NCSES - Request for approval of two tests for the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR)

Attachment B: DIS Pilot Study Independent Interviewing (INDI)
Questionnaire
Background
This document includes the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) DIS Pilot Study web
instrument information for the independent interviewing (INDI) approach in which the
respondent is asked about the current reference period without acknowledgement of how they
have answered the question in prior cycles.
Questionnaire
Section
V1

Uses DI approach
(shows prefill info)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
Yes (as used in
SDR)
No
No

Existing
item?
Yes

Reason for inclusion in the DIS
Pilot Study
Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

Yes

Sample person verification

SDR Item:
When Leave –
New

No

New for
DIS Pilot
Study

SDR Item: A2

No

Yes

SDR Item: A3

No

Modified

SDR Item: A4
SDR Item: A5

No
No

Yes
Yes

SDR Item: A6

No

Yes

SDR Item: A8

No

Yes

V1a
V2a
V2a1
V2b
V2b1
V2c
V2c1
V4
SDR Item: A1

Yes
Yes

Collects working status;
determines routing for subsequent
questions
Determines when the employer
change occurred and is input for
calculating time in each
employment state
Establishes if those not working
are still in labor force
Modified response category in
INDI version to capture impact of
COVID on reasons for not
working
Identifies employment duration
Needed for occupational coding of
last job
Needed for occupational coding of
last job
Identifies retirees who return to
work
26

SDR Item:
A8YY
SDR Item: A9
SDR Item:
A10
SDR Item:
A11
SDR Item:
A12
SDR Item:
A14
SDR Item:
A15
SDR Item:
A16

No

Yes

No
No

Yes
Yes

Identifies date retirees return to
work, when applicable
Used for occupational coding
Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

No

Modified

SDR Item:
A17
SDR Item:
A18
SDR Item:
A19
SDR Item:
A20
SDR Item:
A26
SDR Item:
A30
SDR Item:
A31a/b
SDR Item:
A32
SDR Item:
A33
SDR Item:
A34
SDR Item:
A35
SDR Item:
A36
SDR Item:
SALDOLLAR
SDR Item:
A36b

No

Yes

Modified other specify response
category in INDI version to
explicitly show a category of “Not
in an academic position” which
SDR previously only offered in
CATI; used for occupational
coding
Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

No

Yes

Identifies employment duration;
used for occupational coding
Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

27

SDR Item:
A36e

No

Captures impact of coronavirus on
salary

No

New for
DIS Pilot
Study
New for
DIS Pilot
Study
Yes

SDR Item:
A36f

No

SDR Item:
A37
SDR Item:
A38
SDR Item: B1
SDR Item: B2
SDR Item: B3

No

Yes

Used for occupational coding

No
No
No

Yes
Yes
Modified

No
No

Yes
Yes

Used for occupational coding
Used for occupational coding
Modified response category in
INDI version to capture impact of
COVID on reasons changing
employer/job
Demographic variable
Demographic variable

SDR Item: E1
SDR Item: E7

Captures impact of coronavirus on
salary
Used for occupational coding

Introduction
Thank you for participating in this special study to support the Survey of Doctorate Recipients
(SDR), which is sponsored by the National Center for Science & Engineering Statistics (NCSES), a
statistical agency within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health
(NIH).
Our records show that in 201x, you completed the SDR. This study is a follow-up to the 201x SDR to
test different ways of asking questions about employment experience so that future cycles of SDR can
reduce the burden on survey participants. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Survey Information
Assurance of Confidentiality
• The information collected in the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) questionnaire is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, and
the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002.
• These laws require that the survey sponsors (National Center for Science and Engineering
Statistics within the National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health) treat all
information you provide as confidential. The information you provide will be used only for
research and statistical purposes by the survey sponsors, their contractors, and collaborating
researchers for the purpose of analyzing data and preparing scientific reports and articles. Any
information publicly released (such as statistical summaries) will be in a form that does not
personally identify you.
• Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from
cybersecurity risks through screening of the Federal systems that transmit your data.
• The responses you provide today are being collected with software that is designed to secure
your data and provide you with confidentiality. However, please be apprised that all Internet28

based communication is subject to the remote likelihood of tampering from an outside source.
OMB Control Number: xxxx-xxxx
• OMB approval for this study expires on xx/xx/xxxx.
• An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection
of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Participation Information
• The average time to complete this survey is about 15 minutes. Actual time may vary depending
on your circumstances.
• Your response is voluntary and failure to provide some or all of the requested information will
not in any way adversely affect you.
• If you have questions about the SDR study, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions. If
you have any further questions, please contact Westat toll-free within the U.S. at 1-855-4605324, or 301-637-8195 outside of the U.S. You can also send an email to sdr@westat.com.
Thank you for participating in the SDR!

Instructions
Navigation Instructions
•

Move forward or backward one question at a time by clicking on the Next or Previous buttons.
(DO NOT use your browser's Back or Forward buttons.)

Suspending the Survey
•
•
•

If you need to exit the survey prior to completion, please click on the Save & Continue Later
button at the bottom of any screen. All responses that you have provided to that point are
securely stored, and you can resume the survey at your convenience.
In order to resume your survey, you will need your PIN.
If you exit the survey another way, for example by closing the browser window without
clicking the Save & Continue Later button, all responses that you provided to that point are
saved.

Sample Person Verification
V1 – current
Please answer these first few questions to help us verify that our records are correct.
Our records show that your name is:
{PERSPRFX} {PERSNAMF} {PERSMID} {PERSNAML} {PERSSUFX}
Is this correct?
29

Yes
No
V1a – current
(IF NO) Please edit the information below as appropriate.
Title: {PERSPRFX}
First Name: {PERSNAMF}
Middle Name: {PERSMID}
Last Name: {PERSNAML}
Suffix: {PERSSUFX}
V2a – current
Our records show that you received your doctorate from {PHDINSTNM}.
Is this correct?
Yes
No
V2a1 – current
(IF NO) From which institution did you receive your doctorate?
Ph.D. INSTITUTION: __________
INSTITUTION CITY: __________
INSTITUTION STATE: _ [DROPDOWN LIST OF STATES] _
V2b – current
Our records show that you received your doctorate in the field of {PHDFIELDV}.
{You have also described your field as {FIELDFIX_LAST}.}
Is this correct?
Yes
No
V2b1 – current
(IF NO) What is the field in which you earned your doctorate?
__________
V2c – current
Our records show that you received your doctorate in {PHDCY}.
Is this correct?
Yes
No
30

V2c1 – current
(IF NO) In what month and year was your doctorate awarded to you?
MONTH: _ [DROPDOWN LIST OF MONTHS] _
YEAR: __________ (YYYY)
V4 – current
On {REFERENCE DATE}, were you living in the…
United States or Puerto Rico
Another U.S. territory
Another country
SKIP BOX 1
Update DOC_CODE based on answers to v2a/inst_chk, v2b/fieldchk, and v2c/date_chk, where each
match adds '1' to the value of the variable
AT LEAST 2 OF 3 Ph.D. PRELOADS MATCH (DOC_CODE=2 or 3), then go to SDR A1.
Else, go to FINAL SCREEN (after RAS)

Survey Items
SDR A1 - current
Were you working for pay or profit during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}? Working includes
being self-employed and not getting paid that week, on a postdoctoral appointment, traveling while
employed, or on any type of paid or unpaid leave, including vacation.
Yes
No

SKIP TO SDR A8
GO TO WHEN LEAVE

Variable: WRKG
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is very important that we
get an answer to this question.
This information is used to determine the size of the doctoral workforce. Please answer to the best of
your ability.”
If no response given, go to SDR CLOSE1.]
SDR CLOSE1 - Modified
This is one of the few questions that are critical to this survey, and we cannot continue with questions
about your current employment without your answer to this question. Would you please reconsider
and answer the question as best as you can?
Click "Previous" to return to the question and provide an answer.
31

Click "Next" to continue.
Previous – go to SDR A1
Next – go to RAS section
When Leave - New
When did you leave [{EMNAME_LAST}/{EMDEPT_LAST}/your {PRIOR CYCLE YEAR}
employer]?
MM/YYYY
SDR A2 - current
Did you look for work during the four weeks preceding {REFERENCE DATE}? This would be
between {REFERENCE MONTH/DAY MINUS 28 days} and {REFERENCE MONTH/DAY}.
Yes
No
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. NSF uses this information to determine the unemployment rate of the doctoral
population. Please answer as best as you can.”
If no response given, go to SDR CLOSE2.]
SDR CLOSE2 - Modified
This is one of the few questions that are critical to this survey, and we cannot continue with questions
about your current employment without your answer to this question. Would you please reconsider
and answer the question as best as you can?
Click "Previous" to return to the question and provide an answer.
Click "Next" to continue.
Previous – go to SDR A2
Next – go to RAS section
SDR A3 - current
What were your reasons for not working during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}?
Select Yes or No for each item.
A3_1 Retired
A3_2 On layoff from a job due to the coronavirus pandemic
A3_3 On layoff from a job for reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic
A3_4 Student
A3_5 Family responsibilities (e.g., childcare, eldercare), due to the coronavirus pandemic
A3_6 Family responsibilities, for reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic
A3_7 Chronic illness or permanent disability
A3_8 Suitable job not available
A3_9 Did not need or want to work
32

A3_10 Other reason (specify)
SDR A4 - current
Prior to the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, when did you last work for pay or profit?
MM/YYYY
SDR A5 - current
What was the title of the last job you held prior to the week of {REFERENCE DATE}?
Example: Physics professor
[Call the autocoding occupation dictionary and compare job title (A5) to list.
If there is a match, set job code to the autocode value and go to SDR A6 - current.
If there is no match, go to occupation coding module, then go to SDR A6 - current.]
SDR A6 - current
What kind of work were you doing on this last job – that is, what were your duties and responsibilities
on your last job? Please be as specific as possible, including any area of specialization.
Example: Taught physics and conducted research. Specialized in high energy physics.
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is used to determine the types of jobs held by the doctoral
population and to study employment patterns. Please answer to the best of your ability.”
If no response given at A5, A6 and no job code, go to SDR CLOSE3. Else, go to E1.]
SDR CLOSE3 - Modified
This is one of the few questions that are critical to this survey, and we cannot continue with questions
about your current employment without your answer to this question. Would you please reconsider
and answer the question as best as you can?
Click "Previous" to return to the question and provide an answer.
Click "Next" to continue.
Previous – go to SDR A6
Next – go to RAS section
SDR A8 - current
Although you were working during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, had you previously retired
from any position?
Examples of retirement include mandatory retirement, early retirement, or voluntary retirement.
Yes – go to Year Retired
No – go to SDR A9
33

SDR A8YY - current
In what year did you previously retire?
YEAR: _____ (YYYY)
INTRO1
The following questions ask about your principal employer during the week of [REFERENCE DATE].
SDR A9 - current
Who was your principal employer during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}?
If you had more than one job, report the one for which you worked the most hours that week.
If your employer had more than one location, report the location that employed you.
If you worked for a contracting or consulting company, report the name of that company, not the client
organization.
Employer Name:
Department or Division:
City/Town:
State:
Or {Country}:
ZIP/Postal Code:
SDR A10 – Current
Which one of the following best describes your principal employer during the week of {REFERENCE
DATE}? Were you...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
9

SELF-EMPLOYED or a BUSINESS OWNER
In a non-incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
In an incorporated business, professional practice, or farm
PRIVATE SECTOR employee
In a for-profit company or organization
In a non-profit organization (including tax-exempt and charitable organizations)
U.S. GOVERNMENT employee
In a local government in the U.S. (e.g., city, county, school district)
In a U.S. state government (including U.S. state colleges/universities)
In the U.S. military service, active duty or Commissioned Corps (e.g., USPHS, NOAA)
In the U.S. federal government (e.g., civilian employee)
OTHER type of employee
In a non-U.S. government (at any level)
Other (specify)

[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is a key employment characteristic of the academic doctoral
population in the United States. Please answer as best as you can.”]

34

SDR A11 - current
What was {that employer's/your} main business or industry - that is what did {that employer/your
business} make or do?
Please refer to your {principal employer/business} during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.
If {your principal employer/you} had more than one type of business, report the type of business
primarily performed at the location where you worked.
Example: Production of microprocessor chips
MAIN BUSINESS:__________
SDR A12 - current
Counting all locations where {this employer/your business} operates, how many people work for
{your principal employer/your business}? Your best estimate is fine.
Select one answer.
10 or fewer employees
11-24 employees
25-99 employees
100-499 employees
500-999 employees
1,000-4,999 employees
5,000-24,999 employees
25,000 or more employees
SDR A14 - current
Was your {principal employer/business} an educational institution?
Please refer to your {principal employer/business} during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.

Yes – Go to SDR A15
No – Go to SDR A19
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is a key employment characteristic used to determine the
sectors where the doctoral population is employed. Please answer as best as you can.”]
SDR A15 - current
Was the educational institution where you worked a…

Please refer to your {principal employer/business} during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.

Preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school or system – Go to A19
Two-year college, community college, or technical institute
Four-year college or university, other than a medical school
Medical school (including university-affiliated hospital or medical center)
35

University-affiliated research institute
Other – specify
SDR A16 - current
During the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, what type of academic position(s) did you hold at this
institution?
Select Yes or No for each item.
A16_1 President, Provost or Chancellor (any level)
A16_2 Dean (any level), department head or department chair
A16_3 Research faculty, scientist, associate or fellow
A16_4 Teaching faculty
A16_5 Adjunct faculty
A16_6 Postdoc (e.g., postdoctoral fellow or associate)
A16_7 Research assistant
A16_8 Teaching assistant
A16_9 Other position (specify)
A16_10 I was not in an academic position (ONLY DISPLAY THIS CATEGORY IF PRIOR CYCLE
WAS CATI MODE)
SDR A17 - current
What was your faculty rank?

Please refer to your faculty rank during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.

Not applicable; no ranks designated at this institution
Not applicable; no ranks designated for my position
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Instructor
Lecturer
Other – Specify
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is a key employment characteristic of the academic doctoral
population in the United States. Please answer as best as you can.”]
SDR A18 - current
What was your tenure status?

Please refer to your tenure status during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.

Select one answer.
Not applicable; no tenure system at this institution
Not applicable; no tenure system for my position
Tenured
On tenure track but not tenured
Not on tenure track
36

[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is a key employment characteristic of the academic doctoral
population in the United States. Please answer as best as you can.”]
SDR A19 - current
What was the title of the principal job you held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}?
Example: Physics professor
[Call the autocoding occupation dictionary and compare job title (A19) to list.
If there is a match, set job code to the autocode value and go to SDR A20.
If there is no match, go to occupation coding module, then go to SDR A20.]
SDR A20 - current
What kind of work were you doing on this job– that is, what were your duties and responsibilities on
your principal job? Please be as specific as possible, including any areas of specialization.
Example: Taught physics and conducted research. Specialized in high energy physics.
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is used to determine the types of jobs held by the doctoral
population and to study employment patterns. Please answer to the best of your ability.”
If no response given at A19, A20 and no job code, go to SDR CLOSE4. Else, go to A26.]
SDR CLOSE4 - Modified
This is one of the few questions that are critical to this survey, and we cannot continue with questions
about your current employment without your answer to this question. Would you please reconsider
and answer the question as best as you can?
Click "Previous" to return to the question and provide an answer.
Click "Next" to continue.
Previous – go to SDR A20
Next – go to RAS section
SDR A26 - current
During what month and year did you start this job (that is, the principal job you held during the week
of {REFERENCE DATE})?
MM/YYYY
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “It is critical that we get an
answer to this question. This information is used to determine the employment changes in the doctoral
population in the United States. Please answer the question as best as you can.”]

37

SDR A30 - current
The next question is about your work activities in your principal job. Which of the following work
activities occupied at least 10 percent of your time during a typical work week on this job?
Please refer to your principal job held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.

Select Yes or No for each item.
A30_1
Accounting, finance, contracts
A30_2
Basic research - study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge primarily for its own
sake
A30_3
Applied research - study directed toward gaining scientific knowledge to meet a
recognized need
A30_4
Development - using knowledge gained from research for the production of materials,
devices
A30_5
Design of equipment, processes, structures, models
A30_6
Computer programming, systems or applications development
A30_7
Human resources - including recruiting, personnel development, training
A30_8
Managing or supervising people or projects
A30_9
Production, operations, maintenance (e.g., chip production, operating lab equipment)
A30_10
Professional services (e.g., health care, counseling, financial services, legal services)
A30_11
Sales, purchasing, marketing, customer service, public relations
A30_12
Quality or productivity management
A30_13
Teaching
A30_14
Other activity (specify)
[SOFT ERROR MESSAGE: If no response given, display error message “Your answers to these
questions are important because it helps describe the kind of work you were doing.”]
SDR A31 - current
A31a: What was the activity on which you worked the most hours during a typical week on this job?
Please refer to the principal job you held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.
A31b: What was the activity on which you worked the second most hours during a typical week on this
job?
Please refer to the principal job you held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.
SDR A32 - current
Did you supervise the work of others as part of the principal job you held during the week of
{REFERENCE DATE}?
Select 'Yes' if you recommended or initiated personnel actions such as hiring, firing, evaluating, or
promoting others.
Teachers: Do not count students.
Yes – go to SDR A33 - current
No – go to SDR A34 - current

38

SDR A33 - current
How many people did you typically…
Supervise directly?
Supervise indirectly through subordinate supervisors?
SDR A34 - current
Thinking about your principal job held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, please rate your
satisfaction with that job’s…
Select one answer for each item.
Very satisfied
Somewhat
Somewhat
Very dissatisfied
satisfied
dissatisfied
Salary
Benefits
Job security
Job location
Opportunities
for advancement
Intellectual
challenge
Level of
responsibility
Degree of
independence
Contribution to
society
SDR A35 - current
How would you rate your overall satisfaction with the principal job you held during the week of
{REFERENCE DATE}?
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
SDR A36 - current
As of the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, what was your basic annual salary on your principal job,
before deductions?
Do not include bonuses, overtime, or additional compensation for summertime teaching or research.
If you are not salaried, please estimate your earned income, excluding business expenses.
(Enter whole numbers only; do not enter commas.)
ANNUAL SALARY/EARNED INCOME: {$}__________.00

39

SDR SALDOLLAR - Current
In which currency did you report your salary above?
1
2

U.S. dollars
Another currency – please specify: ________

SDR A36b – current
(IF NO RESPONSE TO A36) Salary information is important data used to study employment
conditions of the doctoral workforce. If you would rather give your salary in ranges, please indicate
whether your basic annual salary on your principal job as of the week of {REFERENCE DATE} was...
Do not include bonuses, overtime or additional compensation for summertime teaching or research.
If you are not salaried, please estimate your earned income, excluding business expenses.
1
Less than $20,000
2
$20,000 - $34,999
3
$35,000 - $49,999
4
$50,000 - $64,999
5
$65,000 - $79,999
6
$80,000 - $99,999
7
$100,000 - $119,999
8
$120,000 or more
SDR A36e - new
For the principal job you held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}, has your basic annual salary
been affected at any time by the coronavirus pandemic?
Yes – go to SDR A36f
No – go to A37
SDR A36f - new
How has your basic annual salary been affected by the coronavirus pandemic?
Select Yes or No for each item.
A36f _1
It was decreased temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic
A36f _2
It is currently decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic
A36f _3
It was increased temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic
A36f _4
It is currently increased due to the coronavirus pandemic
A36f _5
It was impacted but has returned to normal
A36f _6
I did not receive an expected raise due to the coronavirus pandemic
A36f _7
I no longer have this job

40

SDR A37 - current
Was this salary based on a 52-week year, or less than that?
Include paid vacation and sick leave.
52-week year
Less than 52 weeks – Number of weeks per year: __
SDR A38 - current
During a typical week on your principal job, how many hours did you work?
Please refer to the principal job you held during the week of {REFERENCE DATE}.
Please round to the nearest whole hour.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED PER WEEK: __________
SDR B1 – Current
Were you working for pay or profit during both of these time periods - the week of February 1,
{PRIOR CYCLE YEAR} and the week of {REFERENCE DATE}?
Yes – Go to SDR B2
No – Go to SDR E1
SDR B2 - current
During these two time periods – the week of February 1, 201x and the week of {REFERENCE DATE}
– were you working for…
Same employer and in same type of job – Go to SDR E1
Same employer but in different type of job – Go to SDR B3
Different employer but in same type of job – Go to SDR B3
Different employer and in different type of job- Go to SDR B3
SDR B3 - current
Why did you change your {job/employer/employer and your job}?
Please refer to your employment situations during the weeks of February 1, 201x and {REFERENCE
DATE}.
Select Yes or No for each item.
B3_1 Pay, promotion opportunities
B3_2 Working conditions (e.g., hours, equipment, working environment)
B3_3 Job location
B3_4 Change in career or professional interests
B3_5 Family-related reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., childcare, eldercare)
B3_6 Family-related reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic (e.g., children, spouse's job
moved)
B3_7 School-related reasons (e.g., returned to school, completed a degree)
41

B3_8 Laid off or job terminated due to the coronavirus pandemic
B3_9 Laid off or job terminated, for reasons unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic (includes
company closings, mergers, buyouts, grant or contract ended)
B3_10 Retired
B3_11 Some other reason (specify)
SDR E1 - current
On {REFERENCE DATE}, were you…
Select one answer.
Married
Living in a marriage-like relationship
Widowed
Separated
Divorced
Never married
SDR E7 - current
On {REFERENCE DATE}, were you a…
U.S. citizen
Non-U.S. citizen
Go to Response Analysis Survey.

42