Form NSRCG Proposed Questions for the NSRCG

Proposed Community College Question Module for Cognitive Interviews

Questions with * are the proposed questions that are being pretested. Other questions are either probing or reference questions to better understand the responses to the pretest questions.

*Q1. Have you ever taken courses at a community college? [Core question]

 Yes

 No Skip to Q5

*Q2. Did you take courses at a community college during any of the following time periods? [New module question]

Mark (X) Yes or No for each item.		Y es	N o
	1. While still enrolled in high school…………………..…..……...		
	2. After high school, but before ever attending a 4-year college or university………………………………………………………..		
	3. While enrolled in a 4-year college or university………..……....		
	4. After attending a 4-year college or university, but before earning a first bachelor’s degree…....…………………………...		
	5. After earning a first bachelor’s degree, but before earning another bachelor’s or higher degree ....………………………..		
	6. After earning a second bachelor’s or a higher degree…….		

*Q3. For which of the following reasons did you take courses at a community college? [Revised module question from 1999]

Mark (X) Yes or No for each item.		Yes	No
	1. To earn college credits while attending high school…….... ………		
	2. To prepare for college, or increase chance of being accepted into a 4-year college or university……………………….		
	3. To complete course requirements for a bachelor’s degree…….....		
	4. Financial reasons (e.g. 4-year college more expensive, etc.) …….		
	5. To complete an associate’s degree……..……....….………….…...		
	6. To gain further skills or knowledge in your academic or occupational field……………………………………………………...		
	7. To facilitate a change in your academic or occupational field……..		
	8. To increase opportunities for promotion, advancement, or higher salary………………………………………………………..		
	9. For leisure or personal interest….………………………..……...….		
.	10. Other- Specify……………………...…...…………………………….		
	____________________________________________________

[PROBE IF R ANSWERED YES TO CATEGORY 3 IN Q3]

Why did you take these bachelor’s degree requirement courses at a community college?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

*Q4. Which two reasons in Q3 were your most important reasons for taking courses at a community college? [New module question]

Enter number of appropriate reason from Q3 above.

1. _____ Most important reason

2. _____ Second most important reason

(Enter ‘0’ if no second reason)

*Q5. Do you have an associate’s degree? [Core question]

Yes

No Skip to Q9

*Q6. Was your associate’s degree from a 2-year community college? [Possible new core question]

Yes

No

*Q7. What was the name of the college where you received an associate’s degree, and in what city and state was it located? [New module question]

Name of College
City/Town	State

*Q8. Please specify type and the field of associate’s degree that you have. [New module question]

Type of Associate’s Degree

Specific Field of Associate’s Degree

Q9. Do you have a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year college or university?

Yes

No Skip to Q13

Q10. From what school did you receive your first bachelor’s degree, and in what city and state was that school located?

Name of College or University
City/Town	State

Q11. In what month and year did you receive your first bachelor’s degree?

Month			Year

Q12. What was the major field of study and second major (if any) for your first bachelor’s degree?

Major Field of Study

Second Major

Q13. There is a wide range of classes that can be taken at community colleges. Please indicate whether you earned credits from a community college in each of the following areas of study.

Mark (X) Yes or No for each item.		Yes	No
	1. Biological, Agricultural, Physical, Earth, or Other Natural Sciences…….....………….……………		
	2. Health, Nursing, or Medical Fields.….………………..		
	3. Engineering, Computer Sciences, or Mathematical Sciences………………………………..		
	4. History, Arts, or Humanities……………….…………..		
	5. Psychology, Economics, or Other Social Sciences…...……………….…………………..		
	6. Business or Management……………………………..		
	7. Education or Education Administration………………		
	8. Some other major field – Specify.……..…...…………		

*Q14. How influential was your community college experience on each of the following aspects of your educational and career pathways? [New module question]

Mark (X) one answer for each item.		N ot at all influential	S lightly influential	M oderately influential	Very Influential
	1. Decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree…………………..				
	2. Choice of major for your first bachelor’s degree………….				
	3. Decision to pursue another bachelor’s or higher degree..				
	4. Choice of major for another bachelor’s or higher degree..				
	5. Decision to pursue a specific occupational field………….				

Q15. We are interested in learning more about how community college influences educational pathways. As you think back to your experience in a community college(s), how influential was it in your choosing the major in which you earned your first bachelor’s degree? Please explain aloud.

Q16. In what ways, if any, did community college influence your choice of major for your bachelor’s degree and any other degrees you have since pursued? Please explain aloud.

Q17. Community college experiences may also influence career pathways. Thinking ahead, how influential do you believe your community college experience will be in your decision to pursue a particular career? Please explain aloud.

Q18. We would also like to hear more about this in your own words. In what ways has your community college experience influenced your career plans? Again, please explain aloud.

5