed variables” and are described in other sections of the User’s Guide. The flow check specifies in detail how these computed variables were defined. A summary list of computed variables defined in each questionnaire section can be found at the beginning of each section’s CRQ.
  • “Edit checks,” programmed into the instrument, attempt to catch and resolve data inconsistencies in the field, rather than requiring resolution after data collection. These consistency checks are generally located in the CRQ after the questions they are intended to reconcile, and enabled the interviewer to return to specific questionnaire items and correct them if necessary.
  • Use of additional survey aids, such as Show Cards, Help Screens, and the Life History Calendar (female interview only), is noted on individual questionnaire items. For example, if a question-specific help screen (accessible via the F1 key) was available for an item, the CRQ indicates “[HELP AVAILABLE].” If the item’s response choices were to be shown on a Show Card in the interviewer’s show card booklet, the CRQ indicates the number of the show card along with the response categories.

Because the CRQs are longer than the CAPI-Lite versions of the questionnaires, the CRQ for each section of the male and female interviews for each interview year is available as a separate PDF file. For example, NSFG_2006-2010_Y1_FemaleA_CRQ is the CRQ for female Section A administered in Year 1 of interviewing, June 2006-June 2007, and NSFG_2006-2010_Y2_MaleF_CRQ is the CRQ for male Section F administered in Year 2 of interviewing, July 2007-June 2008.

NOTE: The PDF files are applicable to the 2006-2010 NSFG although they reference NSFG 2006-2008.

Year 1, June 2006-June 2007

Female Questionnaire, Year 1

Male Questionnaire, Year 1

Female Spanish Questionnaire, Year 1

Male Spanish Questionnaire, Year 1

Year 2, July 2007-June 2008

Persons with disabilities who experience problems accessing PDF files should contact nchsed@cdc.gov or call 301-458-4688.

Female Questionnaire, Year 2

Male Questionnaire, Year 2

Years 3 and 4, July 2008-June 2010

Female Questionnaire, Years 3 and 4

Male Questionnaire, Years 3 and 4