CPS Voting and Registration Supp - 1996 Interviewers Page
CPS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE MEMORANDUM NO. 96-14
CPS CATI INTERVIEWER MEMORANDUM NO. 96-13
Section I - November 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR All CPS Field Representatives and CATI Interviewers
From: James F. Holmes
Acting Chief, Field Division
Subject: Instructions for November 1996 CPS CAPI/CATI
Action: Review Sections I and II of this memorandum and complete the exercises to prepare for CPS interviewing in November 1996. Complete the home study exercises for both Sections I and II, prior to interview week.
I. General
This section of the memorandum contains the basic CPS monthly overview and exercises. Section II of this memo contains information concerning the Voting and Registration Supplement.
II. Important Dates
III. Instrument date
The date on the >START< screen at the upper right hand corner will be November 1, 1996. If the date is NOT November 1, you are interviewing on the wrong instrument.
If this occurs, please call your supervisor immediately and STOP INTERVIEWING with that instrument.
IV. Holidays
There is a national holiday during reference week -- Monday, November 11 is Veterans' Day. Remind respondents of any local holidays that occurred during reference week.
V. Time Allowed for Self Study
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR CAPI FIELD REPRESENTATIVES:
A. You are authorized up to 1 1/2 hours for reading Sections I and II of this memorandum, completing the exercises in both sections, and completing the supplement practice interview. Charge this time to Project 0906, Operation Code 28.
B. Mail your answer sheet or transmit your answers for the basic CPS exercises and the listing exercises from this section to your regional office by the date written at the beginning of this memorandum.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR CATI INTERVIEWERS:
A. You are authorized up to 1 1/2 hours for reading Sections I and II of this memorandum, completing the exercises in both sections, and completing the supplement practice interview. Charge this time to Project 0906, Operation Code 98.
B. Give only your answer sheet for the basic CPS exercises, from this section, to your supervisor by the date written at the beginning of this memorandum.
VI. November Topics
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR BOTH CAPI AND CATI INTERVIEWERS:
A. November Supplement
The November CPS instrument contains the Voting and Registration Supplement. Every household member age 18 and over, and a U.S. citizen, is eligible for the voting and registration supplement. See Section II of this memorandum for further details on the supplement and for a practice interview.
B. Special Handling of Month-in-Sample 4 and 8 Hispanic Cases
Every year we have to increase the Hispanic sample for the March Supplement. For March 1997 interviewing, we will select Hispanic cases from outgoing rotations in November 1996 through February 1997. To alert these respondents that they may be interviewed again in March 1997, we will be using a different "Thank you" screen for Hispanic households that are month-in-sample 4 and 8 in November 1996. If you interview a household that is MIS 4 or 8 and there is at least one Hispanic member 15+, you will see the new "Thank you" screen.
From November 1996 through February 1997, if you are in a Hispanic, month-in-sample 4 case, the >Thank you< screen will look like the following:
1) English:
This is the fourth regularly scheduled interview for this household for the Current Population Survey. Your next regular interview will take place in 8 months. But because this household has one or more Hispanic household members, we may have to interview you again in March. Households like yours that were interviewed in November are added to the March sample to ensure adequate representation of Hispanics in the CPS March Income Supplement.
2) Spanish:
Esta es la cuarta entrevista que tenemos programada para este hogar en relación con la Encuesta de Población Actual. Su próxima entrevista regular será en 8 meses. Pero como este hogar tiene uno o más miembros de origen hispano, es posible que le entrevistemos otra vez en marzo. Hogares como el suyo, que fueron entrevistados en noviembre, los añadimos a la muestra que usamos en marzo para asegurar que la población hispana sea debidamente representada en el Suplemento sobre Ingresos que realizamos en marzo junto con la Encuesta de Población Actual.
From November 1996 through February 1997, if you are in a Hispanic, month-in-sample 8 case, the >Thank you< screen will look like the following:
1) English:
This is the last regularly scheduled interview for this household for the Current Population Survey. But because this household has one or more Hispanic household members, we may have to interview you again in March. Households like yours that were interviewed in November are added to the March sample to ensure adequate representation of Hispanics in the CPS March Income Supplement.
2) Spanish:
Esta es la última entrevista que tenemos programada para este hogar en relación con la Encuesta de Población Actual. Pero como este hogar tiene uno o más miembros de origen hispano, es posible que le entrevistemos otra vez en marzo. Hogares como el suyo, que fueron entrevistados en noviembre, los añadimos a la muestra que usamos en marzo para asegurar que la población hispana sea debidamente representada en el Suplemento sobre Ingresos que realizamos en marzo junto con la Encuesta de Población Actual.
C. Collecting Social Security Numbers for Hispanic Cases
We will be collecting Social Security numbers from all household members 15+ in Hispanic households during November 1996. You do not have to remember these criteria, since the instrument is programmed to display the Social Security item whenever these criteria are met. You should be aware that you may have to ask the Social Security item, in case you need to explain why we do so to a reluctant respondent. According to experienced CPS interviewers, the best way to collect Social Security numbers from reluctant respondents is by asking the question matter-of-factly, without changing the pace or tone of voice in which you ask the other questions.
As a rule, we collect Social Security data from CPS households only during the period from December through March. This allows us 4 months to collect these data. Hispanic households in outgoing rotations in November are asked the Social Security question only once -- in March -- when they are added back in as part of the oversample for the March Income supplement. This November we are asking the Social Security item of Hispanic cases only, to allow them more chances to report the data.
The reason for collecting Social Security numbers is to compare the information we collect with that of other agencies in order to evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and comparability of various statistics produced from the CPS. You may want to explain to the respondent that the Census Bureau can obtain personal information from other agencies, but it cannot release personal information to other agencies because, unlike other government agencies, the Bureau is required by law to protect each person's confidentiality.
D. Using the "Race-Other" Category
Review the manual pages C3-16 through C3-20 to help you in coding race correctly. The "Race-Other" category should be used as minimally as possible. Try to code the respondent into one of the four race categories (1. White; 2. Black; 3. American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut; or, 4. Asian or Pacific Islander).
Avoid using the Race/Other category to report race for respondents who give their origin as their race. Some Hispanics have difficulty differentiating ethnic origin from race and often report their Hispanic ethnicity as their race (i.e. Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc.). However, just like people of other ethnic groups, Hispanics can be White, or Black, or of mixed race (i.e., mixed Black and White, mixed White and Central/South American Indian, or even mixed White and Asian). Therefore, whenever a respondent reports "Salvadoran," "Bolivian," or even "Hispanic," as their race, point out the difference between the two questions -- highlighting the different sets of answer categories -- and re-ask the race question. If the respondent still will not choose a particular race, only then should you use the "Race/Other" category to report their response.
Avoid using the Race/Other category to report race from respondents who give more than one race. If the respondent cannot report a single race, ask what was their mother's race, and report that as the respondent's race. If the mother is also of multiple races, use the first of whichever races the respondent mentions to describe him/herself.
E. Reviewing Usual Hours vs. Actual Hours Worked
Review the manual pages B1-7 and C4-4 and C4-5 to refresh your memory about the definition of usual hours vs. actual hours worked.
There are two different concepts in the hours series of questions in the CPS.
First, you ask all employed persons, both those who were at work and those who were absent from work, about the number of hours they usually work. Usually means 50% of the time or more, or the most frequent schedule during the past 4 or 5 months. It is possible for a person who worked during reference week to not usually work. In this case, his/her usual hours would be zero.
Secondly, you ask all employed persons, about their actual hours worked. You ask them if the person lost or took off any hours from work that they don't usually do. You then ask if the person worked any extra hours or overtime that they do not usually do. Then you ask the amount of time the person actually worked at their job during reference week. For multiple job holders, you will ask the actual hours worked at their "main" job and at their "other" jobs separately.
F. Demographics Reminder
This is just a reminder that you are not to back up (F1) while in the demographic section of the basic CPS instrument. The demographic section includes all questions that come before the labor force section of the instrument, as well as the nativity questions that are asked after the labor force section and before the supplement section of the instrument. Once you have entered the supplement section, DO NOT back up (F1) into the basic CPS instrument.
VII. Review Exercises
Please mark your answers on this sheet and on the answer sheet. Return only the answer sheet , or transmit your answers, to your R.O. or your supervisor, as appropriate.
A. Basic CPS Exercises (CAPI and CATI)
1. Kathleen Brown is a lawyer that usually works a lot of extra hours that she does not get paid for. She gets paid to work 40 hours per week, but she usually works 60. In answer to the question >HRUSL1<, what would you record as the number of hours Kathleen usually works?
a. You record Kathleen's usual hours as 40 because that is all she is getting paid for.
b. You record <V> for hours vary because she doesn't usually work the 40 hours per week that she is being paid for.
c. You record the number of hours Kathleen usually works as 60 because that is the number of hours that she usually works.
2. Dawn Bork filled in as the manager of Pat's Hot Dog stand, during reference week, while her friend Pat was on vacation. She worked about 65 hours during the week. Dawn is retired and doesn't usually work, but she filled in for her friend who paid her very generously for the time she worked. How would you answer the questions >HRUSL1< How many hours per week do you USUALLY work at your job? and >HRACT1< Last week, how many hours did you ACTUALLY work at your job?
a. You would record the USUAL and ACTUAL number of hours as 65.
b. You would record the USUAL hours as zero and the ACTUAL hours as 65.
c. You would record the USUAL hours as <V> varies, and the ACTUAL hours as 65.
3. Daniel Joseph is in the National Guard. He was called on to put in 30 hours during reference week playing soldier with the Guard. He only worked about 20 hours of the 40 he usually works at his usual job as a clerk/typist with a law firm. What would you record as the number of hours Daniel USUALLY works and also the number of hours he ACTUALLY worked?
a. You would record his USUAL and his ACTUAL hours worked as 40.
b. You would record his USUAL hours worked as 40, and his ACTUAL hours worked as 20.
c. You would record his USUAL hours worked as <V> varies because he never knows when he will be called on for Guard duty. His ACTUAL hours worked would be 50.
4. You are interviewing at a mixed race household. The male head of house is Chinese, and the female head of house is white. Their children are 50% Asian or Pacific Islander and 50% White. You are speaking with the female head of the house, who is not sure which race to report for her children. What would you record as the race of the 2 children in the house?
a. You record the race of the children as "5. Race-Other" because their mother insists that the children are of a mixed race.
b. You record the race of the children as "4. Asian or Pacific Islander" because the first race mentioned for the children was Chinese.
c. You record the race of the children as "1. White" because the race of their mother is white.
5. You are interviewing at the Santiago household and you come to the question on race. When you show the flashcard to Mrs. Santiago, she says that her race is not listed on the card. You probe and ask her what she considers to be her race. She says that she is of "Hispanic" race. You try and explain the difference between race and origin. You explain that her origin would be "Hispanic", but her race would be something from the flashcard. You re-ask the race question. She ponders the question, and then answers that her father was "Mexican Indian", and her mother was "American Indian." What would you record as her race?
a. You would record "5. Race-Other" as her race because she believes her race is not on the flashcard.
b. You would record "1. White" because your observation tells you that she looks white.
c. You would record "3. American Indian, Eskimo, or Aleut", because she stated that the race of her mother was American Indian.
B. Listing/Coverage Exercise (CAPI ONLY)
1. Suppose you are assigned to interview in an Area Segment. You expect to find three sample units in Pennswood Apartments at 142 Delaney Way. At the time of interview you discover apartment 12b has been split into 3 additional separate housing units. You should: (7-15 through 7-20 and 2-46 through 2-50)
a. Find a knowledgeable person and use the Locating Units Chart to question him/her about the expected units at the basic address.
b. Note this fact in the Footnotes section of the listing sheet. These Area units will get added during the next updating procedure.
c. If all the units meet the housing unit definition, process one unit as the original unit and the others as Extra units.
2. Suppose you are assigned to interview in a Unit Segment. You expect to find a housing unit at 212 Foster Lane. At the time of interview you find out the housing unit no longer exists. You check with local merchants & long time residents in the area and they tell you the house was destroyed in a tornado. You should: (2-5 through 2-13)
a. Report the sample unit as a Type C noninterview and the date discovered.
b. Call your RO for sampling instructions.
c. Enter an AM@ for missing in column (5) of your listing sheet and place a description in the footnotes section.
3. Suppose you are listing in a Permit Segment. You locate 126 Branch Avenue. You also find 126 1/2 Branch Avenue. You call the RO and they say 126 1/2 has its own permit number. You should: (3-35 through 3-45)
a. List the fractional address on line 2, column (2), of the listing sheet.
b. Not list the fractional address on the listing sheet for the basic address.
c. Prepare an INTER-COMM for your RO providing all addresses used by the structure and identify the number of units which use each basic address, if possible.
4. Suppose you are listing in a Group Quarters Segment. At the time of listing you locate Chandler Heights Apartments, on 322 Westwood Avenue. Your listing sheet indicates this address is a college dormitory. You should: (4-47 through 4-58 and 5-40 through 5-52)
a. Interview as usual if you can identify the original unit designation. Otherwise, relist on a blank GQ Listing Sheet and call your office for sampling instructions. Also note the situation in the Footnotes section of the listing sheet.
b. Line through entire GQ Listing Sheet. List the housing unit on the first available line of the Area Segment Listing. Prepare an INTER-COMM for your RO explaining the situation, and line through the GQ symbol and replace it with a housing unit on the segment map.
c. Not list the address, and call your RO for further instructions.
5. Suppose you are assigned to interview in a Permit Segment. The listing sheet shows 8118 Barnabas St., a duplex housing unit, was issued a permit number. During your search you have trouble locating the site. You find out the structure was abandoned before being started. You should: (3-10 through 3-20)
a. Call your RO immediately and explain the situation, place the explanation on an INTER-COMM, classify the address as a Type A Noninterview- Unable to Locate.
b. Call the permit office.
c. Report the address as Type B or C Noninterview, appropriately and place an explanation on an INTER-COMM.
R.O./Site ____________________________
Name _______________________________
Code _______________________________
Answer Sheet for Basic CPS and Listing Exercises - November 1996
Instructions:
1. Complete exercises 1-5 in section A (CAPI and CATI) and exercises 1-5 in section B (CAPI ONLY), as appropriate, beginning on page 5 of this memorandum by marking the correct answer and writing in your response on this answer sheet.
2. Return only your completed answer sheet or transmit your answers, not the questions themselves, to your regional office or supervisor, as appropriate, by the date specified on the cover page of this memorandum.
3. Retain the questions so that you can refer to them when you receive the corrected answer sheet.
____________________________________________________________________________
A. Answers to Basic CPS Exercises (CAPI and CATI)
1. [ ] a 4. [ ] a
[ ] b [ ] b
[ ] c [ ] c
2. [ ] a 5. [ ] a
[ ] b [ ] b
[ ] c [ ] c
3. [ ] a
[ ] b
[ ] c
B. Answers to Listing Exercise (CAPI ONLY)
1. [ ] a 4. [ ] a
[ ] b [ ] b
[ ] c [ ] c
2. [ ] a 5. [ ] a
[ ] b [ ] b
[ ] c [ ] c
3. [ ] a
[ ] b
[ ] c
CPS Voting and Registration Supp - 1996 Interviewers Page
CPS Main Page