Various Pretesting Activities (see attached list)

Protocol for 2010 ACS Food Stamps Instruction

Retrospective Probes Only

DRAFT

March 17, 2009

Note any difficulty completing Question 12.

IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did anyone in this household receive Food Stamps or a Food Stamp benefit card? Include government benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Do NOT include WIC or the National School Lunch Program.

__ Yes

__ No

RETROSPECTIVE PROBES

After Respondent completes Housing Question #12, interrupt them for the debriefing.

I would like to stop you right now and revisit the last survey questions with you. Remember, there aren’t any right or wrong answers here, I’m just interested in how the survey questions worked for you.

General probes:

• How did you come up with your answer to that question?

• In your own words, what is this question asking you?

• In this question, what does “Food Stamps or a Food Stamp benefit card” mean to you?

• Did you notice the instructions in italics?

  • If no: Please read them now and tell me if it would change your answer.

  • What does “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” or SNAP mean to you in this question? Have you ever heard of the SNAP program?

  • How about WIC? What does WIC mean to you in this question?

Situational Probes

Hand respondent calendar (2008 and 2009).

Please use the calendar to help you answer the next few questions.

If respondent answered YES to survey question:

• You answered yes to Question 12, can you tell me more about that?

  • Are you currently getting food stamps?

    • If yes, How long have you received them?

    • If no, When did you receive them? Use calendar!

• Are you currently receiving WIC (Women Infant and Children)?

  • If yes, How long have you been receiving this?

    • Are you receiving BOTH Food stamps and WIC?

• Do your children participate in the National School Lunch Program?

  • If yes, How long have they been receiving this?

    • Are you receiving BOTH Food stamps and National School Lunch Program benefits?

• What is the difference between Food Stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC and the National School Lunch Program?

If respondent answered NO to survey question:

• Are you currently receiving any government benefits, like Supplemental Security Income, AFDC or TANF?

  • If no, Have you ever received SSI, AFDC or TANF? When?

• Do you or does anyone in your household receive any benefits from the government that help you pay for food?

  • If yes, Tell me more about that – what is that program called? How long have you been receiving those benefits?

  • If no, Have you ever received Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits? When?

• Maryland respondents only: Are you currently receiving benefits from the Food Supplement Program?

  • If yes, How long have you been receiving this?

  • If no, Have you ever received benefits from the Food Supplement Program? When?

• Are you currently receiving WIC (Women Infants and Children)?

  • If yes, How long have you been receiving this?

• Do your children participate in the National School Lunch Program?

  • If yes, How long have they been receiving this?

• What is the difference between Food Stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC and the National School Lunch Program?

Debriefing Qs

Just a few final questions to wrap up -

• Overall, would you say the survey questions were easy or difficult to respond to? Why?

• Other than what we have already talked about, do you think there are questions some people would find difficult? Sensitive?

• Do you have anything else you would like to tell us that you haven’t had a chance to mention, yet?

That’s all the questions that I have. Thank you for your time.

State Specific Names

DC Undecided

MD Food Supplement Program 10/1/08

VA SNAP 10/1/09

WV SNAP 10/1/08

2