Download:
pdf |
pdfNCVS Supporting Statement Attachments
BJS Authorizing Statute: Title 34, United States Code, Section 10132 ................................. 2
NCVS Control Card ................................................................................................................ 8
CAPI Screenshot of OMB Number and Expiration Date........................................................ 24
NCVS-110 (Factsheet) ........................................................................................................... 25
NCVS-110_SP (Spanish Factsheet) ........................................................................................ 27
NCVS-521 (CAPI Self-Study) .................................................................................................. 29
NCVS-522(I) (Initial Training Guide) ...................................................................................... 237
NCVS-522(I3) (Initial Training Supplemental Trainer Instructions)....................................... 639
NCVS-522.1 (Initial Training Classroom Workbook) ............................................................. 648
NCVS-541 (Reinterview Instrument)..................................................................................... 671
11-170 (CATI Reinterview Training Guide)............................................................................ 722
11-171 (CATI Reinterview Training Workbook) .................................................................... 845
11-172 (CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual) .................................................................. 929
CAPI Reinterview Self-Study ................................................................................................. 956
NCVS-550 (NCVS Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives)....................................... 1039
NCVS-550.1 (NCVS: At A Glance) .......................................................................................... 1953
NCVS-570 (Regional Office Manual) ..................................................................................... 1961
NCVS-572(L) (Initial Contact Letter – Regional and Different Languages)............................ 2149
NCVS-573(L) (Follow-up Interview Letter) ............................................................................ 2164
NCVS-593(L) (Thank You Letter) ........................................................................................... 2173
NCVS-594(L) (Final Interview Thank You Letter)................................................................... 2175
NCVS-1 (Screening Instrument) ............................................................................................ 2177
NCVS-2 (Incident Report) ...................................................................................................... 2188
NCVS-554 (Field Representatives Information Card Booklet) .............................................. 2223
NCVS-551 (NCVS Rotation Chart).......................................................................................... 2256
1/16/2018
34 USC 10132: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Text contains those laws in effect on January 15, 2018
From Title 34-CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Subtitle I-Comprehensive Acts
CHAPTER 101-JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
SUBCHAPTER III-BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
Jump To:
Source Credit
References In Text
Codification
Prior Provisions
Amendments
Effective Date
Miscellaneous
§10132. Bureau of Justice Statistics
(a) Establishment
There is established within the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, a Bureau
of Justice Statistics (hereinafter referred to in this subchapter as "Bureau").
(b) Appointment of Director; experience; authority; restrictions
The Bureau shall be headed by a Director appointed by the President. The Director shall have had experience in
statistical programs. The Director shall have final authority for all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts
awarded by the Bureau. The Director shall be responsible for the integrity of data and statistics and shall protect
against improper or illegal use or disclosure. The Director shall report to the Attorney General through the Assistant
Attorney General. The Director shall not engage in any other employment than that of serving as Director; nor shall the
Director hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any organization, agency, or institution with which the Bureau
makes any contract or other arrangement under this Act.
(c) Duties and functions of Bureau
The Bureau is authorized to(1) make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with public agencies, institutions of higher
education, private organizations, or private individuals for purposes related to this subchapter; grants shall be made
subject to continuing compliance with standards for gathering justice statistics set forth in rules and regulations
promulgated by the Director;
(2) collect and analyze information concerning criminal victimization, including crimes against the elderly, and civil
disputes;
(3) collect and analyze data that will serve as a continuous and comparable national social indication of the
prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution, and attributes of crime, juvenile delinquency, civil disputes, and
other statistical factors related to crime, civil disputes, and juvenile delinquency, in support of national, State, tribal,
and local justice policy and decisionmaking;
(4) collect and analyze statistical information, concerning the operations of the criminal justice system at the
Federal, State, tribal, and local levels;
(5) collect and analyze statistical information concerning the prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution, and
attributes of crime, and juvenile delinquency, at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels;
(6) analyze the correlates of crime, civil disputes and juvenile delinquency, by the use of statistical information,
about criminal and civil justice systems at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels, and about the extent,
distribution and attributes of crime, and juvenile delinquency, in the Nation and at the Federal, State, tribal, and local
levels;
(7) compile, collate, analyze, publish, and disseminate uniform national statistics concerning all aspects of criminal
justice and related aspects of civil justice, crime, including crimes against the elderly, juvenile delinquency, criminal
offenders, juvenile delinquents, and civil disputes in the various States and in Indian country;
(8) recommend national standards for justice statistics and for insuring the reliability and validity of justice statistics
supplied pursuant to this chapter;
(9) maintain liaison with the judicial branches of the Federal Government and State and tribal governments in
matters relating to justice statistics, and cooperate with the judicial branch in assuring as much uniformity as feasible
in statistical systems of the executive and judicial branches;
(10) provide information to the President, the Congress, the judiciary, State, tribal, and local governments, and the
general public on justice statistics;
1/6
1/16/2018
(11) establish or assist in the establishment of a system to provide State, tribal, and local governments with access
to Federal informational resources useful in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs under this Act;
(12) conduct or support research relating to methods of gathering or analyzing justice statistics;
(13) provide for the development of justice information systems programs and assistance to the States, Indian
tribes, and units of local government relating to collection, analysis, or dissemination of justice statistics;
(14) develop and maintain a data processing capability to support the collection, aggregation, analysis and
dissemination of information on the incidence of crime and the operation of the criminal justice system;
(15) collect, analyze and disseminate comprehensive Federal justice transaction statistics (including statistics on
issues of Federal justice interest such as public fraud and high technology crime) and to provide technical assistance
to and work jointly with other Federal agencies to improve the availability and quality of Federal justice data;
(16) provide for the collection, compilation, analysis, publication and dissemination of information and statistics
about the prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution and attributes of drug offenses, drug related offenses and
drug dependent offenders and further provide for the establishment of a national clearinghouse to maintain and
update a comprehensive and timely data base on all criminal justice aspects of the drug crisis and to disseminate
such information;
(17) provide for the collection, analysis, dissemination and publication of statistics on the condition and progress of
drug control activities at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels with particular attention to programs and
intervention efforts demonstrated to be of value in the overall national anti-drug strategy and to provide for the
establishment of a national clearinghouse for the gathering of data generated by Federal, State, tribal, and local
criminal justice agencies on their drug enforcement activities;
(18) provide for the development and enhancement of State, tribal, and local criminal justice information systems,
and the standardization of data reporting relating to the collection, analysis or dissemination of data and statistics
about drug offenses, drug related offenses, or drug dependent offenders;
(19) provide for improvements in the accuracy, quality, timeliness, immediate accessibility, and integration of State
and tribal criminal history and related records, support the development and enhancement of national systems of
criminal history and related records including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the National
Incident-Based Reporting System, and the records of the National Crime Information Center, facilitate State and
tribal participation in national records and information systems, and support statistical research for critical analysis of
the improvement and utilization of criminal history records;
(20) maintain liaison with State, tribal, and local governments and governments of other nations concerning justice
statistics;
(21) cooperate in and participate with national and international organizations in the development of uniform
justice statistics;
(22) ensure conformance with security and privacy requirement of section 10231 of this title and identify, analyze,
and participate in the development and implementation of privacy, security and information policies which impact on
Federal, tribal, and State criminal justice operations and related statistical activities; and
(23) exercise the powers and functions set out in subchapter VII.
(d) Justice statistical collection, analysis, and dissemination
(1) In general
To ensure that all justice statistical collection, analysis, and dissemination is carried out in a coordinated manner,
the Director is authorized to(A) utilize, with their consent, the services, equipment, records, personnel, information, and facilities of other
Federal, State, local, and private agencies and instrumentalities with or without reimbursement therefor, and to
enter into agreements with such agencies and instrumentalities for purposes of data collection and analysis;
(B) confer and cooperate with State, municipal, and other local agencies;
(C) request such information, data, and reports from any Federal agency as may be required to carry out the
purposes of this chapter;
(D) seek the cooperation of the judicial branch of the Federal Government in gathering data from criminal justice
records;
(E) encourage replication, coordination and sharing among justice agencies regarding information systems,
information policy, and data; and
(F) confer and cooperate with Federal statistical agencies as needed to carry out the purposes of this
subchapter, including by entering into cooperative data sharing agreements in conformity with all laws and
regulations applicable to the disclosure and use of data.
(2) Consultation with Indian tribes
The Director, acting jointly with the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (acting through the Office of Justice
Services) and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall work with Indian tribes and tribal law
enforcement agencies to establish and implement such tribal data collection systems as the Director determines to
be necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.
(e) Furnishing of information, data, or reports by Federal agencies
Federal agencies requested to furnish information, data, or reports pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(C) shall provide
such information to the Bureau as is required to carry out the purposes of this section.
2/6
1/16/2018
(f) Consultation with representatives of State, tribal, and local government and judiciary
In recommending standards for gathering justice statistics under this section, the Director shall consult with
representatives of State, tribal, and local government, including, where appropriate, representatives of the judiciary.
(g) Reports
Not later than 1 year after July 29, 2010, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report
describing the data collected and analyzed under this section relating to crimes in Indian country.
(Pub. L. 90–351, title I, §302, as added Pub. L. 96–157, §2, Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1176 ; amended Pub. L. 98–473,
title II, §605(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2079 ; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §6092(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4339 ; Pub.
L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330001(h)(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2139 ; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, §1115(a), Jan. 5,
2006, 119 Stat. 3103 ; Pub. L. 111–211, title II, §251(b), July 29, 2010, 124 Stat. 2297 ; Pub. L. 112–166, §2(h)(1), Aug.
10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1285 .)
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(11), is Pub. L. 90–351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 197 , known as
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title of 1968 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.
CODIFICATION
Section was formerly classified to section 3732 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to
editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 302 of Pub. L. 90–351, title I, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 200 ; Pub. L. 93–83, §2, Aug. 6, 1973,
87 Stat. 201 ; Pub. L. 94–503, title I, §110, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2412 , related to establishment of State
planning agencies to develop comprehensive State plans for grants for law enforcement and criminal
justice purposes, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–157.
AMENDMENTS
2012-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–166 struck out ", by and with the advice and consent of the Senate" before
period at end of first sentence.
2010-Subsec. (c)(3) to (6). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(A), inserted "tribal," after "State," wherever
appearing.
Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(B), inserted "and in Indian country" after "States".
Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(C), substituted "Federal Government and State and tribal
governments" for "Federal and State Governments".
Subsec. (c)(10), (11). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(D), inserted ", tribal," after "State".
Subsec. (c)(13). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(E), inserted ", Indian tribes," after "States".
Subsec. (c)(17). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(F), substituted "activities at the Federal, State, tribal, and
local" for "activities at the Federal, State and local" and "generated by Federal, State, tribal, and local" for
"generated by Federal, State, and local".
Subsec. (c)(18). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(G), substituted "State, tribal, and local" for "State and
local".
Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(H), inserted "and tribal" after "State" in two places.
Subsec. (c)(20). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(I), inserted ", tribal," after "State".
Subsec. (c)(22). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(1)(J), inserted ", tribal," after "Federal".
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(2), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. (1)
heading, substituted "To ensure" for "To insure", redesignated former pars. (1) to (6) as subpars. (A) to
(F), respectively, of par. (1), realigned margins, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(3), substituted "subsection (d)(1)(C)" for "subsection (d)(3)".
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(4)(B), inserted ", tribal," after "State".
Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(4)(A), which directed insertion of ", tribal," after "State" in heading, was
executed editorially but could not be executed in original because heading had been editorially supplied.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–211, §251(b)(5), added subsec. (g).
2006-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–162, §1115(a)(1), inserted after third sentence "The Director shall be
responsible for the integrity of data and statistics and shall protect against improper or illegal use or
disclosure."
Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 109–162, §1115(a)(2), amended par. (19) generally. Prior to amendment, par.
(19) read as follows: "provide for research and improvements in the accuracy, completeness, and
inclusiveness of criminal history record information, information systems, arrest warrant, and stolen
3/6
1/16/2018
vehicle record information and information systems and support research concerning the accuracy,
completeness, and inclusiveness of other criminal justice record information;".
Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 109–162, §1115(a)(3), added par. (6).
1994-Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted a semicolon for period at end.
1988-Subsec. (c)(16) to (23). Pub. L. 100–690 added pars. (16) to (19) and redesignated former pars.
(16) to (19) as (20) to (23), respectively.
1984-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(1), inserted provision requiring Director to report to Attorney
General through Assistant Attorney General.
Subsec. (c)(13). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(A), (C), added par. (13) and struck out former par. (13)
relating to provision of financial and technical assistance to States and units of local government relating
to collection, analysis, or dissemination of justice statistics.
Subsec. (c)(14), (15). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(C), added pars. (14) and (15). Former pars. (14) and
(15) redesignated (16) and (17), respectively.
Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(A), (B), redesignated par. (14) as (16) and struck out former
par. (16) relating to insuring conformance with security and privacy regulations issued under section 10231
of this title.
Subsec. (c)(17). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(B), redesignated par. (15) as (17). Former par. (17)
redesignated (19).
Subsec. (c)(18). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(D), added par. (18).
Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(2)(B), redesignated former par. (17) as (19).
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(3)(A), inserted ", and to enter into agreements with such
agencies and instrumentalities for purposes of data collection and analysis".
Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 98–473, §605(b)(3)(B)–(D), added par. (5).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2012 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 112–166 effective 60 days after Aug. 10, 2012, and applicable to appointments
made on and after that effective date, including any nomination pending in the Senate on that date, see
section 6(a) of Pub. L. 112–166, set out as a note under section 113 of Title 6, Domestic Security.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out
as an Effective Date note under section 10101 of this title.
CONSTRUCTION OF 2010 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 111–211, title II, §251(c), July 29, 2010, 124 Stat. 2298 , provided that: "Nothing in this section
[amending this section and section 41507 of this title] or any amendment made by this section"(1) allows the grant to be made to, or used by, an entity for law enforcement activities that the
entity lacks jurisdiction to perform; or
"(2) has any effect other than to authorize, award, or deny a grant of funds to a federally
recognized Indian tribe for the purposes described in the relevant grant program."
[For definition of "Indian tribe" as used in section 251(c) of Pub. L. 111–211, set out above, see section
203(a) of Pub. L. 111–211, set out as a note under section 2801 of Title 25, Indians.]
INCLUSION OF HONOR VIOLENCE IN NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title II, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2191 , provided in part: "That beginning not later
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [div. B of Pub. L. 113–235, Dec. 16, 2014], as part of
each National Crime Victimization Survey, the Attorney General shall include statistics relating to honor
violence".
STUDY OF CRIMES AGAINST SENIORS
Pub. L. 106–534, §5, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2557 , provided that:
"(a) IN GENERAL.-The Attorney General shall conduct a study relating to crimes against seniors, in order
to assist in developing new strategies to prevent and otherwise reduce the incidence of those crimes.
"(b) ISSUES ADDRESSED.-The study conducted under this section shall include an analysis of"(1) the nature and type of crimes perpetrated against seniors, with special focus on"(A) the most common types of crimes that affect seniors;
"(B) the nature and extent of telemarketing, sweepstakes, and repair fraud against seniors;
and
"(C) the nature and extent of financial and material fraud targeted at seniors;
"(2) the risk factors associated with seniors who have been victimized;
4/6
1/16/2018
"(3) the manner in which the Federal and State criminal justice systems respond to crimes against
seniors;
"(4) the feasibility of States establishing and maintaining a centralized computer database on the
incidence of crimes against seniors that will promote the uniform identification and reporting of such
crimes;
"(5) the effectiveness of damage awards in court actions and other means by which seniors
receive reimbursement and other damages after fraud has been established; and
"(6) other effective ways to prevent or reduce the occurrence of crimes against seniors."
INCLUSION OF SENIORS IN NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
Pub. L. 106–534, §6, Nov. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 2557 , provided that: "Beginning not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 22, 2000], as part of each National Crime Victimization Survey, the
Attorney General shall include statistics relating to"(1) crimes targeting or disproportionately affecting seniors;
"(2) crime risk factors for seniors, including the times and locations at which crimes victimizing
seniors are most likely to occur; and
"(3) specific characteristics of the victims of crimes who are seniors, including age, gender, race or
ethnicity, and socioeconomic status."
CRIME VICTIMS WITH DISABILITIES AWARENESS
Pub. L. 105–301, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2838 , as amended by Pub. L. 106–402, title IV, §401(b)(10), Oct.
30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1739 , provided that:
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'Crime Victims With Disabilities Awareness Act'.
"SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.
"(a) FINDINGS.-Congress finds that"(1) although research conducted abroad demonstrates that individuals with developmental
disabilities are at a 4 to 10 times higher risk of becoming crime victims than those without disabilities,
there have been no significant studies on this subject conducted in the United States;
"(2) in fact, the National Crime Victim's Survey, conducted annually by the Bureau of Justice
Statistics of the Department of Justice, does not specifically collect data relating to crimes against
individuals with developmental disabilities;
"(3) studies in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain consistently show that victims with
developmental disabilities suffer repeated victimization because so few of the crimes against them are
reported, and even when they are, there is sometimes a reluctance by police, prosecutors, and judges
to rely on the testimony of a disabled individual, making individuals with developmental disabilities a
target for criminal predators;
"(4) research in the United States needs to be done to"(A) understand the nature and extent of crimes against individuals with developmental
disabilities;
"(B) describe the manner in which the justice system responds to crimes against individuals
with developmental disabilities; and
"(C) identify programs, policies, or laws that hold promises for making the justice system more
responsive to crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; and
"(5) the National Academy of Science Committee on Law and Justice of the National Research
Council is a premier research institution with unique experience in developing seminal, multidisciplinary
studies to establish a strong research base from which to make public policy.
"(b) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this Act are"(1) to increase public awareness of the plight of victims of crime who are individuals with
developmental disabilities;
"(2) to collect data to measure the extent of the problem of crimes against individuals with
developmental disabilities; and
"(3) to develop a basis to find new strategies to address the safety and justice needs of victims of
crime who are individuals with developmental disabilities.
"SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.
"In this Act, the term 'developmental disability' has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 15002].
"SEC. 4. STUDY.
5/6
1/16/2018
"(a) IN GENERAL.-The Attorney General shall conduct a study to increase knowledge and information
about crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities that will be useful in developing new
strategies to reduce the incidence of crimes against those individuals.
"(b) ISSUES ADDRESSED.-The study conducted under this section shall address such issues as"(1) the nature and extent of crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities;
"(2) the risk factors associated with victimization of individuals with developmental disabilities;
"(3) the manner in which the justice system responds to crimes against individuals with
developmental disabilities; and
"(4) the means by which States may establish and maintain a centralized computer database on
the incidence of crimes against individuals with disabilities within a State.
"(c) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.-In carrying out this section, the Attorney General shall consider
contracting with the Committee on Law and Justice of the National Research Council of the National
Academy of Sciences to provide research for the study conducted under this section.
"(d) REPORT.-Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 27, 1998], the
Attorney General shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report describing the results of the study conducted under this section.
"SEC. 5. NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM'S SURVEY.
"Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, as part of each National Crime Victim's
Survey, the Attorney General shall include statistics relating to"(1) the nature of crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; and
"(2) the specific characteristics of the victims of those crimes."
6/6
NCVS-500 Control Card (2010 Sample Design)
KEY
Blue Diamond and text = Field Representative Instructions
[ ] Red Brackets and text = Instrument Instructions/Skip Instructions
[Green Text] = Automatically filled by instrument as appropriate
Bold Text = Question text is read aloud to the respondent
Gray Text = Optional for Field Representative to read out loud
NOTES
“Empty” means never previously answered
“Verify” means the Field Representative sees the answer prefilled from the previous enumeration period
Instrument Screen Name
START_CP
[Appears during ALL Enumeration Periods]
CENSUS CATI/CAPI SYSTEM
National Crime Victimization Survey
Case Status is: New Case
Date is: [Today’s Date Appears]
Time is: [Current Time Appears]
Incoming/Continuing Case: [Will specify whether this is an Incoming Case or Continuing Case]
Interview Number: [Will specify which interview this is from 01 to 07]
Confirmed Refusal: [Will Specify Yes or No]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Telephone interview
Personal interview (See notes)
Personal interview (SKIP all notes and go to GEN_INTRO_CP)
Nointerview (TYPE A/B/C)
Ready to transmit case – no followup (TYPE Z’s)
Quit: Do not attempt now
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
[Verify 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
LN
Status of household composition
NAME
REL
MEMBER
SEX
AGE
STATUS
PHONE #
1. Enter 1 to continue
1
SHOW_INFO_CP
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
GEN_INTRO_CP
INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS SCREEN INTERVIEW
Press Control-F7 to view case level notes
Press Control-T to view interview time preference
1. Enter 1 to Continue
[Appears during ALL Enumeration Periods]
Identify yourself and show I.D.
Hello. I’m (YOUR NAME)… from the U.S. Census Bureau. Here is my identification.
If new household – give introductory letter and allow time to read
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period]
ASK TO SPEAK TO: Eligible respondent (a household member at least 18 years of age
and knowledgeable about the household)
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
ASK TO SPEAK TO: [Household Respondent]
[Appears during ALL Enumeration Periods]
Household address is:[Address Displayed]
1. Respondent available
2. Respondent not available (SKIP to VERIFY [F10])
3. Unavailable through closeout
[Pop Up Screen: Are you sure this person is unavailable through closeout? If so, you
must select a new household respondent.]
CAPI_INTRO_B
Is respondent ready to complete the interview?
1. Continue
(SKIP to GETLETTER_CP during 1st Enumeration Period)
(SKIP to HHNUM_VR_CP during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
2. Inconvenient time. Callback needed.
(SKIP to VERIFY [F10])
3. Reluctant respondent – hold for refusal follow-up
(SKIP to VERIFY [F10] during 1st Enumeration Period)
(SKIP to HHNUM_VR_CP during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
4. Other outcome-problem/select new household respondent
VERIFY
(SKIP to HHNUM_VR_CP during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
5. Wrong address (wrong case selected) (SKIP to VERIFY [F10])
[This screen appears only when GEN_INTRO_CP = 2 and when CAPI_INTRO_B = 2, 3, or 4]
Review information listed below
Do you need to make any changes?
Press “Control T” to review/update interview time preference.
TELEPHONEOK: Yes
Telephone1: () – Extn: Type:
Telephone2: () – Extn: Type:
Telephone3: () – Extn: Type:
2
HHNUM_VR_CP
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
Is this a replacement household?
If unsure, enter 2 (No)
1. Yes (SKIP to CK_REPLACE_CP)
2. No (SKIP to GETLETTER_CP)
CK_REPLACE_CP
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
A replacement household means that there are NO members of the household
interviewed during the previous enumeration period living at this address.
Are you sure this is a replacement household?
1. Yes
[Pop Up Screen: This is the last screen before the roster and all incoming data is
deleted and must be re-entered. You are about to start a new case and this action
cannot be undone without the case being restarted. If “Yes”, click SUPPRESS]
2. No
GETLETTER_CP
IF NECESSARY: Hello I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
I’m here concerning the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is
conducting a survey here and throughout the Nation to determine how often people
are victims of crime.
[Read during 1st Enumeration Period]
Did you receive our introductory letter in the mail?
[Read during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
VERADD_CP
We contacted your household for this survey several months ago. Did you receive our
introductory letter in the mail?
If “No” or “Don’t know” give respondent an introductory letter and allow time to
read.
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don’t know
I have your address listed as …
Read below
[Address Appears]
Is that your exact address?
1. SAME address
(SKIP to MAILINGSAME_CP during 1st Enumeration Period)
(SKIP to CHNGPH_CP during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
2. MOVED (NOT same address)
3. Haven’t moved, but address has changed (SKIP to CHNGPH_CP)
4. Incorrect address previously recorded (SKIP to CHNGPH_CP)
3
MOVED_CP
[This screen appears only when VERADD_CP = 2 during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
Since your address rather than you personally was chosen for inclusion in the survey, no interview is
required of you at this time. Thank you for your past cooperation. The help you gave us was an
important contribution to the National Crime Victimization Survey data.
1. Enter 1 to continue
[Pop Up Screen: This case needs to be made a replacement household. Press GOTO to
continue.]
CHNGPH_CP
Do not ask
Do you need to change the current phone number?
CURRENT NUMBER: () – EXT:
1. Yes (SKIP to NEWPH_CP)
2. No (SKIP to NEWADDHNO_CP during 1st Enumeration Period)
(SKIP to MAILINGSAME_CP during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
Update Physical Address Information Screen Begins
NEWPH_CP through NEWADDGQDESCRIPTION_CP appear on the same screen.
NEWPH_CP
What is the area code and telephone number where you would like to be called?
Record new number
Enter 0 for no telephone number
NEWADDHNO_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new house number; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWADDHNOSUF_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new house suffix; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWADDSTRNAME_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new street name; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWADDUNITES_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new unit designation; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWADDNONCITYSTYLEADDRESS_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter non-city style address; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
4
NEWADDPHYSDESCRIPTION_CP
NEWADDCITY_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new physical location description; otherwise press
“Enter” to continue
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new city name; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWADDSTATE_CP
NEWADDZIP5_CP
NEWADDZIP4_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new state abbreviation; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter 5-digit ZIP code; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new 4-digit ZIP code; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWADDBUILDINGNAME_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new building name; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWADDGQDESCRIPTION_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new group description; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
Update Physical Address Information Screen Ends
ADRCHECK_CP
Enter reason why address information provided by respondent did not match
display address
OLDADDRESS
NEWADDRESS
[Address Displayed]
[Address Displayed]
HOUSE NUMBER
NON-CITY STYLE ADDRESS
11. House number was incorrect
12. House number was missing/blank
HOUSE NUMBER SUFFIX
13. House number suffix was incorrect (e.g. A instead of B)
14. House number suffix was missing
STREET NAME
5
15. Street name was correct but misspelled (e.g. Pak instead ok Oak Street)
16. Street name was not correct (e.g. Oak instead of Pickford)
UNIT DESIGNATION
17. Unit designation was incorrect (e.g. A instead of 1)
18. Unit design was missing
19. Non city style address was incorrect (P.O. Box 12 instead of P.O. Box 121)
ZIP CODE
20. ZIP code was missing or incorrect
STATE
21. State was missing or incorrect (ME instead of MD)
CITY
22. City name was missing or incorrect
GROUP QUARTERS
23. Group quarters name was missing or incorrect
24. Building name was missing or incorrect
25. 911 Address Conversion
MAILINGSAME_CP
Is your mailing address still the same as your physical address?
1. Yes (SKIP to TENURE during 1st , 3rd, 5th, and 7th Enumeration Periods)
(SKIP to STUDENTHOUSING during 2nd, 4th, and 6th Enumeration Periods)
2. No (SKIP to VERIFYMAILING_CP)
VERIFYMAILING_CP
Read mailing address
I have your mailing address as…
MAILING ADDRESS:
[Address Displayed]
Is that correct?
1. Yes (SKIP to TENURE)
2. No (SKIP to NEWMAILHNO_CP)
Update Mailing Address Information Screen Begins
NEWMAILHNO_CP through NEWMAILGQDESCRIPTION_CP appear on the same screen.
NEWMAILHNO_CP
OLD MAILING ADDRESS:
[Previous Address Displayed]
If incorrect or missing, enter new house number; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILHNOSUF_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new house number suffix; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILSTRNAME_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new street name; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
6
NEWMAILUNITES_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new unit designation; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILNONCITYSTYLEADDRESS_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter non-city style address; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILCITY_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new city name; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWMAILSTATE_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new state abbreviation; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILZIP5_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter 5-digit ZIP code; otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWMAILZIP4_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new 4-digit ZIP code; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
NEWMAILGQDESCRIPTION_CP
OLD ADDRESS:
[Address Appears]
If incorrect or missing, enter new group description; otherwise press “Enter” to
continue
Update Mailing Address Information Screen Ends
TENURE
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period or when empty. Verify during 3rd, 5th and 7th Enumeration Periods]
Ask or verify
Are your living quarters...
Read answer categories.
1. Owned or being bought by you or someone in your household?
2. Rented for cash?
3. Occupied without payment of cash rent?
7
STUDENTHOUSING
[Verify each Enumeration Period]
If apparent, enter precode without asking.
Are your living quarters presently used as student housing by a college or university?
1. Yes
2. No
PUBLICHOUSING
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period or when empty]
[If box 1 is marked in item TENURE, SKIP to INDIANRESERVATIONHU]
[If box 2 or box 3 is marked in TENURE, ask below]
Is this building owned by a public housing authority?
1. Yes, public housing – (SKIP to PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY)
2. No, not public housing – (SKIP to INDIANRESERVATIONHU)
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY
[Appears when PUBLICHOUSING = 1]
If possible, verify PUBLICHOUSING entry of 1 (Yes) with the manager of building.
Able to verify
1. Public housing
2. Not public housing
Unable to verify
3. Telephone
4. Other – Specify
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFYSPEC
[Appears when PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY = 4]
Specify the reason why you are unable to verify the public housing status for this
housing unit.
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
FARMSALES
If apparent, enter precode without asking.
Are your living quarters located on an American Indian Reservation or on American
Indian Lands?
1. Yes
2. No
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty, and address is in rural area]
ACCESS
During the past 12 months did sales of crops, livestock, and other farm products from
this place amount to $1,000 or more?
1. Yes
2. No
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Please mark whether or not the sample household has direct access to their living
quarters.
1. Direct
2. Through another unit - Not a separate HU; combine with unit through which access is
Gained
8
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Please select one box that describes the type of housing unit.
1. House, apartment, flat
2. HU in nontransient hotel, motel, etc.
3. HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
4. HU in rooming house
5. Mobile home or trailer with no permanent room added
6. Mobile home or trailer with one or more permanent rooms attached
7. HU not specified above - Describe
8. Quarters not HU in rooming or boarding house
9. Unit not permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
10. Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
11. Student quarters in college dormitory
12. Other unit not specified above – Describe
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNITSPEC7
[Appears when TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT = 7]
Please specify the other type of "Housing Unit".
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNITSPEC12
[Appears when TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT = 12]
NUMBEROFUNITS
Please specify the other type of "Other Unit".
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Observe or ask
How many housing units are in this structure?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5-9
6. 10+
7. Mobile home/trailer
8. Only OTHER units
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Observe or ask
Does the unit have an outside entrance, patio doors, or windows, etc., on the ground
level - or outside stairs leading directly to this unit?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know
GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a gated or walled community that restricts access by non-residents or
requires entry codes, key cards, or security guard approval to access?
1. Yes
2. No
9
RESTRICTEDACCESS
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a building that requires a special entry system such as entry codes, key
cards, or security guard approval to access?
1. Yes
2. No
Begin Initial Roster Loop
Appears when a household roster is being first established.
(Repeat for each household member)
HHROSTER_FNAME
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
What are the names of all people living or staying here?
Start with the person or one of the people who [owns/rents] this home.
Enter first name on this screen.
To change a non-member already listed on this roster to a member use the
up/down arrow to go to MEMBERCHANGES and enter the reason why this person is
now a member.
Enter 999 to leave the table.
HHROSTER_LNAME
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
SEX
What are the names of all people living or staying here?
Start with the name of the person or one of the people who [owns/rents] this home.
Enter last name on this screen.
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Ask if necessary
Is [household member name] male or female?
1. Male
2. Female
RELATIONSHIP
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Review the relationship of other household members to the new reference person
and update these relationships if necessary.
What is [household member name]’s relationship to [reference person]?
11. Husband
12. Wife
13. Son
14. Daughter
15. Father
16. Mother
17. Brother
18. Sister
19. Other Relative
20. Non Relative
10
HHMEMBER
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
HSEMEMURE
Does [household member name] usually live here?
If "No", probe for usual residence elsewhere.
1. Yes
2. No
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when empty]
Does [household member name] have a usual place of residence elsewhere?
1. Yes
2. No
End Initial Roster Loop
Begin Verify Roster Section
Appears if a roster has been established in a previous enumeration.
NAMECHECK
[Verify during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
I have [Read names below] listed as living or staying at this address.
[The name and information of each household member from the previous enumeration period will appear in a table
below.]
LINE NUMBER NAME RELATIONSHIP AGE SEX MARITAL STATUS STATUS
Are ALL of these people still living or staying at this address?
1. Yes (SKIP to MEMBERCHANGES if missing demographic data, else SKIP to HHLDCOVERAGE)
2. No (SKIP to REFPERSTILLLIVE)
REFPERSTILLLIVE
[Appears when NAMECHECK = 2]
NEWREFPER
Does [reference person name] still live at this address?
1. Yes
2. No (SKIP to NEWREFPER)
[Appears when REFPERSTILLLIVE = 2]
What is the name of the person (or one of the persons) who owns or rents that home?
Would that be you?
Enter line number, or 31 if someone not listed
[The name and information of each household member from the previous enumeration period will appear in a table
below.]
LINE NUMBER NAME RELATIONSHIP SEX AGE MARITAL STATUS STATUS
01.-30. Line number 01 – Line number 30 [Names on line number 1 up to line number 30 are
displayed.]
31. Someone not listed above
Begin Verify Roster Loop
(Repeat for each household member)
MEMBERCHANGES
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member enters or leaves]
Enter reason why there is a change in household membership for this person.
If no change is needed for this person, press the ENTER key without selecting a
precode.
11
Use the arrow keys to move through the table and REVIEW/UPDATE demographics.
When done, press Page Down.
WHY ENTERED HOUSEHOLD:
11. Returned from school or college
12. Returned from institution
13. Entered because of marriage/separation/divorce
14. Person entered household for reasons other than above
WHY LEFT HOUSEHOLD:
15. Person died
16. Left for school or college
17. Entered institution
18. Left because of marriage/separation/divorce
19. Person left household for reasons other than above
20. Visitor - residence elsewhere
HHROSTER_FNAME
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
What is the name of the person/people that is/are new to the household?
Enter first name on this screen.
To change a non-member already listed on this roster to a member use the
up/down arrow to go to MEMBERCHANGES and enter the reason why this person is
now a member.
Enter 999 to leave the table.
HHROSTER_LNAME
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
SEX
What is the name of the person/people that is/are new to the household?
Enter last name on this screen.
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
Ask if necessary
Is [household member name] male or female?
1. Male
2. Female
RELATIONSHIP
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
Review the relationship of other household members to the new reference person
and update these relationships if necessary.
What is [household member name]’s relationship to [reference person]?
11. Husband
12. Wife
13. Son
14. Daughter
15. Father
16. Mother
17. Brother
18. Sister
19. Other relative
20. Nonrelative
12
HHMEMBER
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
HSEMEMURE
Does [household member name] usually live here?
If "No", probe for usual residence elsewhere.
1. Yes (SKIP to HHLDCOVERAGE)
2. No (SKIP to HSEMEMURE)
[Appears during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods when new household member is added to roster]
Does [household member name] have a usual place of residence elsewhere?
1. Yes
2. No
End Verify Roster Loop
End Verify Roster Section
HHLDCOVERAGE
[Verify each Enumeration Period]
Have I missed anyone else living or staying here/there such as any babies, any lodgers,
or anyone who is away at present traveling or in the hospital?
[The name of each household member given will appear in a table below.]
ENTIREHHURE
LINE NUMBER
1. Yes
2. No
NAME
[Appears when all people on the household roster have a usual residence elsewhere]
All people on the household roster have a usual residence elsewhere.
Enter 1 to exit this case.
Then, reenter this case to code it a Noninterview (Type B - Entire Household URE)
via START_CP.
Enter 1 to Continue
[Appears when all household members no longer live at residence .]
PICK1STHHRESP
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period, or when household respondent is changed]
Enter the line number for the person with whom you are speaking.
This person should be at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable about the
household.
[The name of each household member given will appear in a table below.]
LINE NUMBER NAME
Begin Additional Demographic Loop
Appears when a household is being first established AND when a household roster has been previously
established.
(Repeat for each household member)
AGECHECK
[Verify during 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Enumeration Periods]
I have [you/household member name] listed as [calculated age] years old.
Is that correct?
1. Yes, age IS correct
2. No, age is NOT correct
13
BRTHDATEMO
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period]
BRTHDATEDY
What is [your/household member name] date of birth?
Enter month on this screen.
1. January
2. February
3. March
4. April
5. May
6. June
7. July
8. August
9. September
10. October
11. November
12. December
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period]
BRTHDATEYR
What is [your/household member name] date of birth?
Enter day on this screen
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period]
VFYAGE
What is [your/household member name] date of birth?
Enter year on this screen
If year is less than 1890, enter 1890
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period]
ESTAGE
That would make [you/household member name] [calculated age] years old.
Is that correct?
1. Yes
2. No
[Appears when BRTHDATEYR is Don’t Know]
[Appears for household respondent]
Even though you don't know your exact birthdate, what is your approximate age?
[Appears for household member]
AGERNG
Even though you don't know [household member name]’s exact birthdate, what is
your best guess as to how old he/she was on his/her last birthday?
[Appears when BRTHDATEYR is Don’t Know, and ESTAGE is Don’t Know or Refused] OR
[Appears when BRTHDATEYR is Refused]
[Appears for household respondent]
Are you between 18 and 65 years old? 66 or older?
Are you…
[Appears for household member]
Is [he/she] a child, a teenager, or an adult?
Is [he/she]…
14
MARITAL
Read appropriate age categories.
1. 0 - 11 years old?
2. 12 - 13 years old?
3. 14 - 15 years old?
4. 16 - 17 years old?
5. 18 - 24 years old?
6. 25 - 34 years old?
7. 35 - 49 years old?
8. 50 - 65 years old?
9. 66 years old or older?
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period]
Enter new marital status for [household member name]
LAST REPORTED AS: MARITAL
If in doubt, ask:
[Are/Is] [you/household member name] now married, widowed, divorced, separated
or [have/has] [you/he/she] never been married?
1. Married
2. Widowed
3. Divorced
4. Separated
5. Never married
ARMEDFORCES
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period for persons 18-65 years old]
LAST REPORTED AS: MILITARY
[Are/Is] [you/household member name] now in the Armed Forces?
1. Yes
2. No
EDUCATIONATTAIN
[Ask or Verify during 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th Enumeration Periods for persons 12 years of age and older]
(Page 6)
LAST REPORTED AS: EDUCATIONATTAIN
What is the highest level of school [you/household member name] completed or the
highest degree [you/he/she] received?
1. 1st grade
2. 2nd grade
3. 3rd grade
4. 4th grade
5. 5th grade
6. 6th grade
7. 7th grade
8. 8th grade
9. 9th grade
10. 10th grade
11. 11th grade
12. 12th grade (No diploma)
13. High school graduate (Diploma or the equivalent)
14. Some college (No Degree)
15. Associate's degree
15
16. Bachelor's degree (e.g. BA, AB, BS)
17. Master's degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEng, MSW, MBA)
18. Professional School degree (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
19. Doctorate degree (PhD, EdD)
20. Never attended, preschool, kindergarten
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
[Ask or Verify each Enumeration Period for persons 12 years of age and older]
SP_ORIGIN
LAST REPORTED AS: ATTENDINGSCHOOL
[Are/Is] [you/household member name] currently attending or enrolled either fulltime or part-time in a college or university, trade, or vocational school?
1. Regular school
2. College/University
3. Trade school
4. Vocational school
5. None of the above schools
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period or when new household member is added]
RACE
(Page 8)
[Are/Is] [you/household member name] Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
1. Yes
2. No
[Appears during 1st Enumeration Period or when new household member is added]
RACE_SPECIFY
(Page 10)
If personal interview show flash card.
If telephone interview read answer categories.
Do not probe.
Please choose one or more races that [you/household member name]
consider/considers [yourself/himself/herself] to be.
1. White
2. Black or African American
3. American Indian or Alaska Native
4. Asian
5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
6. Other – Specify
Specify the other race for this person.
End Additional Demographic Loop
16
Reporting Crimes to the Police
• The NCVS was intended to complement the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform
Crime Reports—an annual compilation of the
information reported to police. The NCVS,
which also counts incidents not reported to
the police, provides a detailed picture of crime
incidents, victims, and trends from the victim’s
perspective.
• In 2016, the majority of personal crimes, 55.9
percent, were not reported to the police. In
addition, the majority of property crimes, 63.0
percent, were not reported to the police (see
Figure 4).
Figure 4.
Crimes Reported to the Police in 2016
(In percent)
Personal Crimes
Not reported 55.9
Reported 42.1
Not available 2.0
Property Crimes
Not reported 63.0
Reported 35.7
Not available 1.3
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime
Victimization Survey, 2016.
Keeping Your Information
Confidential
• The Census Bureau is required by law to protect
your information (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9
and Title 34, U.S. Code, Sections 10231 and
10134). The Census Bureau is not permitted to
publicly release your responses in a way that
could identify you or your household.
• Your responses will be used for statistical
research. The charts and graphs shown in this
factsheet were created from a compilation of
data provided by respondents like you and are
examples of how the data are used to provide
information on many topics related to crime and
victimization. Your name and address are NOT
part of the statistical totals released to the public.
Source and Accuracy
• Data presented in this factsheet are based on
people and households that responded to the
NCVS. The resulting estimates are representative
of the entire population. However, the data
are subject to error arising from sampling and
nonsampling error. All comparisons presented
in this factsheet have taken sampling error into
account and are significant at the 90 percent
confidence level unless otherwise stated. For
information on sampling error, nonsampling
error, and survey methodology, please see the
“National Crime Victimization Survey: Technical
Documentation” at .
Other Publications
2016
• This factsheet contains only a few of the highlights
of the NCVS findings. The BJS publishes other
reports periodically to meet the needs of the many
interested people in law enforcement, government,
and the private sector who analyze the crime
problem and plan programs for combating it. By
participating in the NCVS, you are contributing to
the knowledge needed to plan effective programs
to combat crime.
• The BJS publishes a wide variety of special reports
on topics such as Black and Hispanic victims,
elderly victims, robbery victims, rape/sexual
assault, and motor vehicle theft. You may obtain
the most recent copies of these and other reports
based on the NCVS data by writing to or visiting
the BJS Web site at:
National Criminal Justice
Reference Service (NCJRS)
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
National Crime
Victimization Survey
Factsheet—2016 Data
Useful Information
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-202-467-8700
Child Help®
National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116
Victim Connect
1-855-4-VICTIM
Issued January 2018
NCVS-110 (01-18)
What Is the National Crime
Victimization Survey?
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a
nationwide survey based on a sample of households.
The survey is designed to obtain detailed information
about people victimized by certain types of crime,
such as theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, robbery,
assault, rape, and purse snatching/pocket picking.
The NCVS
• Reflects crimes that victims do not report to the
police, as well as those that are reported.
• Is the primary source of detailed information on
the characteristics of both the victim and the
crime, and gives a more complete picture of the
extent and nature of crime in the United States.
Uses of the NCVS data
• The NCVS provides information used by law
enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies to
improve their effectiveness and planning.
• The U.S. Department of Education measures the
prevalence and nature of student victimizations
at school.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development measures crime in public housing.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture measures how
crime affects farmers.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
identifies occupations and workplaces at high
risk for violence so that effective preventative
measures are developed.
• Academics and researchers in educational
institutions use the NCVS data to prepare reports
and scholarly publications, which are used in a
number of academic disciplines, including sociology,
criminology, psychology, and political science.
Who conducts this survey?
• The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the NCVS for
the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the
U.S. Department of Justice.
• The Census Bureau collects and processes the
information and aids the BJS in the analysis of
the data.
• The BJS is responsible for the publication of the
results.
How is the information collected?
What Are the Results From the NCVS?
Personal Crimes
Property Crimes
• The NCVS involves interviews of households
scientifically sampled in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia.
• The BJS releases the summary results of the
NCVS on an annual basis, as well as special
topical reports on a periodic basis.
Sex of victim:
• We classify property crimes reported to
the NCVS into three major types: burglary,
motor vehicle theft, and theft (includes both
attempted and completed crimes).
• Sample survey methods permit the study of
small numbers of people to obtain needed facts
about the entire population of the country. These
methods greatly reduce the cost of collecting
information.
• Interviews are conducted by Census Bureau
interviewers either in person or by telephone.
How was I selected for this survey?
• We scientifically select a cross section of
addresses, not you personally, to represent all
households in the United States for this survey.
• Generally, we interview each selected address
once every 6 months over a 3-year period for a
total of 7 interviews.
• If you move away while your dwelling is still in the
survey, we will interview the family that moves in.
Your participation is important
• Participation in this survey is voluntary and
there are no penalties for refusing to answer any
questions. However, whether you were victimized
or not, your cooperation is extremely important
to help ensure the completeness and reliability
of the survey results. Your answers not only
represent your household, but also hundreds of
other similar households.
What Information Do You Get
From This Survey?
• Types and amount of crimes committed
• Results for 2016, the most recent year in which
annual estimates are available, showed that
assaults were the single most prevalent type of
personal crime committed against persons aged
12 or older. They comprised 84.0 percent of all
personal victimizations in 2016 (see Figure 1).
• Assaults are defined as unlawful physical
attacks or threats of attack made directly toward
a person face-to-face. They are classified as
simple or aggravated, with the severity of attack
ranging from simple or minor to nearly fatal.
• The remainder of the personal crimes includes
robbery, rape/sexual assault, and purse
snatching/pocket picking. These crimes
collectively account for the remaining 16.0
percent of personal victimizations in 2016.
• As illustrated in Figure 1, the most prevalent
type of property crime reported for 2016 was
theft. Thefts—such as lawn furniture stolen
from a backyard or a bicycle stolen from the
driveway—accounted for 75.6 percent of all
property crimes. Other property crimes include
burglary (20.7 percent) and motor vehicle theft
(3.7 percent).
Age of victim:
• A person’s age affects their likelihood of
becoming a victim of crime. In 2016, NCVS
findings show that people aged 65 or older
are least likely to be victimized (see Figure 2).
People aged 65 or older had 4.7 victimizations
per 1,000 persons.
Figure 2.
2016 Personal Crimes: Age of Victim
(Rate per 1,000 persons aged 12 or older)
31.1
32.0
32.3
23.1
Figure 3.
4.7
2016 Property Crimes:
Owners vs. Renters
(Rate per 1,000 households)
115.8
12–17
18–24
25–34
35–49
50–64
65+
Age of victim
2016 Personal Crimes
(Percentage of total victimizations)
Assault 84.0
Robbery 8.5
Rape/sexual assault 5.5
Purse snatching/
pocket picking 1.9
• Offender characteristics
•• Burglary consists of the actual or attempted
unlawful entry of a house, apartment, or
other residential structure, such as a
homeowner’s garage.
•• Motor vehicle theft includes theft and
attempted theft of cars, trucks, motorcycles,
and other vehicles legally entitled to use the
public roads and highways.
•• Theft occurs when an offender takes or
attempts to take cash or property without
personal contact. Incidents involving theft of
property from within the sample household
would classify as a theft if the offender has
a legal right to be in the house, otherwise
the incident would classify as a burglary.
• As illustrated in Figure 3, renters had
higher rates of victimization in 2016 than
homeowners for each of the three major types
of property crimes.
16.5
Figure 1.
• Characteristics of victims
• Details of crimes, including:
•• When and where crimes occur
•• Economic loss to the victim
•• Extent of injuries suffered by the victim
•• Whether the victim knew the offender or
whether they were strangers
•• Whether the offender used a weapon
•• Whether the police were notified
• In 2016, for personal crimes, males aged 12 or
older experienced 21.8 victimizations per 1,000
persons, which is not statistically different from
females aged 12 or older who experienced 21.3
victimizations per 1,000 persons.
2016 Property Crimes
Note: The first three age groups are not statistically different
from each other. All other age group comparisons are
statistically significant.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime
Victimization Survey, 2016.
Owners
Renters
75.2
32.3
20.2
3.3
Burglary
(Percentage of total victimizations)
Theft 75.6
Burglary 20.7
Motor vehicle theft 3.7
Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime
Victimization Survey, 2016.
6.2
Motor vehicle
theft
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime
Victimization Survey, 2016.
Theft
Delitos que se reportaron a la policía
• La NCVS fue concebida para complementar
los Uniform Crime Reports del Buró Federal de
Investigaciones, una recopilación anual de la
información reportada a la policía. La encuesta,
que también cuenta los incidentes que no fueron
reportados a la policía, proporciona un panorama
detallado de los incidentes delictivos, las víctimas y
las tendencias desde la perspectiva de las víctimas.
• En 2016, la mayoría de los delitos contra
personas, el 55.9%, no se reportó a la policía.
Además, la mayoría de los delitos contra la
propiedad, el 63.0%, no se reportó a la policía
(vea la Ilustración 4).
Ilustración 4.
Delitos reportados a la policía en 2016
(En por ciento)
Delitos contra personas
No reportados 55.9
Reportados 42.1
No disponibles 2.0
Delitos contra la propiedad
No reportados 63.0
Reportados 35.7
No disponibles 1.3
Fuente: Buró de Estadísticas Judiciales, Encuesta Nacional de
Víctimas de Delitos, 2016.
Mantenemos la confidencialidad de su
información
• La Oficina del Censo está obligada por ley a
proteger su información (Título 13 del Código de
los EE. UU., Sección 9 y Título 34 del Código de los
EE. UU., Secciones 10231 y 10134). A la Oficina
del Censo no se le permite divulgar sus respuestas
de manera que usted o su hogar pudieran ser
identificados.
• Sus respuestas se usarán para investigaciones
estadísticas. Las tablas y gráficas que se muestran
en esta hoja informativa han sido creadas a
partir de una recopilación de datos provistos
por personas encuestadas como usted, y son
ejemplos de cómo se usan los datos para proveer
información sobre muchos temas relacionados
con los delitos y los casos de víctimas de delitos.
Su nombre y su dirección NO forman parte de los
totales estadísticos que se hacen públicos.
Fuentes y precisión
• Los datos que se presentan en esta hoja de datos
se basan en las personas y los hogares que
respondieron a la NCVS. Las estimaciones que se
obtuvieron como resultado son representativas
de toda la población. Sin embargo, los datos
están sujetos a errores de la muestra y errores
ajenos a la muestra. Todas las comparaciones
que se presentan en esta hoja informativa han
tenido en cuenta los errores de la muestra y son
significativos a un nivel de confianza del 90 por
ciento, a menos que se indique de otra manera.
Para obtener más información sobre los errores
de la muestra, errores ajenos a la muestra y la
metodología de la encuesta, vea el documento
“Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas de Delitos:
documentación técnica” que se encuentra en
.
Otras publicaciones
2016
• Esta hoja informativa solamente contiene algunos
de los datos de las conclusiones de la NCVS. El
BJS publica periódicamente otros informes para
satisfacer las necesidades de muchas personas
interesadas en el orden público, el gobierno y
el sector privado que analizan los problemas
criminales y planifican programas para combatirlos.
Al participar en la NCVS, usted está contribuyendo
al conocimiento que se necesita para planificar
programas efectivos para combatir el crimen.
• El BJS publica una amplia variedad de informes
especiales sobre temas tales como las víctimas
de raza negra o hispanas, las víctimas de edad
avanzada, las víctimas de robo, violación/
agresión sexual, y robos de vehículos. Usted
puede obtener las copias más recientes de estos
y otros informes basados en los datos de la
NCVS escribiendo al BJS o visitando el sitio web
del BJS:
National Criminal Justice
Reference Service (NCJRS)
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
Encuesta Nacional
de Víctimas de Delitos
Hoja Informativa—Datos del 2016
Información útil
Línea Nacional sobre Violencia Doméstica
1-800-799-SAFE
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Centro Nacional para Víctimas de Delitos
1-202-467-8700
Ayuda para los Niños
Línea Nacional para Abuso Infantil
1-800-4-A-CHILD
Localizador de Atención a Ancianos
(Eldercare)
1-800-677-1116
Conexión con las víctimas
1-855-4-VICTIM
Publicado en enero de 2018
NCVS-110 (SP) (01-18)
Departamento de Comercio de los EE. UU.
Administración de Economía y Estadísticas
OFICINA DEL CENSO DE LOS EE. UU.
census.gov
¿Qué es la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas
de Delitos?
La Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas de Delitos (NCVS)
es una encuesta nacional que se basa en una muestra
de hogares. La encuesta está diseñada para obtener
información detallada acerca de las personas que han
sido víctimas de determinado tipo de delitos, como
hurto, allanamiento de morada, robo de vehículos, robo,
agresiones, violación y víctima de carteristas o que le
arrebataran el bolso.
La NCVS
• Refleja los delitos que las víctimas no reportan a la
policía, así como aquellos que sí reportan.
• Es la única fuente de información detallada sobre
las características de las víctimas y de los delitos, y
proporciona una imagen más detallada de la extensión y
la naturaleza del delito en los Estados Unidos.
¿Cómo se recopila la información?
¿Cuáles son los resultados de la NCVS?
Delitos contra personas
Delitos contra la propiedad
• La NCVS incluye entrevistas a una muestra científica de
hogares en los 50 estados y el Distrito de Columbia.
• La BJS publica el resumen de los resultados de la
NCVS anualmente, además de informes especiales
sobre temas específicos de manera periódica.
Sexo de las víctimas:
• Clasificamos los delitos contra la propiedad que
se reportan a la NCVS en tres tipos principales:
allanamiento de morada, robo de vehículos
y hurto (incluidos los intentos y los delitos
consumados).
• Los métodos de encuesta por muestra permiten el
estudio de pequeños números de personas, con el
objetivo de obtener datos acerca de toda la población
del país. Estos métodos reducen considerablemente el
costo de la recopilación de información.
• Los entrevistadores de la Oficina del Censo llevan a
cabo las entrevistas, ya sea en persona o por teléfono.
¿Cómo fui seleccionado para esta encuesta?
• Seleccionamos científicamente una muestra de
direcciones característica, no a usted personalmente,
para representar a todos los hogares en los Estados
Unidos para esta encuesta.
Usos de los datos de la NCVS
• Por lo general, entrevistamos a cada una de las
direcciones seleccionadas una vez cada 6 meses en
un periodo de 3 años, para un total de 7 entrevistas.
• La NCVS provee información que las agencias de
orden público, judiciales y correccionales utilizan para
mejorar su eficacia y su planificación.
• Si usted se muda a otro lugar mientras su residencia
está incluida en la encuesta, entrevistaríamos a la
familia que se mude a su antigua residencia.
• El Departamento de Educación de los EE. UU. determina
la incidencia y la naturaleza de los casos en que los
estudiantes son víctimas de delitos en las escuelas.
• El Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de
los EE. UU. determina la incidencia de delitos en las
viviendas públicas.
• El Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU.
determina cómo los delitos afectan a los granjeros.
• El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de
los EE. UU. identifica las ocupaciones y los lugares
de trabajo en los que hay alto riesgo de violencia, de
manera que se creen medidas preventivas efectivas.
• Los académicos e investigadores en instituciones
educativas usan los datos de la NCVS para preparar
informes y publicaciones científicas que se
utilizan en un sinnúmero de disciplinas, incluidas
la sociología, la criminología, la psicología y las
ciencias políticas.
Su participación es importante
• La participación en esta encuesta es voluntaria, y no
hay sanciones por negarse a contestar las preguntas.
Sin embargo, ya haya sido usted víctima de un delito
o no, su cooperación es de extrema importancia
para ayudar a garantizar que los resultados de la
encuesta estén completos y sean confiables. Sus
respuestas no solamente representan a su hogar,
sino también a otros cientos de hogares similares.
¿Qué información reciben ustedes de
esta encuesta?
•
•
•
•
¿Quién lleva a cabo la encuesta?
• La Oficina del Censo de los EE. UU. lleva a cabo la
NCVS para el Buró de Estadísticas Judiciales (BJS) del
Departamento de Justicia de los EE. UU.
• La Oficina del Censo recopila y procesa la
información y ayuda al BJS en el análisis de los datos.
• El BJS es responsable por la publicación de los
resultados.
Los tipos y la cantidad de delitos cometidos
Características de las víctimas
Características de los criminales
Detalles de los delitos, incluidos:
••
••
••
••
Cuándo y dónde ocurren los delitos
Las pérdidas económicas causadas a la víctima
La magnitud de los daños sufridos por la víctima
Si la víctima conocía al infractor o si
eran desconocidos
•• Si el infractor usó un arma
•• Si se notificó a la policía
• Los resultados para el 2016, el año más reciente
para el cual están disponibles las estimaciones
anuales, mostraron que las agresiones fueron el
más común de los delitos contra personas que se
cometieron contra las personas de 12 años o más.
Estos constituían alrededor del 84.0 por ciento de
todos los delitos contra personas en el 2016 (vea
la Ilustración 1).
• Las agresiones se definen como ataques físicos
ilegales o amenazas que se hacen directamente a
la persona frente a frente. Estas se clasifican como
menores o graves, y la severidad de los ataques
puede ir desde simple o menor hasta casi mortal.
• Los delitos contra personas restantes incluyen
robo, violación/agresión sexual, arrebatar
bolsos/carteristas. En su conjunto estos delitos
constituyeron el restante 16.0 por ciento de los
delitos contra personas en el 2016.
• Como se muestra en la Ilustración 1, entre los
delitos contra la propiedad reportados en el 2016 el
hurto fue el tipo de delito más común. Los hurtos,
tales como el robo de muebles de jardín en el
patio o el robo de una bicicleta en la entrada de la
casa, constituyeron el 75.6 por ciento de todos los
delitos contra la propiedad. Otros delitos contra la
propiedad incluyen el allanamiento de morada (20.7
por ciento) y los robos de vehiculos (3.7 por ciento).
• En el 2016, para los delitos contra personas, 21.8
de cada 1,000 personas de sexo masculino de
12 años o más fueron víctimas de delitos, lo cual
no es estadísticamente diferente de 21.3 de cada
1,000 personas de sexo femenino de 12 años o
más que fueron víctimas de delitos.
Edad de las víctimas:
• La edad de la persona influye en la probabilidad
de que se convierta en víctima de un delito. En
el 2016, las conclusiones de la NCVS muestran
que las personas de 65 años o más tenían menos
probabilidades de ser víctimas de delitos (vea
la Ilustración 2). Las personas de 65 años o más
fueron víctimas de 4.7 delitos por cada 1,000
personas.
Ilustración 2.
Delitos contra personas en el 2016:
Edad de las víctimas
(Tasa por cada 1,000 personas de 12 años o más)
31.1
32.0
32.3
23.1
16.5
Ilustración 1.
(Porcentaje total de casos de víctimas de delitos)
Agresiones 84.0
Robo 8.5
Violación/agresión sexual 5.5
Bolso arrebatado/
carterista 1.9
12–17
18–24
25–34
35–49
50–64
•• El allanamiento de morada consiste en la
entrada o intento de entrada en una casa,
apartamento o estructura residencial, como el
garaje de un propietario de vivienda.
•• El robo de vehículos los robos e intentos de
robo de automóviles, camiones, motocicletas y
otros vehículos que tengan derecho legal a usar
las carreteras y autopistas públicas.
•• El hurto ocurre el más común de los delitos de
propiedad, ocurre cuando el infractor adquiere
o trata de adquirir dinero o propiedades sin
contacto personal. Los incidentes que incluyan
la sustracción de propiedades desde el interior
de un hogar en la muestra deben ser
clasificados como hurto si el infractor tiene
derecho legal a estar en la casa, de lo contrario
se deben clasificar como allanamiento de
morada.
• Como se muestra en la Ilustración 3, los
inquilinos tuvieron mayores índices de casos
de víctimas de delitos en el 2016 que los
propietarios de viviendas para cada uno de los
principales tipos de delitos contra la propiedad.
Ilustración 3.
4.7
Delitos contra personas en el 2016
65+
Edad de la víctima
Nota: Los tres primeros grupos de edad no son
estadísticamente diferentes entre sí. Todas las demás
comparaciones de grupos de edad son estadísticamente
significativas.
Fuente: Buró de Estadísticas Judiciales, Encuesta Nacional de
Víctimas de Delitos, 2016.
Delitos contra la propiedad en el 2016:
Propietarios comparados con inquilinos
(Tasa por cada 1,000 hogares)
Inquilinos
75.2
Delitos contra la propiedad en el 2016
(Porcentaje total de casos de víctimas de delitos)
Hurto 75.6
Allanamiento de morada 20.7
Robo de vehículos 3.7
115.8
Propietarios
32.3
20.2
3.3
Allanamiento
de morada
6.2
Robo de
vehículos
Hurto
Fuente: Buró de Estadísticas Judiciales, Encuesta Nacional de
Víctimas de Delitos, 2016.
Nota: Es posible que los porcentajes no sumen 100 debido que se
redondearon.
Fuente: Buró de Estadísticas Judiciales, Encuesta Nacional de
Víctimas de Delitos, 2016.
NCVS-521
(9/2017)
National Crime
Victimization
Survey
CAPI Self-Study
For NCVS Field Representatives
This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable
Information. All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental.
Consistent with Field Division policy, any names referenced in practice interviews or
other exercises are not meant to refer to any actual person, especially any current or
past Census Bureau employees.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Lesson
Title
Page
Self-Study Instructions ............................................................
i
1
Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey............
1-1
2
Basic Interviewing Techniques ................................................
2-1
3
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number .............................
3-1
4
The NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
4-1
5
Blaise and the NCVS .............................................................
5-1
6
Case Management .................................................................
6-1
7
The Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI) ...............
7-1
8
More Details About Your Job ...................................................
8-1
9
The Blaise Basics: The Survey Instrument...............................
9-1
10
The NCVS CAPI Instrument ....................................................
10-1
11
The NCVS Front Section.........................................................
11-1
12
The NCVS Middle Section - Basic Household Questions ........
12-1
13
The NCVS Middle Section - NCVS Screen Questions..............
13-1
14
The NCVS Middle Section - Crime Incident Report ..................
14-1
15
The NCVS Middle Section - Other Survey Questions...............
15-1
16
The NCVS Back Section ........................................................
16-1
17
Practice Interview....................................................................
17-1
18
Final Review Exercise .............................................................
18-1
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Instructions
Self-Study Instructions
Welcome!
Welcome to the U.S. Census Bureau and to the National Crime
Victimization Survey, also called the NCVS. This self-study
prepares you for the initial NCVS classroom training and for your
job as an NCVS field representative or FR. As an NCVS FR, you
will be conducting interviews via computer-assisted personal
interviewing (CAPI). Computer-assisted interviewing allows you to
key responses from respondents directly into a computer program
on a laptop. We call the computer program that runs the NCVS
interview the “instrument.” The instrument on your laptop consists
of all the questions you could possibly ask a respondent. For the
NCVS, CAPI interviews are conducted by personal visit or by
telephone interview.
Generic
Training
Complete the generic interviewer pre-classroom training before
you start this NCVS self-study. Refer to your Welcome Letter for a
concise list of instructional products for your generic
pre-classroom training, as well as your password, and the 11-900
Curriculum Plan. The Curriculum Plan gives the sequence of
instructions for the generic pre-classroom training.
If you have not completed the generic pre-classroom training,
please notify your supervisor immediately and
DO NOT begin this self-study. Only proceed with this self-study if
you have completed the pre-classroom training.
Time Allowed
Charge only the actual time it takes you to complete this self-study.
You may charge up to 10 hours to complete the self-study, so
keep a record of the time you spend working on it using the
“NOTES” page. Also use the “NOTES” page to enter any
questions you may have as you complete each lesson, so you can
discuss them with your instructor during classroom training.
Charge Time to
Appropriate Project
Number
Charge the time that you spend completing this self-study (not to
exceed 10 hours) to the project number 0976000 and task code
520.
Review of the Generic
Pre-classroom Training
A summary of the generic pre-classroom training:
Laptop Computer
Video
The “Getting to Know Your Laptop Computer” video instructed you
on the use of your laptop computer. The video included details on
the hardware components of the laptop, startup, log on, shut down
i
Instructions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
procedures, steps to change the laptop battery, and your legal
responsibility regarding the use and care of the laptop.
InterAct Pre-classroom
Learning Magazine
From the 11-901, InterAct Preclassroom Learning Magazine, you
learned the role and responsibilities of an FR and tools and
techniques for succeeding in the field.
WebFRED
The 11-12 (WIN), Windows Field Representative Earnings Data
(WINFRED) Self-Study, provided you with the basic knowledge of
the time and attendance software. The WINFRED CBT provided
you with hands-on practice entering your payroll information.
Other Topics
In the generic pre-classroom training you also learned:
Materials Needed for this
Self-Study
●
Safety on the job includes wearing the proper clothing, packing
emergency items in your vehicle, and locking all valuables in
the trunk while interviewing.
●
The Census Bureau conducts a decennial census every ten
years and conducts many surveys that complement the
decennial census.
●
Confidentiality is an important part of conducting surveys for
the Census Bureau.
●
Primary sampling units (PSUs) are sample counties
selected scientifically to represent the entire United
States for conducting surveys.
●
Practicing good interviewing techniques is necessary
for all field representatives.
●
The computer has distinct parts, such as a hard drive, a
monitor, a keyboard, and a battery.
You need the following materials to complete this self-study. Call
your supervisor if you are missing any of:
1)
Your laptop and all related accessories
2)
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
(electronic document on laptop – refer to Lesson 2, page 6
of this self-study for direction to access this manual)
ii
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
About this Self-Study
Instructions
3)
NCVS-554, Field Representative’s CAPI Information Card
Booklet
4)
NCVS-572(L), Introductory Letter (incoming)
5)
NCVS-573(L), Introductory Letter (continuing)
6)
Pen or Pencil
This self-study contains 18 lessons. Most lessons end with a
review exercise followed by an answer key. After you complete
each exercise, check your answers to see how well you have
learned the major points of the lesson.
Lessons 1 through 3 introduce you to the NCVS, basic
interviewing techniques, and the design of the NCVS sample.
Lesson 4 illustrates using your interviewing and listing manuals.
Lesson 5 introduces you to some of the laptop keys you will use to
navigate through the survey instrument. Lessons 6 through 16
explain the different components of the instruments used in
managing your sample cases and in conducting the NCVS
interviews. Lesson 17 consists of a practice interview and Lesson
18 is a final review exercise which reviews key points presented
throughout the self-study.
Since we will discuss Lesson 18 during the classroom training,
make sure to bring your completed self-study with you to the
classroom training.
Throughout this self-study, you will see instructions to stop and
read other materials. Place a checkmark in the brackets [ ]
that follow these instructions so you can find your place
more easily when you return to the self-study.
At the end of this self-study, you will:
See the differences in screen layouts in both case management
and the survey instrument;
Practice some basic navigation in the instrument;
Become familiar with the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and looking up answers to questions
in the manual;
iii
Instructions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
State the basic rules of interviewing;
Explain specific NCVS definitions and concepts;
Use the instrument by entering demographic data; and
Complete an interview by following a script.
Begin
Starting with Lesson 1, complete each lesson in the sequence it is
presented. If possible, complete each lesson without interruption.
Schedule any breaks between lessons.
iv
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Introduction to the NCVS
Lesson 1. Introduction to the
National Crime Victimization Survey
Objectives
Purpose of the NCVS
The objectives of this lesson are to:
●
Give you a brief overview of the National Crime
Victimization Survey (NCVS).
●
Explain how the data collected for this survey are used.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), of the U.S. Department of
Justice, sponsors the NCVS, which is the Nation's primary source
of information on criminal victimization. Each year, data are
obtained from a nationally representative sample of households
on the frequency, characteristics and consequences of criminal
victimization in the United States. For 2017, the sample size is
over 200,000 households. The survey enables the BJS to
estimate the likelihood of victimization by rape, sexual assault,
robbery, assault, theft, household burglary, and motor vehicle theft
for the population as a whole, as well as for segments of the
population such as women, the elderly, members of various racial
groups, city dwellers, or other groups. The NCVS provides the
largest national forum for victims to describe the impact of crime
and characteristics of violent offenders.
The BJS needs the NCVS data primarily to obtain an accurate,
up-to-date measure of the kinds of crimes, as well as the number
of crimes committed against persons 12 years of age and older.
This survey is widely used by policy makers at all levels of
government -- including crime prevention groups, people who help
crime victims, researchers, the media, as well as others. It has
also been used by the Supreme Court in making decisions. The
survey informs data users in a neutral, unbiased way to help them
make public policy, plan new ways to attack crime, and evaluate
the effectiveness of existing crime prevention programs.
Since not all crimes are reported to the police, the NCVS provides
a more complete picture of crime in the United States, because it
not only collects data about crimes reported to the police, but also
about crimes that are not reported to the police. The NCVS
provides statistics about crimes which supplement those
maintained by police records.
1-1
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Statistics from the NCVS are published in reports that deal with
types of crime, characteristics of victims, locations of crime, and
other detailed information. The cover page from one such
publication issued by the BJS is shown on page 1-7.
Take a minute now and look at page 1-7.
[ ]
NCVS History
The NCVS has been conducted since 1972. Field Representatives
(FRs) contact a specific number of households every month and
ask the survey questions of each household member who is 12
years of age and older. The addresses for these households are
selected randomly and scientifically from addresses throughout
the country.
"Selling" the Survey
If you can explain convincingly why the NCVS is being conducted,
your respondents will be more willing to participate. In other
words, you must be able to "sell" the survey. If you give solid,
logical answers to their questions, you can usually persuade
reluctant respondents to allow you to conduct the NCVS interview.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Listed below are some frequently asked questions and suggested
answers. By the end of the training, you should be able to answer
these questions without hesitation.
1.
What is this survey all about?
The NCVS is conducted monthly to collect information on
the kinds and amount of crime in the United States. From
a sample of households throughout the United States, we
interview all household members age 12 or older.
2.
Why can't you get this information from police
records?
Based on information received in previous survey years,
we have found that over half of all crimes go unreported to
the police. Since this survey includes crimes that are both
reported and unreported, data users can get a more
complete picture of crime in the United States from this
survey.
1-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Introduction to the NCVS
3.
How can this survey help to fight crime?
The results of this survey show a variety of information
about crime victims, offenders, types of crimes being
committed, and types of places where these crimes occur.
All of this information is put to good use by law
enforcement agencies, community groups, and
government agencies throughout the country to lower the
incidence of crime.
4.
Why was I selected for this survey?
Actually, we selected your address, not you personally.
We scientifically selected a sample of addresses across
the country to represent the entire population. If your
household should move away while your address is still in
the survey, we interview the new family that moves in.
5.
Why do you need to interview me when I don't have
any crimes to report?
Your participation is important whether or not you report a
crime. We cannot accurately find out the percentage of
people who experience crime unless we get information
from both victims and non-victims. By examining the
differences between victims and non-victims, we can try to
determine why certain individuals become victims, while
others do not.
6.
Why waste my tax dollars on a silly survey?
The survey tells us about the amount and nature of crime,
as well as crime trends and crimes not reported to the
police. It can help save taxpayer money when new
programs are developed focusing on the people who are
most likely to be victims of crime by making crime
prevention and control programs more effective.
7.
How can I know for sure that you are who you say you
are?
Besides my identification badge, I can give you a
telephone number to call so you can verify with my
supervisor that I work for the U.S. Census Bureau. You
can also click, “Are You in a Survey?” at Census.gov.
1-3
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
8.
Is this survey authorized by law?
Yes. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of
Justice Statistics of the United States Department of
Justice under the authority of law (Title 13, United States
Code, Section 8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is
authorized to collect this survey information by law (Title
42, United States Code, Section 3732).
Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers
confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9 and
Title 42, United States Code, Sections 3789g and 3735).
Becoming familiar with these questions and answers will add to
your confidence in gaining a successful interview. A more
complete list of general survey questions and answers is on
pages A2-23 through A2-29 of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual
for Field Representatives.
Take a moment now to look over the complete list of questions
and answers in the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives.
[ ]
Explain the Sampling
Sometimes respondents may want to know how they were chosen
to be interviewed. You can say:
We selected your address, not you personally. We scientifically
selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent
the entire population. At each selected address, we interview
household members who are 12 years of age and older. If your
household moves away while your address is still in the survey,
we interview the new family that moves in.
Confidentiality
It is important that you understand and maintain strict
confidentiality of information. By law, the Census Bureau can only
use survey information for statistical research. The Census
Bureau is not permitted to publicly release survey responses in a
way that could identify the respondent or their household.
As an FR, you should NEVER make survey information available
to anyone except sworn Census Bureau employees who have a
work related need to know the information. Do not permit any
1-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Introduction to the NCVS
unauthorized persons, even members of your own family, to
see the information that you collect.
The assurance of confidentiality is one of the reasons people are
usually willing to participate. All Census Bureau employees must
take an oath to uphold this confidentiality. The Census Bureau
takes its confidentiality promise to respondents very seriously.
The NCVS is protected by two confidentiality statutes. Title 13
United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 9 and Title 42, U.S.C.,
Sections 3789g and 3735, both require us to keep all information
about NCVS respondents and their households confidential. As a
result, the penalty provisions in both statutes apply if you are
found guilty of an unauthorized disclosure of individual information
provided to the Census Bureau. The penalty for unauthorized
disclosure under Title 13 is a fine of up to $250,000 or a jail term
of up to 5 years or both. The penalty for unauthorized disclosure
under Title 42 includes a fine of up to $11,000.
Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, survey
data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of
the systems that transmit the data. The Cybersecurity Act
specifies that if any information that is scanned by the
cybersecurity software programs is found to be suspicious, it may
be reviewed for specific threats by computer network experts
working for the government (or contractors or agents who have
governmental authority to do so). The Act does specify that only
information directly related to government network security is
monitored, and requires that any personal information that
identifies respondents be removed from suspicious files before
they are shared.
Confidentiality Rules
Rules to help you maintain confidentiality during everyday
activities:
1.
Lock your car when it contains NCVS materials and store
these materials out of view.
2.
Do not leave phone numbers (other than your own) on
notes left at a respondent's door. For example, don't leave
the phone numbers of friends, other employees, or
relatives.
3.
Do not leave completed NCVS materials at home where
others might see them or leave your NCVS cases opened
on your laptop so others can see the case.
1-5
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
4.
If you leave NCVS materials or your laptop in a hotel or
motel room, make sure that they are kept in a locked
briefcase.
5.
Do not leave NCVS materials (such as survey brochures),
with nonhousehold members or apartment managers,
unless left in sealed envelopes.
6.
Review Exercise
Use discretion when forced to interview a respondent on a
front porch, in a yard, or in a place where the interview
can be overheard. Also, use discretion when forced to
conduct an interview in the presence of a nonhousehold
member.
Complete the review exercise that starts on page 1-8. Compare
your answers to the answer key which follows the review exercise,
then continue with Lesson 2.
1-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Introduction to the NCVS
Illustration of a Crime Victimization Report
1-7
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 1 - Review Exercise
1.
Who sponsors the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?
2.
The purpose of the NCVS is to: (Mark all answers that apply.)
3.
___
Obtain an accurate, up-to-date measure of the kinds and amount of crimes
committed against persons who are 12 years of age and older.
___
Provide statistical information on crime and its impact on society.
___
Plan new ways to attack crime.
___
Evaluate the effectiveness of existing crime prevention programs.
Field Representatives (FRs) contact a specific number of households every month and
ask the survey questions of each household member who is 12 years of age and older.
TRUE
4.
FALSE
If a reluctant respondent suggests that you get this crime information from the police, tell
the respondent that: (Mark the correct answer.)
___
Over half of all crimes go unreported to the police.
___
The police are not allowed to provide our agency with crime information.
___
It is easier to collect crime information directly from crime victims.
1-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
5.
6.
Introduction to the NCVS
If a reluctant respondent says that she doesn’t have any crimes to report and there is no
need to complete the NCVS interview, you can explain that: (Mark the correct answer.)
___
You will ask the short version for respondents with no crimes to report.
___
After asking a few NCVS questions, the respondent may remember a crime.
___
By examining the differences between victims and non-victims, we can try to
determine why certain individuals become victims, while others do not.
All Census Bureau employees take an oath to uphold the confidentiality of information
collected for an individual or household participating in our surveys.
TRUE
FALSE
Now compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
1-9
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 1 - Answer Key
1.
Who sponsors the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?
Bureau of Justice Statistics, U. S. Department of Justice.
(Page 1-1)
2.
The purpose of the NCVS is to: (Mark all answers that apply.)
X
obtain an accurate, up-to-date measure of the kinds and amount of crimes
committed against persons who are 12 years of age and older.
X
provide statistical information on crime and its impact on society.
X
plan new ways to attack crime.
X
evaluate the effectiveness of existing crime prevention programs.
(Page 1-1 and 1-2)
3.
Field Representatives (FRs) contact a specific number of households every month and
ask the survey questions of each household member who is 12 years of age and older.
TRUE
(Page 1-2)
4.
If a reluctant respondent suggests that you get this crime information from the police, tell
the respondent that: (Mark the correct answer.)
X
___
Over half of all crimes go unreported to the police.
The police are not allowed to provide our agency with crime information.
___
It is easier to collect crime information directly from crime victims.
(Page 1-2)
1-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
5.
Introduction to the NCVS
If a reluctant respondent says that she doesn’t have any crimes to report and there is no
need to complete the NCVS interview, you can explain that: (Mark the correct answer.)
___
You will ask the short version for respondents with no crimes to report.
___
After asking a few NCVS questions, the respondent may remember a crime.
X
By examining the differences between victims and non-victims, we can try to
determine why certain individuals become victims, while others do not.
(Page 1-3)
6.
All Census Bureau employees take an oath to uphold the confidentiality of information
collected for an individual or household participating in our surveys.
TRUE
(Page 1-4)
Continue with Lesson 2.
1-11
Introduction to the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
1-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
Lesson 2. Basic Interviewing Techniques
Objective
Three Basic Elements
The objectives of this lesson are to:
●
Introduce you to your job as an NCVS CAPI Field
Representative (FR).
●
Introduce you to interviewing techniques to help you do your
job.
There are three basic elements in any interview situation:
●
The interviewer (an FR like you)
●
The respondent (the person answering your questions)
●
The survey questions (the NCVS interview)
Let's look at each element separately.
Your Job: Personal Visit As an FR working on the NCVS, you play an important role in this
and Telephone Interviews vital program. Your primary goal is to obtain complete interviews
with each person who is 12 years age and older at each sample
address assigned to you. You will conduct both personal visit and
telephone interviews to complete your monthly assignments for
the NCVS.
You also must be able to reassure household members that, by
law, the Census Bureau can only use respondent’s responses for
statistical research. The Census Bureau is not permitted to
publicly release responses in a way that could identify the
respondent or their household.
Sell the Survey and Know The first step in gaining cooperation from all respondents is to
Its Data Uses
know how to sell the survey and how the NCVS data is used. You
should be able to explain the importance of the survey and be
able to answer any questions that a respondent may have.
In Lesson 1, you read about the most frequently asked questions
and how you should respond, along with the importance of
learning background information about the NCVS. Use this
2-1
Basic Interviewing Techniques
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
information to convince respondents of the importance of the
NCVS and show the benefits of the survey results. Give brief,
appropriate, and accurate information when talking to a
respondent about the NCVS.
Example
Let's look at an example. You visit Megan Moe and she tells you
that her house was broken into twice in the last 3 months. Since
she reported these crimes to her local police department, she
wants you to go to them for a report.
You could tell Megan Moe that the NCVS obtains a more complete
picture of a crime than the police records can provide, because we
ask about the offender’s characteristics and the consequences a
victim suffers as a result of a crime.
Explain the Sampling
Sometimes respondents may want to know how they were chosen
to be interviewed. You can say:
We selected your address, not you personally. We scientifically
selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent
the entire population. At each selected address, we interview
household members who are 12 years of age and older. If your
household moves away while your address is still in the survey,
we interview the new family that moves in.
Create an Objective
Atmosphere
Remain Neutral
During an interview, it is important to develop an objective,
non-threatening, non-judgmental atmosphere. While interviewing
a respondent, do not show signs of approval or disapproval of any
information that you receive. Your words and actions can help or
hinder the interview.
●
Shaking your head or frowning indicates disapproval just as
clearly as if you had spoken.
●
If the respondent thinks you favor one answer more than the
other, he/she may give that answer. As a result, you will
influence the interview and possibly the survey.
The skill of remaining neutral and creating an objective
atmosphere is a difficult one. It comes with experience. Practice
using neutral expressions and gestures during an interview such
2-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
as "uh-huh," "I've got that," a simple nod, or "Yes, I see." These
signs tell a respondent that you are listening, without leading,
influencing, or biasing the information that you receive.
Be Sincere
A sincere interest in people will make your interviewing task easier
and more enjoyable. No instructions or training can provide a
substitute for the combination of intuition and poise, which an FR
must use, when someone in the household opens the door or
when a respondent answers the telephone. Your voice, tone, and
words must convey your credibility and that of the survey. If your
approach is uncertain, the respondent will know it.
Be Professional
In your capacity as an FR, you represent the United States
Government. This is an important role, which requires you to take
a professional approach towards your work.
FR's ID Badge
When you come to class, you will be given an Identification
Badge. It will prove that you are an employee of the United States
Census Bureau. Always carry it with you when you are conducting
personal visit interviews, and show it to the respondent when you
introduce yourself.
Introductory Letter
In many cases, the household members will be expecting you.
The National Processing Center (NPC) sends a letter to each
sample address before a sample household’s first personal visit
interview for the NCVS. This letter introduces the survey and
explains the voluntary nature of the study, while stressing the
importance of participation. It also tells respondents that any
information given to a Census Bureau representative is
confidential.
The letter indicates that an FR will be visiting the household soon.
If you learn during your introduction that the household did not
receive a copy of this letter, you must provide them with one
and allow them time to read it.
Look among your materials for the NCVS-572(L), Introductory
Letter and read it now.
[ ]
2-3
Basic Interviewing Techniques
Introduce Yourself
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
When you access the NCVS interviewing instrument, it gives you
an introduction to read to the respondent. You will be prompted to
insert your name as part of the introduction, which also contains:
•
The fact that you represent the United States Census
Bureau.
•
Your reason for contacting the household, whether in person
or by telephone.
•
An inquiry about whether or not the household received a
letter from the Census Bureau about the NCVS and your
visit.
An example of the introduction for the first visit to an assigned
household:
"Hello. I'm (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau. Here is
my identification. (Show ID badge) I’m here concerning the
National Crime Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is
conducting this survey here and throughout the nation to
determine how often people are victims of crimes. Did you
receive our introductory letter in the mail?"
Feel Comfortable With Your You must feel comfortable with your introduction so it sounds
Introduction
natural. Adapt your approach to the situation. Different
respondents have various kinds of concerns and questions; be
prepared to give correct and courteous answers.
Two Types of Information
Types of NCVS
Respondents
There will be two types of information that you will collect in the
NCVS interview:
•
Information about the entire household, and
•
Information about each household member who is 12 years
of age or older.
The NCVS respondents are classified as two types:
1) individual respondent and
2) household respondent
2-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
Individual Respondents Individual respondents are household members who are 12 years
of age or older. Obtain information about each of these
household members by self-response; interview each of these
persons directly and separately.
Household Respondent Although most adult household members are technically eligible
to be the household respondent, try to interview the most
knowledgeable household member. This is because in addition
to the individual respondent questions, the household respondent
is asked questions about the entire household. Therefore, the
household respondent should be the person who appears to
know -- or might reasonably be expected to know -- the answers
to the household questions.
The household respondent must be a current household member
who is at least 18 years of age, except for a few unusual
situations, which we will discuss in class. The household
questions are asked only once in a sample household during
each interview period, which is once every 6 months for 7
interview periods. You must complete the household
respondent’s interview before you can interview any other
eligible household members.
Proxy Interviews
You may encounter situations in which one household member
needs to provide the answers for another household member.
This is known as a "proxy" interview. We will discuss these
situations and who is eligible to be a proxy respondent in detail
during classroom training.
Become Familiar With the
Survey Questions
To be efficient in conducting interviews, become thoroughly
familiar with how to complete each NCVS question. We will cover
the specific items in detail in class.
Proper Interviewing
Procedures
For the NCVS, interview household members in private, out of
the hearing of others whenever possible. The NCVS covers some
very sensitive topics. If a respondent completes the interview in
front of other people, they may not be fully truthful about their
victimization experiences. This can happen when others are
present during the interview, whether they are household
members, family, or friends. In general, you get more accurate,
complete information when you interview in private.
2-5
Basic Interviewing Techniques
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
You may say something to the respondent like, “Research has
shown that we get better data when we interview in private. We
would also like to ensure confidentiality for each household
member. Is there some place we can talk away from others?”
Try to arrange private interviews, out of hearing distance of any
other person for the NCVS. If household members sit down
together for the interview, tell them that you wish to interview
separately to ensure the confidentiality of each household
member’s answers, and to ensure that we get the most complete
and quality data. Use your discretion if a respondent seems
hesitant about providing information when others are present.
Ask the household member whether another time or room in the
residence might be more convenient to complete the interview.
Continue to interview with others present ONLY if the household
member refuses to be interviewed privately or a private interview
is not possible (for example, in a small space such as a studio
apartment). Even in front of others, you must still conduct each
interview at a conversational pace, and ask each household
member all questions in their entirety. Certain NCVS questions
require use of a flashcard when conducting in person interviews,
which also provides more privacy.
It is important to develop a neutral, non-threatening, nonjudgmental atmosphere when asking the new questions, as with
all NCVS questions. Do not let the respondent see any signs of
approval or disapproval after he/she gives you information.
Be careful not to give your personal opinion by your words, facial
expressions, or the tone of your voice. Since some household
members might be reluctant or uncomfortable to answer
questions, you must be careful not to show any surprise or
disapproval. Any of these expressions could cause the
respondent to give untrue answers or withhold information.
Here are some reasons for not showing your reactions to what a
household member says:
Your actions, as well as your words, can influence an interview.
If you frown or shake your head, the respondent will sense your
disapproval just as clearly as if you put it into words.
2-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
If a respondent thinks that you favor one answer more than
another, this could influence his or her responses.
For more detailed information about probing techniques refer to
pages A2-37 through A2-43 in the electronic copy of the NCVS
Field Representative Manual (NCVS-550, Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives, 8/2017).
Accessing the NCVS-550
Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives
To access the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives open Mobile Case Management and click the
purple Training/Manuals tab. Click the manuals folder under
“Resources” and then click the NCS subfolder. Finally, click the
file, “NCVS-550 FR Manual.”
Ask Questions as Worded For now, the most basic rule to remember is to:
● Ask the NCVS questions EXACTLY AS WORDED on the
screen, and
● Follow all instructions carefully.
The information you collect for the NCVS, or any other survey, is
not valid unless all FRs ask all questions in the same way.
If a question seems awkward, or if you feel you are talking down
to a respondent, resist the temptation to apologize or change the
question. Simply ask it as worded.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise that starts on page 2-7. Compare
your answers to the answer key which follows the review exercise,
then continue with Lesson 3.
2-7
Basic Interviewing Techniques
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 2 - Review Exercise
1. Your primary goal is to obtain complete
with each sample
assigned to you.
2. As an NCVS FR, you should be able to: (Mark all answers that apply.)
____ (a) Explain the importance of the survey.
____ (b) Answer any questions that a respondent may have.
____ (c) Determine if a sample household keeps a home safe for valuables.
3.
As you complete your NCVS assignments, you will be conducting both
___________________ and _________________ interviews.
4.
Your _____________________ __________________ proves that you are an employee
of
the United States Census Bureau.
5.
A proper introduction to the NCVS for a personal visit interview should contain the
following information: (Mark all answers that apply.)
____ (a) Your home address and telephone number.
____ (b) Your name.
____ (c) The fact that you represent the United States Census Bureau.
____ (d) Your reason for contacting the household whether in person or by telephone.
____ (e) An inquiry whether or not the household received a letter from the Census Bureau
about the NCVS and your visit.
2-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
6.
The household respondent must be a current household member who is at least
_______ years of age, except in a few unusual situations.
7.
In most cases, self-response is not necessary and it is acceptable for one household
member to answer all of the survey questions for all other household members.
TRUE
8.
FALSE
Which of the following statement(s) is/are true about your reaction to a respondent’s
answer:
_________
1. It’s important to develop a neutral non-threatening, nonjudgmental atmosphere since it
is difficult not to show personal opinion.
2. It is ok when you agree with the respondent’s opinion.
3. Do not show any surprise or disapproval expressions.
4. Do not show favoritism to one answer more than another answer.
9.
It is important to ask the NCVS questions as worded so that all respondents hear the
same questions in the same order, ensuring the validity of the survey data.
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers against
the answer key on the next page(s).
2-9
Basic Interviewing Techniques
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 2 - Answer Key
1.
Your primary goal is to obtain complete interviews with each sample address assigned to
you.
(Page 2-1)
2.
As an NCVS FR, you should be able to: (Mark all answers that apply.)
X
(a) Explain the importance of the survey.
X
(b) Answer any questions that a respondent may have.
____ (c) Determine if a sample household keeps a home safe for valuables.
(Page 2-1)
3.
As you complete your NCVS assignments, you will be conducting both personal visit and
telephone interviews.
(Page 2-1)
4.
Your Identification Badge proves that you are an employee of the United States Census
Bureau.
(Page 2-3)
5.
A proper introduction to the NCVS for a personal visit interview should contain the
following information: (Mark all answers that apply.)
____ (a) Your home address and telephone number.
X
(b) Your name.
X
(c) The fact that you represent the United States Census Bureau.
X
(d) Your reason for contacting the household, whether in person or by telephone.
(e) An inquiry whether or not the household received a letter from the Census
Bureau about the NCVS and your visit.
(Page 2-4)
X
2-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Interviewing Techniques
6.
The household respondent must be a current household member who is at least
18 years of age, except in a few unusual situations.
(Page 2-5)
7.
In most cases, self-response is not necessary and it is acceptable for one household
member to answer all of the survey questions for all other household members.
FALSE
(Page 2-4)
8.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are true about your reaction to a respondent’s
answer:
1. It’s important to develop a neutral non-threatening, nonjudgmental atmosphere since it
is difficult not to show personal opinion.
2. It is ok when you agree with the respondent’s opinion.
3. Do not show any surprise or disapproval expressions.
4. Do not show favoritism to one answer more than another answer.
1, 3, 4
(Page 2-6)
9.
It is important to ask the NCVS questions as worded so that all respondents hear the
same questions in the same order, ensuring the validity of the survey data.
TRUE
(Page 2-6 to 2-7)
Continue with Lesson 3.
2-11
Basic Interviewing Techniques
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
2-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
Lesson 3. NCVS Sample Design
and Control Number
Objectives
The objectives of this lesson are to:
● Provide a brief overview of what is referred to as a "sample";
● Explain how the NCVS sample is selected; and
● Explain where to locate information about the NCVS.
Definition of "Sample"
A "sample" is a portion or specimen of a whole object, group,
population, etc., from which we learn something about the whole
object, group, population, etc.
For example: Television ratings for the entire United States are
based on a sample of about 1,500 households.
Sample Survey
The NCVS is a sample survey. The NCVS sample for 2017
consists of over 200,000 household cases throughout the United
States. These addresses are scientifically selected so that
characteristics of the people who reside at these addresses are
representative of the entire population.
Sample Units
Addresses selected for the NCVS sample are called "sample"
units or "sample" addresses. A sample unit is occupied usually by
one household (a family, a group of unrelated persons living
together, or a person living alone).
Each sample unit represents hundreds of other similar units.
Therefore, when an FR omits or obtains incorrect information
about one sample unit, the error is multiplied hundreds of times.
Control number
Until January 2018, there are types of sample cases: 2000 design
sample cases (sample based on the 2000 Decennial Census) and
2010 design sample cases (sample based on the 2010 Decennial
Census). Starting in January 2018, the 2000 design sample cases
will be phased out and the sample will consist entirely of 2010
design sample cases. Each type of sample case has a different
style of control number:
3-1
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
2000 DESIGN SAMPLE: For 2000 design sample cases, each
sample unit is identified uniquely by a control number, which
consists of the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PSU number (5 digits)
Segment number (2 digits)
Segment number suffix (2 characters)
Sample designation (3 characters)
Sample designation suffix (1 digit)
Serial number (2 digits)
Serial number suffix (1 character)
Household number (1 digit)
Spinoff indicator (2 digits)
When you receive your assignment, the segment number suffix,
the sample designation suffix, and the serial number suffix MAY
often be blank.
2010 DESIGN SAMPLE: For 2010 design sample cases, each
sample unit is identified uniquely by a control number, which
consists of the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
How Often Is a Sample
Address Interviewed?
Survey code (2 digits)
For NCVS the code is 02.
State code (2 digits)
FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards)
state code
County code (3 digits)
FIPS county code
Frame code (1 digit)
Shows what frame the sample unit is in:
G = group quarters frame,
U = unit frame, and
C = coverage improvement frame.
Sample designation code (3 digits)
Sequence number #1 (4 digits)
Sequence number #2 (2 digits)
Generally, a sample address that is selected for the NCVS is
contacted every 6 months for 3 years, until the household has
3-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
been interviewed a total of 7 times. For example, if a household is
interviewed in January 2018 for the first time, that household is
interviewed again in July 2018, January 2019, July 2019, January
2020, July 2020 and January 2021.
Only the first interview with a sample household must be
conducted in person. The remaining interviews (2nd through 7th)
are conducted by telephone by a field representative (FR).
When Household MembersThe NCVS is a sample of addresses. If the occupants of a sample
Change
address change, you interview the people who currently live at the
address and consider the address to be their usual place of
residence. Always interview the current household members at an
assigned sample address.
Unique ID
No two sample addresses should ever have the same control
number. Control number uniquely identifies sample addresses.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise starting on page 3-4 on the next
page. Make sure to compare your answers to the answer key that
follows the review exercise, then continue with Lesson 4.
3-3
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 3 - Review Exercise
1.
2.
Which households are interviewed in the NCVS each month? (Mark the correct answer.)
_____
All the households in the United States.
_____
All the households in selected counties.
_____
A sample of households which represents all households in the United States.
The NCVS sample is selected by a scientific process.
TRUE
3.
FALSE
The NCVS sample is selected from names, not addresses.
TRUE
4.
5.
FALSE
What do we call addresses selected for the NCVS sample? (Mark the correct answer.)
_____
Sample places
_____
Sample areas
_____
Sample units
_____
Segments
The information that you collect from a sample unit represents information for:
(Mark the correct answer.)
_____
The sample unit only
_____
Hundreds of other similar units
_____
All 200,000 units in the survey
3-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6.
7.
8.
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
What happens when an FR omits or obtains incorrect information at a sample unit? (Mark
the correct answer.)
_____
The error affects only the sample unit.
_____
The error is multiplied hundreds of times.
How often is a sample unit normally interviewed in the NCVS? (Mark the correct
answer.)
_____
Every 6 months for 3 years for a total of seven interviews
_____
Every month for 3 years
_____
Every month for 6 months
No two sample addresses should ever have the same control number.
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers
to the answer key on the next page(s).
3-5
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 3 - Answer Key
1.
Which households are interviewed in the NCVS each month? (Mark the correct answer.)
_____
All the households in the United States.
_____
All the households in selected counties.
X
A sample of households which represents all households in the United States.
(Page 3-1)
2.
The NCVS sample is selected by a scientific process.
TRUE
(Page 3-1)
3.
The NCVS sample is selected from names, not addresses.
FALSE
(Page 3-1)
4.
What do we call addresses selected for the NCVS sample? (Mark the correct answer.)
_____
Sample places
_____
Sample areas
X
Sample units
_____ Segments
(Page 3-1)
3-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
5.
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
The information that you collect from a sample unit represents information for: (Mark the
correct answer.)
_____
X
The sample unit only
Hundreds of other similar units
_____ All 200,000 units in the survey
(Pages 3-1)
6.
What happens when an FR omits or obtains incorrect information at a sample unit? (Mark
the correct answer.)
_____
The error affects only the sample unit.
The error is multiplied hundreds of times.
X
(Page 3-1)
7.
How often is a sample unit normally interviewed in the NCVS? (Mark the correct
answer.)
X
_____
Every 6 months for 3 years for a total of seven interviews
Every month for 3 years
_____ Every month for 6 months
(Page 3-2)
8.
No two sample addresses should ever have the same control number.
TRUE
(Page 3-3)
Continue with Lesson 4.
3-7
NCVS Sample Design and Control Number
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
3-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR CAPI Manual
Lesson 4. The NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual
for Field Representatives
Objective
In this lesson, we will discuss the primary source of information
that you will have. This electronic reference document is located
on your laptop:
● The NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
Introduction to the
NCVS-550
How the Manual is
Organized
Please get your laptop out and find it now. Refer to chapter 2, page
6 of this Self-Study for directions on accessing this document.
[ ]
The NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives is a
reference document containing all the information you need to
successfully complete your NCVS assignment. It is installed on
your laptop as an indexed, searchable file. As you gain
experience, you will become a proficient FR, but the manual is
designed to answer specific questions about your assignment and
the NCVS.
Refer to your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives as you read the following paragraphs.
Your interviewing manual is divided into four main parts:
Part A: The National Crime Victimization Survey and You,
Part B: National Crime Victimization Survey CAPI Instrument,
Part C: Survey Concepts,
Part D: NCVS Case Management and Contact History Instrument.
At the front of the manual is a Table of Contents. The sections and
chapters are numbered using the following method, for example:
“Page A2-4” refers to Part A, Chapter 2, page 4.
“Page B3-5” refers to Part B, Chapter 3, page 5.
“Page C1-10” refers to Part C, Chapter 1, page 10.
4-1
FR CAPI Manual
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Part A: The National Crime Part A contains information on the history of the NCVS and talks
Victimization Survey and about your job duties and materials. This section of the manual
You
discusses ● the purpose and sponsor of the survey,
● sample design,
● use of the data,
● eligible respondents,
● general interviewing techniques,
● proper interviewing procedures,
● basic survey procedures,
● your job duties, and so on.
Take a few minutes now to look through Part A.
Part A, Chapter 6
“Noninterviews”
[ ]
Now look at Part A, Chapter 6.
Chapter 6 includes information on NCVS noninterviews. When you
are assigned an NCVS case and cannot get a completed interview
either for the entire household or for an eligible household
member, that case is considered either a household noninterview
or person noninterview. The chapter begins with a general
discussion of the household noninterviews, and then a topic for
each type of noninterview (A, B, C, and Z), and the procedures for
classifying a case as a noninterview.
Read about the four types of NCVS interviews beginning on page
A6-2. Your reading ends on page A6-4 with the discussion of Type
Z noninterviews.
[ ]
Part B: The National Crime Part B contains information on the NCVS interview, an explanation
Victimization CAPI
of the three parts of the NCVS instrument (front, middle, and
Instrument
back), and the items contained within each part.
Go to the Table of Contents in the front of your manual to Part B.
[ ]
Notice that Part B is further broken down into six chapters.
4-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1,
“Overview of the NCVS
Instrument”
FR CAPI Manual
Chapter 1 contains information about the NCVS Blaise CAPI
instrument, so before classroom training, review it carefully. This
chapter contains detailed information regarding the layout of the
question screens, navigating within the instrument, and using
function keys. Function keys are any of a set of keys on a
computer keyboard that when pressed activates a special function
or operation.
Go to Topics 1 and 2 of this chapter. These topics introduce you to
the design of the survey instrument and the layout of the question
screens. Read these two topics now.
[ ]
Next, locate Topic 5, “Navigation and Using Function Keys” and
read this topic now.
[ ]
You have the flexibility to navigate through the instrument as
dictated by your interview. You can navigate by using the mouse
or the keyboard (or a combination of both). However, this
self-study focuses on keyboard-based navigation only.
Take a few minutes to read through this topic now. You will learn
about this information in detail during classroom training.
[ ]
Part B, Chapter 2,
“Front Section of the
NCVS Instrument”
Part B, Chapter 3,
”Middle Section of the
NCVS Instrument –
Introduction
& Screening Items”
This chapter gives you a basic overview of some of the front
screens of the instrument. The Front section of the instrument,
which also will be discussed in a later lesson, is designed to:
●
Provide the telephone number to dial and the introduction to
read to the person who answers your telephone call.
●
Identify possible interviewing problems.
●
Verify that you reached the correct address and household.
●
Verify that you are speaking to an eligible household
respondent and, if necessary, select another eligible
household respondent.
Chapter 3 covers the screen layout and instructions for specific
items within the screening component of the instrument. The
various names pertaining to a concept or other kind of information
are included in the manual.
4-3
FR CAPI Manual
Part B, Chapter 4,
“Middle Section of the
NCVS Instrument Incident Report Items”
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Chapter 4 covers the screen layout and instructions for specific
items within the incident component of the instrument. Each item
has a unique variable name. The variable name pertaining to a
concept or other kind of information is included in the manual.
Therefore, if you are having trouble with a particular item within the
instrument, identify its variable name and look up that variable in
your manual.
Chapter 4 also contains important information about how to write a
summary report when you have completed collecting details about
a crime incident. Each summary report should be written so that
anyone reading it can get a clear, well-defined picture of how the
respondent was victimized.
Detailed discussions of the Middle section of the instrument, which
contains the screening questions and the incident questions are
covered in Part C of the manual and also discussed later in this
self-study.
Part B, Chapter 5,
“Middle Section of the
NCVS InstrumentAdditional Incidents,
Unduplication, and Help
Screens”
This chapter gives you an overview of how to handle adding
incidents and reviewing incidents for duplication in the middle
section of the NCVS CAPI instrument. This chapter also provides
a list of “Help” screens available to you for specific NCVS items
within the instrument. Turn to Topic 3 of Chapter 5 in your
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives and look
over the different help screens that are available to you as you
conduct NCVS interviews.
[ ]
Part B, Chapter 6,
“Back Section of the
NCVS Instrument”
This chapter discusses the Back section of the instrument which is
made up of screens that you use to:
● Make appointments to recontact a sample household to
complete an interview.
● Thank respondents for their participation in the NCVS.
● Enter any final notes about the case.
Further discussion of the Back section of the instrument is
provided later in this self-study.
Part C: “Survey Concepts” This part of the manual contains information related to survey
concepts, and not so much to the instrument. Part C covers all the
concepts used in the NCVS interview. Chapter 1 provides concept
definitions and examples for the basic NCVS concepts. Chapter 2
4-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR CAPI Manual
covers the concepts that you will encounter as you are screening
for crimes, and Chapter 3 explains the concepts pertaining to the
reporting of crime incidents. It is extremely important that you
develop a good understanding of these concepts.
Take a few minutes now to look through Part C.
Part D: NCVS Case
Management and Contact
History Instrument
[ ]
Part D discusses Case Management and the Contact History
Instrument CHI), which are the two systems you use to track your
cases and contacts with households and respondents. Case
Management helps you organize and manage your assignments
while the survey instrument contains the survey questions you will
ask respondents. These two systems are integrated so that they
“talk” to each other. That is, you must “tell” case management
what case you want to interview in order to pull that case up.
Likewise, any changes you make to the address, contact
information, or notes feed back and forth between the instrument
and case management.
Go to the Table of Contents for Chapter 1 now.
[ ]
This chapter explains:
Part D, Chapter 1,
Getting into Case
Management
•
getting into case management,
•
function keys, and
•
transmissions.
Now go to Chapter 1, in Part D of your manual.
[ ]
This section of your manual includes information on logging into
your laptop, as well as how the screens are set up and how the
function keys work in Case Management. You will practice using
some of the function keys and learning about your screen setup
later in the self-study. Also, during classroom training, you will
practice using these function keys and learn about your screen
setup in more detail.
Part D, Chapter 1, Topic 2, Topic 2 covers important information on transmitting your
Transmissions
completed work.
4-5
FR CAPI Manual
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2,
Chapter 2 covers all the details for using the Personal Contact
Personal Contact History History Instrument or pCHI. The pCHI allows you to keep track of
household contacts and contacts with individual respondents.
Instrument
[ ]
Go to the Table of Contents for Chapter 2 now. You can see that
the chapter gives an overview of the pCHI, information on how it
works along with Case Management, how to handle contact
information for both households with rosters and households
without rosters. The final topic describes how to use pCHI in
specific situations.
Table of Contents
The NCVS- 550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
contains a Table of Contents that helps you locate information in
the manual for specific NCVS subjects or items in the NCVS
instrument. (You may also use the search function in Adobe
Acrobat to locate specific terms or phrases.)
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise on starting on page 4-7. Check your
answers against the answer key that follows the review exercise,
then continue with Lesson 5.
4-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR CAPI Manual
Lesson 4 - Review Exercise
1.
Which of the following two manuals contains a section covering basic NCVS survey
concepts?
______ Listing and Coverage: A Survival Guide for Field
Representatives (Volume II)
______ NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
2.
3.
Identify the Part (A, B, C, or D) of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives, where you would find information on the following subjects:
____
Historical overview of the NCVS
____
How to answer questions from respondents
____
How to access a case to conduct an NCVS interview.
____
Discussion of the instrument’s front, middle, and back sections.
____
Where to look up a definition of the NCVS concept of presence during an
incident.
____
How the function keys work in case management
List the Part and Topic of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
which provides instructions for completing the summary of the crime incident report.
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
4-7
FR CAPI Manual
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 4 - Answer Key
1.
Which of the following two manuals contains a section covering basic NCVS survey
concepts?
____
X
Listing and Coverage: A Survival Guide for Field Representatives (Volume II)
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
(Page 4-1)
2.
Identify the Part (A, B, C, or D) of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives, where you would find information on the following subjects:
A
Historical overview of the NCVS
A
How to answer questions from respondents
D
How to access a case to conduct an NCVS interview.
B
Discussion of the instrument’s front, middle, and back sections.
C
Where to look up a definition of the NCVS concept of presence during an
incident.
B
How the function keys work in case management
(Page 4-1 and the NCVS-550 Manual Table of Contents)
3.
List the Part and Topic of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
which provides instructions for completing the summary of the crime incident report.
Part B, Chapter 4
(Page 4-4)
Continue with Lesson 5
4-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Blaise and the NCVS
Lesson 5. Blaise and the NCVS
Objective
At the end of this lesson, you will familiarize yourself with some of
the basic keys that you will use to navigate or “move around” in
the NCVS survey instrument.
What is Blaise?
Blaise is the name of the software in which the NCVS instrument
is programmed. The “instrument” is the automated questionnaire,
or the computer program used to present the survey questions.
Throughout training you will practice identifying information and
learning where to look for things in Blaise.
Entering Information
You can enter information and navigate through the instrument
by using the keyboard and/or a mouse. Throughout this selfstudy you will focus on using the keyboard. To enter information
and navigate through the instrument, you use several keys on
your laptop. Look at the illustration on the next page and take
note of where these keys are.
You use various Function Keys: Tab, PageUp and PageDown,
Enter, and End, as well as the up, down, right and left arrow
keys to navigate through the instrument.
Typing the appropriate pre-code and pressing “Enter” takes you
to the next question or item in the instrument.
The “End” key takes you to the next unanswered question, which
is good for getting back to where you left off if you need to reenter the case.
You will practice using these keys later in the self-study and
during classroom training.
[ ]
Summary Points
Familiarize yourself with the keys on your keyboard, particularly
the tab key, the enter key, the end key, the PageUp and
PageDown keys, the up, down, right and left arrow keys, and the
function keys.
5-1
Blaise and the NCVS
Review Exercise
Tab key
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Complete the review exercise starting on page 5-3 for this
lesson. Compare your answers to the answer key which follows
the review exercise and continue with Lesson 6.
Function keys
Arrow Keys
End key
Page Up
5-2
Page Down
Enter key
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Blaise and the NCVS
Lesson 5 - Review Exercise
1.
If you re-enter a case, which key do you press to take you to the next unanswered
question?
PageUp
PageDown
Enter
End
2.
The
is the automated questionnaire, or the computer program used to present
the survey questions.
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page.
5-3
Blaise and the NCVS
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 5 - Answer Key
1.
If you re-enter a case, which key do you press to take you to the next unanswered
question?
PageUp
PageDown
Enter
End
X
(Page 5-1)
2.
The instrument is the automated questionnaire, or the computer program used to
present the survey questions.
(Page 5-1)
Continue with Lesson 6.
5-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
Lesson 6. Case Management
Objectives
During this lesson, you will learn some of the basic ways that
information is displayed in Case Management for a Windowsbased survey. In this lesson, you will:
•
•
•
review some Case Management screen layouts;
learn how to identify different parts of the screen;
learn about the Case Management function keys.
What is Case
Management?
Case Management is an application that helps you (and staff at
headquarters) manage your work. Case Management provides a
list of all sample cases in your NCVS monthly assignment, along
with additional information that is helpful to you in managing your
work, such as appointments, telephone numbers, respondent
names, and so on. Some of the function keys used in Case
Management work differently than in the survey instrument
screens.
Practice
The best way to familiarize yourself with NCVS Case
Management is by hands-on practice. To do this, get into
Training Case Management and install your training cases.
• Turn your computer on, and log in using your profile name
and password.
•
• Click on the MCM Training Icon
• Click on the top right Training/ Manuals Tab (purple)
• Click on LCM Training
• Select NCVS from the survey list and press Enter (or click
OK).
• Highlight the row “NCVS Classroom training” and press F5 to
install your training cases.
• When you receive a message that the installation of training
cases was successful, press Enter (or click OK).
• Get into the training cases in Case Management; press F8.
6-1
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
You should have a list of training cases on your screen. When
you enter Case Management during actual production
interviewing, a dialog box appears that asks you to select the
assignment (interview) period with which you want to work (see
example below of screen). Arrow up or down to the appropriate
assignment period. (When using training cases, this screen does
not appear.)
Follow the instructions in this lesson as you go through some
Case Management functions.
Parts of Case
Management
There are four main parts to the Case Management window.
They are the:
•
•
•
•
Menu Bar,
Tool Bar,
Case List Pane, and
Details Pane.
6-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
Menu Bar
Tool Bar
Case
List
Pane
Details
Pane
Tabs
MENU BAR
The first section of the Case Management window, called the
Menu Bar, is at the top left corner of the screen. The Menu Bar
shows the words File, Edit, View, Actions, and Help. These are
called menu items. Most applications have a menu; however,
different applications have different menu items.
Once a menu item is selected, you can move from one menu
item to the next by using your arrow keys or by pressing the Alt
key and the letter that is underlined in the menu item’s name, for
example, Alt+H will access the help drop down list. You can also
select a menu item by using the mouse pad and clicking on the
menu item you want to look at. A drop down menu appears,
displaying information contained within the menu item.
TOOL BAR
Look at the next section of the Case Management window just
below the menu bar. This section is the Toolbar. The Toolbar in
Case Management lists the function keys and contains a symbol
and name for each function key. Function keys are shortcuts for
evoking specific actions within Case Management.
6-3
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
For example, look at the question mark symbol just below the
words File and Edit on the Menu Bar. The question mark stands
for the Help function key (F1) which is printed directly below the
question mark. If you click on the question mark with your mouse
you get the Help window, but you can also access the Help
window by pressing the F1 key.
Using the
Function Keys
In this section of the self-study, we will discuss each function key.
As you review each of the function keys listed on the Tool Bar, do
not press a key unless instructed to do so.
F1 - Help
The F1 key is the Help key. By pressing F1, you access Case
Management Help, which explains a specific function of
Case Management.
F2 - Interview
Press the F2 key to begin an interview for the case currently
highlighted on your case list.
Once you press the F2 key to begin an interview, you are no
longer in Case Management, and have at that point accessed the
NCVS interviewing instrument.
F3 - Next Tab
Press the F3 key and the view in the Details Pane changes from
one tab to another. For example, if you are looking at the
Assignment tab and press F3, the view changes to the HH Roster
tab.
F4 - Go to (Case
List/Details)
The F4 key allows you to switch your focus between the Case
List Pane and the Details Pane. Press F4 so that the label on the
toolbar for the F4 button reads Case List. Notice that the
Assignment tab is in red and your cursor is in the Control Number
field. You are now in the Details Pane. Notice the Title Bar now
says “Case Management – Details.”
[ ]
Notice that some of the fields displayed in the Assignment tab are
shaded and others are white. The fields that are in white are
editable fields which means that you can make changes only to
those fields. If you make any changes in the Details Pane, it is
recommended that you save those changes (using the save
shortcut Ctrl + S) before returning to the Case List Pane.
However, if you do not save your changes before returning to the
Case List Pane, you will be prompted to save any changes upon
exiting Case Management or when you press F2 to interview a
case.
6-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
Press the F4 key again, and you will see your cursor blinking in
the Case List Pane in the last column to the right titled, “RTE.”
Now any action you take affects the Case List Pane.
F5 - Reports
Press the F5 function key to view various reports to help you
check the status of your overall assignment. Some of the types of
reports you will be able to see are counts of your cases (all
complete interviews, all noninterviews or Type As, etc.), overall
response rates based on the information on your laptop, as well
as your Type Z noninterview rate. You can select the report you
want to view by using your down and up arrow keys until the
report you want is highlighted. Select “OK” to view the report.
Click on F5-Reports in the Toolbar.
[ ]
Highlight the “Counts” report and select “OK.” When you are
done viewing the report click on the “Close” button, which takes
you back to your Case List.
F6 - Listing
The F6 key is not used for the NCVS and is grayed out.
F7 – Case Level Notes
The F7 key allows you to add case notes and view existing case
notes for a highlighted case.
F8 - View
The F8 key allows you to look at your cases in a variety of ways,
such as those cases - Not Started,
Interviewed,
Transmitted, etc.
Click on the F8-View button now to see the different ways you
can view the cases in your assignment.
[ ]
DO NOT press a key unless instructed to do so. You will have an
opportunity to use these function keys during classroom training.
F9 - Sort
In organizing your work, you may find that you need to be able to
see your cases in a different order, according to a specific field.
The F9 key allows you to sort the list according to any column
heading or any field within the Case List Pane. Cases are
automatically sorted in the order of the control number, but that
may not work best for you. For example, you may want to view
6-5
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
your cases according to where they are located, in which case
you may want to sort according to ZIP code. Or you may want to
view your cases according to appointments you have made, in
which case, you would sort according to appointment.
F10 - Exit
Use the F10 function key to exit Case Management.
F11
F11 is inactive for the NCVS in Case Management.
F12
Press F12 to access the Person Level Contact History Instrument
(pCHI).
Ctrl T
Press the CTRL+T keys simultaneously to open the Interview
Time Preferences (also known as ITP) application. This
application allows you to view and record the best and worst
times to contact a case. You can also access the Interview Time
Preferences by clicking on the Ctrl +T ITP icon. You can view the
interview time preferences on the Case List toolbar or by clicking
on the Interview Time Preferences tab in the Details Pane.
Using other Keys
In addition to using the function keys alone, Case Management
uses function keys in combination with other keys on the
keyboard
to allow you to perform some additional operations in Case
Management. For example:
• Shift + F1 - Displays General Help.
• Alt + F4 - Closes the active window or exits the
active program or help screen.
• Shift + F8 - Returns you to the main Case Management
screen from the Display Categories (F8) screen.
Other useful shortcut keys in Case Management include:
•
•
•
Ctrl + S - Saves any changes you made to one or more
editable fields.
Ctrl + Home - Moves you to the first case in the list.
Ctrl + End - Moves you to the last case in the list.
6-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Makes
Perfect
Case Management
After you begin working with your actual assignment, you will
use Case Management functions every day. As you use them
more, you will see how they work best for you.
Things change when you
access the survey
instrument ...
Case Management (and all of its functions) are separate from
how things operate once you access the NCVS instrument. Once
you use F2 in Case Management to access a case, you have
then accessed the NCVS instrument, and the function keys and
the way in which you view information, etc., changes somewhat.
Later in this self-study, you will have a chance to look at some
NCVS screens and see how they differ from Case Management.
CASE LIST PANE
The Case List Pane is directly under the Toolbar. (See the
illustration on Page 6-3.) It shows a line-by-line summary of some
of the information about the housing units in your assignment.
All of your monthly cases are listed in the Case List Pane, and
more information for the highlighted case is listed in the Details
Pane. As you complete interviews, cases will no longer appear
on this list.
The information displayed in the Case List Pane includes Control
Number, *, Address, Place Name/City, Zip, Appointment, P/T,
Status, Telephone #, Int #, and Rte. Most of the information
displayed is self-explanatory; however, a few of the columns
require further explanation.
Asterisk (*)
Column
P/T Column
The appearance of an asterisk in the column between the
Control Number and Address columns indicates that there is
something special about the case, such as the case is a
confirmed refusal and you are not to contact the case, or the
case has been reassigned from another FR. When there is a
special characteristic about a case, in addition to the asterisk,
one or more small icons appear in the upper right corner of the
Assignment tab in the Details pane. For example, if a case is a
confirmed refusal a STOP sign icon displays. To view what is
special about the case without getting into the Assignment tab,
right click on the icon and a description of the icon is displayed.
The P/T column indicates that the case is to be contacted either
by personal visit or by telephone. A “P” appears for those cases
that require a personal visit and a “T” for those cases that are
eligible for a telephone interview.
6-7
Case Management
Status Column
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Status column indicates the status of the case. A code is
entered in this column depending upon the outcome of the case.
Some of the codes you frequently see are:
•
no code (blank) appears in the Status column if the case
has not been started;
•
an “O” appears if you have opened a case but have not
completed the household respondent’s interview; and
•
a “P” appears if you have completed the household
respondent’s interview but need to complete interviews
for other eligible members of the household.
Rte Column
The last column, “Rte” or route is a function that can be used to
plan your route each day by prioritizing cases in the order in
which you plan to interview each case. The entry of “999” that
you see for all of your cases is the default setting for route. You
will learn more about this during classroom training.
Scroll Through
Your Case List
As you scroll through your case list (in the Case List Pane), the
information in the Details Pane (portion of the screen below the
Case List Pane) changes to reflect the case that is currently
highlighted. Try this now using your up arrow and down arrow
keys.
You can also use your Tab key to scroll down. Note how the
information in the Details Pane changes. Scroll back to the top
and make sure you have the first case on the case list
highlighted.
6-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
DETAILS PANE
Case Management
Look at the last part of the Case Management window, the
Details Pane, in the illustration on Page 6-3. The Details Pane
is the section of the screen just below the Case List Pane.
Notice that the Details Pane has several sections called tabs.
The names of these tabs are listed horizontally at the top of the
Details Pane (about the middle of your screen). The tabs in the
Details Pane are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assignment
HH Roster
Additional Information
Notes
Contacts
Letter Mgmt
History
Contact History
Returning Contact History
Interview Time Preferences.
Bldg Mgmt
Each tab is like a folder in a file cabinet. Now click on each tab
as they are discussed. Take a moment to look at the
information under each tab in the Details Pane.
Assignment
The Assignment tab (which is highlighted by default) shows
more detailed information about a case, such as the full
address, telephone number, case ID, current outcome code,
and so on. You can make changes in the white editable fields.
[ ]
HH Roster
The HH Roster tab shows the household roster, which consists
of the names of all household members from the last interview.
It is updated by the instrument if any changes are made during
the current interview period. The information in this tab is
useful for callbacks to households with missing data.
[ ]
Additional
Information
This tab provides additional information for those cases that
are in Group Quarters (GQ), such as the GQ name, type,
number of units, contact name, contact address, etc.
[ ]
6-9
Case Management
Notes
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Notes tab only allows you to view notes regarding this
case. If you or another FR enter notes for a case, you will see
a red checkmark in front of the word “Notes.” The red
checkmark is a quick way to tell if there is any information in
the Notes folder.
To add or edit notes use the F7 function key.
Contacts
Letter Mgmt
[ ]
The Contacts tab contains the names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of contact people who are persons other
than members of the household. Sometimes you get
information about the status of a unit from someone other than
the occupant. This happens when a unit is vacant and you talk
to a neighbor or a real estate agent, or when a unit does not
exist and you are able to verify it with a reliable source, such as
a post office. When you enter the contact person information in
the instrument, you can see the information in the Contacts
folder.
[ ]
This tab shows the history of the letters that have been sent
from the regional office to the household, by type and date.
[ ]
History
The History tab gives historical information about the case,
such as the previous outcome, whether the case was a
replacement household, or if the case was previously assigned
to another FR. It also shows you the previous addresses during
the current interview periods and captures and shows the
outcome code, action code, and the date/time each time an FR
enters into a case by pressing the F2 function key.
[ ]
Contact History and
Returning Contact History
The Contact History and Returning Contact History tabs
contain the history of previous visits/interviews for a case. They
also keep a record of the strategies used and respondent
behavior for the case. Contact History contains contact history
for the current interview period; Returning Contact History
contains history for the previous interview period.
[ ]
Interview Time
Preferences
This tab allows you to view the best and worst times to contact
a case. The best times are shown in green and the worst times
in red. To edit or enter good or bad times to contact, you may
press “Ctrl” +“T” at any time during an interview.
[ ]
6-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Bldg Mgmt
Case Management
To return to the Case List Pane, press the F4 function key.
The last tab is the Building Management tab. It contains
building manager contact information for large multi-unit
buildings. If you are assigned a case in such a building, the
building management’s contact information appears when you
click the tab.
[ ]
Press F10 to exit out of case management.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise on the next page. Compare your
answers to the answer key that follows the review exercise,
then continue with Lesson 7.
6-11
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 6 - Review Exercise
1. One of the purposes of Case Management is to help you manage your monthly assignment.
TRUE
FALSE
2. Match the function keys below with their function in Windows Case Management:
_____F1 Help
A - Lets you rearrange the listed cases according to your criteria.
_____F2 Interview
B - Enables you to move from tab to tab in the Details Pane.
_____F3 Next Tab
C - Displays the Notes field for the selected case.
_____F4 Go to
D - Displays Case Management Help information about the active
window.
_____F5 Reports
E - Closes Case Management
_____F7 Notes
F - Opens the selected case so you can interview the respondent.
_____F8 View
G - Toggles focus between the Case List pane and the Details
pane.
_____F9 Sort
H - Displays the CM Report Selection dialog box, in which you
choose the report(s) you want.
_____F10 Exit
_____Ctrl+T
I - Activates the Display Category Selected dialog box, in which
you choose the category of cases you would like to see. This
lets you look at a shorter list of cases, only those which fall into
the category you choose.
J - Opens the Interview Time Preferences application.
3. Identify the main section(s) of the Case Management system.
_____ Menu Bar
_____ File Bar
6-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
_____ Case List Pane
_____ Info Pane
_____ Tool Bar
_____ Details Pane
4. Which section of the Case Management lists all of your monthly cases?
_____ Menu Bar
_____ File Bar
_____ Case List Pane
_____ Info Pane
_____ Tool Bar
_____ Details Pane
5. Match the function keys below with their function in Case Management.
_____Shift + F1
A - Saves any changes you made to one or more editable fields.
_____Alt + F4
B - Moves you to the last case in the list.
_____Shift + F8
C - Displays General Help.
_____Ctrl + S
D - Moves you to the first case in the list.
_____Ctrl + Home
E - Returns you to the main Case Management screen from the
Display Categories (F8) screen.
_____Ctrl + End
F - Closes the active window or exits the active program or help
screen.
6. Match the tab in the Details Pane with its function.
_____Assignment
A - Displays notes.
6-13
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
_____HH Roster
B - Shows the contact people names, addresses and telephone
numbers.
_____Additional
Information
C - Displays the previous outcome code and the FR code of the
person who previously interviewed the case.
_____Notes
D - Shows more detailed information about a case, such as the full
address, telephone number, case ID, current outcome code.
_____Contact History E - Displays the names of all household members.
_____Contacts
F - Contains information about previous visits, strategies used,
and respondent behavior.
_____Letter Mgmt
G - Displays the best and worst times to contact a case.
_____History
H - Contains building manager contact information for large
multi-unit buildings.
_____Bldg Mgmt
I - Provides additional information for GQ cases.
_____Interview Time
Preferences
J - Provides type and date of respondent letters sent
by the regional office.
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page.
6-14
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
Lesson 6 - Answer Key
1. One of the purposes of Case Management is to help you manage your monthly assignment.
TRUE
(Page 6-1)
2. Match the function keys below with their function in Windows Case Management:
D F1 Help
A. Lets you rearrange the listed cases according to your criteria.
F F2 Interview
B. Enables you to move from tab to tab in the Details Pane.
B F3 Next Tab
C. Displays the Notes field for the selected case.
G F4 Go to
D. Displays Case Management Help.
H F5 Reports
E. Closes Case Management.
C F7 Notes
F. Opens the selected case so you can interview the respondent.
I F8 View
G. Toggles focus between the Case List pane and the Details
pane.
A F9 Sort
H. Displays the CM Report Selection dialog box, in which you
choose the report(s) you want.
E F10 Exit
I. Activates the Display Category Selected dialog box, in which
you choose the category of cases you would like to see. This
lets you look at a shorter list of cases, only those which fall into
the category you choose.
J CTRL+T
J. Opens the Interview Time Preferences application.
(Pages 6-4 through 6-6)
6-15
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
3. Identify the main section(s) of the NCVS Case Management system.
_X _ Menu Bar
____ File Bar
_X _ Case List Pane
____ Info Pane
_X _ Tool Bar
_X _ Details Pane
(Page 6-3)
4. Which section of the Case Management lists all of your monthly cases?
____ Menu Bar
____ File Bar
_X _ Case List Pane
____ Info Pane
____ Tool Bar
____ Details Pane
(Page 6-7)
5. Match the function keys below with their function in Case Management.
C Shift + F1
A - Saves any changes you made to one or more editable fields.
F Alt + F4
B - Moves you to the last case in the list.
E Shift + F8
C - Displays General Help.
A Ctrl + S
D - Moves you to the first case in the list.
D Ctrl + Home
E - Returns you to the main Case Management screen
from the Display Categories (F8) screen.
6-16
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case Management
B Ctrl + End
F - Closes the active window or exits the active program or help
screen.
(Pages 6-6 through 6-7)
6. Match the tab in the Details Pane with its function.
D Assignment
A - Displays notes.
E HH Roster
B - Shows the contact people names, addresses and telephone
numbers.
I Additional Information
C - Displays the previous outcome code and the FR code of the
person who previously interviewed the case.
A Notes
D - Shows more detailed information about a case, such as the full
address, telephone number, case ID, current outcome code.
F Contact History
E - Displays the names of all household members.
B Contacts
F - Contains information about previous visits, strategies used,
and respondent behavior.
J Letter Mgmt
G - Displays the best and worst times to contact a case.
C History
H - Contains building manager contact information for large
multi-unit buildings.
H Bldg Mgmt
I - Provides additional information for GQ cases.
G Interview Time
J - Provides type and date of respondent letters sent
Preferences
by the regional office.
(Pages 6-9 through 6-11)
Continue with Lesson 7
6-17
Case Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
6-18
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Person Based Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
Lesson 7. The Person Level Contact
History Instrument (pCHI)
Person Level Contact
History Instrument (pCHI)
The Person Level Contact History instrument (also known
as pCHI) allows you to track NCVS contact history on a
person level basis.
pCHI Computer Based
Training (CBT)
Log onto your laptop and complete the pCHI Computer
Based Training. Click to open Mobile Case Management
and click the purple Training/Manuals tab. Click the CBT
folder under “Resources” and then click the NCS subfolder.
Finally, click the file, NCVS pCHI and follow instructions to
complete the training.
When you have completed it, continue with Lesson 8.
7-1
Person Based Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
NOTES
7-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
More Details About Your Job
Lesson 8. More Details about Your Job
Objective
This lesson will help you understand the basic procedures for the
NCVS, as well as provide you with an overview of specific
household procedures.
Length of Time in Sample
Each address that is selected as a sample unit for the NCVS is
usually interviewed seven times. These interviews are conducted
once every 6 months over a period of 3 years. This allows us to
compile a continuous record of the sample household's
experiences at a reasonable cost while balancing respondent
burden.
Enumeration Periods
We refer to each time a sample household's address is assigned
for interview as an "enumeration period." Since we generally
interview or attempt to interview each sample household seven
times, there are usually seven "enumeration periods" for each
sample address.
Reference Periods
The reference period for the NCVS covers the 6-month time
period prior to the interview day. When conducting interviews, we
are only interested in crime incidents that occurred during a
household member's specific 6-month reference period. Even
though the NCVS instrument inserts the appropriate reference
period start date, it is still important that you understand how a
household member's reference period is determined.
For the first enumeration period, each household member's
reference period will start 6 months prior to the interview date on
the first day of that month, and end on the day prior to the
interview date.
For example: If a household respondent's first enumeration
period interview is conducted on March 1, 2018, the current
reference period for the household respondent is September 1,
2017 to February 28, 2018. If the remaining household
members were interviewed for the first enumeration period on
March 4, 2018, the current reference period for each of these
household members is September 1, 2017 to March 3, 2018.
After the first enumeration period, reference periods for all
remaining enumeration periods start on the date of the
household member's last interview and end on the day prior to
the member's current interview date. For example, if the
respondent was previously interviewed on February 3, 2018
and you are conducting the respondent’s current interview on
8-1
More Details About Your Job
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
August 8, 2018, then the current reference period for this
respondent is February 3, 2018 to August 7, 2018.
Personal vs Telephone
Interviews
By using this type of reference period, we can compile a
continuous record of the household's experiences for the entire 3
years that they are in sample.
The first interview at a sample address is always conducted in
person. Interviews with units in sample for their second through
seventh interview should be conducted by telephone from a
secure place in your home. We realize that there will be times
when this is not possible, such as when the unit was a
noninterview the previous enumeration, there is no telephone
available in the sample unit, or the household indicated that a
telephone interview is not acceptable.
After completing the household respondent’s interview, always
try to complete interviews for all remaining eligible household
members during the same contact. Any follow-up contacts to
interview remaining household members should be done by
telephone. For sample units that are to be interviewed using the
personal visit procedure, after you complete the household
respondent’s personal interview, you are allowed to make
telephone callbacks to obtain interviews with the remaining
household members.
Try to plan your personal visits during the most productive hours
of the day and days of the week, so you can find household
members at home to reduce the number of return visits to a
sample address. Always remember to make the fewest number
of trips to a sample area as possible to complete your
assignment.
Interview Period
An interview period is the time that you are allowed to complete
all of the NCVS interviews assigned for an interview month.
Typically, the interview period begins on the first day of the
month and continues almost the entire month. Your close-out
date is typically a day or two before the last business day of the
month.
Refusals
Occasionally, an entire household may refuse to participate in
our survey. Make every effort to persuade the household to
participate. If your attempts to gain a household's cooperation
are unsuccessful, you need to indicate through the NCVS
instrument that the household refuses to participate.
8-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
More Details About Your Job
If the household respondent refuses his/her interview and there
is no other eligible household member who can serve as the
new household respondent, discontinue interviewing in the
sample household. However, if there is another eligible
household member who can serve as the new household
respondent, you can interview that person as the new household
respondent. Remember, BEFORE you can interview any other
eligible household members, you must complete the household
respondent’s interview. When there is more than one eligible
individual respondent, the refusal of one individual respondent
does NOT end the NCVS interviews in the sample household.
Replacement Households
When an entire household moves out and the new household
moves in (i.e., the sample household is not the same household
as was interviewed in the previous enumeration period) the new
household at the sample unit is referred to as a “replacement”
household. Replacement households are treated as incoming or
first time in sample households -- you must interview the
household respondent in person, along with any remaining
household members who are eligible for interview and available
at the time of your visit. Callbacks for individual respondents can
be done by telephone.
NCVS Changes
The survey sponsor, the BJS, is always looking for ways to
improve the NCVS interview, as well as ways to collect
information on topics of current interest. Some of these changes
are temporary, while other changes could become permanent.
Over the past few years, new or revised questions have been
incorporated into the NCVS interview including questions about:
Hate crimes
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Citizenship
Veteran’s Status
Starting With the
Household Respondent
ALWAYS complete the household respondent's interview before
interviewing any remaining eligible household members
(household members who are 12 years of age and older).
When you get into the NCVS CAPI instrument and the case is a
returning (continuing) household, that is, a household in sample
for its second through seventh interviews, you will be prompted
to ask to speak with the household member who was the
household respondent for the previous enumeration period. If
8-3
More Details About Your Job
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
that household member is not available, you will be instructed to
identify another eligible household respondent.
Reporting Crime Incidents
If the respondent reports one or more crime incidents, then
proceed through the incident report screens for each reported
incident that occurred during the 6-month reference period.
These screens are designed to gather information about:
• Where the incident took place
• Whether or not the respondent or other household members
were present during the incident
• How the incident happened
• Any injuries that the respondent or other household members
may have experienced during the incident
• Information about the offender(s).
• Details about the respondent’s employer and job when the
incident occurred while the respondent was working or on
duty when the incident occurred.
• Whether or not the police were notified and reasons for not
reporting the incident to the police.
• What the respondent was doing when the incident happened.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise that starts on the following page.
Compare your answers to the answer key, which follows the
review exercise, then continue with Lesson 9.
8-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
More Details About Your Job
Lesson 8 - Review Exercise
1.
Each address that is selected as a sample unit for the NCVS is usually interviewed:
(Mark the correct answer.)
2.
_____
Only one time
_____
Seven times
_____
Three times
The reference period for the NCVS covers the following time period:
(Mark the correct answer.)
3.
_____
The 12 months prior to the interview month
_____
The 6 months prior to the interview day
_____
The 2 years prior to the interview month
The first NCVS interview at a sample address is always conducted in person.
TRUE
4.
When conducting first interviews at a sample household, you must complete the
household respondent’s interview as well as interviews with all other eligible household
members by personal visit.
TRUE
5.
6.
FALSE
FALSE
Typically, your interview period begins on the first day of the month and lasts for about:
(Mark the correct answer.)
_____
2 1/2 weeks
_____
One month
_____
1 week
It does not matter which household member gets interviewed first for the NCVS.
TRUE
FALSE
8-5
More Details About Your Job
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
7.
When an entire household moves out and a new household moves in, the new household
is referred to as a ______________________ and the interview with the new household
should be treated like ______________________ households.
8.
Interviews with units in sample for their second through seventh interview should be
conducted by telephone from a secure place in your home.
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers against the answer key on the next page(s).
8-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
More Details About Your Job
Lesson 8 - Answer Key
1.
Each address that is selected as a sample unit for the NCVS is usually interviewed:
(Mark the correct answer.)
Only one time
X
Seven times
Three times
(Page 8-1)
2.
The reference period for the NCVS covers the following time period:
(Mark the correct answer.)
The 12 months prior to the interview month
X
The 6 months prior to the interview day
The 2 years prior to the interview month
(Page 8-1)
3.
The first NCVS interview at a sample address is always conducted in person.
TRUE
(Page 8-2)
4.
When conducting first interviews at a sample household, you must complete the
household respondent’s interview as well as interviews with all other eligible household
members by personal visit.
FALSE
(Page 8-2)
8-7
More Details About Your Job
5.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Typically, your interview period begins on the first day of the month and lasts for about:
(Mark the correct answer.)
2 1/2 weeks
X
1 month
1 week
(Page 8-2)
6.
It does not matter which household member gets interviewed first for the NCVS.
FALSE
(Page 8-3)
7.
When an entire household moves out and a new household moves in, the new household
is referred to as a replacement household and the interview with the new household
should be treated like incoming or first time in sample households
(Page 8-3)
8.
Interviews with units in sample for their second through seventh interview should be
conducted by telephone from a secure place in your home.
TRUE
(Page 8-2)
Continue with Lesson 9.
8-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Survey Instrument
Lesson 9. The Blaise Basics: The Survey Instrument
Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize you with the basic
setup of the NCVS instrument screens. At the end of this
section, you will be able to:
• differentiate between respondent questions and FR
instructions;
• locate different types of information on the screen; and
• locate Help items and other information on your screen.
Section tabs
Menu bar
Title bar
Info
Pane
Form
Pane
Status bar
9-1
The Survey Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Elements of a
NCVS Instrument
Screen
The illustration on the previous page shows a screen from the
NCVS instrument. The Blaise software features a distinctive
split-screen display. The “screen” in Blaise refers to the entire
area of the Blaise window, from the title bar on top to the status
bar on the bottom.
Title Bar
The Title Bar identifies the name of the survey.
Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains five menus:
• Forms
• Answer
• Navigate
• Options, and
• Help
These menus each contain lists that help you navigate, enter
data, and access help throughout the NCVS instrument.
Section Tabs
Section Tabs show the different sections of the NCVS
instrument, as well as give you the option of displaying the
household roster or answers to the most frequently asked
questions about the survey.
Info Pane
The panes are the different areas of the screen. Each pane is
surrounded by a border. The Info Pane contains the question
text and any FR instructions for an item as well as the list of
answer choices below the question.
9-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Survey Instrument
Location of Info Card Booklet
and Help screen indicator
FR instruction
Question text
Answer list
Book Icon
Help Screens
Some questions have a “Help” screen. By accessing the Help
screen, you can look at additional information to help you enter
information for that screen. Access Help screens by pressing
F1. For those questions that have a specific Help screen, the
question mark (?) followed by [F1] appears in blue text in the
top left of the question screen.
Information Card
Booklet Icon
Looking at the illustration above, notice the graphic of a book
(this type of graphic is called an icon). This icon indicates that,
for this question, you must show the respondent the Information
Card Booklet for your personal visit interviews and refer to it for
your telephone interviews. Sometimes a number appears next
to the icon.
The number next to the book indicates the page to refer to
within the booklet. On your laptop, the graphic and page
number reference, if provided, are in blue text.
9-3
The Survey Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Blue Text
Any time you see blue text in the Info Pane, it is an FR
instruction for you to read to yourself, not aloud, to the
respondent. For example, you may see an instruction that says
“Read answer categories.”
Bold Black Text
Bold black text in the Info Pane indicates that this is a question
you read aloud to the respondent. On the previous page, the
HOUSEHOLDINCOME question appears in bold black text
and is read aloud to the respondent. Note that some questions
require you to read the answer categories aloud to the
respondent. Remember, you are only required to read the
answer categories to the respondent when the categories are
in bold black text.
Gray Text
Gray text in the Info Pane indicates that you have the option to
read the text to the respondent. This appears for questions in
which you have read the same text to the respondent in a
previous question. You may want to re-read the question text
to reinforce the intent of the question.
Form Pane
The Form Pane contains data entry cells or spaces for
entering responses. It shows a “map” of where you are within a
section and displays previous information that has been
collected for that part. Look at the illustration of the Form Pane
on the next page.
The Form Pane is formatted differently depending on the type
of information being obtained. You can change or update the
information in boxes with white backgrounds. For example, if
you make a mistake, you can back up when you are in a case
by using the back arrows to correct an entry. If the information
is in a box with a gray background, it cannot be changed.
Locating Your Position
Within the Form Pane
Looking at the second column of the Form Pane, you see that
the information in the last box is displayed in white text within a
dark box (on your screen that box is blue). This is how you
know where you are within the Form Pane, or where your
cursor is.
9-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case ID
Variable name
The Survey Instrument
Page number
Status bar
Status Bar
The Status Bar appears at the bottom of the screen and gives
information about the case you are interviewing, such as the
case ID, where you are within the instrument (i.e., section, page
number), as well as the variable name. When you encounter an
error that you must report to your regional office, supply the
regional office with specific information from the Status Bar,
including the section, page number, and the variable (screen)
name.
Navigation
To navigate through the instrument, the key you use most often
to move from one question to another is the Enter key. Pressing
Enter after typing an entry ensures that the entry is “accepted”
within the CAPI instrument and also takes you to the next
9-5
The Survey Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
question on the instrument path. Also, remember that if you need
to re-enter a case and want to return to where you left off,
pressing the End key takes you to the next unanswered
question.
Use the arrow keys mostly when navigating sequentially from
one item to the next. Use the Left and Right Arrows to navigate
horizontally, and use the Up and Down Arrows to navigate
vertically. Use the Page Up (PgUp) and Page Down (PgDn) keys
when navigating sequentially, from one Form Pane to the next.
You will learn about the types of navigation, such as backing up
and jumping to another section of the instrument, during
classroom training. The Tab key, the PgUp and PgDn keys, the
up, down, right and left arrow keys, the function keys, and of
course, the End and Enter keys – are the ones you will use the
most.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise that starts on the following page.
Compare your answers to the answer key which follows the
review exercise, then continue with Lesson 10.
9-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Survey Instrument
Lesson 9 - Review Exercise
1. The Form Pane contains the specific survey questions and/or FR instructions for an item
as well as listing the answer categories.
TRUE
FALSE
2. Text appearing in blue in the Info Pane is for you to read to yourself and not out loud to
respondents.
TRUE
FALSE
3. Which key, when pressed, ensures that the entry is “accepted” within the CAPI
instrument?
____ Tab key
____ End key
____ PgUp key
____ Enter key
4. The Info Pane shows you where you are within a section and displays previous
information that has been collected within that section.
TRUE
FALSE
5. Where within the CAPI screen do you find information about the case such as the case ID
and the question name?
____ Title Bar
____ Menu Bar
____ Status Bar
9-7
The Survey Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6. For those questions that have a specific Help screen associated with that question, which
symbol appears in blue text followed by which function key?
____ Exclamation point (!) followed by F1
____ Question mark (?) followed by F10
____ Exclamation point (!) followed by F10
____ Question mark (?) followed by F1
7. Which color text indicates that you have the option to read the text to the question to
reinforce its intent?
____ Blue text
____ Grey text
____ Black text
____ Red text
Compare your answers against the answer key on the next page.
9-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The Survey Instrument
Lesson 9 - Answer Key
1. The Form Pane contains the specific survey questions and/or FR instructions for an item
as well as listing the answer categories.
FALSE
(Page 9-2)
2. Text appearing in blue in the Info Pane is for you to read to yourself and not aloud to
respondents.
TRUE
(Page 9-4)
3. Which key, when pressed, ensures that the entry is “accepted” within the CAPI
instrument?
____ Tab key
____ End key
____ PgUp key
X Enter key
(Page 9-5)
4. The Info Pane shows you where you are within a section and displays previous information
that has been collected within that section.
FALSE
(Page 9-4)
5. Where within the CAPI screen do you find information about the case such as the case ID
and the question name?
____ Title Bar
____ Menu Bar
X Status Bar
(Page 9-5)
9-9
The Survey Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6. For those questions that have a specific Help screen associated with that question, which
symbol appears in blue text followed by which function key?
____ Exclamation point (!) followed by F1
____ Question mark (?) followed by F10
____ Exclamation point (!) followed by F10
X Question mark (?) followed by F1
(Page 9-3)
7. Which color text indicates that you have the option to read the text to the question to
reinforce its intent?
____ Blue text
X Grey text
____ Black text
____ Red text
(Page 9-4)
Continue with Lesson 10.
9-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Lesson 10. The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Objective
This lesson will familiarize you with certain features of the NCVS
instrument, as well as its different sections. At the end of this
lesson you should know the difference between the instrument’s:
Front section,
Middle section, and
Back section.
Ask Questions
As Worded
When asking NCVS questions, do not change the words or omit
any parts of the questions. Even if the change seems
insignificant to you, it could change the way the respondent
interprets the question. We want each respondent to hear the
NCVS questions the same way, so the answers we get are
comparable throughout the entire sample. In general, use neutral
probes when the respondent does not seem to understand the
question. (Probing is prohibited for the sexual orientation and
gender identity questions. These are discussed more in Lesson
15.) When appropriate, verify the information entered.
Answer Categories
Notice that some question answer lists contain values starting with
“11” rather than “1.” This was designed to minimize errors in the
data collected.
Answer List
10-1
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Question/Item
Name
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
A descriptive name or label has been assigned to each
question/item. This label is referred to as the Blaise Variable
Name and is displayed on the screen’s Status Bar. For the
NCVS, we refer to the Blaise Variable Name as the screen or
item name. For example, the Blaise Variable Name for the
question below is START_CP.
Variable name
Single and Multiple
Response Categories
Some questions allow you to enter only one response, while
others allow multiple answers. Notice that there are two types of
responses, noted by radio buttons and boxes. Radio buttons ()
are used beside the response categories when a single
response is required. Boxes () are used beside the response
categories when multiple entries are acceptable. Also, for
questions that allow multiple responses the screen displays the
FR instruction
10-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
“Enter all that apply.” In the illustrations below and on the next
page, notice that the response field to the left of the answer
categories differs between multiple and single response
questions.
Single Response Question
“Radio Buttons”
10-3
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Multiple Response Question
“Boxes”
When you see response categories with boxes, before pressing
“Enter,” keep asking the appropriate probe, “Anything else?” or
“Any other way?” and record all responses. Continue probing
in this manner until you get a “No” response.
Edit Checks
In order to detect inconsistencies in the data at the time of
collection, several questions contain edit checks. The edit
checks examine the response to individual items and determine
if the responses are consistent with the other data entered. An
error message appears when possible errors (inconsistencies)
are detected in the respondent’s answers. The screen displays
an error message and identifies the questions that are
inconsistent.
10-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Items with Inconsistent Responses
Types of Edit Checks
Edit Check Error Message
There are two types of edit checks, soft edit checks and hard
edit checks. A soft edit check appears for a situation like a 14
year-old attending college (possible but not likely); a hard edit
check appears for a situation like a 4 year old attending college
(not possible).
• For soft edit checks, you can either accept the responses and
therefore the inconsistency (select the Suppress button) OR
resolve the error by going back (select the GoTo button) to the
items in question and rechecking the responses.
• For hard edit checks, you must go back and resolve the
inconsistency.
10-5
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
In many cases, the inconsistencies occur as a result of keying
errors. To go back and correct a particular item, make sure that
the item displayed in the "Questions involved" column of the
"Edit Check Error Message" (refer to illustration on page 10-5) is
highlighted; then click the GoTo button, which takes you to the
question that needs correcting.
When resolving inconsistencies in a soft edit check, the pop-up
window displays two screens in the “Questions Involved”
column, which you can choose from to select which answer you
want to change. In the example on Page (10-5), if you want to fix
the inconsistency by updating the relationship value, highlight
the “RELATIONSHIP: Relation” row and select the GoTo button
to return to the Relationship Screen to change the answer. If the
respondent’s gender was incorrect, highlight the second row
“SEX:sex” and select the GoTo button to change the
respondent’s gender.
Don’t Know and
Refused Responses
Some questions allow a “Don’t know” response. In the NCVS
CAPI instrument, such questions either have a “Don’t know”
category displayed as a valid response category or the category
is “blind.” A blind “Don’t know” category is not displayed. The
instrument allows you to enter a “Don’t know” response by
pressing the “CTRL” + “D” keys if the respondent does not know
the answer to the question. A question mark (?) then appears in
the answer field. Also, some questions allow a “blind” refusal. For
those questions, you can press the “CTRL” + “R” keys if the
respondent refuses to answer. An exclamation point (!) then
appears in the answer field.
Specify Fields
Some questions require that you enter a description of the
respondent’s answer. For example, in the screener questions
you enter a brief description of the incident when the respondent
reports that he/she was a victim of crime. For questions that
contain an “Other - specify” category record the respondent’s
answer on the “Other - specify” screen if you are unable to
classify the respondent’s answer into a predefined category. For
these types of questions, as well as the crime incident report
summary, the length of the “Specify” field varies:
Screener questions – 100 characters
“Other – specify” categories, most are 35 characters
Crime incident summary – 300 characters
10-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
If you need to record more information for a particular item, enter
additional text in the “Item Level” notes by pressing the F7
function key.
Overview of Front
Section
The Front Section of the NCVS instrument lets you:
Introduce and reintroduce the survey to the respondent;
Record the type of interview you are conducting (personal visit or
telephone);
Record the outcome of your attempts to contact the household
respondent or individual respondents; and
Select a new household respondent when necessary.
The Front Section of the instrument also includes screens for
verifying the sample address, the mailing address, and the
sample address’ phone number and also captures person and
household noninterview information.
Look at the START_CP screen shown on the next page. This is
the first screen in the instrument’s Front Section that appears
when you enter the NCVS CAPI instrument from Case
Management. At this screen you select whether to:
Interview by telephone or personal visit,
Classify the case as a noninterview,
Transmit the case, or
Exit the case before attempting to conduct an interview.
If a case is a Type A, B, or C noninterview, select category (4),
“Noninterview” at the START_CP screen which takes you to the
screen to classify the type of noninterview and code appropriate
noninterview reasons.
10-7
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
For a noninterview, select Precode (4) at START_CP
Select the type of noninterview at NONTYP
10-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Select the reason for the noninterview at TYPEA (shown here), TYPEB, or TYPEC
However, if you are unable to interview an eligible
household member and the household member is not the
household respondent you must classify the respondent as a
Type Z person noninterview. In CAPI, you classify household
members for whom an interview was not obtained after you
have completed interviews with all other eligible household
members and are ready to transmit the case. When you enter “5
” at START_CP, the Type Z block appears and asks you to
record the best reason data were not collected for the
respondent. We will practice classifying a household member as
a Type Z noninterview during classroom training.
Also notice that at the START_CP Main Menu, the following
information about the case is displayed:
Case Status - Measures the progress of the case, such as “New
Case,” “Unreached Household,” “Household reached, no
respondent contact,” “Household Refusal,” “Household
Respondent (complete),” “Noninterview,” etc. (See illustration
below.)
10-9
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Case status
•
Date and Time - Displays the current date and time.
•
Incoming (Interview 1)/Continuing (Interviews 2-7) Identifies whether the case is an incoming or continuing
case.
Interview Number - Identifies the case’s interview number
or enumeration period (1-7).
•
•
Confirmed Refusal - Indicates whether or not the case is a
confirmed refusal. An entry of “Yes” indicates that the case is
a confirmed refusal and an entry of “No” indicates that it is
not a confirmed refusal.
10-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
A replacement household is always considered “incoming,” and
requires a personal visit interview but retains the interview
number of the parent. This is because the interview number is
associated with the sample address, not with the current
household.
Overview of
Middle Section
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument collects household
characteristics and collects/updates the person level
characteristics of the household roster. Information collected
includes:
•
the sample unit’s tenure,
basic household data (names of all persons living in the
household, relationship, household membership, birthday, age,
marital status, sex, armed forces, education, ethnicity, and
race),
•
changes in household composition,
•
use of telephone,
•
building characteristics,
•
household income, and so on.
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument also contains:
•
the screen questions,
•
socio-demographic questions,
the incident questions asked on the Crime Incident Report, and
screens for comparing/unduplicating incidents reported in the
current enumeration and previous enumeration periods.
To ensure that we do not collect duplicate information about
incidents, the unduplication screens compare incident(s)
reported by the current respondent against -other incidents reported during the current enumeration by the
current respondent,
10-11
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
incidents reported during the current enumeration by other
respondents, and
up to four incidents reported by any respondent in the household
during the previous enumeration.
An example of a unduplication screen is shown below:
Overview of Back
Section
The Back Section of the instrument includes thank you screens,
screens for setting appointments and recording information,
such as telephone numbers, best time to call, whether there are
any language or hearing problems, case level notes, and
screens for recording the incomplete status (either
Refusal/Callback/Breakoff) of a household respondent's
interview.
The information you enter in the back of the instrument is fed
10-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
back into Case Management and appears in Case
Management after you exit the case.
Tabs
Throughout the instrument, starting at the START_CP screen,
there are various tabs you can access anytime during the
interview. Four tabs appear on all screens:
• Main tab - used to return to the interview after pressing the
“HH roster” or “FAQs” tab.
• HH Roster tab - Displays the Household composition. For
an incoming case this tab is empty until you complete the
household coverage items,
• FAQs tab - provides responses to Frequently Asked
Questions about the survey.
• F10 tab - which ends the interview.
Other tabs display depending on the progress of the interview.
For example, the New HHR tab appears until you have
completed the household roster. This tab can be used to
change the household respondent. This tab will only display the
persons eligible to act as the household respondent. If
displayed, the tabs items are accessible from any item in the
instrument.
Instrument
Function Keys
Function keys are shortcuts for specific actions in the
instrument. The function of some of the keys in the CAPI
instrument differs from their function in Case Management. In
the CAPI survey instrument you can display the function keys at
any time by going to the Navigate menu and selecting “Show
Function Keys.” You can also display the function keys by
pressing the Ctrl+K keys.
10-13
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
KEY
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
FUNCTION
Question Help
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Jump Menu
Show Status
(Unassigned)
Item Notes/Remarks
Return
Skip Forward
Exit
Calculator
Copy Down (Repeat)
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
KEY
Shift+F1
Shift+F2
Shift+F3
Shift+F4
Shift+F5
Shift+F6
Shift+F7
Shift+F8
Shift+F9
Shift+F10
Shift+F11
Shift+F12
Alt +F4
FUNCTION
Show HH
FAQs
RI FAQs
(Unassigned)
Language
(Unassigned)
Show notes/Remarks
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Show Function Keys
Show Standard Abbr
Show Original Notes (RI)
Closes active window or
exits active program or
help screen
10-14
KEY
END
HOME
Ctrl+F3
Ctrl+D
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+H
Ctrl+F7
Ctrl+K
Ctrl+M
Ctrl+R
Ctrl+F11
Ctrl+T
Alt+S
Alt +F4
FUNCTION
Next Question on Path
First Question on Path
Show Question Text
Don't Know
Search Tag
Info
Case Level Notes
Show Function Keys
Show DK & Refused
Refused
Calendar
Interview Time Preferences
Save
Closes active window or
help screen
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
The chart below further explains the operations of function keys in the NCVS survey instrument. During
classroom training, you will practice using some of the function keys.
If you press
function key:
F1
You can perform this operation within the instrument
during the interview
QUESTION HELP Displays any help screens for the current question. Help
screens are designed to aid you with a particular concept, to define the
meaning or intent of a particular word, to provide specific probes, and so on.
F4
JUMP MENU Accesses a “Jump” menu, which enables you to jump back to
a previously answered section of the incident report items. Note that this
function only works in the incident report items, which are part of the middle
section of the NCVS instrument.
ALT + F4
Closes the active window, closes help screen, or exits the active program.
F7
ITEM NOTES/REMARKS Allows you to view or add comments and
explanations for the screen currently displayed.
F8
RETURN Allows you to skip back over a block of questions.
F10
EXIT Skips from the present question to the REFCBBREAK_CP Screen at
the back of the instrument. You do this whenever you must make an early
exit from the interview.
SHIFT + F5
LANGUAGE
Allows you to switch from the English version of the instrument to the
Spanish version for the current question and all subsequent questions.
SHIFT + F11
SHOW STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS
Displays the standard recommended and accepted abbreviations for the
NCVS. Abbreviations can be used to conserve space when entering text
in item text boxes that allow only a limited number of characters.
END
Takes you to the next unanswered question in the instrument path.
CTRL + D
DON’T KNOW
Allows you to record a don’t know response to a question when a separate
“Don’t Know” response category is not a Precode in the answer list. Also
referred to as a “Blind” Don’t Know.
CTRL + R
REFUSED Allows you to record a refusal to a question by the respondent.
CTRL + T
INTERVIEW TIME PREFERENCES
Accesses the BOOST/BLOCK feature of the instrument for you to view
or record the best times or worst times to contact the household.
10-15
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Review Exercise
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Complete the review exercise that starts on the following
page. Compare your answers to the answer key that follows
the review exercise and continue with Lesson 11.
10-16
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Lesson 10 - Review Exercise
1. How can you tell questions that allow multiple responses from those that allow a single
response in the NCVS CAPI instrument?
_____ The answer fields for multiple response questions have radio buttons, while single
response questions have square boxes.
_____ An asterisk appears in the answer list.
_____ The answer fields for multiple response questions have square boxes, while single
response questions have radio buttons.
_____ There is no distinction between the two types of responses.
2. The Middle Section of the NCVS CAPI instrument contains thank you screens and screens
for setting callback appointments.
TRUE
FALSE
3. The uses of the function keys within the survey instrument are identical to those in Case
Management.
TRUE
FALSE
4. You will capture Type Z information about NCVS noninterview respondents at the time
you discover that the respondent is a noninterview.
TRUE
FALSE
5. A “blind” “Don’t know” or “blind” “Refusal” means that the survey instrument accepts
such responses for certain questions even though “Don’t know” and “Refused” categories
are not displayed.
TRUE
FALSE
10-17
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6. What appears in the answer field when you press Ctrl+D for a blind “Don’t know”?
_____ D
_____ !
_____ CtrlD
_____ ?
7. What appears in the answer field when you press Ctrl+R for a blind “Refusal”?
_____ R
_____ !
_____ CtrlR
_____ ?
8. Some items contain edit checks that identify data inconsistencies or errors. “Suppress”
accepts the inconsistency in a hard edit check.
TRUE
FALSE
9. “Goto” in an edit check returns you to inconsistent item(s) to make corrections to the items
in both soft and hard edit checks.
TRUE
FALSE
10. Which keys do you press to display the function keys for the NCVS CAPI instrument?
_____ Ctrl E
_____ Ctrl K
_____ Ctrl M
_____ Ctrl R
Compare your answers against the answer key on the next page(s).
10-18
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
Lesson 10 - Answer Key
1. How can you tell questions that allow multiple responses from those that allow a single
response in the NCVS CAPI instrument?
_____ The answer fields for multiple response questions have radio buttons, while single
response questions have square boxes.
_____ An asterisk appears in the answer list.
__X__ The answer fields for multiple response questions have square boxes, while single
response questions have radio buttons.
_____ There is no distinction between the two types of responses.
(Page 10-2)
2. The Middle Section of the NCVS CAPI instrument contains thank you screens and screens
for setting callback appointments.
FALSE
(Page 10-11)
3. The uses of the function keys within the survey instrument are identical to those in Case
Management.
FALSE
(Page 10-13)
4. You will capture Type Z information about NCVS noninterview respondents at the time
you discover that the respondent is a noninterview.
FALSE
(Page 10-9)
5. A “blind” “Don’t know” or “blind” “Refusal” means that the survey instrument accepts such
responses for certain questions even though “Don’t know” and “Refused” categories are not
displayed.
TRUE
(Page 10-6)
10-19
The NCVS CAPI Instrument
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6. What appears in the answer field when you press Ctrl+D for a blind “Don’t know”?
_____ D
_____ !
_____ CtrlD
__X__ ?
(Page 10-6)
7. What appears in the answer field when you press Ctrl+R for a blind “Refusal”?
_____ R
__X__ !
_____ CtrlR
_____ ?
(Page 10-6)
8. Some items contain edit checks that identify data inconsistencies or errors.
“Suppress”accepts the inconsistency in a hard edit check.
FALSE
(Page 10-5)
9. “Goto” in an edit check returns you to inconsistent item(s) to make corrections to the items in
both soft and hard edit checks.
TRUE
(Page 10-6)
10. Which keys do you press to display the function keys for the NCVS CAPI instrument?
_____ Ctrl E
__X__ Ctrl K
_____ Ctrl M
_____ Ctrl R
(Page 10-13)
Continue with Lesson 11.
10-20
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Front Section
Lesson 11. The NCVS Front Section
Objective
Introduction
The objectives of this lesson are to:
•
Explain the design of the Front Section of the NCVS CAPI
instrument.
•
Provide an overview of the items that make up the Front
Section of the survey instrument.
The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
• Give you case-level information to review before attempting to
contact the sample household.
• Guide you through screens for making contact with a household
respondent or an individual respondent for personal visit or
telephone interviews, and record possible interviewing
problems.
• Guide you through screens for selecting a new household
respondent or new individual respondent.
• Update sample address, mailing address, and telephone
number information for the household with the household
respondent.
Getting into the NCVS
Instrument
To access the NCVS instrument from Case Management to begin
interviewing a sample case, press the F2 key. Later in the
self-study you will practice getting into the NCVS instrument and
conducting an interview. For now, let’s review some of the main
screens you see when you enter the Front Section of the
instrument.
START_CP
Go to page B2-3 in your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives and read about the START_CP screen, which is
the first screen in the instrument’s Front Section that appears
when you enter the NCVS instrument from Case Management.
The reading ends on page B2-4.
At this screen you select whether to proceed to interview the case
by telephone or personal visit, classify the case as a Type A, B, or
C noninterview, transmit the case, or get out of the case before
11-1
The NCVS Front Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
attempting to conduct an interview.
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
After indicating at START_CP that you are ready to proceed to
interview the sample case, when conducting interviews with
continuing households (households that have been in sample
previously) the instrument takes you to SHOW_CP_ROSTER.
This screen displays the name and other information regarding the
composition of the household, as shown below. Once you have
reviewed this screen, enter 1 to proceed to the next screen.
Introductory Screen
The instrument goes to an introduction screen where you
introduce yourself and the survey to the respondent. When talking
to the household respondent, you inquire about whether or not the
respondent received the NCVS introductory letter, at the
GETLETTER screen.
Before the interview, the National Processing Center (NPC), sends
an advance letter to the household to say that you will be
contacting the household for an interview. For personal visit
interviews, if the respondent does not recall receiving the letter,
you must hand the respondent a copy of the introductory letter.
Allow the respondent time to read the letter.
VERADD_CP
The next question you ask the household respondent is if the
address listed on the screen for the household is the household’s
exact address. The question reads:
I have your address listed as ...
Is that your exact address?
If the respondent says: "This is 3423 Randolph Place," and the
address reads, “3423 Randolph Street,” first make sure that you
are at the correct address before indicating in VERADD_CP that
an “incorrect address was previously recorded.”
From the VERADD_CP screen the instrument proceeds to
CHGPH_CP, which asks if you need to change the household’s
current telephone number. Sometimes you may know that the
current telephone number recorded for the household needs to be
changed to another number. For example, when verifying the
household’s address the respondent may tell you to start calling at
a different telephone number than previously recorded.
11-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Front Section
If you need to change the telephone number, the instrument takes
you to screen NEWPH_CP to enter the new telephone number.
NEWADDNO_CP
If you discover that you reached the correct sample address but
the address needs additions or corrections, you can edit the
address at one of the NEWADDNO_CP screens as shown on the
next page. Go to page B2-55 in your NCVS-550 Interviewing
Manual for Field Representatives and read about the address
information you can update or correct when you are at this screen.
[ ]
If you discover that an assigned housing unit is actually a Group
Quarters (GQ) unit and the “New Group Quarters” description is
incorrect or needs to be completed, enter the description before
pressing Enter. A GQ unit is a type of living quarters where the
11-3
The NCVS Front Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
residents share common facilities, such as a college dormitory, or
where residents receive authorized care or custody. Detailed
procedures for working with GQs and explanations of the types of
GQs are covered in the LiMA – Listing and Coverage training you
reviewed in the self study generic training package.
You can either press the TAB key or the ENTER key to move
through the items and enter the correct information for those items
that need to be updated. To exit this screen you need to proceed to
the “New Group Quarters” field and then press Enter.
ADRCHECK_CP
The address check screen prompts you to select a reason or
multiple reasons as to why the address information provided by
the respondent did not match the displayed address for the
household.
Go to page B2-56 of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives and read the description of the reasons you can
select.
[ ]
MAILINGSAME_CP
At MAILINGSAME_CP you ask the respondent if the mailing
address is the same as the household’s physical address. If the
address is not the same because the household’s mail is sent to a
different address, the instrument goes to the
VERIFYMAILING_CP screen.
VERIFYMAILING_CP
At VERIFYMAILING_CP you re-verify the mailing address. If the
respondent indicates that the mailing address is correct, the
instrument goes to the Middle Section of the NCVS instrument. If
the mailing address is incorrect, the instrument goes to the
NEWMAIL_CP screen.
NEWMAIL_CP
NEWMAIL_CP allows you to modify the mailing address
information for the household. It includes all of the same address
fields for the sample address except the physical location
description, such as “red house on corner,” which is not part of the
mailing address.
11-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Front Section
Lesson 11 - Review Exercise
1. The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to: (Mark all that apply)
Provide information about the case for you to review before attempting contact
with the sample household.
Screen for crime incidents.
Guide you through screens for making contact with a household respondent or an
individual respondent.
Collect detailed information about the incident reported.
Update sample address, mailing address, and telephone number information for
the household with the household respondent.
2. Which function key do you press in Case Management to start the interview process with the
household?
F1
F2
F7
F10
3. The first screen in the survey instrument’s Front Section that appears when you enter the
NCVS instrument from Case Management is:
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
VERADD_CP
START_CP
HHROSTER
11-5
The NCVS Front Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
4. A
is a type of living quarters where the residents share common facilities or
where residents receive authorized care or custody.
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
11-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Front Section
Lesson 11 - Answer Key
1. The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to: (Mark all that apply)
X
Provide information about the case for you to review before attempting contact
with the sample household.
Screen for crime incidents.
X
Guide you through screens for making contact with a household respondent or an
individual respondent.
Collect detailed information about the incident reported.
X
Update sample address, mailing address, and telephone number information for
the household with the household respondent.
(Page 11-1)
2. Which function key do you press in Case Management to start the interview process with the
household?
F1
X
F2
F7
F10
(Page 11-1)
11-7
The NCVS Front Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
3. The first screen in the survey instrument’s Front Section that appears when you enter the
NCVS instrument from Case Management is:
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
VERADD_CP
X
START_CP
HHROSTER
(Page 11-1)
4. A Group Quarters is a type of living quarters where the residents share common facilities or
where residents receive authorized care or custody.
(Page 11-3)
Continue with Lesson 12.
11-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Household Questions
Lesson 12. NCVS Middle Section
Basic Household Questions
Objective
The objectives of this lesson are to:
Explain the design and components of the Middle Section of the
NCVS CAPI instrument.
Provide an overview of the items that make up the first part of the
Middle Section of the survey instrument: questions about the
characteristics of the sample unit and its members.
NCVS Middle Section
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument is made up of four
main parts or sets of questions. These include:
Questions about the characteristics of the sample unit and its
members.
Screening questions designed to identify all crime incidents which
occurred during the respondent’s 6-month reference period.
Incident questions designed to collect detailed information about
each crime incident reported by a sample household member.
Other survey questions:
Socio-demographic questions about disability, citizenship, sexual
orientation, gender identity, veteran status, employment, and
household income.
Questions about use of telephone and contact information.
Questions about language requirements.
Basic Household
Questions
The purpose of this first set of questions is to collect or update
information about the characteristics of the household and its
members. These questions are asked initially during the first
interview and may be verified or updated in subsequent
interviews. This part of the instrument contains questions about:
• the sample unit’s tenure,
• each person’s relationship,
12-1
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
• building characteristics and basic household information
(names of all persons living in the household),
• household membership,
• birthday,
• age,
• marital status,
• sex,
• armed force status,
• education,
• ethnicity, and
• race.
The Basic Household Questions can be divided into two parts:
• Questions designed for the collection of household
characteristics and
• Questions designed for the collection/updating of person
level characteristics of the household roster.
Household Characteristics Questions about the characteristics of the sample unit include the
following:
TENURE
Go to page B2-60 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and look at the question screen shot at the
top of the page.
[ ]
Item TENURE determines if the sample unit is owned or being
bought, rented for cash, or occupied without payment of cash
rent. You ask TENURE for each sample unit in the first, third,
fifth, and seventh interview (enumeration) periods. This question
is used to determine if people who own their own home are
more or less victimized than people who rent. The reason for
12-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Household Questions
asking this question four different times is that the tenure status
could change.
STUDENTHOUSING
Go to page B2-62 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and look at the screen shot for the
STUDENTHOUSING question.
[ ]
This question determines if the sample unit is being used as
student housing by a college or university. You ask or verify this
question each enumeration period. The reason for asking or
verifying this question each time is that the status of the housing
unit could change between enumeration periods.
PUBLICHOUSING
The public housing question is asked during the odd numbered
enumerations. This question determines if the sample unit is
owned by a public housing authority, and is asked only if the
sample unit is “Rented for cash” or “Occupied without payment
of cash rent.”
To be considered public housing the unit must be in a federally
funded project. A unit located in a building that is funded by a
state or local government or part of a federal assisted program,
such as VA (veteran), FHA (Federal Housing Authority), voucher,
or certificate assisted housing is NOT considered public housing
for the NCVS.
PUBLICHOUSINGMGR
VERIFY
If you determine that the sample unit is in a building that is
owned by a public housing authority, you must:
Locate the building manager and
Verify that this is correct and that the building is indeed owned
by a public housing authority.
This verification should be done during the first enumeration
period for incoming cases and in the third, fifth, and seventh
interview periods for continuing cases (or replacement
households).
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
This item asks if the sample unit is located on an American
Indian Reservation or American Indian Lands. On page B2-65 of
12-3
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
your interviewing manual, read what is meant by an American
Indian Reservation and American Indian Lands. The reading
ends in the middle of page B2-66.
This screen only appears for you to ask during the sample unit’s
initial interview.
FARMSALES
FARMSALES is asked only during the first enumeration period
interview. This question asks if sales of crops, livestock, and
other farm products from the sample unit (or land on the sample
unit’s property) during the past 12 months were $1,000 or more,
or less than $1,000. This item will be covered in more detail
during classroom training.
ACCESS
Complete ACCESS by observation during your initial visit to the
sample housing unit. This item is designed to indicate whether
or not a sample household has direct access to their living
quarters.
A living quarters has direct access when an occupant can either:
Enter his/her living quarters directly from the outside of the
structure, or
Enter his/her living quarters from a common hall or lobby that is
used by occupants of more than one unit.
If the only entrance to an occupant’s living quarters is through a
room or hall of another household’s living quarters, then the
living quarters does not have direct access. Therefore, the unit is
not a separate housing unit and should be considered part of the
housing unit through which access to it is gained.
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT
A housing unit (HU) is a group of rooms or a single room
occupied as separate living quarters or intended for occupancy
as separate living quarters. A housing unit may be occupied by a
family or one person, as well as by two or more unrelated people
who share the living quarters. For this item you will select a
category that best describes the housing unit from one of the
following types:
House, apartment, flat
12-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Household Questions
HU in nontransient hotel, motel, etc.
HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
HU in rooming house
Mobile home or trailer with no permanent room added
Mobile home or trailer with one or more permanent rooms
attached
HU not specified above
Quarters not HU in rooming or boarding house
Unit not permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
Student quarters in college dormitory
Other unit not specified above
NUMBEROFUNITS
During your initial or first interview with a household, you need to
determine how many housing units are in the structure. A
structure is a separate building that either:
Has open space on all sides (no other building attached to it) or
Is separated from other structures by dividing walls that extend
from ground to roof.
You can either ask the respondent this question if you have any
doubt about the number of units in the structure or you can
complete this item by observation.
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT
This question determines if there is some means of entering the
sample unit directly from the outside, such as a door, patio
doors, or windows, etc., on the ground level, or from outside
stairs that lead directly to an outside entrance for the sample
unit.
12-5
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
GATEWALLEDCOMMUNITY This question determines if access to the household’s
community requires some kind of special entry procedure and
the community is surrounded by walls, fences, or other barriers
to restrict entrance to the community’s homes by non-residents
of the community. Some resort and retirement communities are
good examples of gated or walled communities.
RESTRICTEDACCESS
This question determines if the household’s unit is in a building
that has restricted access that requires some type of special
entry system, such as an intercom system where the occupants
can identify and buzz in visitors or a security guard who monitors
access into the building.
Person Level
Characteristics
After collecting basic information about the sample unit, you go
through a series of questions that builds or updates the
household roster or composition. You collect or update
information on the names of all persons living in the household
and their •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
sex,
relationship to the reference person,
household membership status,
birthday and age,
marital status
armed forces status,
education,
ethnicity, and
race.
You also select (or change, if necessary) the household’s
reference person. The reference person is one of the persons
who owns or rents the sample unit AND who is normally 18
years of age or older. The reference person for the household
can be the household respondent, but he/she does not have to
be the household respondent.
This lesson does not go over each of the personal characteristic
items, as these items are addressed in the practice exercise as
well as during classroom training when you complete the
practice interview exercises.
12-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Household Roster
Basic Household Questions
When building the household roster, list the names of:
• All persons living or staying at the sample unit at the time
of your visit or telephone call, and
• Any persons who usually live there but are temporarily
absent.
Go to pages B2-80 and B2-81 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing
Manual for Field Representatives and read about who else to
list.
[ ]
The preferred order for entering names when building the
household roster is shown below. The order is by relationship to
the reference person and is as follows:
• Reference person
• Husband or wife of reference person
• Unmarried children of the reference person or his/her
spouse, starting with the oldest and ending with the
youngest.
• Married sons and/or daughters of the reference person or
his/her spouse followed by the married child’s spouse, and
each of their children (oldest to youngest)
• Other persons related to the reference person or his/her
spouse.
• Lodgers and other nonrelatives staying at the sample
address.
As you build the household roster, each person is assigned a
unique line number. These numbers correspond to the order in
which you list the occupants of a sample unit. The first person
listed on the roster is always the reference person when first
building a roster and therefore has a line number of one. In
subsequent interviews, the reference person may not be the first
person listed on the roster due to household roster changes.
These numbers are important since you use line numbers,
rather than names, to refer to any household member when
entering text in the screening questions about what happened
12-7
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
and in the incident summary. You refer to the first person as L1,
the second person listed as L2, and so on. Since the survey
sponsor periodically requests to review the entries in the
screening items and summary reports, we want to ensure that
no identifying information about the respondent or the household
are entered, such as names, address, telephone numbers. The
only time it is acceptable to include information such as names,
phone numbers, address location directions, etc., is in the Case
Level Notes, particularly for difficult, potential, and actual
noninterview cases. The lack of such information can impact
subsequent interviews and can also prevent your supervisor
from effectively working on following up with household refusals.
RELATIONSHIP
In RELATIONSHIP, collect the precise relationship of all
members of the household to the reference person, such as
husband, wife, son, daughter, and so on.
HHMEMBER
After determining the person's relationship to the reference
person, identify whether or not each person is a member of the
household by asking, "Does (person's name) usually live
here?"
HHMEMURE
If you discover in HHMEMBER that a person does not usually
live at the sample unit, the instrument goes to HHMEMURE to
find out whether the person has a usual place of residence
elsewhere by asking,
"Does (person's name) have a usual place of residence
elsewhere?"
If a person usually lives and sleeps at the sample address and
does not have a usual residence elsewhere, he or she is a
household member.
"Usual residents" include such persons as lodgers and
servants who usually live at the sample address. Also included
are persons who usually live at the address, but are temporarily
away for some reason. However, do not consider students living
away at school as "usual residents."
Now take out your NCVS-554, Information Card Booklet, and
open it to Page 5. Look over this summary table designed to
help you determine household membership.
12-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
HHLDCOVERAGE
Basic Household Questions
This question: “Have I missed anyone else living or staying
(HERE/THERE) such as any babies, any lodgers, or anyone
who is away at present traveling or in the hospital?” is
asked each time the household is interviewed to ensure that we
do not omit persons who may have moved into the household
since the previous interview. Many household respondents
forget to mention babies, lodgers, and visitors when asked about
persons staying at their home.
Once you determine that the listing of persons in the household
roster is complete, you will select a household respondent. This
is the household member at the sample address who is
answering the questions about the household for the current
enumeration period and is one of the household members who
is most knowledgeable about household matters. In most cases,
this person must be at least 18 years of age.
SP_ORIGIN
This question: “Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?” is
asked of each household member to determine if the person is
Spanish, Hispanic or Latino. Go to Page B2-119 of your NCVS
550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives and scan the
list of groups, in the middle of the page, which distinguishes a
person as being Spanish, Hispanic or Latino.
[ ]
Now open your NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet to Page 8
and look at the Hispanic Origin flash card. During a personal visit
interview, show this flash card to the respondent as you ask this
item. For Spanish-speaking respondents show the Hispanic
Origin flash card on Page 9. During telephone interviews you
must read the categories to the household respondent. [ ]
SP_ORIGIN is asked of each household member during the
initial visit and when a new person is added to the household
during subsequent interviews.
RACE
This question is asked of the household respondent to choose
one or more races that each household member considers
himself/herself to be. It is asked separately for each household
member and allows up to five different races to be reported for
each household member. You also ask this race question during
subsequent enumeration periods when a new person is added to
the household.
12-9
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
During a personal visit interview, show the respondent the Race
flash card on Page 10 in your NCVS-554 Information Card
Booklet. For Spanish-speaking respondents show this the Race
flash card on Page 11. During telephone interviews you must
read the categories to the household respondent.
Take a moment now to look over this flash card.
[ ]
The Office of Management of Budget requires that the collection
of data on race be based on self-identification. Therefore, you
MUST ask this question for each household member even when
the race of the respondent may seem obvious. If a respondent
refuses to answer the race question, do NOT fill it by observation.
ROSTERREVIEW
Review Exercise
When you have completed the demographic questions in the
NCVS instrument for all household members, the
ROSTERREVIEW screen appears. At this screen, you can make
changes to some of the demographic information you entered,
such as the respondent’s name, relationship, or sex. You will
have the opportunity to make changes to the household roster
later in training.
Complete the review exercise for this lesson that starts on the
following page. Compare your answers to the answer key, which
follows the review exercise, and continue with Lesson 13.
12-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Household Questions
Lesson 12 - Review Exercise
1.
The tenure question determines if the sample unit is owned or being bought, rented for
cash, or occupied without payment of cash rent.
TRUE
2.
FALSE
To be considered public housing for the NCVS, a unit can be located in a building that is
funded by the Federal government, a state or local government, or part of a federal
assisted program.
TRUE
FALSE
3.
The
AND who is normally
4.
When building the household roster, the household respondent is always the first person
listed.
TRUE
5.
is one of the persons who owns or rents the sample unit
years of age or older.
FALSE
You discover that a sample unit’s garage was converted into an apartment. The only
entrance to the apartment is through the kitchen of the sample unit. (Mark the correct
answer.)
The apartment has direct access and is considered a separate housing unit from
the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment does not have direct access but is considered a separate housing
unit from the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment has direct access but is not a separate housing unit from the
sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment does not have direct access and is not a separate housing unit
from the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
12-11
Basic Household Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
6.
The household roster should include all persons living or staying at the sample address
at the time of the interview, including visitors and other persons who are not household
members, but are in the sample unit and have stayed at the sample address at least
_______________
before the interview.
7.
As you build the household roster, each person is assigned a unique line number. These
numbers correspond to the order in which you list the occupants of a sample unit.
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
12-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Basic Household Questions
Lesson 12 - Answer Key
1.
The tenure question determines if the sample unit is owned or being bought, rented for
cash, or occupied without payment of cash rent.
TRUE
(Page 12-2)
2.
To be considered public housing for the NCVS, a unit can be located in a building that is
funded by the Federal government, a state or local government, or part of a federal
assisted program.
FALSE
(Page 12-3)
3.
The reference person is one of the persons who owns or rents the sample unit AND
who is normally 18 years of age or older.
(Page 12-6)
4.
When building the household roster, the household respondent is always the first person
listed.
FALSE
(Page 12-6–12-7)
5.
You discover that a sample unit’s garage was converted into an apartment. The only
entrance to the apartment is through the kitchen of the sample unit. (Mark the correct
answer.)
The apartment has direct access and is considered a separate housing unit from
the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment does not have direct access but is considered a separate housing
unit from the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment has direct access but is not a separate housing unit from the
sample unit through which access to it is gained.
The apartment does not have direct access and is not a separate housing unit
from the sample unit through which access to it is gained.
(Page 12-4)
X
12-13
Basic Household Questions
6.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The household roster should include all persons living or staying at the sample address
at the time of the interview, including visitors and other persons who are not household
members, but are in the sample unit and have stayed at the sample address at least one
night before the interview.
(NCVS-550, page B2-80)
7.
As you build the household roster, each person is assigned a unique line number. These
numbers correspond to the order in which you list the occupants of a sample unit.
TRUE
(Page 12-7)
Continue with Lesson 13
12-14
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NCVS Screen Questions
Lesson 13. The NCVS Middle Section
NCVS Screen Questions
Objective
The objectives of this lesson are to:
Explain the design of the second component of the Middle
Section of the NCVS CAPI instrument.
Provide an overview of the items that make up this section of the
instrument.
NCVS Screen Questions
The second component of the Middle Section of the NCVS
instrument is comprised of screening questions. These questions
are referred to as the screening items of the NCVS instrument.
These questions can be subdivided into three parts:
Mobility Questions
Business Operated from Sample Address Questions
Crime Screen Questions.
Discussion of the individual questions within each set will be
covered in detail during the classroom training.
Mobility Question:
TIMEATADDRESS
TIMEATADDRESS is the first question in the screening section of
the NCVS instrument and is used to determine the length of
continuous time the respondent has lived at the sample address.
Business at Sample
Address: BUSINESS
You ask the BUSINESS question only of the household
respondent to determine if a sample household member operates
a business from the sample address. If a business is operated
from the sample address you will next need to determine if the
business is a recognizable or unrecognizable business. Knowing
this distinction is important for the following reasons:
We keep crime incidents that involve property stolen from an
unrecognizable business, but
We do NOT keep crime incidents that ONLY involve property
stolen from a recognizable business.
13-1
NCVS Basic Screen Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Go to Topic 2 in Part B, Chapter 3 of your NCVS-550 Interviewing
Manual for Field Representatives and read about recognizable
and unrecognizable businesses on pages B3-7 and B3-8. [ ]
Crime Screen Questions
These screen questions cover a wide variety of situations. They
are designed to stimulate respondent recall of incidents by
providing concrete examples of the kinds of crimes typically
reported for the NCVS that could be overlooked by respondents.
These screen questions ensure that we collect ALL incidents of
crimes in a sample household that occurred during each
respondent’s 6-month reference period.
All eligible NCVS respondents are asked questions about crime
incidents for which they may have been a victim. However, the
household respondent is asked a few additional screen questions
about crimes against the household, as well as personal and
property crimes committed against the household respondent.
The additional questions cover:
Things stolen from outside the house, such as lawn furniture or a
garden hose.
Things stolen from a household member under 12 years of age,
such as a bicycle stolen from the home’s driveway.
Break-ins, attempted break-ins, or illegal entries at the sample
address or at a hotel, motel, or vacation home where the
respondent was staying.
The total number of motor vehicles owned by the entire
household during the six months prior to the interview.
Thefts or attempted thefts of motor vehicles owned by the
household including gasoline and motor vehicle parts.
If in the screen questions a respondent reports an incident that
involves an attack or a threat of attack, or a theft or attempted
theft, you collect details about the incident later in the Crime
Incident Report section of the instrument.
Go to Page B3-9 in your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives on the laptop now and read about the crime
screen questions. The reading ends on Page B3-29.
[ ]
13-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Review Exercise
NCVS Screen Questions
Complete the review exercise for this lesson that starts on the
following page. Compare your answers to the answer key which
follows the review exercise and continue with Lesson 14.
13-3
NCVS Basic Screen Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 13 - Review Exercise
1.
The Crime Screen Questions asked of the household respondent include additional
questions about the household such as attempted break-ins or illegal entries.
TRUE
2.
FALSE
A business operated from a sample unit by a household member is considered
recognizable if: (Mark all that apply.)
There is a business sign visible from outside the sample unit.
The business is advertised in a newspaper, magazine, telephone book, or on
the Internet.
A business sign must be located on the sample household’s property.
There is a vehicle parked in the housing unit’s driveway or in front of the sample
unit that carries the business logo on it.
3.
Crime incidents involving property stolen from a/an
NCVS.
TRUE
4.
business are kept for the
FALSE
The two parts of the screener question are referred to as the “question stem” and the
“screener cues.”
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
13-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NCVS Screen Questions
Lesson 13 - Answer Key
1.
The Crime Screen Questions asked of the household respondent include additional
questions about the household such as attempted break-ins or illegal entries.
TRUE
(Page 13-2)
2.
A business operated from a sample unit by a household member is considered
recognizable if: (Mark all that apply.)
X
There is a business sign visible from outside the sample unit.
The business is advertised in a newspaper, magazine, telephone book, or on the
Internet.
X
A business sign must be located on the sample household’s property.
There is a vehicle parked in the housing unit’s driveway or in front of the sample
unit that carries the business logo on it.
(NCVS-550, Pages B3-7 and B3-8)
3.
Crime incidents involving property stolen from a/an unrecognizable business are kept
for the NCVS.
TRUE
(Page 13-1)
4.
The two parts of the screener question are referred to as the “question stem” and the
“screener cues.”
TRUE
(NCVS-550, Page B3-9)
Continue with Lesson 14.
13-5
NCVS Basic Screen Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
NOTES
13-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
Lesson 14. The NCVS Middle Section
Crime Incident Report
Objective
The objectives of this lesson are to:
• Explain the design of the third component of the Middle Section
of the NCVS CAPI instrument.
• Provide an overview of the items that make up this section of
the instrument.
Crime Incident Report
Questions
This third component of the NCVS instrument is designed to
collect detailed information about each crime incident reported by
each sample household member. It is important to record accurate
and complete information about each reported crime incident to
give a clear picture of what happened during the incident.
In most cases, you complete a separate set of crime incident
report questions for each crime incident that a household member
reports during his/her 6-month reference period. The only
exception is a series of crimes which we will discuss in your
classroom training.
Kinds of Information
Collected
When you complete the Crime Incident Report section of the
NCVS instrument, you ask the respondent about:
• When the crime incident took place;
• Where the crime incident occurred;
• Whether the respondent or other household members were
present when the incident happened;
• How the crime incident was committed;
• What injuries the respondent may have suffered as a result of
the crime incident;
• What actions the respondent took and whether those actions
helped the situation in any way;
• Who committed the crime;
14-1
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
• Whether property that was stolen or damaged during the crime
incident will be covered by insurance; and
• Whether the police were informed.
You also ask whether or not the respondent:
• Had a job or business at the time of the incident; and
• Has any reason to suspect that the incident was a hate crime or
crime of prejudice or bigotry; and
Later in this self-study as well as during classroom training, we will
discuss the crime incident report items in detail. For this lesson, we
will highlight just a few of these items.
OFFENDERLIVE
When the respondent tells you that the incident happened in
his/her own home, in a detached building on his/her property, in a
vacation home or second home, or in his/her hotel/motel room,
you must determine whether or not the offender had a legal right to
enter the respondent’s home or lodging by asking:
Did the offender live (here/there) or have a right to be
(here/there), for instance, as a guest or a repair person?
An offender has a legal right to enter a respondent’s home or
lodging when the offender:
Was living or staying with the respondent at the time of the
incident
OR
Had the right to be in the home or lodging or had permission at
the time of the incident to be inside the home or lodging, such
as a maid from a cleaning service or a hotel maid, a babysitter,
nurse, salespersons, friend, and so on. However, the offender
must not have entered the sample unit fraudulently by
misrepresenting his/her purpose to enter the dwelling.
RESTRICTEDAREA
When an incident happened in a commercial place, parking lots or
garages, or on school property you determine if the incident
happened in a restricted area by asking:
14-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
Did the incident happen in an area restricted to certain people
or was it open to the public at the time?
A “restricted area” is one which only certain people are allowed to
enter without being considered trespassers. An area “open to the
public” at the time of the incident is one in which anyone has a right
to enter the place.
HHMEMBERPRESENT
Understanding whether or not the respondent or any other current
member of the household was “present” during an incident is a
very important part of the Crime Incident Report interview.
For the NCVS, “presence” during an incident is intended to
determine whether any household member at the time of the
interview:
Was at the immediate scene of the crime during the incident;
and
Was in a place that was reachable by the offender so that the
offender could have or did attack, threaten to attack, or stolen
something directly from the household member.
ATTACK
Ask ATTACK to determine if the respondent was actually attacked
during the incident. In other words, there was some type of
physical contact between the offender and the respondent.
TRYATTACK
Ask TRYATTACK to determine if the offender tried to attack the
respondent during the incident, but did NOT have any physical
contact with the respondent. If there is any question in your mind
whether or not the offender tried to attack the respondent, go with
the respondent's perception.
THREATEN
Ask the question in Item THREATEN to determine whether the
offender made a face-to-face verbal threat to physically harm
the respondent during the incident. Both the respondent and the
offender must be present and the threat must be voiced by the
offender directly to the respondent.
Do NOT include threats made by:
×
Telephone,
×
Letter,
14-3
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
×
Electronic mail or on the internet,
×
FAX machine, or
×
Threats delivered by someone other than the offender.
INJURY
Ask INJURY to determine if the respondent experienced any
personal injuries during the attack and, if so, to identify what type
of bodily injuries were suffered from the incident. Do not include
mental or emotional suffering as an injury.
POLICEINFORMED
Item POLICEINFORMED is used to determine whether the police
are aware that this incident took place, regardless of how they
found out about it. For the NCVS, consider the police to be all
regular police officers at the city, county, State, or Federal
government level, as well as officers who work for sheriff's
departments. Also include officers working for specialized police
forces who are authorized to make arrests in a special area or
jurisdiction (for example, campus police, park police, transit police,
harbor police, and airport police).
For the NCVS, exclude as police officers any security forces,
building guards, prison guards, fish and game wardens, fire
marshals, and all others who do not have the authority to make
police arrests.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY is designed for you to summarize all of the pertinent
facts surrounding a reported crime incident. Each summary report
must be written so that anyone reading it can get a clear,
well-defined picture of how the respondent was victimized. This
field allows a maximum of 300 characters.
Include in the summary report any details that you feel are not
evident from the answers in the incident report items. This is very
important because, before sending a case for processing, editors
often need more specific details than they can get from other
entries for the incident report items. When this happens, they must
rely on what is written in your summary report.
As you write your summary report, be careful not to use misleading
words or phrases that may raise more questions about the
incident, instead of clarifying what really happened. Also, when
writing the summary it is very important that you refer to
14-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
respondents by their line number, such as L1, L2, L3 and so forth
and not by their name. Since the survey sponsor periodically
requests to review the summary reports, we want to ensure that no
identifying information about the respondent or the household ,
such as names, address, telephone numbers, are entered in the
summary.
Other Incident Questions
Probing
We will cover some of the other incident report items in detail
during the classroom training.
As you ask the detailed crime incident questions, there may be
times when you need to probe for more information. At other
times, you only need to verify answers.
You may encounter situations when the respondent gives an
answer that does not quite fit the question. Probing is a technique
in which you casually get the respondent to provide an answer
that meets the question’s objective. At these times, you must ask
one or more probing questions. Whenever the respondent's
answer is not relevant to the question or the answer is unclear or
incomplete, probe to get the required information.
Sometimes probes are displayed for you to ask the respondent
when probing is necessary. These are called structured probes.
For example, for item FARFROMHOME, the question text
incorporates a structured probe.
How far away from home did this happen?
Probe: Was it within a mile, 5 miles, 50 miles or more?
This probe asks a more specific question than the original, more
general, question. It is worded so that we can get a more accurate
answer from the respondent.
For item WHATHAPPEN, the following probe appears only if the
respondent states he/she experienced unwanted sexual contact
with force.
You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual contact with
force. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual intercourse
including attempts?
14-5
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
This probe is necessary in order to determine if the unwanted
sexual contact actually is an incident of rape.
Ways to Probe
If a probe is not displayed for a particular question, there are
many ways to probe, including:
• Repeating the question;
• Pausing to give the respondent time to think;
• Asking for more information to find out what the respondent
means;
• Stressing the generality of the question by asking for an
estimate;
• Zeroing in (In the example you just read, "How far away from
home did this happen?", you would probe by asking, "Was it
within a mile, 5 miles, 50 miles or more?").
Probes Must Not Suggest
Responses
As an FR, you may often think that you know what respondents
mean, how they feel, and what their real opinion is, even though
they have not expressed these feelings.
Do not assume and suggest an answer when you are probing.
Avoid any comments that may lead a respondent to an answer.
Probes must always be NEUTRAL.
Do Not Over Probe
Since probes, by nature, tend to press or challenge a respondent,
limit your use of probes so that they do not have an adverse effect
on the interview. Unless indicated in the questionnaire, only use
probes when necessary to clarify a response.
Once the respondent has answered your question, do not
continue to probe. You can avoid over-probing by knowing the
question’s objective. If you understand the main purpose for
asking the question, then you will know when the respondent has
answered it appropriately.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise for this lesson that starts on the
following page. Compare your answers to the answer key which
follows the review exercise, then continue with Lesson 15.
14-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
Lesson 14 - Review Exercise
1.
In most cases, you complete a separate set of crime incident report questions for each crime
incident that a household member reports during his/her 12-month reference period.
TRUE
2.
Collecting details about a reported crime incident is important so that we have a clear picture
of what happened during the incident.
TRUE
3.
FALSE
FALSE
An offender has the right to be in the respondent’s home if: (Mark all that apply)
He was living or staying with the respondent when the incident happened.
Pushed his way into the dwelling when the respondent answered the door.
Was let into the dwelling by a child even though the parents would not have
allowed access to the offender.
Had permission to enter the respondent’s home because he was a repairman who
was called to fix the kitchen sink.
Had permission to enter the respondent’s home even though he fraudulently
misrepresented himself as a repair person.
4.
To be considered present during an incident, the household member must be at the
of the crime during the incident and was in a place that was reachable
by the offender so that the offender could have or did attack, threaten to attack, or stolen
something directly from the household member.
5.
An area that is
is one which only certain people are allowed to enter without
being considered trespassers.
6.
Probing is a technique in which you casually get the respondent to provide an answer that
meets the question’s objective.
TRUE
FALSE
14-7
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
7.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Threats by an offender to physically harm the respondent includes face-to-face verbal
threats as well as those made over the telephone.
TRUE
FALSE
8.
The
screen is designed for you to summarize all of the pertinent facts
surrounding a reported crime incident.
9.
How do you complete the POLICEINFORMED question, which asks “Were the police
informed or did they find out about this incident in any way?” if the respondent states that
she reported the theft of her purse to the building’s security guard?
Yes (Police informed)
No (Police not informed)
Don’t know
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
14-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
Lesson 14 - Answer Key
1.
In most cases, you complete a separate set of crime incident report questions for each crime
incident that a household member reports during his/her 12-month reference period.
FALSE
(Page 14-1)
2.
Collecting details about a reported crime incident is important so that we have a clear picture
of what happened during the incident.
TRUE
(Page 14-1)
3.
An offender has the right to be in the respondent’s home if: (Mark all that apply)
X
He was living or staying with the respondent when the incident happened.
Pushed his way into the dwelling when the respondent answered the door.
Was let into the dwelling by a child even though the parents would not have
allowed access to the offender.
X
Had permission to enter the respondent’s home because he was a repairman who
was called to fix the kitchen sink.
Had permission to enter the respondent’s home even though he fraudulently
misrepresented himself as a repair person.
(Pages 14-2, 14-3)
4.
To be considered present during an incident, the household member must be at the
immediate scene of the crime during the incident and was in a place that was reachable by
the offender so that the offender could have or did attack, threaten to attack, or stolen
something directly from the household member.
(Page 14-3)
5.
An area that is restricted is one which only certain people are allowed to enter without being
considered trespassers.
(Page 14-3)
14-9
The NCVS Crime Incident Report
6.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Probing is a technique in which you casually get the respondent to provide an answer that
meets the question’s objective.
TRUE
(Page 14-5)
7.
Threats by an offender to physically harm the respondent includes face-to-face verbal
threats as well as those made over the telephone or internet.
FALSE
(Page 14-3)
8.
The SUMMARY screen is designed for you to summarize all of the pertinent facts
surrounding a reported crime incident.
(Page 14-4)
9.
How do you complete the POLICEINFORMED question, which asks “Were the police
informed or did they find out about this incident in any way?” if the respondent states that
she reported the theft of her purse to the building’s security guard?
Yes (Police informed)
X _ No (Police not informed)
Don’t know
(Page 14-4)
Continue with Lesson 15.
14-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Other NCVS Questions
Lesson 15. The NCVS Middle Section
Other Survey Questions
Objective
The objectives of this lesson are to:
• Explain the design of the fourth component of the Middle
Section of the NCVS CAPI instrument.
• Provide an overview of the items that make up this section of
the instrument.
Additional NCVS
Questions
The fourth component of the Middle Section of the NCVS
instrument is made up of questions about:
1. Disability
2. Citizenship
3. Sexual Orientation
4. Gender Identity
5. Veteran Status
6. Employment
7. Total Household Income
8. Use of Telephone and Contact Information
9. Language requirements
Disability Questions
The disability questions are asked of each respondent 12 years
of age or older except LEAVING_HOME which is asked of those
15 years of age or older. They are asked at the first, third, fifth
and seventh enumeration periods or if never asked before.
Research has shown that people with disabilities may be more
vulnerable to crime victimization. This series of questions asks
about impairments or disabilities the respondent has. The
reason for asking these questions more than once is that the
status of disability could change over time.
15-1
Other NCVS Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Go to page B3-33 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and review the disability questions. [ ]
Citizenship Question
The citizenship question is asked of each respondent 12 years
of age or older. It is asked at the first interview. If the respondent
reports being a citizen, it is not asked again. If the respondent
does not report being a citizen, it is asked again at the next
enumeration since non-citizen status may change. The reason
for asking this question is to research if citizens have different
rates of crime victimization than non-citizens.
Go to page B3-34 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and review the citizenship question. [ ]
Sexual Orientation
Questions
A sexual orientation question is asked of all persons 16 years of
age or older at the first, third, fifth, and seventh interview or if
never asked before. There are two versions of the question that
differ slightly. What version you ask a respondent depends on
the sex recorded on the household roster for that individual. This
question will not be asked if the interview is being conducted by
a proxy.
The sexual orientation question does not follow the standard
NCVS probing guidelines. Do NOT mark this question by
observation or probing. Answers to this question must be
obtained strictly through self-identification; meaning that
you must ask the question even if you think you know the
answer.
Open your NCVS-554, Information Card Booklet, to Page 12
and look over the sexual orientation flash card. This flash card is
also provided in Spanish on Page 13.
[ ]
During personal visit interviews, show the respondent the flash
card as you ask the question.
Respondents may ask why you are asking them this question.
Refer to the FAQ tab in the instrument and read the answer to
the respondent.
Go to page B3-36 of your NCVS 550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives and carefully review the information on
the sexual orientation questions.
[ ]
15-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Gender Identity Questions
Other NCVS Questions
The gender identity questions are asked of all persons 16 years
of age or older at the first, third, fifth, and seventh interview or if
never asked before. These questions will not be asked if the
interview is being conducted by a proxy.
The gender identity questions do not follow the standard NCVS
probing guidelines. Like the sexual orientation question, do NOT
mark this question by observation or probing. Answers to
this question must be obtained strictly through selfidentification; meaning that you must ask the question even
if you think you know the answer.
Open your NCVS-554, Information Card Booklet, to Page 14
and look over the gender identity flash card. This flash card is
also provided in Spanish on Page 15.
[ ]
During personal visit interviews, show the respondent the flash
card as you ask the question.
Respondents may ask why you are asking them this question.
Refer to the FAQ tab in the instrument and read the answer to
the respondent.
Go to page B3-40 of your interviewing manual and carefully
review the information on the gender identity questions. [ ]
Veteran Status Questions
The veteran status questions are asked of each respondent 18
years of age or older. After the first interview, it is only asked
again of those 18 to 39 years of age who previously did not
report being in the military as their status may change.
Go to page B3-44 of your interviewing manual and review the
veteran status questions.
[ ]
Employment Questions
The employment questions are asked of each respondent who is
16 years of age or older. These questions are used to determine
if the respondent had a job or worked at a business during the
week prior to the interview. We also determine the type of job
and the type of area in which the person is working. These
questions are asked to identify those jobs which may increase or
decrease a person's likelihood of becoming a crime victim.
15-3
Other NCVS Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Open your NCVS-554, Information Card Booklet, to Page 16
and look over the employment flash card. This flash card is also
provided in Spanish on Page 17.
[ ]
During personal visit interviews, show the respondent the flash
card as you ask the question and ask the respondent to choose
the category which best describes his/her job. During telephone
interviews, read the main employment categories until you get a
"Yes" answer. Then read the subcategories contained within the
main category selected.
Total Household Income
During the first, third, fifth and seventh enumeration periods you
ask the household respondent the household income
(HOUSEHOLDINCOME) question. During the first interview with
a household, show the household respondent the flashcard on
Page 18 of the Information Card Booklet (Page 19 for Spanish)
and allow the respondent time to read the categories, make an
estimate, and respond. For telephone interviews, read each of
the following categories until the respondent identifies the
appropriate income category.
Less than $5,000
$5,000 - $7,499
$7,500 - $9,999
$10,000 - $12,499
$12,500 - $14,999
$15,000 - $17,499
$17,500 - $19,999
$20,000 - $24,999
$25,000 - $29,999
$30,000 - $34,999
$35,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $74,999
$75,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $149,999
$150,000 - $199,999
$200,00 or more
The purpose of this question is to determine the TOTAL
combined income of all members of the HOUSEHOLD during
the past 12 months. This includes:
15-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Other NCVS Questions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Income received from jobs
Net income from business, farm or rent
Pensions
Dividends and interest
Social Security payments
Alimony and child support
Public assistance
Any other money income received by members of the
household who are 14 years of age or older.
We do not need the respondent to identify the actual total
household income just the income range. We are interested in
the household’s combined income during the 12 months
immediately preceding the date of interview, not the last
calendar year unless they happen to coincide.
Use of Telephone and
Contact Information
At the end of your first interview with a sample household, you
ask the household respondent about the presence of a
telephone in the sample unit. Also, ask what the telephone
number is, and whether a telephone interview is acceptable. You
may need to explain to the respondent the reason for asking
these questions. You can tell a household respondent that:
• In order to limit survey costs, future interviews should be
conducted by telephone whenever possible.
• We need the household’s telephone number to:
Make appointments to call other household members who
are not present during your initial visit to their interview.
Re-contact respondents to obtain any missing information
that a respondent may be unable to supply during an
interview.
You can also record the best time to call or visit the household
by accessing the Interview Time Preferences screen by pressing
“CTRL” + “T.” Collecting this information ensures that we contact
each household at an acceptable time of day.
You will practice using the Interview Time Preferences during
classroom training.
15-5
Other NCVS Questions
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
After each respondent’s interview, you also have the ability to
collect phone numbers for each individual respondent.
Language Questions
The last questions in the Middle Section of the NCVS instrument
pertain to language needs. These questions ask If the
respondent’s NCVS interview was conducted in a language
other than English, and if so, what language.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise for this lesson that starts on the
following page. Compare your answers to the answer key, which
follows the review exercise, then continue with Lesson 16.
15-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Other NCVS Questions
Lesson 15 - Review Exercise
1.
Answers to the sexual orientation and gender identity questions can be marked by
observation if obvious?
TRUE
2.
FALSE
What resources are available in the instrument to help with questions from respondents
on the sexual orientation and gender identity questions?
_____ Verbatim response to read if asked, “Why are you asking me this question?” in
the FAQ tab.
_____ Definitions of terms used in the question in gray text on the question screen.
_____ Definitions of sexual orientation, gender identity, and terms used in the questions
in the FAQ tab.
_____ all of the above
3.
The employment questions are asked of each respondent who is 12 years of age or
older.
TRUE
4.
FALSE
When asking the household respondent the household income question, only include
income received from jobs.
TRUE
FALSE
15-7
Other NCVS Questions
5.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The TOTAL combined household income includes money income received:
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 12 years of age or older.
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 14 years of age or older.
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 16 years of age or older.
during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 12 years of age or older.
during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 14 years of age or older.
during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 16 years of age or older.
6.
One reason why questions are asked about the presence of a telephone in the sample
unit and whether a telephone interview is acceptable is so you are able to conduct future
interviews with the sample household by telephone in order to save survey costs.
TRUE
FALSE
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
15-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Other NCVS Questions
Lesson 15 - Answer Key
1.
Answers to the sexual orientation and gender identity questions can be marked by
observation if obvious?
FALSE
(Page 15-2 and 15-3)
2.
What resources are available in the instrument to help with questions from respondents
on the sexual orientation and gender identity questions?
_____ Verbatim response to read if asked, “Why are you asking me this question?” in
the FAQ tab.
_____ Definitions of terms used in the question in gray text on the question screen.
_____ Definitions of sexual orientation, gender identity, and terms used in the questions
in the FAQ tab.
__X__ all of the above
(NCVS-550, Pages B3-36 and B3-40)
3.
The employment questions are asked of each respondent who is 12 years of age or
older.
FALSE
(Page 15-3)
4.
When asking the household respondent the household income question, only include
income received from jobs.
FALSE
(Pages 15-4 and 15-5)
15-9
Other NCVS Questions
5.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The TOTAL combined household income includes money income received:
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 12 years of age or older.
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 14 years of age or older.
during the 6 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 16 years of age or older.
during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 12 years of age or older.
X _ during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 14 years of age or older.
during the 12 months preceding the interview by all members of the household
who are 16 years of age or older.
(Pages 15-4 and 15-5)
6.
One reason why questions are asked about the presence of a telephone in the sample
unit and whether a telephone interview is acceptable is so you are able to conduct future
interviews with the sample household by telephone in order to save survey costs.
TRUE
(Page 15-5)
Continue with Lesson 16.
15-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Back Section
Lesson 16. The NCVS Back Section
Objective
The objectives of this lesson are to:
• Explain the design of the Back Section of the NCVS CAPI
instrument.
• Provide an overview of the items that make up the back part of
the survey instrument.
Introduction
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to guide
you through screens for:
• Setting appointments.
• Recording information, such as telephone numbers, best time
to call, and whether there are any language or hearing
problems
• Recording the incomplete status (either Refusal/Callback
/Breakoff) of a respondent's interview.
• Entering case level notes to record appointments for an
individual respondent other than the household respondent.
• Thanking the respondent for completing the interview.
The information you enter in the back of the instrument is fed
back into Case Management and appears in Case Management
after you exit the case. Now let’s review some of the main
screens you see when you enter the Back Section of the
instrument.
REFCBBREAK_CP
When you terminate an interview by pressing the F10 key or
clicking on the F10 tab, the instrument goes to
REFCBBREAK_CP. This item asks you if the interview ended
because of a refusal, a callback is needed to complete the
interview, if a breakoff occurred (for example, if the respondent
hung up the telephone), or there was some other problem you
encountered.
16-1
The NCVS Back Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
If you indicate that you need to call the respondent back to
complete the interview, the instrument goes to APPT during
a household respondent’s interview; to PERSAPPT when
interviewing individual respondents.
APPT
At APPT you set an appointment to conduct or complete the
interview with the household respondent. Ask the respondent for
a date and time that is best to complete the interview.
THANKYOU_CP
At THANKYOU_CP, thank the respondent for his/her
participation in the survey. For all sample cases (except those
that are in sample for the last time), you tell respondents that they
will be contacted again in six months. Read the text displayed at
THANKYOU_CP:
"Six months from now we will be contacting you again.
Thank you for your time. You've been very helpful."
For cases that have completed their final interview, tell
respondents that this is their last interview. Read the text
displayed at THANKYOU_CP:
"This is the last regularly scheduled interview for this
household, for the National Crime Victimization Survey.
Thank you for your participation in this survey."
At THANKYOU_CP you also tell the respondent that a supervisor
may call them to conduct reinterview. You may have to explain to
respondents that reinterview is a quality control measure on
interviewing. In reinterview, a sample of interviewed households
are recontacted shortly after the original interview is completed
and interviewed again. The purpose of the reinterview program is
to deter and detect falsification by survey enumerators or FRs.
Review Exercise
Complete the review exercise on the next page. Compare your
answers to the answer key that follows the review exercise, then
continue with Lesson 17.
16-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
The NCVS Back Section
Lesson 16 - Review Exercise
1.
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to guide you through screens for:
(Mark all that apply.)
Setting appointments.
Updating sample address, mailing address, and telephone number information
for the household with the household respondent.
Recording information, such as telephone numbers, best time to call, and
whether there are any language or hearing problems.
Making contact with a household respondent or an individual respondent.
Thanking the respondent for his/her participation.
Recording the incomplete status of a household respondent's interview.
2.
When you terminate an interview by pressing the
to _____
.
3.
The information you enter in the back of the instrument is retained within the survey
instrument and not fed back into Case Management.
TRUE
4.
The purpose of the
representatives.
key, the instrument proceeds
FALSE
program is to
and
_ falsification by field
Compare your answers to the answer key on the next page(s).
16-3
The NCVS Back Section
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Lesson 16 - Answer Key
1.
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to guide you through screens for:
(Mark all that apply.)
X
Setting appointments.
Updating sample address, mailing address, and telephone number information
for the household with the household respondent.
X
Recording information, such as telephone numbers, best time to call, and
whether there are any language or hearing problems.
Making contact with a household respondent or an individual respondent.
X
Thanking the respondent for his/her participation.
X Recording the incomplete status of a household respondent's interview.
(Page 16-1)
2.
When you terminate an interview by pressing the F10 key, the instrument proceeds to
REFCBBREAK_CP.
(Page 16-1)
3.
The information you enter in the back of the instrument is retained within the survey
instrument and not fed back into Case Management.
FALSE
(Page 16-1)
4.
The purpose of the reinterview program is to deter and detect falsification by field
representatives.
(Page 16-2)
Continue with Lesson 18.
16-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
Lesson 17. Practice Interview
Objective
During this lesson, you will have the opportunity to familiarize
yourself with the NCVS CAPI instrument by going through a
practice interview. Since this is your first attempt at completing an
NCVS CAPI interview, this interview will be much simpler than
most of your actual interviews will be. The purpose of this selfstudy interview is to make you more familiar with the instrument.
Concentrate on mastering navigation of the NCVS instrument
and understanding the NCVS questions during your classroom
training session.
Caution
To keep things simple, go straight through the scripted interview.
DO NOT attempt to jump around to different sections or to enter
“Don’t Know” and “Refused” answers unless instructed in the
interview. If you follow the instructions throughout this lesson, you
should not have any problems.
If you are in the middle of an interview and get off track by
entering the wrong answer for a question, press the left or up
arrow key in the lower right corner of your keyboard. This step
will take you to the previous question so you can change the
answer. If you enter an invalid response by mistake you may get
a pop-up screen telling you that the value entered is invalid. Click
the “OK” button or press the Esc (Escape) key to return to the
question, then enter the correct answer.
What do I do when
I have questions?
Write down any questions or comments you have while
completing this interview on the pages at the end of this lesson
and mention them during classroom training. Remember to write
down the screen name if your question or comment pertains to a
particular screen.
Follow the Instructions
Complete this practice interview in its entirety. The script includes
the survey questions, statements, etc., that you, as the FR, will
read as well as the respondent’s answers. Throughout this
interview, you will see "FR" used to indicate what you, the field
representative, should say or do, and an "R" is used to indicate
what the respondent’s answers are. Below each FR and R
exchange, the information to enter is in bold and parentheses. In
order for a response to be recorded, you must press the ENTER
key. All instructions to you are written in bold.
17-1
Practice Interview
Access Training Case
Management
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Your practice interview is in Mobile Case Management Training. To
access your cases:
• Click on the MCM Training Icon
• Click on the top right Training/ Manuals Tab (purple)
• Click on LCM Training
• Use the up or down arrow key on your keyboard to highlight
“NCVS” on the “Survey List” that is displayed in the “Survey
Selection Dialog box.”
• Click the OK button or press Enter.
• When the Training Case Management main screen appears,
make sure that “NCVS Classroom” training is highlighted using
the up or down arrow key.
Your NCVS training cases should already be installed. You can tell
whether your cases have been installed by looking at the “Need to
Install” column on this screen. If your cases are already installed
you will see an N in the “Need to Install” column. Otherwise, a Y
appears in that column.
If you need to install your cases, press the F5 function key and wait
for the message that indicates that the installation of the training
cases was successful. Once the message appears, press Enter
to proceed.
***If you have trouble installing the training cases,
notify your supervisor. It’s important to complete the
practice exercise in this lesson before you go to
classroom training.***
• Press F8 to enter Training Case Management.
Access Your Case
For this practice interview, highlight the address 508 NEIL ST and
press F2.
DO NOT at any time get into the other households listed in your
Case List as these cases will be used during classroom training.
17-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
Also, after completing this practice exercise, DO NOT restart or reinstall your training cases since doing so will delete the information
you entered for this practice interview.
At the “NCVS Selected Case Confirmation Screen,” press Enter
(or click OK).
TRAININGCASE
The first screen you see when accessing a training case is Item
TRAININGCASE. When you are conducting a live interview with a
production case this screen does not appear.
START_CP
(Enter 1 to continue)
START_CP is the first screen that is displayed. Look at the left of
the status bar (bottom of your screen; second box from the left).
You should see the word “START_CP.” This is the item or variable
name. While completing this interview, if you feel lost, look for the
variable name in the status bar. If it does not match the variable
name you see in this lesson, use the “left” or “up” arrow to back up
until you get to a screen that does match. Then re-enter your
answers from that point.
At START_CP, notice that this is a continuing case. Also notice the
“Interview Number” is “3” which indicates this is the third time this
case will be interviewed. Therefore, there may be information
already entered for this case from a previous interview.
Now let’s begin the interview. Remember to follow the scripted
interview and make the entries as indicated using the keyboard. Be
sure to read the instructions in bold since they describe specific
screens and concepts as you go through the script.
17-3
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
PRACTICE INTERVIEW
START_CP
The interview date and time are displayed on the screen.
(Enter 1, Telephone Interview)
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
Review the household roster. The screen shows the names of
all persons living or staying at the household, their
relationship, whether they are members of the household, their
sex, age, and interview status. An interview NEED SELF tells
you that you need to complete an interview with the
respondent by
self-response. After reviewing the household roster, enter 1 to
continue.
(Enter 1 to continue)
SHOW_INFO_CP
This screen prompts you to review or edit any case level notes,
if any were entered in previous interviews, as well as any
interview time preferences (best and worst times) to contact
the household if such times were previously recorded. You can
also enter new case level notes at this screen and interview
time preferences. Access the Case Level Notes now.
(Press Ctrl+F7 keys to view the Case Level Notes.)
(Enter a note into the Case Level Notes to practice this)
[ ]
To exit the Case Level Notes Editor, press F10. Do that now.
[ ]
Any time you change or enter any notes, a pop-up screen
would appear asking you if you want to save the notes. Click
on “Yes” now.
Now look to see if any preferred times to contact or not contact
the household were recorded previously.
(Press the Ctrl+T keys to view the “Interview Time
Preferences.”)
[ ]
If the best times to contact the household were previously
recorded, the time blocks appear in green. The worst time
17-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
blocks appear in red. This grid can be accessed anywhere in
the instrument by pressing Ctrl+T.
At this screen you can also enter the best and worst times to
contact the household. To enter best or preferred times, left
click on the appropriate hour slot. Left click 7:00 p.m. under
Monday now.
[
]
Notice that this time slot is now green.
To enter the worst times to contact a household, right click on
the hour slot. Right click on 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. under
Sunday now.
[ ]
Notice that these slots are now red. To exit this screen, press
F10. Do that now.
[ ]
Since you made changes to the grid, an Interview Time
Preferences pop-up screen will appear asking if you want to
save the changes. For this exercise, click on the “No” button.
(Enter 1 to continue)
HHNUM_VR_CP
This screen asks if this is a replacement household. If you are
unsure, enter 2.
(Enter 2, No, since you do not know if this is a replacement
household yet.)
DIAL_CP
This screen instructs you to dial the household’s telephone
number, which is displayed in the screen along with the name
of the prior household respondent and the sample unit’s
address.
(Enter 1, Someone answers)
HELLO_1_CP
FR:
Hello. This is (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I please speak with Megan Moe?
R:
Yes, this is Megan Moe speaking.
(Enter 1, This is the correct person)
17-5
Practice Interview
GETLETTER_CP
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
I’m calling concerning the National Crime Victimization
Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting a survey here and
throughout the Nation to determine how often people are
victims of crime. We contacted your household for this survey
several months ago. Did you receive our introductory letter in
the mail?
R:
I don’t think so.
For personal visit interviews, hand the respondent the
introductory letter and give him/her time to read the letter
before continuing with the interview. For telephone interviews,
press the F1 function key and read through the letter now. The
key points contained within the letter are highlighted in this
Help Screen and can be read to the respondent. Then press the
red X at the top to exit the Help screen.
(Enter 3)
VERADD_CP
FR:
I have your address listed as 508 NEIL ST, Any Town, AR
99991. Is that your exact address?
R:
Yes it is.
(Enter 1, Same address)
CHNGPH_CP
Sometimes at the beginning of an interview you may know that
the household’s telephone number has changed. At this screen
you are given the opportunity to change the telephone number.
DO NOT read the question to the respondent. For this
interview, you do not need to change the phone number so
select “No.”
(Enter 2)
MAILINGSAME_CP
FR:
Is your mailing address the same as your physical address?
R:
Yes it is.
(Enter 1)
TENURE
FR:
Ask or verify - Are your living quarters
- Owned or being bought by you or someone in your
household?
17-6
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
R:
Yes, we own our home.
Even though some items may already be pre-filled with a value
based upon responses from a previous interview, it is
important to ask or verify the question during the current
enumeration in case there are changes since the previous
interview. If in the current interview the response is the same,
you can press the Enter key rather than re-entering the
response value. In this case, the response is different.
(Enter 1, Owned or being bought)
STUDENTHOUSING
FR:
Are your living quarters presently used as student housing by
a college or university?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
NAMECHECK
FR:
I have Ted Moe and Megan Moe listed as living or staying at
that address.
Are ALL of these people still living or staying at that address?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
HHLDCOVERAGE
FR:
Have I missed anyone else living or staying there such as any
babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is away at present
traveling or in the hospital?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
AGECHECK
FR:
I have Ted Moe listed as 37 years old. Is that correct?
R:
Yes it is.
(For purposes of this exercise, enter 1 “Yes” even if the age is
different. This scenario will be discussed further in the classroom
training.)
(Enter 1)
17-7
Practice Interview
MARITAL
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
If in doubt ask - Is Ted Moe now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has he never been married?
R:
He’s married.
Remember, some items may already be pre-filled with a value based upon
responses from a previous interview. If in the current interview the
response is the same, you can press the Enter key rather than re-entering
the response.
(Press Enter)
ARMEDFORCES
FR: Is Ted Moe now in the Armed Forces?
R: No.
(Press Enter)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
What is the highest level of school Ted Moe completed or the
highest degree he received?
R:
The highest level he completed is 12th grade (no diploma).
(Press Enter)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
Is Ted Moe currently attending or enrolled in a regular school,
such as elementary or high school or enrolled either full-time
or part-time in a college or university, trade, or vocational
school?
R:
No.
(Enter 5)
AGECHECK
FR:
I have you listed as 37 years old. Is that correct?
R:
Yes it is.
(Enter 1)
17-8
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
MARITAL
Practice Interview
FR:
If in doubt ask - Are you now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or have you never been married?
R:
I’m married.
(Press the Enter key since there is already a 1 pre-filled)
ARMEDFORCES
FR: Are you now in the Armed Forces?
R: No.
(Press Enter)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
What is the highest level of school you completed or the
highest degree you received?
R:
I am a high school graduate (diploma, or the equivalent).
(Press Enter)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
Are you currently attending or enrolled either full-time or parttime in a college or university, trade, or vocational school?
R:
No.
(Enter 5)
ROSTERREVIEW
At this screen review the name, relationship, age, sex, and
marital status information for correctness. If the information is
not correct, you have the opportunity to make corrections to
these items if you enter 2 in this screen. Let’s assume that
Megan Moe’s age is incorrect because her birthday was not
correct.
(Enter 2)
WHOTOCHANGE
At this screen enter Megan Moe’s line number, which is 2, since
she is the respondent whose information you need to change.
(Enter 2)
17-9
Practice Interview
WHATFIX
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Now select the category that needs to be changed. Since
Megan Moe’s age is incorrect, you must fix her birth date.
(Enter 3)
CHNG_BRTHDATE
MO
(Press Enter)
CHNG_BRTHDATE
DY
(Press Enter)
CHNG_BRTHDATE
YR
(Enter 1944)
CHNG_ANYOTHER
At this screen you can review your changes and back up if you
need to make any further corrections. No additional changes
are needed, so you can proceed with the interview.
(Enter 1)
ROSTERREVIEW
The information displayed is now correct so you don’t need to
make any other changes.
(Enter 1)
TIMEATADDRESS
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some questions
that are helpful in studying where and why crimes occur.
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
15 years.
(Enter 15)
BUSINESS
FR:
Does anyone in this household operate a business from this
address?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of
the kinds of crimes this study covers. As I go through them,
tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months,
that is, since (date).
17-10
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as -- Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase,
book -- Clothing, jewelry, or cell phone -- Bicycle or sports equipment -- Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools -- Things outside your home such as a garden hose or lawn
furniture -- Things belonging to children in the household -- Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera,
or CDs OR
-Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R: Yes.
This household was previously interviewed on (date).
Reminder! The date of the last interview is the basis for a
respondent’s reference period.
(Enter 1)
SQTHEFTTIMES
FR: How many times?
R: Once.
(Enter 1)
SQTHEFTSPEC
FR:What happened?
R: A co-worker and I were walking to my car when two young men
grabbed my leather tote bag and ran.
Briefly describe the incident in SQTHEFTSPEC. Remember, you
are limited to 100 characters.
Also remember, when writing a description of what happened
refer to the respondent and any other household member by
his or her line number (for example L1, L2) and NOT by their
name. If you click on the HH ROSTER tab, you will see the
17-11
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
names of those persons living or staying in the household and
their corresponding line number. Click on the HH ROSTER tab
now.
You will see that Megan Moe’s line number is 2. Now either
click on the “Main” tab or enter 1 to continue on the toolbar to
go back to SQTHEFTSPEC.
Enter the following summary.
L2 and co-worker were walking to L2's car when 2 young men
grabbed L2's leather tote bag and ran.
(Press Enter to continue)
SQBREAKIN
FR:
Other than any incident already mentioned, has anyone -- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your home by
forcing a door or a window, pushing past someone,
jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or entering through an
open door or window?
-- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a garage,
shed, or storage room?
OR
-- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or motel room
or vacation home where you were staying?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or any
other member of that household during the last 6 months?
Include those you no longer own.
R:
We have two cars.
(Enter 2)
17-12
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
SQMVTHEFT
Practice Interview
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already
mentioned, were any of the vehicles -- Stolen or used without permission?
-- Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo,
hubcap, or battery?
-- Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or parts
attached to them?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR: Other than any incidents already mentioned, since (date), were
you attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen
from you -- At home including the porch or yard -- At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home-- At work or school -- In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a
shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport-- While riding in any vehicle -- On the street or in a parking lot -- At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area,
bowling lanes, or while fishing or huntingOR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal
anything belonging to you from any of these places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
Just the incident I told you about earlier.
(Enter 2)
17-13
Practice Interview
SQATTACKHOW
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has anyone
attacked or threatened you in any of these ways -- With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife -- With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stick -- By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle -- Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
-- Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual attack -- Any face to face threats OR
-- Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a
crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by someone
they know. Other than any incidents already mentioned, did
you have something stolen from you or were you attacked or
threatened by-----
Someone at work or school A neighbor or friend A relative or family member Any other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
17-14
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
SQSEXUAL
Practice Interview
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often
difficult to talk about. Other than any incidents already
mentioned, have you been forced or coerced to engage in
unwanted sexual activity by -- Someone you didn't know -- A casual acquaintance OR
-- Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already
mentioned, did you call the police to report something that
happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already
mentioned, did anything which you thought was a crime
happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
No.
(Enter 2)
PRESENTFORSQS
(Enter 11, since this is a telephone interview)
INC_REPORTS
This screen tells you that you have completed the screening
questions and indicates the number of incidents reported in
the screen questions and the number of refusals in the screen
questions.
(Enter 1)
17-15
Practice Interview
INCIDENTINTRO
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months you and your
co-worker were walking to your car when 2 young men
grabbed your leather tote bag and ran. This happened just
one time?
R:
Yes, just once.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
It happened in (pick date within 6-month reference period).
(Enter precode for appropriate month)
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident happen
during the last 6 months?
R:
Just once.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
About what time did this incident happen?
R:
Around 5:00 in the evening.
(Enter 13)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town, or village did this incident occur?
R:
Right here in Any Town.
Precode (3) is the correct choice.
It is important to be aware of what the precodes are for each
question. In this screen, the appropriate precode to enter is (3)
“SAME city/town/village as present residence,” based on the
respondent’s answer.
(Enter 3)
17-16
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
INCIDENTAIR
Practice Interview
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian Reservation or
on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen...
R:
-- In your home or lodging?
-- Near your home or lodging?
-- At, in, or near a friend’s/relative’s/neighbor’s home?
-- At a commercial place?
-- In a parking lot or garage?
-- At school?
-- In open areas, on the street, or on public transportation?
-- Somewhere else?
At school where I teach.
(Enter 16)
LOCATION_SCHOOL
FR:
Ask or verify - Where at school did this incident happen?
R:
In the school’s parking lot.
(Enter 32)
RESTRICTEDAREA
FR:
Ask or verify - Did the incident happen in an area restricted to
certain people or was it open to the public at the time?
R:
Well, it was the school parking lot, but that’s open to the
public.
(Enter 1)
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify - Did it happen indoors, outdoors, or both?
R:
Outdoors.
(Enter 2)
17-17
Practice Interview
FARFROMHOME
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
Ask or verify - How far away from home did this happen?
R:
The school is about 5 miles from my home.
(Enter 3)
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
Ask or verify - Were you or any other member of this
household present when this incident occurred?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
WHICHMEMBER
FR:
Ask or verify - Which household members were present?
R:
Just me.
(Enter 1)
SEEOFFENDER
FR:
Ask or verify - Did you personally see an offender?
R:
You bet I did.
(Enter 1)
WEAPONPRESENT
FR:
Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun or knife, or
something to use as a weapon, such as a bottle or wrench?
R:
No, I don't remember anything like that. They just used their
hands to grab my tote bag.
(Enter 2)
ATTACK
FR:
Did the offender hit you, knock you down, or actually attack
you in any way?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
TRYATTACK
FR:
Did the offender TRY to attack you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
17-18
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
THREATEN
Practice Interview
FR:
Did the offender THREATEN you with harm in any way?
R:
No. In fact, I don't think they said anything.
(Enter 2)
WHATHAPPEN
FR:
What actually happened?
R:
Like I said, these two guys came running at us as we were
getting into my car, grabbed my tote bag, and ran off.
(Enter 11)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
PROTECTSELF
FR:
Did you do anything with the idea of protecting YOURSELF or
your PROPERTY while the incident was going on?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ACTIONSDURINGINC
FR:
What did you do?
R:
I yelled at the guys.
(Enter 19)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
INJACTIONHELP
FR:
Did your action help the situation in any way?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
17-19
Practice Interview
ACTIONWORSE
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
Did your action make the situation worse in anyway?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
ANYONEPRESENT
FR:
Was anyone present during the incident besides you and the
offender? (Other than children under age 12.)
R:
Yes, my co-worker.
(Enter 1)
OTHERSACTIONS
FR:
Did the actions of (this person/ any of these people) help the
situation in any way?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
OTHERSACTIONSWORSE
FR:
R:
Did the actions of (this person/ any of these people) make the
situation worse in any way?
No.
(Enter 2)
PERSONSHARMED
FR:
Not counting yourself, were any of these persons present
during the incident harmed (Pause), threatened with harm
(Pause), or robbed by force or threat of harm?
(Do not include yourself, the offender, or children under 12
years of age.)
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
FR:
R:
Ask or verify - Was the crime committed by only one or by
more than one offender?
There were two offenders.
(Enter 2)
17-20
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
HOWMANYOFFENDERS
FR:
How many offenders?
R:
As I just told you, there were two offenders.
Remember, even though you know the answer to this
question, you must ask it because it does not show the
“Ask or verify” instruction.
(Enter 2)
MULTOFFENDERKNEW
FR:
Were any of the offenders known to you, or were they all
strangers you had never seen before?
R:
No, neither of us had seen them before.
(Enter 3)
MULTOFFENDERRECOG
FR:
Would you be able to recognize any of them if you saw them?
R:
Possibly.
(Enter 2)
MULTOFFENDERSIGHT FR:
R:
Would you have been able to tell the police how they might
find any of them, for instance, where they lived, worked, went
to school, or spent time?
No.
(Enter 2)
MULTOFFENDERGENDER
FR:
R:
Were they male or female?
They were both male.
(Enter 1)
17-21
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
MULTOFFENDERYOUNG
FR:
How old would you say the youngest was?
R:
He was about 18.
(Enter 4)
MULTOFFENDEROLD
FR:
How old would you say the oldest was?
R:
Probably about 22.
(Enter 5)
MULTOFFETHNICITY
FR:
Were any of the offenders Hispanic or Latino?
R:
No
(Enter 2)
MULTOFFENDERRACE
FR:
Were the offenders White, Black or African American,
American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander?
R:
They were both White.
(Enter 1)
MULTOFFENDERGANG FR:
R:
Were any of the offenders a member of a street gang, or don't
you know?
I don't know.
(Enter 3)
MULTOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
FR: Were any of the offenders drinking or on drugs, or don't you
know?
R:
I really don't know.
(Enter 3)
17-22
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME
FR:
R:
Was this the only time any of these offenders committed a
crime against you or your household or made threats against
you or your household?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify - Was something stolen or taken without
permission that belonged to you or others in the household?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
WHATWASTAKEN
FR:
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the
household?
R:
My leather tote bag.
(Enter 29,)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
I had three credit cards in my tote bag.
(Enter 14,)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
My car keys.
(Enter 26,)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
Yes, my watch. I had taken it off in the classroom and it was
in my tote bag when the tote bag was stolen.
Category 26, which you already entered, includes watches.
17-23
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR: Did the stolen property belong to you personally, to someone
else in the household, or to both you and other household
members?
R:
It was all mine.
(Enter 1)
ARTICLEINCAR
FR:
Ask or verify - Were the articles IN or ATTACHED to a motor
vehicle when they were taken?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
OTHERONPERSON
FR:
Ask or verify - Was there anything the offenders took directly
from you, for instance, from your pocket or hands, or
something that you were wearing?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ITEMSTAKEN
FR:
Which items did the offenders take directly from you?
R:
My tote bag and the items in it.
For this item, the categories selected in item WHATWASTAKEN
are displayed.
(Enter 40, since all the items stolen were taken directly from the
respondent or click on all the categories displayed.)
PROPERTYVALUE
FR:
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was taken?
Include recovered property. (Exclude any stolen checks, or
credit cards.) If jointly owned with a nonhousehold member,
include only the shared owned by the household member.
17-24
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
R:
I don't suppose the keys had any real monetary value. The
tote bag was worth about $150 and the watch about $85.
To help you add the different values reported, you can press
the F11 key to access the calculator function. You can also get
to the calculator function by clicking on the Options tab and
selecting Calculator.
Take a moment now to use the calculator. Then verify the total
amount with the respondent before proceeding.
[ ]
FR:
(Probe) So, altogether, the stolen property was worth about
$235. Is that correct?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 235, then press Enter)
DECIDEDVALUE
FR:
How did you decide the value of the property that was taken?
R:
That was the cost for me to purchase the items.
(Enter 11,)
FR:
Any other way?
R:
Well, I paid about the same amount to replace some of the
stolen items.
(Enter 12,)
FR:
Any other way?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
ALLPARTRECOVERED
FR:
Was all or part of the stolen property recovered, not counting
anything received from insurance?
R:
No, nothing.
(Enter 3)
17-25
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
FR:
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DAMAGED
FR:
Other than stolen property was anything that belonged to you
or other members of the household damaged in this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
POLICEINFORMED
FR:
Were the police informed or did they find out about this
incident in any way?
R:
Oh yes!
(Enter 1)
POLICEFINDOUT
FR:
How did the police find out about it?
R:
I called them.
(Enter 11)
REASONREPORT
FR:
Besides the fact that it was a crime, did YOU have any other
reason for reporting this incident to the police?
R:
Well, I wanted to recover everything the two men stole from
me.
(Enter 13)
FR:
Any other reason?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
17-26
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
REPORTIMPORTANT
Practice Interview
FR:
Which of these would you say was the most important reason
why the incident was reported to the police?
R:
I wanted to recover my property.
(Enter 13)
POLICEARRIVE
FR:
Did the police come when they found out about the incident?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
TIMEPOLICEARRIVE
FR:
How soon after the police found out did they respond? Was it
within 5 minutes, within 10 minutes, an hour, a day, or longer?
R:
They came about 25 minutes after I called.
(Enter 3)
POLICEACTION
FR:
What did they do while they were there?
R:
They took a report from both me and my friend, questioned
some of the people that had seen the incident, and told us
they would investigate.
(Enter 11, 14, 16)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
POLICECONTACT
FR:
Did you or anyone in your household have any later contact
with the police about the incident?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
17-27
Practice Interview
POLICEINTOUCH
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
FR:
Did the police get in touch with you or did you get in touch
with them?
R:
The police called me.
(Enter 1)
HOWPOLICECONTACT
FR:
Was that in person, by phone, or some other way?
R:
By phone.
(Enter 2)
POLICEFOLLOWUP
FR:
What did the police do in following up this incident?
R:
They told me they had uncovered no leads in the case and
that they thought the possibility of recovering the tote bag and
its contents was unlikely. They were just staying in touch.
(Enter 16,)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
SIGNCOMPLAINT
FR:
Did you or someone in your household sign a complaint
against the offenders to the police department or the
authorities?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
ARRESTMADE
FR:
Ask or verify - As far as you know, was anyone arrested or
were charges brought against anyone in connection with this
incident?
R:
Not that I know of.
(Enter 2)
17-28
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
AGENCYHELP
Practice Interview
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any help or
advice from any office or agency -- other than the police
-- that deals with victims of crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CONTACTAUTHORITIES
FR:
Have you or someone in your household had contact with any
other authorities about this incident (such as a prosecutor,
court, or juvenile officer)?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
ANYTHINGFURTHER
FR:
Do you expect the police, courts, or other authorities will be
doing anything further in connection with this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
Ask or verify - What were you doing when this incident
happened?
R:
I had just left work and was about to drive home.
(Enter 12)
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
FR:
Did YOU lose any time from work because of this incident for
such things as cooperating with a police investigation,
testifying in court, or repairing or replacing damaged or stolen
property?
R:
No.
(Enter 6)
17-29
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
FR:
Were there any household members 16 years or older who
lost time from work because of this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
TYPETRANSPORTATION
FR:
Ask or verify - You told me earlier you were on the way from
work when the incident happened.
What means of transportation were you using?
R:
I was walking.
(Enter 14)
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur when
offenders target people because of one or more of their
characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just
discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or bigotry?
R:
I really don’t know.
(Press Ctrl+D, then press Enter)
SUMMARY
Now write a summary about this incident. Remember, your
summary must include all of the pertinent facts surrounding
the reported incident and be written so that anyone reading it
can get a clear, well-defined picture of how the respondent was
victimized. Because you are limited to 300 characters, you may
use abbreviations when writing your summary. Go to page B514 of your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives and review the acceptable abbreviations you
can use for the NCVS. The list of abbreviations ends on page
B5-19.
[ ]
In addition to using these abbreviations when preparing your
summary for an incident, you can also use them when entering
any other written entries or notes in the NCVS instrument. Also
remember when writing the summary to use the respondent’s
line number, not the respondent’s name, when referring to the
17-30
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
respondent. If you need additional space, you can press F7 to
include additional notes.
Here is an example of what to enter, "In 1/2017 at 5:15 pm 2
men took L2's leather tote bag as L2 & co-worker were walking
to L2's car in school parking lot where L2 teaches. L2 not
attacked, injured, or threatened. L2's tote bag contained credit
cards, keys, & L2's watch. Total value of property stolen was
$235. L2 called police.”
After completing the summary, read it back to the respondent
to make sure you have the facts entered correctly and have not
omitted any pertinent information. When you read back the
summary to the respondent insert the appropriate pronoun in
place of the respondent’s line number. As a result you may
have to reword the summary slightly. For example, you would
say:
In 1/2017 at 5:15 pm 2 men took your leather tote bag as you
and a co-worker were walking to your car in your school
parking lot where you teach. You were not attacked, injured, or
threatened. Your tote bag contained credit cards, keys, and
your watch. The total value of the property stolen was $235.
You called the police.
(Press Enter)
SUMMARYPROBE
This screen asks if you have completed the summary. If you
need to edit or need to continue entering summary text, press
the “up” arrow key, otherwise enter 1 to continue. If you use
the “Up” arrow key to return to the Summary, the next box is
highlighted in blue. If you need to edit the Summary, move your
mouse key to access the next box. Do this before making any
revisions. Please Note: If you begin clicking inside the text box,
you will lose the Summary you just typed.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTOADD
If, during the course of the interview, the respondent recalls
any incidents that were not reported in the screen questions, at
INCIDENTTOADD you indicate that other incidents need to be
added for the respondent.
(Enter 2)
17-31
Practice Interview
CRIME_END
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
This screen tells you that you have completed all incidents for
Megan Moe.
(Enter 1)
ENDINCIDENT
The current incident is completed so enter 1 to continue.
ENDSCREENER
Since there are no more incident reports to complete enter 1 to
continue.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions about your demographic
characteristics.
(Enter 1)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even
when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition do you
have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
17-32
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEAVING_HOME
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, do you
have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s
office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you
born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory, born of
U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of the U.S.
through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I was born in the U.S.
(Enter 1)
ORIENTATION_FEMALE FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think of
yourself?
-- Lesbian or gay
-- Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
-- Bisexual
-- Something else
-- I don’t know the answer
R:
Straight.
If you were conducting a personal visit interview you would
show the respondent the appropriate SO_ Flash Card in the
Information Card Booklet. Remember that screens with an
associated flashcard will have an open book icon in the upper
left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 2)
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth
certificate?
R:
Female.
17-33
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
If you were conducting a personal visit interview, you would
show the respondent the first question on the GI Flash Card in
the Information Card Booklet. Remember that screens with an
associated flashcard will have an open book icon in the upper
left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 2)
GENID_DESCRIBE
FR:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female or
transgender?
R:
Male.
If you were conducting a personal visit interview, you would
show the respondent the second question on the GI Flash Card
in the Information Card Booklet. Remember that screens with
an associated flashcard will have an open book icon in the
upper left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 1)
GENID_CONFIRM
FR:
Just to confirm, you were assigned female at birth and now
describe yourself as male. Is that correct?
R:
I don’t want to answer.
(Enter 3)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
Yes, I have served in the military.
(Enter 4)
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
FR:
When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces?
R:
I served in August 1964 to 1968.
(Enter 14)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST WEEK?
17-34
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
JOBDESCRIPTION
FR:
Ask or verify -- Which of the following best describes your
job?
Were you employed in the --- Medical Profession?
-- Mental Health Services Field?
-- Teaching Profession?
R:
Yes, teaching profession. I teach the third grade.
If you were conducting a personal visit interview you would
show the respondent the Employment Flash Card in the
Information Card Booklet. Remember that screens with an
associated flashcard will have an open book icon in the upper
left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 13)
TEACHINGJOB
FR:
Were you employed in a
-- Preschool?
-- Elementary school?
R:
Yes, elementary school.
(Enter 19)
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
FR:
Ask or verify - Is your job with a private company, business,
or individual for wages?
R:
No.
FR:
The Federal government?
R:
No.
FR:
A State, county, or local government?
17-35
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
R:
Yes, it’s a county public school.
(Enter 3)
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
FR:
Are you employed by a college or university?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
FR:
While working at your job, do you work mostly in
---Or
--
R:
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
Combination of any of these?
In a suburban area.
(Enter 2)
INTVDONE
FR Instruction
Enter 1 to continue. DO NOT F10 OUT OF THIS SCREEN.
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
FR:
Which category represents the TOTAL combined income of
all members of this HOUSEHOLD during the past 12
months? This includes money from jobs, net income from
business, farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social
Security payments, and any other money income received by
members of this HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or
older.
R:
I really don’t want to answer that question.
For personal interviews, remember to always show the
household respondent the Household Income flashcard
located in the Information Card Booklet BEFORE asking this
question. Allow the respondent time to read the categories,
make an estimate, and respond. If necessary, explain that we
do not need the respondent to identify the actual amount of the
total household income, just the income range that it falls
within.
17-36
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
FR:
If you are more comfortable, you can provide a range that
your household income falls within.
R:
I’d rather not.
(Press Ctrl + R keys to record a refusal, then press Enter)
BESTTIME_NO SUNDAY Use this screen to update the interview time preference chart. After
updating the chart (or if you do not need to update now), press “1” to
continue.
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
FR: What is the telephone number where you would like to be
called?
R:
RESPONDENTPHONE
TYPE
FR:
R:
It’s (555)555-5555.
What type of phone is this (for example, a home, office, or
cell phone?
It’s my cell phone.
(Enter 3)
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
Was this respondent’s interview conducted in a language other than
English?
(Enter 2)
ENDPERSON
(Enter 1)
ENDSCREENER
(Enter 1)
NEXTPERSON
FR:
I also need to talk with Ted Moe. Is Ted Moe at home now?
R:
No, he is not at home.
Ted Moe is not available at the time of your interview with
Megan Moe.
(Enter 33)
REFCBBREAK_CP
This question asks you if the interview with the household
ended because of a refusal, a callback was needed, or a
17-37
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
breakoff occurred. Since Ted Moe is not available at the time of
your interview with Megan Moe and there are no other persons
in the household to be interviewed, you will need to call back
the household to complete Ted Moe’s interview.
(Enter 2)
PERSAPPT
This screen tells you that you can enter appointment
information for Ted Moe in the Case Level Notes by pressing
Ctrl+F7.
Megan Moe tells you to call her husband back later in the day
after 6:00 p.m. Press the Ctrl+F7 keys and enter a note to call
the household back at 6:00 p.m. to complete Ted Moe's
interview.
Remember, the only time it is acceptable to include information
such as names, phone numbers, address location directions,
etc., is when you are entering such information in the Case
Level Notes.
After entering this note, press F10 to exit the Case Level Notes.
After pressing the F10 key, a Note Editor pop-up screen will
appear asking if you want to save the notes entered. Click
“Yes.”
Since Ted Moe is the only remaining household member to be
interviewed, enter 1 to continue at PERSAPPT.
THANKYOU_INDIV
FR:
Thank you. I’ll call back at the time suggested.
(Enter 1)
VERIFY
This screen asks if you need to change the household’s
telephone number or review or edit the interview time
preferences for this household. For this interview, you don’t
need to do either, so enter 2.
(Enter 2)
CASE LEVEL NOTES
Enter any additional notes about the case that you feel will be
helpful for completing interviews with remaining eligible
household members or for future interviews with the
household.
17-38
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Practice Interview
Here is an example of what to enter in the Case Level Notes:
“L2 completed interview, set up callback with L1.”
(Press F10)
After pressing the F10 key, save the notes entered by pressing
the “yes” button. You will then automatically return to Case
Management. Click on the “OK” button at the Case
Management pop-up screen.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2 for telephone - outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1 since you are entering pCHI at the time of the contact
attempt)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1 [made contact with one or more eligible persons]
because you were able to complete Megan Moe’s interview
during this contact attempt)
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 3 [noncontact] for L1 because Ted Moe was not at home
during this contact.)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1 [person not home]) because Megan Moe said he was
not at home [Page 17-34])
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2 [scheduled appointment] because Megan Moe was
able to provide a time for a callback)
Now enter the contact information for Megan Moe (L2):
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 1 [made contact with Megan Moe])
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1 [completed interview]) because you were able to
complete L2’s interview)
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98 [no concerns]; we’ll assume Megan had no concerns
about completing her interview)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 98 [no strategies] because no additional strategies were
needed to complete L2’s interview)
After answering pSTRATEGS, you exit the pCHI and return to
Case Management.
17-39
Practice Interview
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
This concludes the practice interview. During classroom
training you will complete the interview with Ted Moe and then
practice transmitting the completed case. Also, you will
practice using the NCVS CAPI instrument in more detail during
classroom training using the other training cases; therefore,
DO NOT get into these cases before classroom training. DO
NOT RESTART OR RE-INSTALL your training cases; otherwise,
all the information you entered during this practice interview
will be lost.
When you return to the Case Management case list, notice that
a “P” appears in the “Status” column for this household. This
indicates that the case is a sufficient partial which means that
you completed the household respondent’s interview but there
remain other eligible household members whose interview still
needs to be completed.
You can now exit Case Management by pressing the F10 key or
clicking on the F10-Exit button on the Case Management
toolbar.
Complete the final review exercise in Lesson 18
17-40
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Final Review Exercise
Lesson 18. Final Review Exercise
Complete each item in the final review exercise. Bring all of your self-study materials to the
classroom training, including your completed self-study.
1.
The BJS needs the NCVS data primarily to obtain an accurate, up-to-date measure of the
kinds and amount of crimes committed against persons 12 years of age and older.
TRUE
FALSE
2. The reference period is important because we only ask about crime incidents that occurred
during this period. Listed below are interview dates for first month interviews. For these
interviews, what is the 6-month reference period for crimes committed?
Date of Interview
Reference Period
August 5
April 1
December 3
3. Listed below are the Moe family members and their ages. Answer the questions
(3a - c) which follow:
Name
Age
Household Relationship
John Moe
46
Reference person
Megan Moe
42
Wife
Mary Moe
20
Daughter
Michael Moe
8
Son
When you make your initial visit to the Moe household, Megan Moe is the only person
home. She answers the household characteristic questions, along with other questions
relating to her family.
18-1
Final Review Exercise
a.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Who is the household respondent?
___________________________________________________________________
b.
Which members of the Moe household are eligible respondents for the NCVS?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
c.
Are there any members of the Moe household who are not required to be interviewed
for the NCVS?
YES
NO
If yes, who?
4.
If the occupants at a sample address change between enumeration periods, you: (Mark
the correct answer.)
Try to locate the occupants’ new address at the local post office.
Select another address randomly on the same block.
Interview the people who currently live at the sample address and who consider the
address to be their usual place of residence.
5.
___________________ is an interviewing technique you can use to get the respondent to
provide more information when the respondent’s initial answer is unclear or incomplete.
18-2
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Final Review Exercise
6. A respondent is considered present during an incident if he/she is at the immediate scene of
the crime during the incident and there is an opportunity for the offender to harm the
respondent. In the following scenarios, indicate whether or not the respondent was present
during the incident:
a. A woman was putting her groceries in her car when a man approached her and stole her
purse.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
b. A man fell asleep on the beach and when he woke up his CD player and keys were
gone.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
c. A woman’s leather coat was stolen from the coat room in the restaurant lobby while she
was eating dinner at the restaurant.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
d. The respondent was in the kitchen cooking dinner while the offender (who was a guest)
was stealing jewelry and money from her bedroom dresser.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
e. The respondent looked out his living room window and saw someone steal his
10speed bicycle from his front yard. By the time he got outside, the person and his bicycle
were gone.
PRESENT
f.
NOT PRESENT
A woman was asleep in her house and someone stole a motorcycle from the attached
garage.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
g. A man was asleep in his house and someone stole a lawn mower from the detached
garage.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
h. A woman was walking at the shopping mall and a man walked up behind her and
shoved her.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
18-3
Final Review Exercise
i.
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
A man arrived home from work and saw someone stealing several lawn ornaments out
of his yard. He got out of his car and started yelling at the offender, but the offender got
away.
PRESENT
j.
NOT PRESENT
A woman on the subway was part of a group robbery when the offender showed a gun,
passed around a bag, and told everyone in the subway car to put all their valuables in it.
PRESENT
NOT PRESENT
7. Enter the letter next to each item that corresponds to the letter that points to a specific
part of the NCVS CAPI instrument illustrated below.
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
_____
Info Pane
Title bar
Section Tabs
Form Pane
Menu Bar
Status Bar
A
B
C
E
D
F
18-4
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
Final Review Exercise
8. Describe in the answer space below how you identify or differentiate each item from
other information on the screen.
a. FR Instructions: _________________________________________________
b. Questions to ask respondents: _______________________________________
c. Questions that require you to use the information booklet to show respondents:
________________________________________________________________
d. Questions that allow multiple answers: ________________________________
e. Questions that allow only a single response: ____________________________
9. Which key, when pressed in the NCVS CAPI instrument, ensures that the entry is
“accepted” within the instrument and moves to the next question?
____________________________
10. Which Function key in the NCVS CAPI instrument allows you to enter Item Level
Notes?
____________________________
11. Which keys, when pressed while in the NCVS CAPI instrument, allow you to enter Case
Level Notes?
____________________________
12. Which Function key in the NCVS CAPI instrument allows you to end the interview?
____________________________
13. Which section of the NCVS CAPI instrument collects basic household data as well as
characteristics of the sample unit?
_____
_____
_____
Front section
Middle section
Back section
18-5
Final Review Exercise
NCVS-521 CAPI (9/2017)
14. At the START_CP screen, select category 4, Noninterview, to classify a person as a
Type Z noninterview. (See illustration of this item on Page 18-4.)
TRUE
FALSE
15. In the NCVS CAPI instrument, ___________________ accepts data item inconsistencies in
a _________________ edit check.
16. Six months ago when you interviewed a sample household there were three household
members. During the current month, you discover that two of the three household members
moved out. You must create a replacement household and interview the remaining
household member.
TRUE
FALSE
Bring your laptop and this completed self-study
to the classroom training. Write down any
questions you want to ask during the training.
18-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
National Crime
Victimization Survey
Classroom Training Guide:
NCVS Initial Training
for Field Representatives
This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable Information. All data
are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. Consistent with Field Division policy,
any names referenced in practice interviews or other exercises are not meant to refer to any actual
person, especially any current or past Census Bureau employees.
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Title
Suggested Training Schedule
Instructions to the Trainer
1
Welcome and Introduction
2
Administrative Topics
3
Probing for Accuracy
4
Power of Persuasion
5
Case Management
6
Review of the Pre-Classroom Self-Study Materials
7
NCVS Concepts and Definitions
8
NCVS Practice Interviews
Practice Exercise 1- Building a Household Roster
Practice Exercise 2 - Picking a New Household Respondent
Practice Exercise 3 - Replacement Household by Telephone
Practice Exercise 4 - Type A Noninterview
Practice Exercise 5 - Type B Noninterview
Practice Exercise 6 - Changing the Household Respondent in
Household with Other Eligible Respondents
Practice Exercise 7 - Selecting a New Reference Person
Practice Exercise 8 - Re-entering a Case to Complete Interview with
Remaining Eligible Household Members
Practice Exercise 9 - Classifying an NCVS Respondent as Type Z
Noninterview
Practice Exercise 10 - Unduplication of Incidents
Practice Exercise 11 - Proxy Interview
Practice Exercise 12 - Quitting a Case at Onset of Interview
Practice Exercise 13 - Incident of Rape
Practice Exercise 14 - Series Incidents
Practice Exercise 15 - Adding an Incident
Practice Exercise 16 - Accessing the NCVS CAPI Spanish Instrument
9
10
11
Performance and Supervisory Topics
2010 Redesign Listing and Coverage
Paired Practice Interview
Table of Contents -- 1
Page
SS-1
i
1-1
2-1
3-1
4-1
5-1
6-1
7-1
8-1
8-7
8-38
8-70
8-75
8-87
8-95
8-100
8-149
8-154
8-157
8-182
8-211
8-212
8-250
8-278
8-287
9-1
10-1
11-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Suggested Training Schedule
Suggested Training Schedule
Before your classroom training session begins, read “Instructions to the
Trainer,” which follows this suggested training schedule. Make sure trainees
log into their laptops before the start of each day.
DAY 1
Chapter
1
Welcome and Introduction
Time
Time
(Mins.) Elapse
d
:15
:15
2
Administrative Topics
1:30
1:45
BREAK
:15
2:00
Administrative Topics (Continued)
1:45
3:45
LUNCH
1:00
4:45
Probing for Accuracy
1:00
5:45
BREAK
:15
6:00
Power of Persuasion
2:00
8:00
2
3
4
Title
SS-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Suggested Training Schedule
Suggested Training Schedule
DAY 2
Chapter
5
5
6
7
Title
Case Management
Time
Time
(Mins.) Elapse
d
1:45
1:45
BREAK
:15
2:00
Case Management (Continued)
1:00
3:00
LUNCH
1:00
4:00
Review of Pre-Classroom Self-Study
Materials
:30
4:30
BREAK
:15
4:45
NCVS Concepts and Definitions
2:00
6:45
SS-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Suggested Training Schedule
Suggested Training Schedule
DAY 3
Chapter
8
Title
NCVS Practice Interviews
Practice Exercise 1 - Building a Household
Roster
BREAK
Practice Exercise 2 - Picking a New
Household Respondent
Practice Exercise 3 - Replacement
Household by Telephone
LUNCH
Practice Exercise 4 - Type A Noninterview
Practice Exercise 5 - Type B Noninterview
Practice Exercise 6 - Changing the
Household Respondent
BREAK
Practice Exercise 7 - Selecting a New
Reference Person
Practice Exercise 8 - Re-entering a
Case to Complete Interview with
Remaining Eligible Household
Members
Practice Exercise 9 - Classifying an
NCVS Respondent as Type Z
Noninterview
Practice Exercise 10 - Unduplication of
Incidents
Practice Exercise 11 - Proxy Interview
SS-3
Time
(Mins
)
Time
Elapse
d
:45
:45
:15
1:00
:45
1:45
:30
1:00
2:15
3:15
:20
:20
3:35
3:55
:15
:15
4:10
4:25
:45
5:10
:15
5:25
:15
5:40
:30
6:10
:30
6:40
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Suggested Training Schedule
Suggested Training Schedule
DAY 4
Chapter
8
9
10
11
Title
Time
(Mins.)
Time
Elapsed
Practice Exercise 12 - Quitting a
Case at Onset of Interview
:05
:05
Practice Exercise 13 - Incident of Rape
Practice Exercise 14 - Series of Incidents
:30
:30
:35
1:05
BREAK
:15
1:20
Practice Exercise 15 – Adding an Incident
:15
1:35
Practice Exercise 16 - Accessing the NCVS
CAPI Spanish Instrument
:10
1:45
Performance and Supervisory Topics
1:00
2:45
LUNCH
1:00
3:45
2010 Redesign Listing and Coverage
1:00
4:45
BREAK
:15
5:00
Paired Practice Interview
2:00
7:00
NCVS Practice Interviews (Continued)
SS-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Instructions to the Trainer
Training Field Representatives is one of your most important roles as a supervisor.
Your success depends in part on your ability to train a staff to do an effective job.
There is no substitute for a motivated and competent staff in meeting your
responsibility toward the accurate and timely completion of the National Crime
Victimization Survey (NCVS).
No supervisor can expect an effective training session to occur if he or she is not
prepared. To guarantee a positive session, you must prepare ahead of time:
Advance Preparation
About a week before this training session, send the
pre-classroom generic training and the survey specific
self-study materials to the trainees.
NOTE: If any trainees have already received the generic
training while being trained for another demographic
survey, such as the Current Population Survey, you need
not send the trainee the generic training materials.
The pre-classroom generic training materials consist of:
✓
Welcome Letter (provides Census Bureau field
representatives (FRs) with a brief statement
regarding the importance of their job for
communities and the country. It also provides a
concise list of instructional products and includes a
personal password for the Census Bureau issued
laptop computer)
✓
11-900, Curriculum Plan (provides the sequence in
which the users access the instructional products
of the generic pre-classroom training package)
✓
11-6 (WIN), Quick Reference Guide (provides quick
tips for using all Windows applications)
✓
11-7 (WIN), Windows Laptop Users Guide
(provides complete documentation of laptop
applications) (electronic, on laptop)
✓
11-8, Listing and Coverage: A Survival Guide for the
i
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Field Representative, Volume 2, Demographic
Area Address Listing, and 11-922, Current Surveys
Listing and Coverage. (electronic, on laptop)
✓
11-12
(WIN),
WINFRED
Windows
Field
Representative Earnings Data Self-Study (provides
basic knowledge of the time and attendance
software, WINFRED) (electronic, on laptop)
✓
11-55 (RO), Administrative Handbook for Regional
Office Schedule A Employees (electronic, on
laptop)
✓
11-109, Personal Security Self-Study (familiarizes
FRs with various personal security and safety
options as they go to various communities
performing their job) (electronic, on laptop)
✓
11-901, InterAct Field Representative
PreClassroom
Learning
Magazine
(provides
anintroduction and overview of the FR’s role an
responsibilities)
✓
11-902, Getting it Done: The Job of a Field
Representative Viewing Guide, and “GETTING IT
DONE: The Job of a Field Representative” (Video
provides FRs with an initial orientation to a typical
day for Census Bureau Field Representatives)
✓
“Getting to Know Your Laptop Computer” (shows
the hardware components of the laptop, startup,
log on, shutdown procedures, and the steps to
change the laptop battery; also discusses the new
hires’ legal responsibility regarding the use and
care of the laptop)
✓
“Field Representative Safety Video” (provides the
FRs with various personal security and safety
options as they go to various communities
performing their job)
ii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
The pre-classroom survey specific training materials
consist of the following:
NCVS-521, Self-Study for New Field
Representatives
NCVS-550, Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives (electronic document on laptop)
NCVS-554, Field Representative’s
Information Card Booklet
NCVS-572(L), Incoming Case Introductory Letter
NCVS-573(L), Continuing Case Introductory Letter
Instruct trainees to complete the pre-classroom
self-study material before attending the classroom
training. Trainees must also complete the Windows
Initial CBT and WINFRED CBT before the training
session as noted in the 11-900 Curriculum Plan.
pCHI CBT (on FR laptop)
Study this training guide and become familiar with
all the training concepts. This allows you to answer
questions more easily and guide the trainees
through a successful training session. The more
familiar you are with this guide, the more at ease
you will be in the classroom training.
Try to identify any questions the trainees might ask
or any areas that could need additional
explanation.
Conduct a “dry run” of the training, preferably in
the presence of a colleague. A dry run is your
practice session. You can practice your delivery,
set your timing, make sure you have the correct
materials, and know when and how to use these
materials. A dry run also takes the nervousness
out of that first training session.
iii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
At the Training Site
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Assemble training materials for both you and
the trainees well before the session. Make sure
video equipment is present and in good working
order.
Several days before the training session, make
sure you have all the needed materials for the
classroom training. A list of trainer and trainee
materials is provided in this section of your Training
Guide.
Notify all trainees ahead of time about all
materials they must bring with them to the
classroom training session.
Prepare the training room before training begins:
✓
Arrange the seats and tables so each trainee has
enough work space to spread out workbooks,
manuals, and other NCVS materials and still be
in sight of the instructor. Make sure electrical
outlets are accessible so trainees can plug in
laptop computers or extension cords.
✓
Make sure that a television, DVD and projection
system are available through the site provider and
that they are in working order.
✓
Make sure that the training room can be secured
(locked) during breaks and lunch periods.
✓
Plan the seating and prepare name cards for
trainees. A horseshoe seating arrangement
encourages
trainee
interaction
and
participation.
✓
Place name cards and training materials at each
trainee’s place.
✓
Use a projection system, if possible. This method of
delivery allows trainees to keep track of the screens
iv
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
for the walkthrough practice exercises and helps
everyone stay together.
✓
Make sure the lighting is adequate and the room is
well ventilated.
✓
Make sure a lectern and table are provided for the
trainer.
✓
Provide water.
✓
Locate the video required for this session:
Classroom Training Video/DVD
“Generic Refusal Avoidance”
Classroom Training
Videos (on the laptop) used for trainee pre-classroom work
are:
PRE-CLASSROOM VIDEOS ON LAPTOP:
✓ “GETTING IT DONE: The Job of a Field
Representative”
✓ “Getting to Know Your Laptop Computer”
✓ “Field Representative Safety Video”
The trainees are also required to complete the
computer-based training (CBTs) as part of their preclassroom work. You will review these CBTs with the
trainees during classroom training.
Staying on Schedule The schedule for this training session is a full four (4)
days. To help you to stay on schedule:
v
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Training Materials for
Classroom Training
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
1.
Do not allow discussions to get out of control.
While the training schedule allows for some open
discussion periods, be sure to manage time
efficiently so all the material will be covered.
2.
Try to keep the walkthrough practice
interviews moving. Do not spend too much
time on any one question.
3.
Keep the trainees on the correct question.
Make sure all the trainees are on the right question
before you begin explaining the question.
As the TRAINER you need:
1.
NCVS-522(I) Classroom Training Guide: NCVS
Initial Training for Field Representatives
2.
A copy of ALL trainee materials for your reference,
including the pre-classroom training materials.
3.
Laptop and projection device. Use a high quality
overhead projector – one that can be used for long
period without overheating. Be sure you have all
the necessary accessory equipment well in
advance, and test the equipment before training.
4.
Current RO Letters for Case Management.
5.
DVD player and monitor
6.
VIDEO: “Generic Refusal Avoidance”
7.
11-903, Getting Started - Administrative (Training
Guide)
8.
11-903a, Getting Started - Administrative
(Classroom Workbook)
9.
11-904, Probing for Accuracy (Training Guide)
vi
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
10.
11-904a, Probing for Accuracy (Classroom
Workbook)
11.
11-905, Power of Persuasion (Training Guide)
12.
11-905a, Power of Persuasion (Classroom
Workbook)
13.
11-924, 2010 Redesign New Hire Listing and
Coverage Training (Training Guide)
14
11-38 and 11-38A, Request for Appointment
15.
Trainee name cards
16.
3 notecards per trainee
17.
If possible, a flip chart easel, paper, and markers
Each TRAINEE needs one copy of each of the following
materials in addition to the materials they received for the
pre-classroom training:
1.
NCVS-550.1, NCVS At a Glance
2.
NCVS-522.1, Classroom Workbook: NCVS Initial
Training for Field Representatives
3.
NCVS-572(L), Incoming Case Introductory Letter
4.
NCVS-573(L), Continuing Case Introductory Letter
5.
Form 11-38 and 11-38A, Request of Appointment
6.
NCVS Function Key Template
7.
Black lead pencil
8.
11-903a, Getting Started - Administrative
(Classroom Workbook)
9.
11-904a, Probing for Accuracy (Classroom
vii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Workbook)
Materials Trainees
Need to Bring to
Classroom Training
10.
11-905a, Power of Persuasion (Classroom
Workbook)
11.
NCVS-110 Fact Sheet
12.
11-925, 2010 Redesign New Hire Listing and
Coverage Training (Classroom Workbook).
Each trainee must bring with them to the
classroom training session:
1.
Laptop computer (with electronic NCVS-550
Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives)
2.
NCVS-521 Self-Study for NCVS Field
Representatives (Final review exercise
completed)
3.
NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet
4.
Field Representative Safety Viewing Guide
5.
11-6(WIN), Quick Reference Guide
6.
11-7(WIN), Windows Laptop Users Guide
7.
11-8, Listing and Coverage: A Survival Guide for
the Field Representative, Volume 2, Demographic
Area Address Listing, and 11-922, Current
Surveys Listing and Coverage. (electronic, on
laptop)
8.
11-12(WIN), WINFRED Windows Field
Representative Earnings Data Self-Study
(completed)
9.
11-55 (RO), Administrative Handbook for
Regional Office Schedule A Employees
viii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Post-Classroom
Training Materials
Training
Techniques
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
10.
11-109, Personal Security Self-Study
(completed)
11.
11-901, InterAct Field Representative PreClassroom Learning Magazine
12.
11-902, Getting it Done: The Job of a Field
Representative Viewing Guide
13.
DVD (to be returned to trainer) with contents:
“GETTING IT DONE: The Job of a
Field Representative”
“Getting to Know Your Laptop Computer”
“Field Representative Safety Video”
At the conclusion of the training session, provide trainees
with the following items, to complete at home as part of
their post-classroom training:
✓
11-906, InterAct II Post Classroom Learning
Magazine
✓
Instructions for completing any current NCVS
supplement training that will be in the field when the
trainee begins work
How you use this training guide is extremely important.
Make sure you:
✓
Read this guide word-for-word when training.
This is important so that uniform training is given
throughout the country.
✓
Complete all practice interviews, because each
interview covers a different situation.
✓
Follow instructions carefully. Throughout this
training guide, you will see instructions which
appear in parentheses ( ), centered, and bolded
ix
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
such as (Allow time). These instructions are for
you, the trainer, to follow. Do not read them aloud.
Questions and
Answers
Questions and answers appear throughout this guide
and are designated by “Q” and “A.” Call on a different
trainee each time you ask a question. This will help you
determine
which trainees
are having
difficulty
understanding the information. Ask a question, pause, and
then call on someone by name to answer it. This way
everyone will have a chance to think of an answer.
A trainee’s answer to a question may not always be
worded exactly as it appears in this training guide, but
may still be correct. However, if the answer is incorrect,
make sure that all trainees hear and understand the
correct answer. Make sure that you do this in a manner
that will not embarrass the trainee.
If a trainee asks a question for which you do not know the
answer, don’t fumble for an answer or give an incorrect
one. Admit that you don’t know. You are not expected to
have an immediate answer for every question. If you are
not sure of an answer, have the entire group look for the
answer in one of their manuals. This will ensure a
comprehensive and correct explanation and reinforce the
trainees’ use of the manuals. However, if time is short,
look up the answer during a break and answer the
question when training resumes. If a trainee asks a
question about a topic that you know is covered later in
this guide, ask them to hold the question until you reach
that topic in the training session.
A line (i.e., “__________”) preceding or following a
question or statement means you should call on a trainee
by name to answer the question or carry out some action.
For example:
__________, please continue the interview.
OR
x
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Can you give me an example of how you would probe for
this question, __________?
Use positive reinforcement to encourage trainees. If a
trainee answers one of your questions correctly, reply with:
“Very good,” “Good job,” or “That’s correct.” Throughout the
training guide there are suggested places for you to call on
a trainee, but you may find that you need to call on trainees
more often in order to ensure that all trainees have the
opportunity to answer a question or serve as the field
representative during the practice interview exercises.
Numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) or letters (a, b, c, etc.) introducing
certain categories need not be read aloud, unless you feel
that it helps to show the sequence of a procedure.
Likewise, when bullets are used, numbers or letters can
be substituted. If you choose numbers or letters, it is wise
to write them in ahead of time, so you won’t make any
mistakes during the training.
Know the
Training Guide
Study this training guide carefully. The more familiar you
are with it, the more at ease you will be in the
classroom. You will also be better prepared to answer
questions and lead the trainees through a successful
training session.
Stand During
Training
Stand up during the training session. Your voice will
project better and it will be easier to hold your trainees’
attention.
Speak Clearly
Speak clearly and be convincing. Make certain
everyone can hear you. Read at a normal rate of speed,
not too slow and not too fast. Pause to look at trainees and
maintain eye contact. Avoid speaking in a monotonous
tone of voice.
Before the classroom training, read through parts of the
training guide in the presence of another person. Ask
that person to listen to your speech and provide you
with suggestions and/or helpful advice.
xi
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Control of Training
Session
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Keep classroom discussions under control. If a discussion
gets out of hand, interrupt and continue with the training.
If a trainee insists on pursuing a point, ask the trainee to
see you at break time. Keep the training moving so that
you cover all of the material. Do not neglect anyone –
bring everyone into class discussions. Remember always
call on different trainees to answer questions.
Keep an upbeat, positive attitude during the training.
Knowing the text and the content helps. Praise the
trainees when they answer correctly or give helpful and
positive comments.
Take Notes
Post Classroom
Training
Take the time to write down any comments or questions not
covered in the training or in the reference manuals. You
may want to write the comments or questions on a flip chart.
Please send these questions to the FLD Team at
Headquarters so that we may respond to them.
At the end of the training session, provide trainees with the
following items, which they must complete at home as part
of post-classroom training:
✓
11-906, InterAct II Post Classroom Learning
Magazine
✓
11-907, Safety Video Viewing Guide
✓
“Safety” video
Some trainees may want to stay and talk with you after
the training session. Make yourself available whenever
possible. Talking with the FRs one-on-one is an
excellent opportunity to learn about individual problems
and concerns, get feedback on your effectiveness, and
enhance the trainee’s learning.
Maintain confidentiality regarding any issues trainees
bring up during the training or outside of class time.
Your credibility and the credibility of the program can
quickly be undermined if discretion and confidentiality are
not observed.
xii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Practice Interviews
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
During this training, trainees go through several practice
exercises to familiarize themselves with the NCVS
instrument. Since most of the training cases are used in
more than one practice exercise and build on a previous
exercise, the table on the next page shows the
interrelationship of the practice exercises.
Supplement Training The NCVS typically has a different supplemental survey
attached to it that is administered after the NCVS interview.
Supplements are generally in the field for six months
(January through June or July through December) and then
replaced by a new supplemental survey. The supplements
address other topics not covered in the NCVS (e.g., identity
theft, school crime, and police contacts). Separate selfstudy training is developed for each NCVS supplement.
You will need to inform trainees of the supplement (if any)
that will be in the field when they begin working cases and
how to complete the training for that supplement. The FLD
Team at headquarters will keep you informed of supplement
training.
Initial Training
Feedback
We appreciate feedback from you on the current
training. Your comments and suggestions are valuable;
we want to make sure that the training properly prepares
staff to do an effective job.
xiii
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Instructions to the Trainer
Practice Interview Exercises
#
Self
Study
1
Case ID:
00000001
Case ID:
00000002
Case ID:
00000003
Case ID:
00000004
Case ID:
00000005
NCVS-521
Self Study
Exercise
Replacement
HH identified
during PV
interview .
Build
replacement
HH roster.
Select new
HHR
2
Replacement
HH identified
during
telephone
interview .
3
Type ARefusal
4
Replacement
HH VacantType B
5
Changing the
HHR
Selecting new
Reference
Person
6
7
Re-entering
case to
complete
interview s w ith
other HHM
Type ZNoninterview
8
9
Unduplication
of Incidents
Proxy
Interview
10
11
12
Quitting a
case before
starting the
interview
Incident of
Rape
13
14
15
16
Case ID:
00000006
Series
Incidents
Adding an
Incident
Accessing the
Spanish
NCVS CAPI
Instrument
xiv
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Welcome and Introduction
Chapter 1 – Welcome and Introduction
(Approximate time: 15 minutes)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Have all trainees log into their laptop before you begin classroom training.
Objectives:
•
Provide trainees with an introduction to the training session.
Good morning. My name is ____________ and I will be your trainer for the
National Crime Victimization Survey or the NCVS. As your supervisor, my job is
to train you, answer any questions you have, and solve any problems that arise
during the training.
(Tell trainees a little about yourself. Also, ask each trainee to
introduce themselves and to give a short background about
themselves. If they are not familiar with the area, you can tell
them where the restrooms, water fountains, and eating places
are located.)
Our training is scheduled to last through (Enter day). Each day we will have a short
break in the morning and in the afternoon, as well as an hour for lunch. I’ll ask you
to return to your seats before the end of every break, so we don’t fall behind
schedule. Charge time and travel for this training session to project number
0976000 task code 520. (Pause)
Throughout this training session, don’t hesitate to ask questions or let me know if
you get lost along the way. I want each of you to feel comfortable and to learn as
1-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Welcome and Introduction
much as you can about the NCVS. I will regularly stop and ask for questions. If
you have a question, please write it down on your notecard as it occurs to you so
you will remember any necessary details when I ask for questions.
As you begin working on the NCVS, remember that you have a support system here
to answer your questions and guide you along in becoming a proficient field
representative.
The main purpose of the NCVS is to obtain an accurate and up-to-date measure of
the amount and kinds of crime committed during a specific 6-month reference
period. We collect this information from all sample household members who are 12
years of age and older. The NCVS also collects detailed information about specific
incidents of criminal victimization that each respondent reports for the 6- month
reference period.
The NCVS is sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), which is part of
the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently, the NCVS is the largest ongoing
statistical survey sponsored by the BJS. To succeed in providing timely and reliable
statistics on crime and its impact on society, they contract with the U.S. Census
Bureau to conduct the NCVS. The NCVS is the main source of information for
measuring crime and assessing its impact.
All the data we collect for the NCVS are tabulated in the form of statistical
summaries. No individuals who participate in this survey can be identified from the
statistical totals that are released to the public. One of the reasons the U.S. Census
Bureau is so successful in collecting information is that people know we are sworn
to secrecy. You must not reveal any information you receive about individuals to any
unauthorized persons. An unauthorized person is any person who is not a sworn
1-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Welcome and Introduction
Census Bureau employee with a work related need to know. To ensure
confidentiality of census
data, only sworn Census Bureau employees can
accompany you while on Census Bureau duty or have access to the schedules, lists,
or statements you obtain for the Census Bureau. If it becomes necessary for a
spouse, family member, or close friend to accompany you while you are conducting
field activities, see me about swearing in that person BEFORE they accompany you
on your job. However, we strongly discourage others from accompanying you on
your job unless it's for official business. (Pause)
You must understand and take very seriously your pledge to keep Census Bureau
information confidential. The NCVS is protected by two confidentiality laws. Title
13 and Title
42 both require
us
to keep all information
about
NCVS
respondents and their households confidential. As a result, the penalty provisions
in both statutes apply if you are found guilty of an unauthorized disclosure of
individual information provided to the Census Bureau. The penalty for unauthori zed
disclosure under Title 13 is a fine of up to $250,000 or a jail term of up to 5 years
or both. The penalty for unauthorized disclosure under Title 42 includes a fine of
up to $11,000.
Two of the most important interviewing skills you must possess as an NCVS field
representative are being able to use the NCVS instrument correctly and smoothly
and to use your reference manuals effectively. You were introduced to the
organization of the NCVS interviewing manual in the NCVS self-study
you
completed before coming to class. You will have the opportunity to use this
reference manual again in this classroom training.
Also, during the self-study you were introduced to the NCVS Case Management, the
Person Level Contact History Instrument (or pCHI), and the survey instrument.
1-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Welcome and Introduction
Throughout this training, you also will have a chance to use them some more as you
complete several practice exercises and interviews. Are there any questions so far?
(Answer questions)
Next, we’ll cover some administrative procedures, then review the pre-classroom
self-study material that you were required to complete before
coming to this
classroom training session. Then we will talk about probing for accuracy and the
power of persuasion before discussing the NCVS Case Management and survey
instruments.
(Continue to the next chapter)
1-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Administrative Topics
Chapter 2 - Administrative Topics
(Approximate time: 3 hours, 15 minutes)
Instructor Preparation:
•
•
Use this time to discuss administrative issues. (Discussion of performance
measures is covered in Chapter 9.)
Make sure each trainee has a copy of the 11-903a, Getting Started – Administrative
(Classroom Workbook)
Objectives:
• Review your Regional Office administrative procedures.
• Complete administrative procedures.
Materials:
Trainee
11-12(WIN), WINFRED Windows Self-Study (completed)
11-109, Personal Security Self-Study (completed)
11-903a, Getting Started - Administrative (Classroom Workbook)
Trainer
11-12(WIN), WINFRED Windows Self-Study
11-109, Personal Security Self-Study
11-903, Getting Started - Administrative (Training Guide)
2-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Administrative Topics
11-109, Personal Security Self Study
Review the 11-109, Personal Security Self-Study. The self-study provides the FRs
with various personal security and safety options as they go to various communities
performing their job. Answer any questions.
11-903, Administrative (Training Guide)
Follow along with the 11-903 Administrative (Training Guide).
(Continue to the next chapter)
2-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Probing for Accuracy
Chapter 3 – Probing for Accuracy
(Approximate time: 1 hour)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Make sure each trainee has a copy of the 11-904a, Probing for Accuracy (Classroom
Workbook).
Objectives:
•
Introduce the trainees to the concept of probing.
Materials Needed:
•
•
11-904, Probing for Accuracy (Training Guide)
11-904a, Probing for Accuracy (Classroom Workbook) (1 for each trainee)
Now we are going to talk about probing for accuracy.
However, I want you to
remember from your pre-classroom self-study that there are two sets of NCVS
questions that you are not allowed to probe on. These are the sexual orientation
and gender identity questions. We will talk more about these questions later in
practice exercises.
11-904, Probing for Accuracy (Training Guide)
Follow along with the 11-904, Probing for Accuracy (Training Guide), then
continue with the next chapter.
(Continue to the next chapter)
3-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Power of Persuasion
Chapter 4 – Power of Persuasion
(Approximate time: 2 hours)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Make sure each trainee has a copy of the 11-905a, Power of Persuasion (Classroom
Workbook)
Objectives:
•
Introduce the trainees to the concept of persuading respondents to participate.
Materials Needed:
•
11-905, Power of Persuasion (Training Guide)
11-905a, Power of Persuasion (Classroom Workbook) (1 for each trainee)
11-905, Power of Persuasion (Training Guide)
Follow along with the 11-905, Power of Persuasion (Training Guide), then proceed
to the next appropriate chapter.
(Continue to the next chapter)
4-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
Chapter 5 - Case Management
(Approximate time: 2 hours, 45 minutes)
Instructor Preparation
•
•
If available, make sure the projection device is set up.
Make sure all trainees are logged into their laptops and using AC power. (Make sure all
trainees have access to electrical outlets to plug in their laptop computers. If necessary,
help trainees use extension cords or adaptors to connect to outlets in the training room.)
Objective:
•
Provide trainees with practice using the NCVS Case Management instrument and the
Case Management function keys.
Materials Needed:
Trainee
• Laptop computer
Trainer
• Laptop computer
• Projection device
(If there are additional trainees for Day 2 training that were not present for
Day 1, refer to Chapter 1 for an introduction. Also, inform the additional
trainees to write down their questions as they arise and ask them when you
regularly stop to ask for questions.)
Now we will discuss the NCVS Case Management. During the pre-classroom selfstudy, you were introduced to the menus, Toolbar, Case List and Details panes as
well as the functions and keys used in Case Management. In this part of the training,
we will review in more detail the parts of the Case Management window and the
functions of Case Management. You will also have the opportunity to practice using
the Case Management function keys.
5-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
As you learned in the self-study, Case Management is an important part of how you
manage your cases and plan for interviewing. It provides you with various
tools and features that allow you to manage your NCVS assignment each month.
(Pause)
(Trainees should already be logged into their computers.)
Let’s get into the NCVS Training file. At your Desktop, double click on the icon
named “MCM Training” to access Training Case Management. The window that
pops up should read “Mobile Case Management Training” in the upper left corner
of the screen. Click on the purple Training/Manual Tab in the top right corner of the
screen. (Pause)
Click on LCM Training on the left side of the screen under the title “Training.” Now
use the up or down arrow key on your keyboard to highlight “NCVS” if not already
highlighted on the survey list that is displayed in the “Survey Selection Dialog” box.
(Pause) Now click the “OK” button or press Enter. When the Training Case
Management main screen appears, make sure that “NCVS Classroom Training” is
highlighted, if not use the up or down arrow key to select. (Pause)
Your classroom training cases should already be installed. You can tell whether your
cases have been installed by looking at the “Need to Install” column on this screen.
If your cases need to be installed, a Y appears in the “Need to Install”
column
otherwise an N appears in that column.
If your NCVS training cases are NOT installed, that is, if a Y appears in the “Need
to Install” column, please raise your hand.
5-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(If there are any trainees who need to install their cases, walk them
through the installation process now. To install the NCVS training cases,
have the trainee press the F5 function key and wait for the message that
indicates that the installation of the training cases was successful. Once
the message appears, the trainee can press Enter to proceed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The trainee must go through the Practice Interview
in Lesson 17 of the NCVS CAPI self-study since during classroom
training the trainees re-enter the self-study training case to complete an
interview with the remaining household member.)
Now press the F8 key to get to your Case List in Training Case Management.
(Pause)
In the top left corner of the screen, it should read “Case Management SURVEY
NCVS.”
Case Management contains all the sample units in your NCVS assignment. It also
provides additional information and functions that assist you in managing
your
cases. In the pre-classroom self-study you reviewed each of the various parts of the
Case Management window, and learned how to navigate within the Case
Management Window.
As covered in the self-study, the first part of the Case Management window is the
Menu Bar. The menu bar is the area of the window where the words File, Edit, View,
Actions, and Help appear. The words along the menu bar are called menu items.
Notice that most windows that pop up on your computer screen have a menu;
5-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
however, different windows have different menu items depending on the functions
you are able to perform while working within the specific window.
Click on the word “File” on the menu bar. (Pause) When you click on a menu item,
you get a drop down menu with a list of functions you can perform. Using your right
arrow key, look at the functions under the other menu items.
(Allow time)
In addition to using your arrow keys, you can move from one menu item to the next
by pressing the Alt key, then pressing the letter that corresponds to the underlined
letter on the menu item you want to open. For example, if you want to look at the
functions under the “File” menu, press the Alt key, then press the “F” key instead of
clicking on the word “File” on the menu bar. Try this now.
(Allow time)
To close the “File” menu, press the Escape (Esc) key, which is located in the top left
corner of your keyboard. (Pause)
Now look at your toolbar. Remember, the toolbar is the second part of the Case
Management window and is the area with the symbols just below the menu bar. On
the toolbar notice the labels for each of the function keys included in the NCVS Case
Management. Those that are currently active in the NCVS Case Management are
in bold. Because you are in the Case Management window, each function key
performs a Case Management operation that may differ from the operation it
performs when you get into the NCVS instrument.
5-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
Before we begin working with the function keys, be aware that there are three ways
to activate the operation or function that each function key performs. You can
access the function through the menu bar, (Pause) through the toolbar by clicking
on the function key button using your mouse pad, (Pause) and by pressing the
function key on your keyboard. As we review each key, you will have the opportunity
to practice the most common way of activating each function, which is by pressing
the function key on your keyboard. You may use whichever method you choose.
Now we will take a more detailed look at the Case Management functions and see
how Case Management can help you manage your assignments.
Highlight the case 286 Erasmus Dr. You may have to use your up or down arrow
key to highlight it. The entire row of the highlighted case will appear in blue.
F1 -- Help
Now press the F1 key.
(Allow Time)
As you learned, this function key is used to bring up the internal Help menu. You
should now see a help window called “About Case Management.” Take a quick
look at some of the information you can get from this “Help” menu in the index on
the left of the help screen.
(Allow time)
If you want information on something more specific, you can use the index tab on
this window. Click on the Index tab or hold down the Alt key and press the letter
“N” to get to the index menu item.
5-5
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Allow time)
On this screen you can type in a key word to look for information on a specific
topic. In the white box, type in the keywords “Case Management.”
(Allow time)
As you type in the words, the search feature scrolls through the index to find it.
When you see Case Management highlighted on your index folder, press the
Enter key twice. (Pause)
As soon as you press the Enter key, the box on the right side of the screen displays
information about training Case Management. Now click on the “X” at the top right
of the HELP window to close it.
You just accessed F1 Help using the F1 function key. This will probably be the way
you will most often access it; however, you can also access HELP using the icon on
the toolbar or by pressing Alt H.
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F2 -- Interview
The most commonly used function key is the F2 Interview function key. DO NOT
press this key until I tell you to. The F2 function key initiates an interview for the
selected case. After you decide which case to interview, you must highlight the
address on the Case List pane, which is the third part of the Case Management
5-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
window. To highlight the address on your Case List, you can use your mouse pad
and then click on the address. (Pause) Let’s try doing this now.
Highlight 611 Produce St. on your case list by clicking on it. (Pause) Now click
on another case and see how the highlight moves to the next case you clicked
on. (Pause)
You can also use your up and down arrow keys to move from one case to another
in the Case List. Remember, as you move from one case to another, the
information displayed in the Details pane, the bottom part of the Case
Management window, changes as the specific case you highlight changes. Try
this now.
(Allow Time)
Now go to the case 286 Erasmus Dr. Once you have highlighted the address in
the Case List, press F2. Notice the window that pops up. This is a confirmation
screen that allows you to view the address selected before you confirm that you
want to open the case. Always make sure that the control number and the address
shown are for the correct case. We don't want to get into this case right now so
click on the Cancel button to close the window. (Pause)
You can also access the Interview function by either clicking on the toolbar icon
for F2 or using the menu bar. The F2 function on the menu bar is under the drop
down menu for “Actions.” You can access this drop down menu by either clicking
on the word Actions or holding down the Alt key and pressing the letter “A” which
is the underlined letter in the word “Actions.”
5-7
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F3 – Next Tab
The next Case Management function key is the F3 Next Tab key. This key controls
the display of the Details pane at the bottom half of the Case Management screen
by moving you from tab to tab. By pressing the F3 key, you can move between the
tabs of the Details pane without using the mouse. Click on the Assignment tab
located in the Details pane and then press the F3 function key once.
(Allow Time)
Notice that you moved from the Assignment tab to the HH Roster tab. Notice that
the Control Number, Assignment Period, Case ID and selected demographic
information about each household member are displayed under the household
roster tab. Now press the F3 key to proceed to the other tabs in the Details pane.
As you move from tab to tab take a close look at some of the information under each
tab. We will go over some of the key information under each tab later in training.
(Allow time)
You can also access the Next tab function by either clicking on the toolbar icon
for F3 or using the menu bar. The F3 function on the menu bar is under the drop
down menu for “View.” (Pause)
F4 -- GoTo
The F4 GoTo function key enables you to toggle between the Case List pane and
the Details pane. Make sure the case, 286 Erasmus Dr., is highlighted on your case
5-8
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
list. Then press the F4 function key. Notice how the label on the Toolbar for this
function key changes. When you are in the Case List pane, the F4 function key label
will display the word “Details.” When you are in the Details pane, the F4 function
key label will display the word “Case List.”
Press the F4 function key again until the label says “Details.” (Pause) Now use the
F3 function key to move to the different tabs within the Details pane. Notice that the
tab you’re on is highlighted in red. (Pause)
You can also access the GoTo toggle function by either clicking on the toolbar icon
for F4 or using the menu bar. The F4 function on the menu bar is under the drop
down menu for “View.”
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F5 -- Reports
The next function key is F5 Reports. Press the F5 function key. (Pause) You will
see the Case Management Report Selection dialog box displayed for you to choose
the reports you want to view. For the NCVS, there are three reports about your cases
that are available for you to view -- a “Counts” report, a “Response Rate” report, and
a “Type Z” rate report.
Highlight the “Counts” report and either click the OK button or press Enter to view
the report. (Pause) As you can see, this report gives you a summary count of your
NCVS cases based on category, such as the number of cases not started, the
number of cases interviewed, the number of Type A noninterview cases, and so on.
At the bottom of the report, you can see how many cases were marked as observed,
5-9
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
transmitted, and received by headquarters.
The number of transmitted cases is a cumulative number, not a count for one day.
All the numbers on this report are total counts. The total count of cases includes all
cases currently in your interviewing assignment. The count of total cases would
increase if you were reassigned cases from another FR during the interviewing
period.
Close this report by clicking the “Close” button or by pressing Enter. (Pause)
Now press F5 again and highlight the Response Rate report. View this report by
clicking the OK button or by pressing Enter. (Pause) This report calculates your
response rate based on the current information on your laptop. The NCVS response
rate is calculated by dividing the number of interviews by the number of interviews
plus the number of Type A noninterviews.
(Call on Trainee)
__________, read the “Note” displayed in the middle of this report.
(TRAINEE: This response rate is based on information on your laptop. Your
official response rate from your regional office may be different.)
Thank you.
Because the office might adjust your response rate after the interview period is over,
the rate calculated in this report is only an approximation.
5-10
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
Close this report. (Pause)
Now press F5 one final time and select the Type Z Rate report. (Pause)
This report displays the total number of eligible people in your NCVS assignment
and the number of those people who did not complete an NCVS interview. Based
on this information, a Type Z nonresponse rate of eligible NCVS respondents in your
assignment is calculated. This rate is based on information on your laptop and may
differ from your official Type Z nonresponse rate you receive from the regional office.
Like your overall response rate, the regional office might adjust
your Type Z
noninterview rate after the interview period is over. Therefore, the rate calculated in
this report is only an approximation.
Close this report. (Pause)
Like the other functions already discussed, you can access the Reports function by
either clicking on the toolbar icon for F5 or using the menu bar. The F5 function on
the menu bar is under the drop down menu for “View.”
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F7 -- Notes
The next active function in the NCVS Case Management is the F7 Notes function.
This function displays the Notes field for a selected case. You may also edit the
notes or enter new notes using this function. Press the F7 function key on your
keyboard. The Case Level Notes Editor will come up for you to view, edit, or enter
notes for a selected case. Enter a note of your choice in the space provided.
5-11
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Allow time)
To exit the Notes Editor press the F10 function key. (Pause) A Notes Editor popup screen will appear asking if you want to save the notes entered. Click the “Yes”
button. (Pause) Now take a look at the Notes tab in the Details pane. When notes
for a case are saved, you will see a red check mark in front of the word Notes on
the Notes tab. The red check mark is a quick way to tell if there is any information
in the Notes folder.
As with the other functions we discussed, you can access the Notes function by
either clicking on the toolbar icon for F7 or using the menu bar. The F7 function
on the menu bar is under the drop down menu for “Actions.”
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F8 -- View
The F8 View function activates the “Display Category Selected” dialog box, which
allows you to select different views of your NCVS cases in Case Management.
Press the F8 function key. In the main Case Management screen, only those
cases you haven’t completed are displayed on your case list. However, there
might be times when you want to see a larger list of cases, such as ALL of the
cases in your NCVS assignment, or you might want to see a shorter list, such as
cases not started, or cases you’ve transmitted.
Arrow down to the category labeled “Not started” and then click the OK button or
press Enter. You will see that your case list contains only the cases that you have
5-12
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
not yet attempted to interview. Now press the F8 function key again to return to
the “Display Category Selection” menu.
Note that you cannot interview cases while in the F8 View function. You must
return to the main case list to start an interview.
To return to the main Case Management screen, click the Case List button that is
below the Cancel button. (Pause)
You can also access the F8 function on the menu bar under the drop down menu
for “View.”
(Make sure all trainees have returned to the main Case List before
discussing the next function key.)
F9 -- Sort
The F9 Sort function allows you to sort cases by specific criteria, such as control
number, appointment, status, place, and so on. Specifying a new sort changes
the order in which cases are listed on the Case Management main screen so that
you can manage your assignment more easily. If you specify a new sort, your
new arrangement of records will still be there the next time you launch the
application. Selecting the “Restore the default sort” puts your records back into
their original order. For the NCVS the default sort is by control number.
Let’s try the Sort function. Press the F9 function key. (Pause) Click on the first sort
action, which is “Specify new sort” and then click the OK button. (Pause) The “SortSpecify New Sort” dialog box appears. This dialog box has two panes, “Columns
Available for Sorting” on the left and “Sort Columns” on the right. The Sort Columns
5-13
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
pane shows you the current sort order for the records on your Case Management
screen. If the box under “Ascending” is checked, your records are sorted from low
to high. You can change the fields on which your records are sorted, and you can
change the sort from ascending to descending or high to low.
Let’s try sorting your cases in a couple of different ways. If you look at the Sort
Columns pane on the right, you see that your cases are currently sorted by
control number. Let’s sort your cases now by interview number. To remove
control number in the current Sort Columns, highlight “control_number” and then
press the Control (Ctrl) and S keys simultaneously.
(Allow time)
Now let’s add a new column to the sort. Highlight “interview_number” in the
“Columns Available for Sorting” pane on the left.
(Allow time)
Now press Ctrl S to move that column to the Sort Columns pane. Then click OK,
which returns you to the main Case Management screen.
(Allow time)
Notice that your cases are no longer in control number order but are now sorted
by interview number. The interview number column is the second to the last
column on the Case List pane.
Does everyone see that?
5-14
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Help any trainees who may be having trouble.)
Now let’s try changing the interview number sort from ascending to descending
order. Press F9 to get back into the sort function and click OK. To uncheck the
Ascending box, highlight interview number in the Sort Columns pane and press
the spacebar. Try this now.
(Allow time)
You can also check and uncheck the Ascending box by clicking on the box. Press
F9 to get back into the sort function and click OK. Click on the box so that a check
mark appears in the box. (Pause)
Now let’s add one more sort to the Sort Columns pane. However, let’s try a
different way to add the column to the Sorts Column. In the “Columns Available
for Sorting” pane locate and highlight “phone_number_1.”
(Allow time)
Now drag it across to the Sort Columns. To do this, click on the left button on your
mouse and drag the highlighted column to the Sort Columns pane.
(Allow time)
(Help any trainees who may be having trouble with the drag function.)
You can also drag columns from the right pane to the left pane using the same
drag procedure. When you do this, your cases will no longer be sorted by that
5-15
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
column item. Now click on the OK button to return to the main Case Management
screen. (Pause)
Let's restore the default sort. Activate the sort function by one of the three ways
we discussed.
(Allow time)
At the “Sort-Options” dialog box click on the “Restore default sort” button and
click OK.
(Allow time)
Your cases are now sorted by control number, which is the default sort for the
NCVS. A quick way to sort your records without using the F9 Sort function is to
click the heading of the column you want to control your sorting. Click on the words
“Control number” on the Control Number column, which is the first column on your
Case List pane. (Pause) The first time you click the heading, cases will sort in
ascending order, low to high. Click again to sort them high to low. (Pause) With
this method of sorting, only one column can control the sorting.
You can also access the Sort function by either clicking on the toolbar icon for F9
or by using the menu bar. The F9 function on the menu bar is under the drop down
menu for “View.” (Pause)
F10 -- Exit
The next function key we will discuss is the F10 Exit key. You actually used the
F10 key to exit the Notes Editor when you were practicing with the F7 key. The
5-16
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
F10 key is used to exit Case Management. However, there are other ways to exit
Case Management. You can press the F10 icon on the Toolbar or go to the dropdown menu under File on the Menu Bar and select Exit. Right now, we will not
practice using the F10 function since we want to continue reviewing Case
Management. (Pause)
F12 – Person Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
The last function key is F12, which for the NCVS opens the Person Level Contact
History Instrument or pCHI, where you enter the details about the contacts you
make with NCVS eligible household members. You completed a Computer Based
Training (CBT) on this topic during your self-study. We’ll talk more about pCHI a
little later.
Now let’s take a look at the Case List pane. Remember, the Case List pane is
directly under the toolbar. It is the section of the window that shows a line-by-line
summary of some of the information that relates to the cases in your assignment.
As you complete interviews, completed cases no longer appear on this main list.
We will not go over all the columns in the Case List pane since most are selfexplanatory. However, the one column that needs additional explanation is the
last column, which is the “Rte” or Route column. This column is for your use in
planning your travel route for your personal visit cases. For example, suppose
that your work is dispersed in three different areas. You might decide to interview
all cases on the east side of town on the first day, cases on the west side of town
on the second day, and cases located in a rural area north of town on the third
day. Therefore, you might want to put a number “1” in the Route column for all
cases on the east side of town, a number “2” for cases on the west side of town,
and a number “3” for cases north of town. These numbers can help you quickly
5-17
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
identify the cases you want to work on during a particular trip.
To edit the number in the Route column you must first make sure that the Case
List pane is the active window. If the Case List pane is active, the blue bar below
the toolbar will read “Case Management - Case List.” If the blue bar on your
computer reads “Case Management-Details” press F4 to activate the Case List
pane. (Pause)
Highlight the case 116 Aphroditedr on the case list. (Pause) Click on the route
number for that case which is 999. Delete the entire entry by pressing the delete
key or the backspace key until the field is empty. These keys are located in the top
right side of your keyboard.
(Allow time)
Then in the route field for this case, press the number “1” key on your keyboard.
The number in your Route column for this case should now be “1.” (Pause)
Once you have made your changes you need to press Ctrl S to save them. Do
this now.
(Allow time)
When the save is complete, you will get a window that reads “Save Successful.”
Press Enter to get past this window or click on the OK button. (Pause)
Now let’s take a look at the last part of the Case Management window, the
Details pane. The Details pane is the section of the screen just below the Case
List pane. The Details pane has sections called tabs. The names of these tabs
are listed horizontally at the top of the Details pane. Let’s take a look at each of
5-18
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
these tabs.
First highlight the case, 373 Alexander Blvd. (Pause) Make sure that you are in
the Details pane. If you are in the Details pane, the blue bar on your computer
should read “Case Management-Details” and one of the tabs in the Details pane
should be highlighted in red. If you are not in the Details pane, press the F4
function key.
Assignment Tab
In the self-study, you were given a quick look at the information contained within
the Assignment tab. Now we will take a closer look at the information in this tab.
In the Assignment tab some fields are editable, meaning that you can make
changes to that field, while others are not editable and can’t be changed. The fields
that you cannot edit or change are in gray and those that you can change are
displayed in white. As you can see, the first item on the Assignment tab is the
case’s Control Number, which is not an editable field. Moving horizontally, the next
item is the Assignment Period which is the year and month that you receive the
case to interview. For your actual production cases, the assignment period will
reflect the current year and month. (Pause)
Next is the Case ID. The Case ID is an eight-digit number used to uniquely identify
the case. Following the Case ID is the Interview Number. This number typically
reflects where the sample case falls within the sample rotation cycle. Usually, for
incoming cases the interview number is 01. Cases in sample for the second time
have an interview number of 02, for the third time an interview number of 03 and
so on, up to interview 07 for cases in sample for their last interview. However, it
is possible that a case is introduced into sample in the middle of the interviewing
5-19
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
cycle for the sample/panel/rotation. So it's possible for incoming cases to have an
Interview Number of 02, 03, 04, and so on. (Pause)
On the next line of the Assignment tab, you will see a Responsible FR field. If you
are responsible for the case, it will have the word “Yes” appear in that field and
“No” if not. Outcome Code is the next field. The outcome code reflects the status
of the work that has been done on the selected case. For the case we are looking
at, the outcome code is 200. If you want to know what this or any other outcome
code means, a list of possible outcome codes for the NCVS can be viewed in the
Help screen. Press the F1 key and then use the index or search function to find
the topic “Outcome Codes.”
(Allow time)
You will see a list of surveys. Select NCVS and look at the outcome code
descriptions.
(Allow time)
As you can see, an outcome code of 200 means that the case is a new case and
has not been started. As you progress through the interview, the outcome code
will change. A quick way to get a description of the outcome code is to right click
on the outcome code.
Now click on the “X” in the top right corner of the HELP window or press Alt + F4
to close it. You should be back at the Case Management Details pane. (Pause)
The Status field in the Details pane contains the same information that is
5-20
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
displayed in the status column of the Case List pane. Remember, if there isn’t an
entry in the status column, it just means that the case has not been started yet
using the F2 key.
Next, if the case is a confirmed refusal (Conf. Refusal) the word “Yes” appears in
that field; otherwise “No” is displayed. A confirmed refusal is a case in which the
respondent adamantly refuses to be interviewed and demands that he/she not be
contacted again. Cases that are confirmed refusals are not subject to follow-up in
the regional office by a supervisor or manager, while simple refusals are subject to
follow-up.
When you first receive your monthly NCVS cases, the Respondent field contains
the name of the household respondent from the previous interview. However, for
incoming cases, this field will be blank. Once you have completed the household
respondent’s current interview, this field is updated to reflect the name of the
current household respondent. This respondent may be different than the
household respondent in the previous interview.
The Language field is the first editable field in the Assignment tab. You can
change or add information in this field, as well as any other editable fields, simply
by deleting the old information and typing in the new information. If you know that
an eligible household member in the selected case requires that his or her
interview be conducted in a language other than English, you can specify what
that language is by clicking on the down arrow button at the end of the field and
selecting the appropriate language. Click on the arrow button to see a display of
the different languages that you can select. Use the scroll bar on the right of the
display to view all the languages listed. If you make a mistake and incorrectly
select a language displayed, you can select the empty row to correct your error.
5-21
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Allow time)
Whenever you change or add information in the instrument that has a field in Case
Management, that information is copied from the instrument into Case
Management.
The next field in the Assignment tab is the “Other Language” field. This field
reflects the Other specify entry may have been entered for the non-English
language spoken by any eligible household member(s) that didn't fit into one of
the predefined language categories.
(Show example of how to use “Other Language” field. In the Language
field, choose “Other Language, Specify”. Point out that the “Other
Language” field is now editable and enter in another language. Explain to
press Ctrl + S to save.)
“Phone number” and “Type” are the next fields in the Assignment tab. As you can
see there is room for up to three phone numbers to be entered for a case. The
“Type” field allows you to enter the type of phone number, such as home or work.
Click on the arrow to the right of the “Type” field to see a drop down menu of
telephone number types.
(Allow time)
The next editable field in the Assignment tab is Appointment. The information
entered in this field is for your personal use and is not collected or updated in the
CAPI instrument and passed back to Case Management. Instead, only callback
5-22
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
appointments captured in the instrument for the household respondent are
passed back to Case Management and displayed in the “Callback” field.
Let’s briefly go over how to enter a date and time in the “Appointment” field. Enter
tomorrow’s date by clicking on the Appointment field and then typing in the date.
Enter two digits for month, two digits for day, and four digits for year.
(Allow time)
The appointment time is 3:00 P.M. If you are unable to enter P.M. use military
time and enter 15 for the time. When you are finished entering the date and time
information, press the Ctrl and S keys to save the information entered.
When you get the message that the information was saved successfully, press
Enter or click the OK button. Notice that the Appointment field has been updated.
(Allow time)
Now look at the Callback field. If you need to contact the household respondent
at a later date for a callback, you can enter that information here. The callback
information will also be captured in the survey instrument and passed back or
copied to this field.
The P/T field contains the same information that is displayed in the P/T column in
the Case List pane. The letter “P” tells you that the case requires a personal visit
interview, while the letter “T” indicates that the case is designated for a telephone
interview.
5-23
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
The next field in the Assignment tab is “Address.” The first component of the
Address field is House Number. Notice that the House Number field in Case
Management has two separate fields in which to make entries. The first field is for
a regular house number such as 222. The second field is for a house number suffix
such as “A.” So if the address were 222A GRANT STREET, the 222 goes in the
first field and the “A” goes in the second field.
The next field is Street. This is where the individual street name is located which
is the only information entered in this field. The next fields are Unit and GQ
designations. If your assigned case is a unit in a building that has a name, such
as an apartment complex, then the building name may also be listed for you in the
Building Name field. The next field of the Assignment tab is the Non City-Style
address. It is in this field that route and box descriptors, as well as route and box
numbers, are entered, such as Rural Route 3 and PO Box 24.
As with other editable fields, you can correct the sample address from Case
Management or within the NCVS instrument. Only correct addresses after you
have verified the change with a knowledgeable person and always make sure you
have located the correct sample unit.
The next field in the Assignment tab is “Mailing Address.” Use your down arrow
key to view this field, which contains the same items that are in the address field.
Now look at the fields below the mailing address field. You will see information
such as FIPS state code, FIPS county code, tract and block number, and so forth.
Now look at the Design field. This field tells you which sample design the case is
in.
Now in the Assignment tab, look at the space to the right of the Interview number
5-24
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
and GQ flag. If there is something special about a case, there will be one or more
small icons displayed in that space. For example, if the case is a confirmed refusal,
a STOP sign is displayed. If you are not sure what an icon means, you can right
click on the icon and a description of the icon will be displayed.
(Answer questions)
Household Roster Tab
Now click on the Household Roster tab. (Pause) The information on this tab is
useful for callbacks to households with missing data. This tab contains the name
and selected demographic data entered into the NCVS instrument about the
individuals living or staying at the housing unit at the time of interview, such as
their name, age, and date of birth. You can also see that the Control Number,
Assignment Period, and Case ID information are at the top. At the far right side
there is a column labeled OSP. This stands for Original Sample Person and is
used by another Census Bureau survey, so you won't see information entered in
this column for the NCVS. You also won't see any information entered for middle
initial since this information is not collected in the NCVS instrument.
Additional Information Tab
Now click on the Additional Information
tab. This tab contains additional
information about the group quarters in which the sample case is located, such as
the group quarters name, type, number of units, and the contact person's name.
Notes Tab
Now look at the Notes tab. The Notes tab contains the same Control Number,
Assignment Period, and Case ID information as the previous tab, however this tab
displays the Notes field for the selected case. Information can be entered in the
5-25
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
notes at the end of the interview or by using the F7 key in Case Management. You
may also edit your notes using this function. As mentioned earlier in training, if
notes are entered for a case, you will see a red check mark in front of the word
Notes.
Contacts Tab
Now click on the Contacts tab. Here again you see the Control Number,
Assignment Period, and Case ID. Sometimes you obtain information about the
status of a unit from someone other than an occupant. This happens when a unit
is vacant and you talk to someone such as an apartment manager, or when a unit
does not exist and you are able to verify it with a reliable source, such as a post
office. When you enter the contact person information in the instrument, you will
be able to see the information in the Contacts folder. However, for the NCVS,
contact information is only collected for one contact person.
(Answer questions)
Letter Mgmt Tab
The Letter Management tab displays information about any special letters that
have been sent to the household, and allows you to request that the RO send
various respondent letters to the household.
Click on the Letter Management tab. Notice the headings “Letters Requested” and
“Letters History.” “Letters Requested” shows pending requests already sent, and
lets you initiate new respondent letter requests. “Letters History” displays letters
your Regional Office has sent. This list may be updated at varying time intervals
depending on your Regional Office procedures.
5-26
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
(Tell
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
trainees
about your RO’s
specific
procedures
and
letter
management policies here. Review copies of the RO letters with trainees
so they know what is used in the letter management tab.)
History Tab
The next tab in the Details pane is the History tab. Click on this tab. (Pause) The
information on the History tab includes the FR information for all FRs previously
assigned to the case. This information appears just below the Control Number. If
the case was previously assigned to another FR, the CAPI outcome code from the
previous interview appears in the CAPI outcome column. For example, if in a
previous interview another FR obtained a refusal for the case and sent it in as a
Type A Respondent Refused, code 218 appears in this column. The section of the
History tab below the previous FR history area lists the previous address history.
If you correct the address under the editable fields in the Assignment tab or in the
instrument, the previous address information is stored here so that you can refer
to it if needed.
Look at the Record of Calls box on the right side of this folder. The date, time,
outcome code, and action code is recorded here each time you access or open
the case using the F2 function key. This allows you to see how many times you
have opened the case to attempt an interview. The action code listed on the
record of calls is a number used by Headquarters to determine what to do with
your case once it has been transmitted. In order for information to change in the
Record of Calls section, the case has to be accessed using the F2 key. Just
reviewing information about a case in Case Management will not change the
Record of Calls field.
5-27
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
Contact History and Returning Contact History Tabs
The Contact History and Returning Contact History tabs contain the history of
previous visits/interviews for a case. They also keep a record of the strategies
used and respondent behavior for the case, which comes from the entries you
make in the Person Level Contact History Instrument. You learned about the
Contact History instrument in a CBT during your self-study. The Contact History
tab contains contact history for the current interview period; Returning Contact
History contains history for the previous interview period.
Interview Time Preferences Tab
Next is the Interview Time Preferences tab. In this tab you can only view the best
and worst times to contact the household. However, you can edit these times or
specify new times by pressing Ctrl T or by clicking on the Ctrl T ITP icon on the
toolbar, which opens the Interview Time Preferences application. This application
allows you to view and record the best and worst times to contact a case.
Let’s practice working with the Interview Time Preferences application. Press Ctrl
+ T. (Pause) Preferred times to contact a household are called “Boost” times and
will appear in green on the grid. Bad times to contact a household are called
“Block” times and appear in red on the grid. If no times are specified, the hour
slots appear in white.
Let’s assume for this exercise that the respondent indicated that he did not want to
be called on Sunday. There are three ways that you can block the hour slots under
the Sunday column. One way is to move your mouse arrow to the first hour slot, 9:00
AM, under the Sunday column and then click your bottom right mouse button. The
9:00 AM hour slot will now be in red. Repeat this step for all remaining hour slots
under Sunday. Try this now.
5-28
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
(Allow time)
Now let’s clear what you just entered by clicking on the “Clear All” icon. (Pause)
(Allow time)
Let’s try the second way to block times. Click on the “Boost/Block” field, which is
located beneath the grid, and then select “Block.” (Pause) Under “Day of Week”
select Sunday. (Pause) Under “Time” you can select specific times or if you want to
block all of the time slots, select “All.” Let’s select “All.” (Pause) Now press the “Set”
button. (Pause) The hour slots listed under the Sunday column should now appear
in red. (Pause) Now clear what you just entered by clicking on the “Clear All” icon
on the Toolbar.
(Allow time)
Now let's try a third way to block times for an entire day. Place your cursor on the
column heading “SUN” and click your bottom right mouse button. (Pause) The entire
day is now blocked. To clear the entry, click on your right mouse button again.
(Allow time)
Now let’s try entering the best or preferred times to contact the household. For this
exercise, let’s also assume that the respondent told you that he prefers to be called
on Saturdays between noon and 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
5-29
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
There are two ways that you can specify the best times to contact the household.
One way is to move your mouse arrow to the 12:00 PM hour slot under the Saturday
column and then click your bottom left mouse button. (Pause) The hour slot will now
be in green. Repeat this step for the four remaining hour slots.
(Allow time)
Now let’s clear what you just entered using the “Clear All” icon. (Pause)
Let’s try the second way to boost times. Click on the “Boost/Block” field and select
“Boost.” (Pause) Under “Day of Week” arrow down to Saturday. (Pause) Under
“Time” arrow down to 12:00 pm and then press the “Set” button. (Pause) The hour
slot listed under the Saturday column should now appear in green. (Pause) You
must repeat this process for each of four remaining hours. Do that now.
(Allow Time)
To exit the Interview Time Preferences grid, press F10 or click on the F10 button on
the toolbar. Then save your changes.
(Allow time)
Remember, if you make changes to any of the other editable fields in Case
Management, to save those changes, press the Ctrl and S keys.
5-30
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
Building Mgmt Tab
The last tab is the Building Management tab. It contains building manager contact
information for large multi-unit buildings. If you are assigned a case in such a
building, the building management’s contact information appears when you click the
tab.
This concludes our discussion of the NCVS Case Management. Are there any
questions?
(Answer questions)
Now I’d like to talk about the Person Level Contact History Instrument or pCHI. You
completed a Computer-Based Training or CBT about the Person Level Contact
History Instrument during your self-study. In addition to completing interviews in the
NCVS instrument, you must enter information into the pCHI each
time you
ATTEMPT to make contact or MAKE contact with a household or individual
respondent. By taking just a few minutes you are providing valuable information to
your Regional Office (RO), Headquarters, and the survey sponsor.
The ROs use reports generated from the pCHI data to give you feedback on your
contact attempts and make suggestions for future contacts. Headquarters staff and
the survey sponsors analyze pCHI data so they can determine reasons behind noncontact and refusal cases on the NCVS, then formulate strategies for dealing with
them.
For example, after an FR has made six contact attempts for the same household at
different times of the day and on different days of the week, and the FR has also
spoken to the neighbors on more than one occasion and still has not been able to
5-31
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Case Management
get a response from a household, is it worth making a seventh attempt? Maybe and
maybe not. The pCHI data can help us determine if there should be a cutoff on the
number of contact attempts made so that you can turn your attention to other cases.
We can also determine from pCHI data if there is a need to make changes to the
letters left at a respondent’s home to increase response and/or efficiency.
There are several benefits for you, the FR, in the pCHI:
• pCHI is a tool you can use to help track and manage your caseload.
• pCHI provides a record of the best times to make contact so you can use your
time efficiently.
• pCHI shows the work that you put into each case since you record every
contact attempt.
• For longitudinal surveys like the NCVS, you can see pCHI records from the
previous interview period.
• pCHI records follow a case, so if a case is reassigned, the new FR has a
history of contact attempts and outcomes.
You have the ability to leave FR notes in a case; however, you must complete the
pCHI entries as well. Your FR notes are very difficult to analyze since each FR
enters different information and you may not record a note for EVERY contact
attempt. The pCHI data is consistent and easy to read. The pCHI standardizes
contact information for better tracking and more efficiently produces reports that can
be used by various reviewers.
These are all reasons why filling out the pCHI is so important. Does anyone have
further questions on the pCHI?
(Answer questions, continue to the next lesson)
5-32
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
Chapter 6 – Review of the Pre-Classroom Self-Study Materials
(Total approximate time: 30 minutes)
Objectives:
•
•
•
Review the pre-classroom training materials.
Provide trainees information on computer care.
Discuss the answers to the Final Review Exercise in the NCVS521 Self-Study.
Materials Needed:
Trainee
• 11-901, InterAct Pre-Classroom Learning Magazine (completed)
• NCVS-521, Self-Study for NCVS Field Representatives (Lesson 18 completed)
Trainer
• 11-7(WIN), Windows Laptop User Guide
• 11-901, InterAct Pre-Classroom Learning Magazine
Over the past few days (weeks), you completed some pre-classroom self-study
materials. These materials gave you background information about the laptop
computer and the NCVS. During this classroom training, we will review some
operations you already learned. You will also learn details on several other
topics.
Let’s start with the video you watched, “Getting to Know Your FR Interviewing
Laptop Computer.” Did all of you watch the video?
(Make a mental note of the trainees who did not watch the video.)
The video shows the hardware components of your laptop, startup, logon,
6-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
shutdown procedures, and the steps to change the laptop battery. The video also
discusses your legal responsibility regarding the use and care of the laptop.
Let’s take a few minutes to discuss any questions or concerns that you have about
any of the features of your laptop computer.
(Allow time)
Does anyone have any questions about the computer screen (Pause), the
controls for the video display (Pause), the connectors on the back and side of the
computer (Pause), the compartments, the keyboard, or accessory equipment?
(Allow time for an open discussion period, not to exceed 15 minutes. If
necessary, also refer to the User’s Guide to help you answer any
questions about the hardware features. If you can’t answer a particular
question (or time runs out before you can answer all questions), write
them down, do the research as soon as possible, and get answers for
the trainees.)
Let me give you a couple of ideas for taking care of your computer out in the field.
First, always carry the computer in your carrying case so that it’s hidden. If you
must leave it in the car, place it in the trunk. On very hot or very cold days, don’t
leave your computer in your car for extended periods. Try to keep the laptop
computer in a controlled environment as much as possible.
I also have a couple of important reminders about operating the computer. We
configure each laptop computer to help you conduct your job effectively. We
6-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
modified the system setup on each computer and made entries for various
settings. Please do not experiment by trying to change the configuration on your
computer. (Pause)
Also, DO NOT load any personal software packages on your computer!
Personal software packages may interfere with the computer operation for the
NCVS and for any other surveys you work on. They could also infect your machine
and the mainframe computer at headquarters with a computer virus.
Does anyone have any questions about the proper use of your laptop computer?
(Answer questions)
You were also required to read the 11-901, InterAct Pre-Classroom Learning
magazine.
(Hold up a copy of the magazine.)
All of you should have read the magazine.
(Ask trainees to raise their hand if they read the magazine. Make a mental
note of those who did not. Direct them to complete this requirement.)
The magazine gave an overview of your role and responsibilities as a Field
Representative. It also contained important how-to information on getting started
with the laptop computer. Its content included:
•
Mission of the Census Bureau,
6-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
•
Information about the job of an FR,
•
Overview of survey design and development,
•
Confidentiality,
•
Personal safety, and
•
Logging into the laptop.
Does anyone have any questions about the materials you read in the magazine?
(Answer questions)
Next on the list are the Windows CBT and the Person Level Contact History
Instrument (pCHI) CBT. Again, all of you should have completed both of those
CBTs. The Windows CBT taught you basic Windows usage and trained you on
the Census-developed applications on the laptop. These include transmissions,
system tools, mail, and so on. The pCHI CBT went over the layout on the screen
and the function keys, uses of the pCHI instrument, which is used for keeping
track of contacts,
and contact attempts for households
and individual
respondents. We’ll practice using the pCHI later in the training.
Any questions about the CBTs?
(Answer questions)
A video and viewing guide were also included in with your pre-classroom material.
The “Getting it Done: The Job of a Field Representative” video provided you with
an initial orientation to a typical day for Census Bureau Field Representatives.
The video also showed a realistic, positive, and encouraging portrayal of the job
of a Field Representative.
6-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
The corresponding Viewing Guide included a question and answer format to help
you recognize and retain the key information presented in the video.
We’ll discuss more on this topic later in this training session.
Any questions about this topic?
(Answer questions)
In your pre-classroom work, you learned about an important responsibility. That’s
your pledge to keep Census Bureau information confidential. The last paragraph
in your Oath of Office applied specifically to this obligation. In this oath, you swore
not to disclose any information you obtain as a Census Bureau employee to any
person, either during or after your employment. You must be careful that no
unauthorized person looks at listing sheets or looks at files and data on your
laptop. This restriction applies to members of your family and to respondents.
Does anyone have any questions about survey confidentiality?
(Answer questions)
Now take out your NCVS-521, Self-Study, and open it to page 18-1.
(Allow time)
Let’s go over the final review exercise from Lesson 18 of this self-study. As I call
on each of you, please read the question and give us your answer. If anyone has
6-5
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
a question as we go through this exercise, let me know and I will try to answer it.
(Call on one trainee to answer each question. Use the following answer
key to answer any questions. Refer trainees back to the appropriate page
in the self-study to reinforce a specific survey concept or procedure if
needed.)
Please start us off with Question 1,
1.
.
The BJS needs the NCVS data primarily to obtain an accurate, up-todate measure of the kinds and amount of crimes committed against
persons 12 years of age and older.
TRUE (NCVS-521, Page 1-1)
2.
The reference period is important because we only ask about crime
incidents that occurred during this period. Listed below are interview
dates for first month interviews. For these interviews, what is the 6month reference period for crimes committed?
Date Of Interview
Reference Period
August 5
February 1 through August 4
April 1
October 1 through March 31
December 3
June 1 through December 2
(NCVS-521, Page 8-1)
3.
Listed below are the Moe family members and their ages. Answer
the questions (3a - c) which follow:
Name
John Moe
Age
46
Household Relationship
Reference person
6-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
Megan Moe
Mary Moe
Michael Moe
42
20
8
Wife
Daughter
Son
When you make your initial visit to the Moe household, Megan Moe is
the only person home. She answers the household characteristic
questions, along with other questions relating to her family.
a.
Who is the household respondent?
Megan Moe
(NCVS-521, Page 2-4 through 2-5)
b.
Which members of the Moe
respondents for the NCVS?
household
are
eligible
John, Megan, and Mary Moe
(NCVS-521, Page 2-4 through 2-5)
c.
Are there any members of the Moe household who are not
required to be interviewed for the NCVS?
YES
If yes, who?
Michael Moe, since he is under 12 years of age.
(NCVS-521, Page 2-4 through 2-5)
4.
If the occupants at a sample address change between enumeration
periods, you: (Mark the correct answer.)
____ Try to locate the occupants’ new address at the local post office.
____ Select another address randomly on the same block.
6-7
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
X_
Interview the people who currently live at the sample address
and who consider the address to be their usual place of
residence.
(NCVS-521, Page 8-3)
5.
Probing is an interviewing technique you can use to get the
respondent to provide more information when the respondent’s initial
answer is unclear or incomplete.
(NCVS-521, Page 14-5)
6.
A respondent is considered present during an incident if he/she is at
the immediate scene of the crime during the incident and there is an
opportunity for the offender to harm the respondent. In the following
scenarios, indicate whether or not the respondent was present during
the incident:
a.
A woman was putting her groceries in her car when a man
approached her and stole her purse.
PRESENT
(The woman was at the immediate scene of the crime during
the incident and could have been harmed by the offender.)
b.
A man fell asleep on the beach and when he woke up his CD
player and keys were gone.
PRESENT
(Even though the man was sleeping while the incident took
place, he was at the immediate scene of the crime and could
have been harmed by the offender.)
c.
A woman’s leather coat was stolen from the coat room in the
restaurant lobby while she was eating dinner at the restaurant.
NOT PRESENT
6-8
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
(The woman was not at the immediate scene of the crime, the
coatroom, during the incident and the offender did not have
an opportunity to harm the woman during the theft.)
d.
The respondent was in the kitchen cooking dinner while the
offender (who was a guest) was stealing jewelry and money
from her bedroom dresser.
PRESENT
(The woman was at the immediate scene of the crime, her
home, during the incident and could have been harmed by
the offender. When an incident occurs inside the house,
anywhere inside the house is considered the immediate
scene of the crime.)
e.
The respondent looked out his living room window and saw
someone steal his 10-speed bicycle from his front yard. By
the time he got outside, the person and his bicycle were gone.
NOT PRESENT
(The respondent was not at the immediate scene of the crime
and there was no chance that he could have been harmed
during the incident. The respondent was inside and the
incident happened outside. Also, the offender was gone
when the respondent got to the scene of the crime.)
f.
A woman was asleep in her house and someone stole a
motorcycle from the attached garage.
PRESENT
(The woman was at the immediate scene of the crime, her
home [to which the garage was attached], during the
incident, and even though asleep, could have been harmed
by the offender.)
g.
A man was asleep in his house and someone stole a
lawnmower from the detached garage.
6-9
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
NOT PRESENT
(The man was not at the immediate scene of the crime
because the garage was detached from the home, and could
not have been harmed by the offender.)
h.
A woman was walking at the shopping mall and a man
walked up behind her and shoved her.
PRESENT
(The woman was at the immediate scene of the crime and was
attacked by the offender.)
i.
A man arrived home from work and saw someone stealing
several lawn ornaments out of his yard. He got out of his car and
started yelling at the offender, but the offender got away.
PRESENT
(The man was at the immediate scene of the crime and could
have been harmed by the offender.)
j.
A woman on the subway was part of a group robbery when the
offender showed a gun, passed around a bag, and told everyone
in the subway car to put all their valuables in it.
PRESENT
(The woman was at the immediate scene of the crime and had
property stolen from her person.)
(NCVS-521, Page 14-3)
7.
Enter the letter next to each item that corresponds to the letter that
points to a specific part of the NCVS CAPI instrument illustrated below:
E
A
Info Pane
Title bar
6-10
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
C Section Tabs
D Form Pane
B Menu Bar
F___ Status Bar
(NCVS-521, Page 9-1)
8.
Describe in the answer space below how you identify or differentiate
each item from other information on the screen:
a.
FR Instructions: Blue text
b.
Questions to ask respondents: Bold black text
c.
Questions that require you to use the information booklet to
show respondents:
Blue booklet icon in the upper left corner of the Info Pane
6-11
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
d.
Questions that allow multiple answers:
Square box to the left of answer categories
e.
Questions that allow only a single response:
Radio button to the left of answer categories
(NCVS-521, Pages 9-4 and 10-2--10-4)
9.
Which key, when pressed in the NCVS CAPI instrument, ensures that
the entry is “accepted” within the instrument and moves to the next
question?
Enter
(NCVS-521, Page 9-5)
10.
Which Function key in the NCVS CAPI instrument allows you to
enter Item Level Notes?
F7
(NCVS-521, Pages 10-14 and 10-15)
11.
Which keys, when pressed while in the NCVS CAPI instrument, allow
you to enter Case Level Notes?
Ctrl+F7
(NCVS-521, Page 10-14)
12.
Which Function key in the NCVS CAPI instrument allows you to end
the interview?
F10
(NCVS-521, Pages 10-14 and 10-15)
6-12
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
13.
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
Which section of the NCVS CAPI instrument collects basic
household data as well as characteristics of the sample unit?
___
X_
___
Front section
Middle section
Back section
(NCVS-521, Page 10-11)
14.
At the START_CP screen, select category 4, Noninterview, to
classify a person as a Type Z noninterview.
FALSE (Category 4, Noninterview, is selected to classify a
household as a Type A, Type B, or Type C noninterview. Enter
Category 5, Ready to transmit - no more followup, to classify a
person as a Type Z noninterview.)
(NCVS-521, Page 10-9)
15.
In the NCVS CAPI instrument, suppress accepts data
item inconsistencies in a soft edit check.
(NCVS-521, Page 10-5)
16.
Six months ago when you interviewed a sample household there were
three household members. During the current month, you discover that
two of the three household members moved out. You must create a
replacement household and interview the remaining household
member.
FALSE (Replacement households are created when all of the
household members from the previous interview have moved out.
If at least one person from the previous interview is still living at
the sample address, you interview them using the current case. If
all the previous residents move out, you may not create a
replacement household until you have confirmed that new
respondents have moved into the sample address.)
6-13
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Self-Study Review
(NCVS-521, Page 8-3)
This concludes our review of the pre-classroom training materials and the NCVS
self-study final review exercise. Are there any final questions about the material
covered before we continue?
(Answer questions)
(Continue to the next chapter)
6-14
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Chapter 7 – NCVS Concepts and Definitions
(Total approximate time: 2 hours)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Make sure each trainee has a copy of
• the NCVS-522.1 Classroom Workbook,
• the NCVS-550.1, NCVS At a Glance, and
• the NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet.
Objectives:
•
Familiarize trainees with survey concepts and definitions.
Materials Needed:
•
•
•
•
NCVS-550.1 NCVS At a Glance
NCVS-522.1 Classroom Workbook
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives (electronic document on laptop)
NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet
(Throughout this chapter when you see Q: and A:, ask trainees the
questions by name and review the answers with them. Discuss if needed
to ensure the concept is clear.)
(Before you begin, ask trainees to open and minimize the electronic
version of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives.
Trainees are going to need to reference it several times in this chapter.)
Before you have the opportunity to access and use the NCVS automated survey
instrument, let’s first review and discuss in more detail some survey concepts and
definitions that were covered in the self-study, as well as other concepts you should
7-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
be familiar with. Understanding these concepts, as well as others we will cover while
completing the practice exercises, is critical for the collection of accurate data and
for the proper crime classification of reported incidents.
Let’s begin with an explanation of sample units. Sample units are addresses
selected for the NCVS and are of two types, housing units and other units. A housing
unit consists of separate living quarters in which the occupants live separately from
any other individuals in the building and have direct access from outside the building
or through a common hall or lobby. Examples of a housing unit include a house, an
apartment, a mobile home or trailer, or group of rooms. (Pause)
“Other units” are units located in non-institutional Group Quarters, such as homes
for the elderly, college dormitories, and boarding houses where residents have their
own room, groups of rooms, or beds. These residents also have access to some
common facilities, such as a dining hall, lobby, living room, or recreational areas.
After classifying a sample unit’s type, you will determine if the living quarters is
presently being used as student housing by a college or university. For a sample
address to be considered student housing, payment for housing must be made
directly to a college or university.
Q:
Let’s say you are at a sample address and you are told that a room is rented
out to college students. The student pays rent to the household respondent.
Would that unit be considered student housing,
A:
?
No, because the student pays rent to the household respondent and not
directly to a college or university.
Thank you.
7-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Another important concept is public housing. Public housing is rental housing
provided to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses
to high-rise apartments. For the NCVS, the sample address is considered public
housing ONLY if it is located in a building owned by a public housing authority that
is federally funded. Housing funded at the state and local levels is not considered
public housing for the NCVS.
A sample unit represents hundreds of other similar units. Therefore, if you omit or
obtain incorrect information about one sample unit, the error is multiplied hundreds
of times.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Now let’s review who can serve as the household respondent and the household
reference person. The household respondent is a household member who must
be at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable about the household. This
household member will answer the household characteristic and household screen
questions
and MUST be interviewed BEFORE interviewing any other
household member. You must at least complete the NCVS interview with the
household respondent so that the household is a sufficient partial interview. If you
can’t complete an interview with the household respondent, you must classify the
whole household as a Type A Noninterview. You will do a practice Type A
Noninterview later in this training.
7-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
We will now toggle from the instrument to the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives on your laptop. To do this, press Alt + Tab. Once in the
manual, press Ctrl + F to bring up the “Find” bar to be able to search the document.
Now go to page C1-14 in the NCVS-550 and read the “Definition” and “Who Qualifies
to be a Household Respondent.” The reading ends on the top of page C1-16.
(Allow time)
Q:
If you visit a sample address for the first enumeration period and discover that
the only household member home at that time is a 16-year-old son of the
homeowner, could you interview the son as the household respondent,
A:
?
No. The son must be at least 18 years of age.
Thank you.
If you visited a sample household in which the household members are a husband,
his wife, and their 18-year-old daughter and all members are available, it is better to
interview either the husband or wife as the household respondent, rather than the
18-year-old daughter. This is because the parents are more likely
to be
knowledgeable
levels,
about household
information:
birthdates,
education
household income, and so on.
Now let's talk about the reference person. The reference person must be a
responsible adult household member who is at least 18 years of age, and is also
one of the persons who owns, rents, or occupies rent free the sample unit. Also, the
reference person will be the first person you list as you build a new household roster.
Go to page C1-11 and read the “Definition” and the “Special Situations” you may
encounter when identifying an eligible reference person. The reading ends in the
7-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
middle of page C1-12.
(Allow time)
Q:
Can the reference person in a sample household also be the household
respondent
A:
?
Yes, but the reference person does not have to be the household respondent.
Thank you.
The purpose of the reference person is to establish the relationship of all household
members to one person who is likely to stay in the household. Are there any
questions about who is eligible to be a household respondent and the reference
person?
(Answer questions)
Let’s discuss household membership and usual place of residence. For a person to
be considered a member of a sample household, he/she must be:
• Using the sample address as his/her usual place of residence at the time of
the current interview even if the person is temporarily absent at the time of
interview,
OR
• Staying temporarily at the sample address AND doesn’t have a usual place
of residence elsewhere.
7-5
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Usual place of residence is a specific living quarters, whether a housing unit or a
non-institutional group quarters unit, where a person lives and sleeps the greater
part of the time and is free to return to at any time. Open your Information Card
Booklet, NCVS-554, to page 5 and look over the summary table for determining
household membership.
(Hold up the Information Card Booklet and allow time.)
Now open your Workbook to page 1 and answer the five questions using the
information provided on page 5 in your Information Card Booklet.
(Allow time and then go over the answers)
Q1:
Paul Moe is staying in the sample unit, but is looking for another place to
live. He has no other residence. Is Paul a household member?
A:
Yes, because Paul does not have any other usual place of residence.
Q2:
Janet Voe is a paid housekeeper who lives in the sample unit. Is Janet a
household member?
A:
Yes, because the sample unit is her usual place of residence.
Q3:
When you interview the Zoe household, Mr. Zoe tells you that his
daughter Emily is away at college. Is Emily a household member?
A:
No, because Emily is residing away from the family residence while
attending school. Her school residence is considered her usual place of
residence.
7-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Q4: When you contact the Coe household, Pamela Coe, the household
respondent, tells you that her husband, John, is serving with the Army and
stationed in Iraq. Is John a household member?
A:
No, because he is stationed in a different locality than the sample housing
unit.
Q5:
If you list someone as living and staying at the sample unit as of the night
before the interview and then determine at HSEMEMURE (Does _____
have a usual place of residence elsewhere? (1) Yes; (2) No.) that the person
usually
lives
somewhere
else, what
precode
do you
enter
in
HSEMEMURE?
Hint: See page B2-87 of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives on your laptop for more information on HSEMEMURE.
A:
Precode 1, “Yes.”
When you enter precode 1, “Yes” in HSEMEMURE for a person, that person is NOT
considered a household member and you do not complete an NCVS interview for
that person.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Each NCVS case assigned to you starts with a sample address. You generally will
interview the residents at that address for seven enumeration periods, even if the
usual residents change during that time period. If all members of a household move
out of the sample address, the new household is considered a replacement
7-7
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
household. Replacement households are treated like incoming or first time in
sample households in that you must interview the household respondent in person,
along with any remaining household members who are eligible for interview and
available at the time of your visit. However, the interview period or enumeration
period for the sample address does not change. For example, if a unit is in sample
for its third enumeration and you discover a replacement household at the sample
unit, the interview period for the replacement household remains three and does not
revert to one. (Pause)
Q.
Suppose last enumeration three brothers, Michael, John, and Pat Coe lived at
the sample unit. When you contact the household during the current interview
period, you discover that John and Pat moved out of the household and
Michael’s new wife, Sarah, has moved in. Is this household considered a
replacement household, ___________?
A.
No, because not all members of the household moved out.
Q.
Now suppose that during the last enumeration, you interviewed the household
at a sample address. This enumeration period, you return to the sample
address to find that the household you interviewed last time has moved away
and the address is vacant. Is this a replacement household?
A.
No, this is not considered a replacement household. This is an error many FRs
make. This is only considered to be a replacement household if a new
household has moved into the sample address. You would code this address
as a “Type B – vacant”.
Regardless of whether or not a sample unit is a replacement household, survey
procedures require that you conduct NCVS interviews for all household members 12
years of age or older by self-response. Let’s talk about proxy interviews. You may
7-8
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
encounter situations in which the household member is unable to complete his/her
interview for himself/herself. For some cases, a proxy interview is allowed. Go to
page C1-18 of the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives on your
laptop, and read the definition for a proxy interview. Also, read the three reasons in
which a proxy interview is acceptable for the NCVS and when a proxy interview is
acceptable for household respondents. The reading ends on page C1-19.
(Allow time)
If you must take a proxy interview for an acceptable reason, your first choice for a
proxy respondent is a household member who is at least 18 years old, very
knowledgeable about the proxy person, and who has already completed his/her own
NCVS interview by self-response. As you read in the manual, proxy interviews
should be taken as a last resort since you may be collecting
incomplete or
inaccurate information; a proxy respondent is more likely to omit an incident or leave
out some of the details about a reported incident.
Q:
Suppose Mrs. Voe refuses to let you interview her daughter Mary, who is 15
years old. Can you conduct a proxy interview for Mary with Mrs. Voe,
____________?
A:
No, a parent who does not allow you to speak to his/her child can only complete
a proxy interview for children who are 12 and 13 years old.
Q:
Suppose on September 8 you call the Coe household to conduct their NCVS
interview. Jennifer Coe tells you that her husband, Fred, is on an extended
business trip and will not return home until the following month. Can you conduct
a proxy interview with Mrs. Coe for Fred, ____________?
7-9
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
A:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Yes, since the household member is temporarily absent during the entire
interview period and will not return before closeout.
Now let’s discuss the crimes measured by the NCVS. Locate the job aid, Form
NCVS-550.1, NCVS At a Glance from your materials. This job aid provides some
key information about the NCVS so it is good idea to keep this form handy when
conducting your interviews. (Pause) Turn to page 6 of the job aid and read the
information under the heading Type of NCVS Crimes.
(Allow time)
The NCVS collects information on crimes suffered by individuals and households,
whether or not those crimes were reported to law enforcement. These include
crimes of rape, sexual assault, aggravated and simple assault, purse snatching
and pocket picking, household burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. As you
read, the NCVS does not measure homicide, kidnapping, commercial crimes, such
as burglaries of stores, or the so-called victimless crimes, such as drunkenness,
drug abuse, illegal gambling, con games, prostitution, and blackmail.
Crimes measured by the NCVS can be classified into two general types: crimes
against persons and crimes against households. Crimes against persons, which
are referred to as personal crimes and include rape, sexual assault, assault, purse
snatching, and pocket picking, involve contact between the victim and offender. All
three of the measured crimes against households, which are referred
to as
property crimes and include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft, are crimes that
do not involve personal confrontation.
7-10
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Go to page C2-3 in your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
and read Topic 2, Crimes Measured by the NCVS. The reading ends on page C26.
(Allow time)
It is important to know that threats of rape, sexual assault, personal robbery, and
assault made against a respondent must be delivered verbally and face-to-face
between the offender and the respondent AND the threat must involve the
potential for physical harm to the respondent.
Let's determine if the following examples are acceptable NCVS threats:
Q:
Nick sent an e-mail message to John warning him to stop seeing his exgirlfriend or he would beat him up the next time he saw him. Is this an
acceptable threat for the NCVS, _____________?
A:
No, since the threat was not verbal and not face-to-face.
Q:
Amy was driving home at night when a car pulled up behind her. The driver
honked his horn, flashed his headlights, and then passed her at a high rate of
speed. When passing her, Amy noticed that the driver made an obscene
gesture at her. Amy said that she felt threatened. Is this an acceptable threat
for the NCVS, ____________?
A:
No, because the other driver did not verbally threaten to physically harm Amy.
Q:
Eric was at an ATM when a man approached him and told him to hand over the
money he just withdrew or else he would shoot him. Is this an acceptable threat
for the NCVS, ____________?
7-11
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
A:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Yes, because the threat was delivered verbally and face-to-face and involved
the potential for physical harm to the respondent.
Let's try one more.
Q:
James was outside in his yard when his neighbor Phil came over and warned
James to stop parking in his parking space or he would slash his tires the next
time he was parked in his reserve space. Is this an acceptable threat for the
NCVS, _____________?
A:
No, because the threat, although verbal and face-to-face, did not involve the
potential for physical harm.
Thank you.
The most serious crime against households is burglary, which is the illegal or
attempted entry of a structure. An example of burglary would be if a person actually
broke into a house, or if a person having no right to be there entered through an
unlocked door.
Theft, the most prevalent property crime, includes completed or attempted theft of
property or cash without personal contact. Incidents involving theft of property from
within the sample household are classified as theft if the offender has a legal right
to be in the house, such as a maid, delivery person, or guest. If the offender has no
legal right to be in the house, the incident is classified as a burglary. Examples of
theft are: theft of cash by a houseguest, theft of a garden hose from the yard, theft
of a briefcase or umbrella from a restaurant, or theft of a portable radio from the
beach.
7-12
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Any crime involving personal contact is not a household crime.
Q:
What are personal crimes of violence,
?
A:
Crimes in which an offender attempted to attack or attacked a household
member or threatened a household member with physical harm, robbed a
household member by force or threat of physical harm.
Thank you.
Respondents sometimes report the theft of articles belonging to a household
member under 12 years of age, such as a bicycle left outside the house. This can
be considered a crime against the household, because the theft happened near the
home. If the respondent mentions this type of incident, record it in the screen
question. However, do not include the theft of items belonging to household
members under 12 years of age when the theft takes place away from home; for
example, a bicycle stolen from a school playground. Also, do not record any threats
of physical harm or attacks to household members under 12 years of age. Since
household members who are under 12 years of age are not eligible respondents
for the NCVS, these crimes fall out of scope for the NCVS.
You also record all crimes to unrecognizable businesses, as these are included in
the NCVS data. Go to page C2-9 of your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field
Representatives, and read the definitions for recognizable and unrecognizable
businesses. The reading ends on page C2-10.
(Allow time)
7-13
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Q:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
If a respondent does sewing alterations in her house and she has a sign in her
front yard which reads: “Alterations - Same Day Service,” is this a recognizable
or unrecognizable business, __________________?
A:
A recognizable business.
Q:
One of your respondents prepares income tax forms in his basement and there
is no sign outside his house advertising his services. He only advertises his
business in the local newspaper. Do you consider his business recognizable or
unrecognizable, ____________?
A:
Unrecognizable.
As mentioned earlier, all crimes to unrecognizable businesses, such as the theft
of business property, are included in the NCVS data. However, if a reported crime
involves a recognizable business, report only the personal items stolen or any
personal threats of physical harm or assaults that may occur to the respondent
during a theft from a recognizable business. Do not include any stolen items that
belong to the recognizable business.
Q:
Let’s say that two thieves stole a sewing machine that belonged to a
person’s recognizable alterations business. Do you include the theft in the
NCVS,
?
A:
No, because the stolen item belonged to a recognizable business.
Q:
If a respondent uses a computer to prepare income tax forms in her
unrecognizable business and her business computer was stolen, do you
include the theft when completing a Crime Incident Report,
A:
Yes, because the stolen computer belonged to an unrecognizable business.
7-14
?
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Q:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
If a shopkeeper’s wallet was stolen during the robbery of his small business, do
you include the theft of the shopkeeper’s wallet,
A:
?
Yes, because we want to include thefts of personal items, regardless of whether
the personal theft took place at a recognizable or unrecognizable business.
Q:
While conducting a screen interview, a respondent says that her recognizable
business, which is located in a downtown store, was burglarized and she was
attacked during the burglary. Do you record this incident? Why or why not?
A:
Yes, because the household member was attacked during the burglary.
In this last situation, if any personal property or cash was stolen from the store
owner, you record the stolen property and cash because it belongs to the
respondent, and NOT to the recognizable business. If the respondent was attacked
and only business property was stolen, record information on the attack, but exclude
the theft of the business property from the crime incident report.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Sometimes respondents are unable to describe separately the details of each
reported incident when they are similar. Six or more similar but separate events,
which the respondent is unable to describe separately in detail to you, are called a
series of crimes.
Go to page C3-3 in your NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives
and read the definition for series of crimes.
7-15
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
(Allow time)
Q:
In SQTHEFT, Nicole reported that money was stolen from her desk at work on
five different occasions. All incidents occurred during her 6-month reference
period. Nicole never found out who stole the money and each time the
circumstances were so similar that she cannot differentiate one incident from
the other. Do these incidents qualify as a series of crimes, __________?
A:
No. The respondent reported less than six similar incidents so it cannot be a
series.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Now we’ll discuss the structure of the crime incident report. The crime incident
report section of the NCVS instrument is designed to gather detailed information
about each time an incident or victimization occurred during the reference period.
The crime incident report is made up of eleven sections. Turn to Pages 4 and 5 of
your classroom workbook and follow along as I describe each one:
1. Location and presence is the first section and collects information about
where the incident occurred, details about a break-in when it happened at
the respondent’s home or lodging, and whether or not the respondent was
present.
2. Attack/threat/injury/medical care section asks questions about how the
7-16
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
respondent was attacked or threatened, injuries the respondent may
have suffered (if any), whether the respondent sought medical care, and
details about that medical care.
3. Emotional toll section asks questions about the emotional toll the crime took
on the respondent, such as how it affected work, relationships, the
respondent’s emotional and physical health, and so on.
4. Actions against offender section asks about what actions were taken by the
victim during the incident, whether those actions helped or made the situation
worse, whether others were present at the scene, their actions, and so on.
5. Offender section asks about the number and characteristics of the offender(s)
such as their gender and age, how well the victim knew the offender(s),
whether offender(s) were drinking or on drugs and if the offender(s) belonged
to a gang, and so on.
6. Attempted and completed thefts section asks about the type and value of any
stolen items or about items the offender attempted to steal, whether items
were in or attached to a motor vehicle, whether property was recovered, and
so on.
7. Property damage and police section asks about whether there was any
damage to household property and if so, how much it cost to repair or
replace the damaged items, and about contact with the police and their
response to the incident.
7-17
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
8. Activity at the time of the incident and time or money lost this section asks
about what the respondent was doing when the incident happened and
whether the respondent was employed at the time of the incident, and
whether the respondent or other household members lost time or pay from
work because of the incident.
9. Series of crimes section is asked when six or more incidents were coded as a
series. This section asks how many incidents were part of the series, where
they took place, how well the respondent knew the offenders, and so on.
10. Hate crime section asks about whether the respondent feels the incident was
a hate crime, and if so, what the reason was for the hate crime, such as the
respondent’s religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, and so on.
11. Summary section is where you enter a detailed descriptive summary of the
crime incident.
Are there any questions about these eleven sections of the incident report?
(Answer questions)
Now let’s go over several important items within the crime incident report. The first
is the location in which the incident occurred. Go to Page B4-17 in the NCVS-550
Interviewing
Manual
for Field
Representatives
LOCATION_GENERAL so you can follow along.
7-18
on your
laptop
to Item
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
(Allow time)
The type of place at which the incident took place falls into one of eight general
categories – 1) Inside OWN home, 2) Near OWN home, 3) Inside or near another’s
home, 4) Commercial place, 5) Parking lot or garage, 6) School, 7) Open area, on
the street, or on public transportation, AND 8) Somewhere else.
This item is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT because if you identify the wrong place, you
will ask inappropriate questions and the incident may eventually classify into the
wrong type of crime category. Each general location category is further subdivided
into more specific locations. For example, if you select INSIDE OWN HOME you
must determine more specifically where the incident took place.
INSIDE OWN HOME covers enclosed structures owned or rented by the
respondent. An enclosed structure is one which has a door or window to gain entry
through such as the respondent’s home, apartment, dormitory room, garage, shed,
or an enclosed porch, or a vacation home, second home, hotel or motel room in
which the respondent could have been staying at the time of the incident. This
category also includes enclosed structures that are on the respondent’s
property but are detached from the main structure such as a detached garage
or storage shed. Select INSIDE OWN HOME only if the offender got inside or tried
to get inside the respondent’s home or lodging facilities. It does not matter whether
the offender entered by force, was let in, or gained entrance through an unlocked
door.
For incidents that happened on an unenclosed porch, patio, or carport of the
respondent’s home, select NEAR OWN HOME rather than INSIDE OWN HOME.
Although these areas are often attached to the home, they are not enclosed and do
7-19
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
not have a door or window through which an offender could enter. After selecting
NEAR OWN HOME you then select the appropriate subcategory of where the
incident occurred near the respondent’s home or lodging.
Here is an example: If someone stole potted plants from a respondent’s unenclosed
porch, select NEAR OWN HOME. Then select the appropriate subcategory titled
“Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport, unenclosed porch”
indicating where the
incident occurred near the respondent’s home or lodging. Select these same
categories if an offender stole a respondent’s baseball bat and glove from his
carport.
Let’s try a few more examples.
Q:
If a respondent says that he was robbed in his motel room at a ski lodge, which
general location category do you select, INSIDE OWN HOME or NEAR OWN
HOME,
?
A:
INSIDE OWN HOME for the hotel or motel room respondent was staying in.
Q:
Another respondent says that she was mugged in her own home by a thief.
Which general location category do you select, INSIDE OWN HOME or NEAR
OWN HOME,
?
A:
INSIDE OWN HOME
Q:
A respondent says a lawn mower was stolen from her detached garage. Which
general location category do you select, INSIDE OWN HOME or NEAR OWN
HOME,
A:
?
INSIDE OWN HOME. As I just told you, INSIDE OWN HOME includes
enclosed structures owned or rented by the respondent, including enclosed
7-20
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
structures on the respondent’s property detached from the main structure, such
as a detached garage or storage shed.
Now let’s go over the other general location categories. The third general category
is INSIDE OR NEAR ANOTHER’S HOME. This category includes places where the
incident may have happened that are at, in, or near the home of a respondent’s
friend, relative, or neighbor. Such places include: the dwelling or other building
owned by a friend, relative, or neighbor; in a friend’s, relative’s, or neighbor’s yard,
driveway, carport, open porch; in the building where a respondent’s friend, relative,
or neighbor lives; or on the street immediately
adjacent to the property of the
respondent’s friend, relative, or neighbor.
The fourth general location category is COMMERCIAL PLACE. This includes
places such as: inside a restaurant, bar, nightclub, bank, gas station, office, factory
or warehouse, and other commercial buildings such as a store. (Pause)
The next category is PARKING LOT OR GARAGE. This includes commercial and
noncommercial parking lots or garages as well as those provided to residents and
guests of apartments, townhouses, rooming houses, dormitories, condominiums,
and so forth. After selecting PARKING LOT OR GARAGE, probe to determine the
specific type of parking lot or garage. Commercial parking lots or garages are those
that are privately operated for profit AND require a parking fee regardless of whether
or not the parking lot or garage is attended or unattended. In contrast,
noncommercial parking lots or garages are those in which the general public can
park free of charge, such as a shopping mall. They also include a parking lot or
garage that has parking meters and those operated by a local, state, or Federal
government regardless of whether or not a fee is required.
7-21
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
If it is unclear as to which type of parking lot the respondent is referring, probe to find
out if the parking lot is privately owned and a fee is paid to park. Don’t ask the
respondent if it’s a commercial or noncommercial parking lot or garage, because
the respondent’s definition of such parking lots may differ from the
survey’s
definition. For this survey, the word “commercial” does not refer to who uses the
parking lot, for example the parking lot of a commercial establishment such as a
convenience store, restaurant, or mall. The word “commercial” refers to whether a
company profits from fees charged to use that parking lot.
Q:
What do you do if a respondent reports that while out shopping his car was
stolen from a parking lot,
A:
?
Select the general location category, PARKING LOT OR GARAGE, ask
whether the respondent was parked in a privately operated lot that charges a
fee to park, and then mark the appropriate subcategory.
If a respondent tells you that an incident happened at her school, you will select the
sixth general location category, SCHOOL. Then probe to determine if the incident
took place inside or outside the school building, such as on the school parking area,
play area, or school bus.
The next category, OPEN AREA, ON THE STREET, OR ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION covers a variety of places open to the general public that the
incident could take place. This category includes places such as: apartment yard,
park, playground, on some type of public transportation, or in a bus depot, train
station, airport, or subway station. (Pause)
When the incident happened at or in a place that doesn’t fit any of the other location
categories, select the final general location category, OTHER. You must describe
7-22
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
the place such as hospital, library, church, on the beach, and so on.
When a respondent tells you that the incident occurred in his/her home or lodging,
you ask if the offender had a right to enter the building or dwelling legally.
Q:
Who would have a “right” to be in a dwelling,
?
A:
People who live there, friends or relatives of the household, salespersons,
maintenance workers, or other persons who have been given permission to
enter the home.
It’s possible that the offender was allowed inside the dwelling, but still did not have
a “right” to be there. Children may let a stranger into the home, while adults would
not. An offender may push his or her way in when the respondent answers the door,
or an offender may have entered a dwelling by misrepresenting himself or herself
as a repair person, police officer, and so forth. These persons do not have a right
to be there.
If the offender didn’t have the right to be in the respondent’s home or other structure
on the respondent’s property, you ask if the offender actually got in or just tried to
get inside the respondent’s house, apartment, room, garage, shed, or enclosed
porch. If the offender did NOT get inside or did NOT try to get inside any of the
places inside the respondent’s home or lodging, the category INSIDE OWN HOME
is an incorrect response. Probe to find out which of the other general location
categories more appropriately applies and then back up in the instrument to correct
the answer.
If the offender got inside or tried to get inside any of the places inside the
respondent’s home or lodging, you ask if there was any evidence that the offender
got in by force or tried to get in by force. Visible evidence is evidence that can be
7-23
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
seen after the incident takes place, such as a broken lock, a broken window, or a
door jimmied. It does not refer to an open, undamaged door or an offender forcing
a person to let him or her in.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Another VERY CRITICAL item on the Crime Incident Report is PRESENCE. If you
enter someone as not being present during the incident and they were present, you
will skip important questions about attacks, attempted attacks, and threats. This will
affect the classification of the crime. On the other hand, if you mark someone as
present during the incident when they were not present, you will ask the respondent
irrelevant questions. To consider a household member present during an
incident, there must be an opportunity for an offender to attack or threaten to
attack the person or the possibility that an offender could take something
directly from the household member.
Sometimes it’s difficult to determine if the respondent was present since some
respondents may not know what is meant by “present” for the NCVS. If this
happens, then you need to probe. If you are still unsure after probing, consider the
person present. This ensures that we will not miss important details, such as
whether or not the respondent was attacked or threatened with physical harm.
Go to page C3-16 in the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives on
your laptop and read the definition of “presence.”
(Allow time)
7-24
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
There are three other important things you must remember about presence.
• First, the respondent does not have to be awake or conscious to be
considered present.
• Second, the respondent does not have to be in the same room in the house
where the incident happened to be considered present.
• Third, when a household member is in the house and the incident takes place
in an attached garage or an enclosed porch, the household member is
considered present during the incident. (However, if the garage is detached
or the porch is unenclosed, a household member inside the house at the time
of the incident is considered “not present.”)
Now let’s try a few examples.
Q:
After a respondent heard a noise, she looked out her kitchen window and saw
several young men running away from her detached garage. By the time she
got to the garage, the men were gone. After looking around the garage, she
discovered that some power tools were missing. Was the respondent present
at the immediate scene of the crime,
A:
? Why or why not?
No. The detached garage was the immediate scene and she didn’t arrive until
after the crime was committed. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR)
Q:
If another respondent was asleep in his house when someone broke the patio
door and entered his family room, would he be present,
? Why
or why not?
A:
Yes. The house was the immediate scene of the crime and the respondent was
in the house during the break-in. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR)
7-25
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Q:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
If a respondent has guests at her house and one of the guests steals something
from her bedroom while the respondent is in the kitchen, is the respondent
present,
A:
? Why or why not?
Yes. Anywhere inside the house is the immediate scene of the crime, even
though the respondent was in a different room. The respondent could have
been attacked or threatened with physical harm.
Q:
If the offender puts his hands around the respondent’s neck and chokes him, is
the respondent present,
A:
? Why or why not?
Yes, the respondent was at the immediate scene of the crime and was in fact
attacked by the offender.
Thank you.
This last example might seem like an obvious example, but you’d be surprised
how often we see crime reports in which a respondent was attacked and clearly
present during a crime incident, but has been marked as “not present.” You must
avoid errors like this one.
Are there any questions about presence during an incident?
(Answer questions)
Finally, let's review the NCVS reference period. Go to page C1-3 in the NCVS-550
Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives on your laptop and read the definition
of a “reference period.”
(Allow time)
7-26
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
NCVS Concepts & Definitions
Sometimes you will encounter a reported incident that occurred before the reference
period start date or on the day of the interview. If you discover at INCIDENTDATE
that the incident occurred before the reference period start date, the incident is
considered out-of-scope and the instrument will not prompt you to collect any more
information about the incident. If the incident occurred on the day of interview, collect
the incident information as usual. During post-data collection processing the incident
will be reviewed.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
(Continue to the next chapter)
7-27
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Chapter 8 – NCVS Practice Interviews
(Total approximate time: 6 hours, 40 minutes)
Instructor Preparation: Review Completed for Exercises 1-4
•
•
•
If available, set up projection device.
Make sure all trainees are logged into their laptops and using AC power. (Make sure
all trainees have access to electrical outlets to plug in their laptop computers. If necessary,
help trainees use extension cords or adaptors to connect to outlets in the training room.)
Make sure trainees have a copy of the materials needed listed below.
Objective:
•
•
Familiarize trainees with the survey questions and their intent.
Provide trainees with practice using the NCVS instrument and the instrument function keys.
Materials Needed:
Trainee
• Laptop computer
• Function key template
• Form 11-38, Request for Appointment
• Form 11-38A, Request for Appointment
• NCVS-522.1 Classroom Workbook
• NCVS-554, Information Card Booklet
• NCVS-572(L) Introductory Letter (for incoming households)
• NCVS-573(L) Introductory Letter (for continuing households)
• NCVS-110 Factsheet
Trainer
• Same as trainee materials
• Projection device
Before we get into the practice interviews, I want to talk about conducting the NCVS
interviews in your assignment. As we’ve mentioned, for first time in sample
households, and occasionally for other cases, you’ll visit the household in person.
For NCVS personal interviews, interview respondents in private, out of the hearing
range of others whenever possible. Research has shown that we get more complete
8-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
and accurate data when we interview away from other household members.
In a survey like the NCVS, which can cover some sensitive topics, if a respondent
is interviewed in front of other people, they may not be fully truthful about their
victimization experiences. Try to arrange private interviews for the NCVS. If
household members sit down together for an interview, tell them that you wish to
interview separately to ensure the confidentiality of the respondent’s answers, and
to ensure that we get the most complete and quality data. ONLY continue to
interview with others present if the respondents refuse to be interviewed privately
or a private interview is not possible (for example, in a small space like a studio
apartment). Even in front of others, you still must conduct each interview at a
conversational pace, and ask each respondent all the screen questions in their
entirety. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Another thing I want to emphasize is that you must ask all the screener questions
in their entirety at a conversational pace. Do not change the wording or paraphrase
any questions, and do not omit any part of a question. It’s important to ask all the
questions and ask them as they are worded because they have been specifically
designed to jog respondents’ memories and help them recall incidents that they
may have forgotten. The screener questions have been developed and refined
since the beginning of the NCVS. You must ask all the screener questions as
worded, wait for the answers, and enter those answers completely and accurately.
If a respondent has forgotten an incident and you do not ask the screener question
or cue that may help them remember it, we run the risk of not collecting that incident.
These omissions and missed incidents can result in the crime rates we calculate
being erroneously low, and in survey results being biased.
8-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Because being the victim of a crime is an unpleasant experience, people may
repress those memories, or the memory of the incident may decay so much that
the respondent has trouble recalling the crime with accuracy. Also, for some
respondents,
crimes may be part of their everyday
life and completely
unremarkable to them until you, the interviewer, ask that screener question which
sparks their memory or recall. People who live in environments in which these
incidents commonly happen either forget them or think they are not important
enough to mention.
Research has also shown that context is an important factor in people’s ability to
remember events. For example, a respondent may not recall a crime that happened
at school when you ask the screener question about theft, but may remember it
when you ask the screener question that focuses on the location of possible
victimizations. As we’ll discuss, these shifts in the focus of the screener questions
and what may appear to be redundancies are a crucial part of the crime screener,
to help respondents recall events they have experienced.
It is of the utmost importance that each respondent hears exactly the same
questions in exactly the same way as every other survey respondent. Standardizing
the way in which each FR asks the questions to thousands of respondents each
month to ensure that the data is collected consistently across the country. This
helps us avoid bias and makes survey results more accurate.
We know that respondents and interviewers alike sometimes get impatient during
these questions. If it becomes necessary, ask politely for the respondent to bear
with you while you go through them, as you are required to read them as worded.
Take your time and allow the questions to do the job for which they were intended
8-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
– helping the respondent recall and enumerate any crime incidents they may have
experienced. We can’t stress enough how important it is to ask all the screener
questions, and ask them fully and completely, exactly as worded.
Are there any questions about why it’s important to go through all the questions in
the screening portion of the instrument?
(Answer questions)
Now we’ll turn our attention to the pacing of the NCVS interview. Remember this
key point about pacing the NCVS interview: DO NOT RUSH to complete an
interview under any circumstances. Rushing through the survey questions
increases the possibility that the respondent will miss important parts of the
question, misinterpret questions, and then give you an answer that is incomplete or
inaccurate. Maintain a calm, unhurried manner and ask the questions clearly in an
objective, deliberate way. This will help keep the respondent’s attention.
When respondents sense that you are rushing through an interview, they may
withhold information, thinking that it would take too long to explain the crime
incident. Talking too fast may give the impression that you think the questions are
either unimportant or sensitive in nature. By speaking in a confident voice and at a
moderate pace, respondents are more likely to stay relaxed and responsive. Are
there any questions about pacing?
(Answer questions)
You learned in the self-study about the different parts of the NCVS CAPI
instrument and the function keys that are used in this instrument. You also
8-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
practiced using the instrument by completing an interview. In this section of the
classroom training, you will have the opportunity to go through several additional
practice exercises to become more familiar with using the NCVS automated
instrument. You will practice re-entering a case to complete an interview,
conducting a proxy interview, choosing a new household respondent, changing
the reference person, building a household roster, classifying a sample unit as a
noninterview, classifying an eligible NCVS respondent as a Type Z noninterview,
unduplicating incidents, and quitting a case before proceeding with the interview.
Before we begin the practice exercises, let’s review how to correct answers to
questions if you make a mistake. If you are in the middle of an interview and get
off track by entering the wrong answer for a question, press the left or up arrow
key in the lower right corner of your keyboard. This step takes you to the previous
question so you can change the answer. If you have to go back several questions,
keep pressing the left or up arrow key until you get to the question where you
need to change the answer. You will practice changing a response to a previously
answered question later in the training. (Pause) To return to the next unanswered
question in the instrument path, you can press the End key. The End key is
particularly important to use when you re-enter a case that was a partial interview
for a respondent.
During the practice exercises, you will also have the opportunity to use some of the
function keys that are available in the CAPI instrument. Remember, the functions of
some of the keys within this instrument differ from their functions within Case
Management, but some are the same. For example, the F1 key displays Help
information in both Case Management and in the NCVS CAPI instrument. However,
the F2 function key in Case Management opens the selected case so you can start
the interview, while in the CAPI instrument this function key is not used.
8-5
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
To get an idea of the variety of functions you can use in the instrument, pull out the
function key template and look at the keys available to you for use in the NCVS
instrument. You can also see a copy of the function keys in your NCVS-522.1
Classroom Workbook.
(Allow time)
Each function key or combination of keys allows you to perform specific tasks while
working in the NCVS instrument. Many of these operations were discussed in the
self-study you completed. You will have the opportunity to practice using some of
these function keys as you go through the practice interview exercises.
Now we will begin the practice exercises. If you get off track or get stuck on a
particular question, let me know right away so that you don’t fall behind.
Especially in the first two exercises, I will interrupt the interview often to provide an
explanation about the intent or the meaning behind a question.
Also, DO NOT re-enter or reinstall your training cases at the end of the day, because
that will delete all information entered during training. Finally, as we go through each
practice exercise do not jump ahead of the class. That may cause delays for you
and the rest of the trainees.
8-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #1 –Building a Household Roster
Case ID: 00000003
(Approximate time: 45 minutes)
The first practice exercise covers building a household roster for a replacement
household. The process of building a roster for incoming or first time in sample
cases is the same as what we'll be going through for a replacement household.
Make sure the case 611 Produce St is highlighted. This is the case we want to
interview, so press the F2 function key to access the NCVS CAPI instrument. Before
you actually enter the instrument, confirm that you selected the correct case. At the
“Confirmation Screen”, check the information displayed to make sure you selected
the right unit. (Pause) If the case selected is correct, click the OK button or press
Enter. Do that now. You will see a screen that says “This is a training case.” If you
do, type (1) and press Enter to bypass it, both here and throughout this training.
(Allow time)
The START_CP screen is the first NCVS instrument screen that you see when you
enter a case. Look at the information in blue text displayed in the Info Pane of the
START_CP screen. Remember, any time you see blue text in the Info Pane it is an
instruction for you to read the text to yourself and not to the respondent.
This screen provides you with the survey title, the case status, the current date and
time, the incoming/continuing status, interview number, and confirmed refusal
status.
8-7
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Notice that the “Case Status” indicator, which measures the progress of the case
throughout the interview process, identifies this household as a “New Case.” This
means that this is your first attempt to interview the household for the current
interview period.
Now look at the “Interview Number.” For this case, the interview number is 3. This
tells you that this case is in sample for its third NCVS interview. (Pause) When the
interview number is “1,” the Incoming/Continuing status field displays the
word “incoming.” When the interview period is two through seven, this field usually
displays the word “continuing.” For a replacement household, regardless of the
interview period, this field displays the word incoming.
The Confirmed Refusal field identifies a situation where a respondent adamantly
refused to be interviewed and demanded that he/she not be contacted again. When
a case is a confirmed refusal, the words “Confirmed Refusal” are displayed. If it is
not a confirmed refusal, “No” is displayed.
After reviewing the information at START_CP, select the appropriate interview
mode. For interviews you conduct by telephone, select Precode (1). For personal
interviews, you have two options for recording the case’s interview status. Selecting
Precode (2) classifies the case as a personal interview and enables you to view any
notes that have been recorded previously for the case.
Selecting Precode (3) also classifies the case as a personal interview but allows
you to bypass or skip any notes that have been recorded previously for the selected
case. (Pause) To code a case as a Type A, B, or C noninterview, select Precode
(4). Selecting Precode (4) at START_CP takes you to another item that collects
8-8
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
additional information about the noninterview, such as the reason for the
noninterview. (Pause)
Enter Precode (5) for cases that you are ready to transmit. These are cases in which
the interview is complete with at least the household respondent but there are other
household members whose interview you were unable to complete and you have
exhausted all attempts to interview these individuals. Before you can transmit these
cases to Headquarters, you must code each noninterview person as a Type Z
noninterview. Selecting Precode (5) at START_CP takes you to another screen that
collects the line number of each Type Z noninterview person and the reason for the
noninterview. (Pause)
Enter Precode (6) if you want to quit the case, for example, if you decide that you
don’t want to interview the case at this time.
Now, take a look at the “Status bar” at the very bottom of the Form Pane. This is the
shaded portion of the screen. (Pause) Notice the fields “Talking to” and “About.” The
“Talking to” field contains the name of the person who answers the survey
questions. The “About” field contains the name of the eligible NCVS household
member for whom you need to obtain an interview. For self-response interviews, the
name entered in both of these fields is always the same. For proxy interviews, the
proxy respondent’s name is entered in the “Talking To” field and the proxy person’s
name will appear in the “About” field. When you first enter a continuing case to
interview for a given month, the first name that appears in these fields is that of the
household respondent from the previous interview, since the household respondent
is the first person with whom you must complete an interview. For incoming cases,
these fields are blank until you build the household roster and select a household
respondent.
8-9
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Before we proceed with the interview, let’s take a look at the composition of this
household to get an idea of the number of people in the household and those who
you need to interview. Remember, you can also view the household composition
when you are in Case Management. To view the household roster in the NCVS
CAPI instrument, you can either press the SHIFT and F1 keys simultaneously or
you can click on the “HH Roster” tab on the toolbar. Use one of these two methods
now to view the household roster for this case.
(Allow time)
Notice that there are three eligible members in this household, Roy, Mary, and Colin
Coe. Line number 3 is Kevin Coe, who is not a household member, so Kevin will
not be interviewed. Roy Coe, who is line number 1, is currently designated as the
household respondent. The “X” in the “HHR” column preceding his line number tells
you that he is the household respondent. Remember, the household respondent
must be a household member who is at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable
about
the household. This household member will answer the household
characteristics and household screen questions in addition to the individual screen
questions. Remember, you MUST interview the household respondent BEFORE
interviewing any other household members.
Now look at the column labeled REL on the Household Roster screen. This column
shows the relationship of the household members to the reference person. For this
case, Mary Coe, who is line number 2, is the reference person. Remember, the
reference person is usually one of the owners or renters of the sample unit. When
you interview at a sample address for the first time, the first person listed will be
designated as the reference person so you want to make sure that this person is
8-10
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
one of the owners or renters of the sample unit.
Now take a look at the “STATUS” column. For any respondent whose interview you
have not started, you will see “Need Self” displayed in the “STATUS” column. You
could also see the following descriptions entered in the “STATUS” column as the
interview progresses. You may see NEED PROXY if the respondent needs a proxy
interview, Partial-Int for partial interviews, REFUSED for refusals, Under 12 for
household members under the age of 12, Moved Out for any household member
who has moved out of the sample unit, Deceased for household members who have
died, and so on. If you completed a respondent’s interview, the status would
change to a final status of “DONE-Int” for a completed interview.
Let’s return to the START_CP screen. To return to this screen, either click on the
“Main” tab, which is the first tab on the toolbar, or press “1” to continue.
(Allow time)
We need to indicate the case’s type of interview or interview mode. (Pause) As we
want to proceed and interview this case, we need to identify the type of interview
we are conducting, that is, telephone or personal. Although this case should be
interviewed by telephone as it's a third enumeration case, for this exercise we will
conduct a personal interview. Remember, for personal interviews, you have two
options for recording the case’s interview status. Selecting category 2 classifies the
case as a personal interview and lets you view any notes that may have been
recorded previously for the case. Selecting category 3 also classifies the case as a
personal interview but allows you to bypass or skip any notes that may have been
recorded previously for the selected case.
8-11
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Before we continue with the interview, I want to mention that there are two ways of
recording a response. One way is by using your mouse pad and clicking on the radio
button or square box preceding the answer category to be selected. The second
way is by pressing the number on your keyboard that corresponds to the answer
category to be selected. Press the number 3 key on your keyboard but do not press
the Enter key just yet. (Pause) Notice that the radio button next to the answer
category is filled and a “3” appears in the white answer field box in the Form Pane.
(Pause) Does everyone see that?
(Help trainees who are having difficulty)
Now press Enter. This takes you to the GEN_INTRO_CP screen. This screen gives
you the text for introducing yourself, instructions for starting the interview, and
displays the household address. Look at the third FR instruction. (Pause) Notice
that you are instructed to ask to speak to Roy Coe since he was the household
respondent in the previous interview.
At the GEN_INTRO_CP screen, introduce yourself and show your Official Census
Bureau identification badge. For this case, you will not be able to speak to Roy Coe
or anyone who was previously interviewed since this is a replacement household.
Let’s suppose that after introducing yourself and asking to speak to Roy Coe, the
person who answered the door tells you that the Coe family moved. You need to
enter 2, “Respondent not available” and then press Enter. Do that now. (Pause)
The next screen, HHNUM_VR_CP, asks you if the case is a replacement
household. Remember, since the question is in blue text you are NOT to ask the
respondent this question. Since you know that this is a replacement household,
8-12
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
press 1, “Yes,” and then press Enter.
The next screen, CK_REPLACE_CP, is a check screen to make sure that this is
truly a replacement household.
(Call on Trainee)
________________, please read the definition of a replacement household and the
question that follows the definition.
(TRAINEE: A replacement household means that there are NO members of the
household interviewed during the previous enumeration period living at this
address. Are you sure this is a replacement household?)
Thank you.
We are sure that this is a replacement household, so enter 1 and press Enter.
(Call on Trainee)
______________, what does the pop-up screen tell you?
(TRAINEE: This is the last screen before the roster and all incoming data is
deleted and must be re-entered. You are about to start a new case and this
action cannot be undone without the case being restarted. If “Yes”, click
SUPPRESS)
Thank you.
Click Suppress to continue, as we are sure this is a replacement household.
8-13
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the next screen, GETLETTER_CP, you need to verify that the person you are
speaking with is eligible to be the household respondent, that is, someone who
lives there, is at least 18 years old, and is knowledgeable about the household. If
the person you are speaking with is not an eligible household respondent, you need
to press F10 to breakoff the interview and return at a later date to return to speak
to an eligible household member.
If at the GETLETTER_CP screen, you are
speaking to an eligible respondent, ask if the respondent received the introductory
letter in the mail.
(Pause)
For incoming or first time in sample households, as well as for replacement
households, hand the respondent a copy of the NCVS-572(L) letter if they did not
receive it in the mail. For continuing or second through seventh enumeration period
households, hand the respondent a copy of the NCVS-573(L) letter if they did not
receive it in the mail. Pull out a copy of these two letters from your training materials
and take a look at them.
(Allow time)
These letters comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 that requires
that all Federal agencies provide specific facts to anyone from whom they plan to
collect personal information. These facts include the legal authority for collecting
the information, the principal purpose for collecting the information, the uses of the
data collected, and the mandatory or voluntary nature of the survey and any
penalties. These letters also prepare the household for your visit or telephone call.
The National Processing Center (NPC) mails the NCVS-572(L) to a household just
8-14
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
before it comes into sample for the first enumeration period. The NPC also mails the
NCVS-573(L) letter before each subsequent enumeration period.
For telephone interviews, press the F1 function key and read to the respondent key
points contained within the letter.
You can also read this list of key points to replacement respondents. Press the F1
function key now.
(Allow time)
The key points to convey to the respondent are:
• The National Crime Victimization Survey is conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. It asks people about their
experiences as victims of crime.
• The survey is voluntary and their participation is appreciated. Their address
was one of a sample that was randomly selected for the survey to represent
the entire population. Their responses are important to ensure data accuracy
and completeness, regardless of whether or not the respondent or anyone in
their household has experienced a crime.
• Information collected in this survey is confidential by law. As an FR, you
should NEVER make survey information available to anyone except sworn
Census Bureau employees who have a work related need to know the
information. By law, the Census Bureau can only use survey information for
statistical research.
• Survey results provide an understanding of the experiences of victims and are
used in many ways. Citizens, legislators, policymakers, researchers,
and
others rely on this data to gain a better picture of crime victimization in their
8-15
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
efforts to assist victims.
• Although the Census Bureau collects this information, it is not part of the
U.S. Population Census. The Census Bureau, with their resources and
expertise, collects data on many topics beyond the decennial census.
Now press the ALT + F4 keys to exit the Help screen.
Now let's proceed with the interview. During this exercise and in the other practice
exercises throughout this training, I will call on one or more of you to serve as the
field representative. You will ask the questions and I will act as the respondent. At
certain points, I will interrupt the interview to provide further explanation about a
question.
_______________, please continue the interview. As you enter a response, please
tell us what you enter at each screen as you go through the interview.
GETLETTER_CP
FR:
I’m here concerning the National Crime Victimization
Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting a survey
here and throughout the Nation to determine how
often people are victims of crime. Did you receive our
introductory letter in the mail?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
VERADD_CP
FR:
I have your address listed as
611 Produce St.
Any Town, AZ 99995
Is that your exact address?
8-16
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes, it is.
(Enter 1, Same Address)
MAILINGSAME_CP
FR:
Is your mailing address still the same as your
physical address?
R:
Yes, it is.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
Throughout the instrument, you will encounter questions in which you can either
ask or verify the question. For such questions, if the respondent has indicated the
answer earlier in the interview or the response from the previous enumeration is
provided, you can verify the answer with the respondent without asking the
question. Otherwise, you must ask the question as worded. Also, for questions in
which you are not instructed to ask or verify the question, you must ask the question
as worded.
You will also encounter some questions in which you are instructed to read the
answer categories out loud to the respondent. As you read the categories, always
speak as clearly and distinctly as possible and avoid rushing through the
categories.
___________, please continue the interview.
TENURE
FR:
Ask or verify
Are your living quarters
--
Owned or being bought by you or someone in
your household?
8-17
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-R:
Rented for cash?
Yes, rented for cash.
(Enter 2, Rented for cash)
STUDENTHOUSING FR:
R:
If apparent, enter precode without asking
Are your living quarters presently used as student
housing by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PUBLICHOUSING
FR:
Is this building owned by a public housing authority?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No not public housing)
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
FR:
If apparent, enter precode without asking
Are your living quarters located on an American
Indian Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, if you are familiar with the area in which the sample address is located
and know for sure whether or not the living quarters is located on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands, you can enter the appropriate precode in
this item without asking the question. If there is any doubt in your mind, ask the
question and then enter the appropriate precode that
corresponds to the
respondent’s answer.
The sample unit is not on an American Indian Reservation or on American Indian
8-18
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Lands so enter Precode (2), “No” and press Enter. Now, to help you through the
next couple of questions, here is some additional information about the household.
The unit is a single unit apartment that has direct access.
Q:
What precode do you enter for ACCESS, ____________?
A:
Precode (1), “Direct.”
Enter Precode (1). Now look at the twelve descriptions for type of housing unit.
(Allow time)
Q:
Which category do you select for this sample unit, _____________?
A:
Category 1, House, apartment flat.
(Enter Precode 1).
___________, please continue.
NUMBEROFUNITS FR:
R:
Observe or ask
How many housing units are in this structure?
About 10 units.
(Enter 6, 10+)
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT
FR:
Observe or ask
Does the unit have an outside entrance, patio doors,
or windows, etc. on the ground level or outside stairs
leading directly to this unit?
8-19
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY
FR:
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a gated or walled community that
restricts access by non-residents or requires entry
codes, key cards, or security guard approval to
access?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
RESTRICTEDACCESS
FR:
R:
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a building that requires a special entry
system such as entry codes, key cards, or security
guard approval to access?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
Now you begin to build the household roster. You enter the first and last name of
every person who lives at the sample unit or who stayed at the sample address
at least one night before the interview. Turn to page 6 of your NCVS CAPI
Classroom Workbook and read to yourself who should be listed.
(Allow time)
For each person you list, you record the first name, press enter, and then enter the
last name.
8-20
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
_____________, please continue.
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here? Start with the name of the person or
one of the people who rents this home.
R:
That’s me. My name is John Zoe.
(Enter John, then press Enter)
HHROSTER_LNAME (Enter Zoe, press Enter)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary
Is John Zoe male or female?
(Enter 1, Male, for John Zoe)
Notice that the first person listed automatically becomes the reference person for
the household. Code 21, which is the 2-digit relationship code for the reference
person, is automatically entered in the Relation column for this person. Also, the
"HH member" column already has a “1” (one) inserted since we know that the first
person listed is a household member. Press Enter to continue. (Pause)
Continue collecting the names of all other people living or staying at the sample
unit, until there are no more people to add to the roster. If the respondent doesn’t
automatically mention the next person’s name, probe the household respondent to
give you the names of all remaining persons living or staying at the sample address.
You can probe by asking, “What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?” Repeat this question, as necessary, until you are sure that the
household roster is complete. Also, after listing the first person, notice that the
instrument automatically inserts the surname of the first person in the last name
field for each subsequent person. If the last name is correct for each subsequent
8-21
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
person, press Enter to proceed, otherwise change the entry to the appropriate
surname.
Finally, when there are no more people to add to the roster, enter 999 in the next
blank first name field and then press Enter to continue the interview.
____________, please continue.
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?
R:
There’s my wife Maria Zoe.
(Enter Maria, then press Enter)
HHROSTER_LNAME
(Press Enter since the prefilled surname is correct)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary.
Is Maria Zoe male or female?
R:
Female
(Enter 2, Female)
RELATIONSHIP
FR:
What is Maria Zoe’s relationship to John Zoe?
(Interrupt and say)
An important skill you can use as an interviewer is the skill of active listening, which
means using the information the respondent has already provided. One way to
practice active listening in the next two questions is to verify the information without
asking the full question, since the respondent already mentioned it in a previous
8-22
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
question. For example, instead of asking “What is Maria Zoe’s relationship to John
Zoe?” here you could ask “Maria is your wife, is that correct?” to simply verify the
answer. Using this active listening technique lets the respondent know that you are
paying attention and makes the interview more efficient.
_________, please continue.
R:
Wife
(Enter 12, Wife)
(Interrupt and say)
The next question, HHMEMBER, determines whether the person listed qualifies as
a household member. Remember, for a person to be considered a member of a
sample household, he/she must be using the sample address as his/her usual place
of residence at the time of the interview or is staying temporarily at the sample unit
at the time of the current interview AND doesn’t have a usual place of residence
elsewhere. (Pause) If you determine that a person is a not a member of the
household, you do not collect any additional information about the person.
_____________, please continue.
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Maria Zoe usually live here?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?
8-23
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
My mother-in-law, Rosa Nombre, is staying with us.
(Enter Rosa, then press Enter)
HHROSTER_LNAME (Enter Nombre)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary.
Is Rosa Nombre male or female?
R:
Female
(Enter 2, Female)
RELATIONSHIP
FR:
What is Rosa Nombre’s relationship to John Zoe?
R:
Mother-in law
(Enter 19, Other relative)
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Rosa Nombre usually live here?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?
R:
My brother-in-law, Carlos Nombre.
(Enter Carlos, then press Enter)
HHROSTER_LNAME (Press Enter since Nombre already appears)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary.
Is Carlos Nombre male or female?
R:
Male
(Enter 1, Male)
8-24
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
RELATIONSHIP
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
What is Carlos Nombre’s relationship to John Zoe?
(Interrupt and say)
Although we know that we are talking to John Zoe, we have not yet selected the
household respondent, so the instrument doesn’t know who we are talking to. This
is why the instrument is filling “John Zoe” at the end of the question rather than
“you.”
________, please continue.
R:
Brother-in law
(Enter 19, Other relative)
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Carlos Nombre usually live here?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
HSEMEMURE
FR:
Does Carlos Nombre have a usual place of residence
elsewhere?
R:
Yes, he is just visiting us for a few days.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
If Carlos Nombre did NOT have a usual place of residence elsewhere he would be
considered a member of the household, and Precode (2) in the HHMEMBER
column would be changed to 1 indicating that he is indeed a member of the
8-25
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
household. Since Carlos Nombre is not a household member and has a usual place
of residence elsewhere, you do not ask any more questions about him.
____________, please continue the interview.
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?
R:
There is no one else.
(Enter 999, then press Enter)
HHLDCOVERAGE
FR:
Have I missed anyone else living or staying here
such as any babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is
away at present traveling or in the hospital?
(Interrupt and say)
The purpose of this question is to make sure that no one has been missed. It may
sound repetitive, but this question is important. Many respondents forget to mention
babies, lodgers, and visitors. When you ask this question, you are reminding the
household respondent of anyone he or she may have forgotten to mention.
Enter 2, “No” for this question.
At the next screen, PICK1STHHRESP, you need to pick a household respondent.
You will see the names of all the persons listed on the household roster who are
members. Enter the line number of the person with whom you are speaking, which
is John Zoe, since earlier you asked to speak to someone in the household who
was at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable about the household, and that
8-26
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
person was John Zoe. Enter John Zoe’s line number, which is 1, at this screen
(PICK1STHHRESP).
_____________, please continue.
BRTHDATEMO
FR:
What is your date of birth?
R:
March 8, 1980.
(Enter 3, March)
BRTHDATEDY
(Enter 8)
BRTHDATEYR
(Enter 1980)
(Interrupt and say)
After entering the respondent’s birthday, the instrument calculates the respondent’s
age. Each household member’s age is calculated AS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE
MONTH PRECEDING THE INTERVIEW MONTH.
For example, if you are interviewing on April 2 and a household member turned 37
years old on March 31, the age displayed for you to confirm at the verify age
(VFYAGE) screen will be “37.” However, if the person turned 37 years old on April
1, the age displayed will be “36.”
_____________, please continue the interview.
VFYAGE
FR:
That would make you 37 years old (as of
last month). Is that correct?
R:
Yes.
8-27
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if training is conducted
after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Are you now married, widowed, divorced, separated
or have you never been married?
(Interrupt and say)
In many instances, you will already know the answer to this item without asking
because of the names and relationships that you entered in the previous screens.
Also, in subsequent interviews this screen displays the person’s marital status as
reported in the previous enumeration period. If this is the case, you can verify with
the respondent his/her marital status based on the information at the top of the
screen. Previously collected marital status is displayed after the text “Last reported
as.” The rest of the demographic questions have a similar display. If you don’t know
the person’s marital status, then ask the question as worded. For household
members who are 12 and 13 years of age, the instrument codes them automatically
as “Never Married.”
Enter 1, Married, for John Zoe.
After completing the marital status question you ask the Armed Forces question for
each household member, male or female, who is between the ages of 18 and
65. Turn to page 7 of your Workbook and read when to consider a household
member as “in the Armed Forces.” Then answer the question at the bottom of page
7 of your Workbook.
8-28
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
Now let’s go over the workbook question and answer.
Q:
Let’s say that a household member is in the U.S. Army Reserves and spends
two weeks on active duty in June of each year. If you are conducting an
interview on June 7 and his wife says that he is away on active duty with the
Army Reserve, what do you enter in ARMEDFORCES and why, __________?
A:
Enter 2 “No,” because the household member is only away for a short period of
time on active reserve training. Members of the reserve component of any
branch of the Armed Forces are only considered to be on active duty when they
have been called to active duty by military order and are currently on active
duty for several months.
However, if the household member was called to active duty to serve in Iraq, for
example, then you enter 1, “Yes.”
__________, please continue the interview with the ARMEDFORCES question.
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Are you now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school you completed or
the highest degree you received?
8-29
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
I have a Bachelor’s degree.
(Enter 16, Bachelor’s degree)
(Interrupt and say)
For personal interviews, always remember to show the household respondent the
Educational Attainment flashcard located in the NCVS Information Card Booklet
BEFORE asking this question.
Throughout this training, some flashcard page
references may be wrong in the instrument, but will be correct in the production
instrument. __________, please continue.
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
Are you currently attending or enrolled either full-time
or part-time in a college or university, trade or
vocational school?
(Interrupt and say)
This item is used to find out if a household member is attending or enrolled in school
either full or part time at the time of the interview. Precode (1), Regular school,
includes both public and private schools starting with kindergarten and continuing
through elementary, middle, and high school. If a household respondent answers
“No” to this item for a household member, enter Precode (5), “None of the above
schools.” Also, enter Precode (5) if the household member is attending a home
school, a school devoted entirely to special education, such as an alternative school,
or the person is working on completing his or her GED.
R:
No
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
8-30
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
__________, please continue.
SP_ORIGIN
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
(Interrupt and say)
For personal interviews, remember to always show the household respondent the
Hispanic Origin flashcard located in the NCVS Information Card Booklet BEFORE
asking this question. The booklet icon displayed in the top left of the Info Pane is a
reminder to refer to the NCVS Information Card Booklet when asking this question.
For this item, as well as other items requiring you to show a flashcard, you can also
display the flashcard information on your screen by pressing the F1 function key.
(Pause) Press F1 and look at the categories listed.
(Allow time)
Now press the ALT + F4 keys to exit the Help screen. It is very important to know
that ALT +F4 is the way you escape from or exit the Help screens. Does everyone
understand this?
In response to this question, John Zoe says that he is not Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino, so enter 2, No, and then press Enter.
__________, please continue.
RACE
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Please choose one or more races that you consider
yourself to be
(Interrupt and say)
8-31
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
As with the Hispanic Origin and Educational Attainment questions, when conducting
personal visit interviews, remember to ALWAYS show the household respondent
the Race flashcard located in the NCVS Information Card Booklet BEFORE asking
this question. Make sure to show the race flashcard no matter how obvious you think
the answer may be. For telephone interviews, read the answer categories to the
household respondent.
Notice that you can enter more than one race. Normally, you get straightforward
answers when asking the race question. However, if a household respondent
should refuse to answer this question and you cannot change his or her mind, press
the Ctrl + R keys to record that the respondent refused the question. Under no
circumstances are you to mark race by observation, probing, or asking a neighbor.
Since the Census Bureau bases race on self-identification, you must ask this race
question for each household member even when it seems obvious. Let’s talk about
race for a moment. When we use the term race on a Census Bureau survey, we are
asking whether the person is White, Black/African American, American Indian or
Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. In the NCVS we
ask for demographic characteristics such as race to learn about crime among many
detailed population groups (for example, African Americans, Asians, etc.)
Race does not equal skin color.
When you ask the race question, you are not asking about the color of a person’s
skin. You are looking for the racial group or groups with which that person most
closely identifies, or the race or races that person considers him/herself to be. For
example, a person whose physical features are White could consider herself Black
because the only parent who raised her was Black. In this case, if the person reports
8-32
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
that she is Black, regardless of what her skin color or physical features might be,
you must record her as Black.
Race is the race or races that the person considers him/herself to be.
The Census Bureau uses five different racial categories to classify a person’s race:
these are “White,” “Black or African American,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,”
“Asian,” and “Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.” However, a person may
use one or more of these categories to identify his/her race.
In response to this question, John Zoe says that he is White so enter 1, White, then
press Enter.
___________, please continue.
BRTHDATEMO
FR:
What is Maria Zoe’s date of birth?
R:
July 15, 1983.
(Enter 7, July)
BRTHDATEDY
(Enter 15)
BRTHDATEYR
(Enter 1983)
VFYAGE
FR:
That would make Maria Zoe 33 years old (as of last
month). Is that correct?
R:
Yes.
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if training is conducted
after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
8-33
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Is Maria Zoe now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has she never been married?
(Interrupt and say)
Notice that this question includes the instruction: “If in doubt, ask.” You only need to
ask this question if you don’t already know the answer.
Please Continue.
R:
She’s married.
(Enter 1, Married)
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Is Maria Zoe now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Maria Zoe
completed or the highest degree she received?
R:
She has a Bachelor’s degree.
(Enter 16, Bachelor’s degree)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Is Maria Zoe currently attending or enrolled either
full-time or part-time in a college or university, trade
or vocational school?
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
8-34
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
SP_ORIGIN
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Is Maria Zoe Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
RACE
FR:
R:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Please choose one or more races that Maria Zoe
considers herself to be.
White
(Enter 1, White)
BRTHDATEMO
FR:
What is Rosa Nombre’s date of birth?
R:
August 12, 1956
(Enter 8, August)
BRTHDATEDY
(Enter 12)
BRTHDATEYR
(Enter 1956)
VFYAGE
FR:
That would make Rosa Nombre 60 years old (as of
last month). Is that correct?
R:
Yes
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if training is conducted
after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Is Rosa Nombre now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has she never been married?
R:
She’s widowed.
(Enter 2, Widowed)
8-35
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
ARMEDFORCES
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Is Rosa Nombre now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
EDUCATIONATTAIN FR:
R:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Rosa Nombre
completed or the highest degree she received?
I don’t know.
(Enter Ctrl+D, then press Enter)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Is Rosa Nombre currently attending or enrolled either
full-time or part-time in a college or university, trade
or vocational school?
No
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
SP_ORIGIN
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Is Rosa Nombre Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
RACE
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Please choose one or more races that Rosa Nombre
considers herself to be.
R:
White
(Enter 1, White)
(Interrupt and say)
8-36
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the ROSTERREVIEW screen don’t press Enter just yet. At this screen you want
to make sure that the information you entered is correct. Suppose when you get to
this screen, the respondent tells you that he is late for a meeting and can’t finish
his interview. However, he tells you to call him back later to complete the interview.
Survey procedures require that you complete the household respondent’s interview
before you can interview any other eligible household members. At this point, you
have two options. You can either exit the case and call John Zoe later to complete
his interview before completing interviews with any other eligible household
members. Or, if there are other eligible household members available to be
interviewed at the time of your visit, you must pick and interview a new household
respondent in order to interview any other eligible members who are available to
be interviewed.
In the next exercise, we will go over the process of picking a new household
respondent when this situation occurs. But before we continue with that exercise,
does anyone have any questions about building a household roster?
(Answer questions)
8-37
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #2 –Picking a New Household Respondent
Case ID: 00000003
(Approximate time: 45 minutes)
In the previous exercise, John Zoe, the household respondent, could not
complete his interview. However, his wife, Maria Zoe, is also present during your
initial contact with the household and is available to be interviewed. In order to
complete her interview now and that of any other eligible household member
present, you must select another qualified household respondent. Turn to page
8 in you NCVS-522.1 Classroom Workbook and review the eligibility criteria for
a household respondent.
(Allow time)
Click on the “New HHR” tab for a display of all members of the household who are
eligible to be the household respondent. At this screen you pick another eligible
household respondent. You can only use the New HHR tab to select a new
household respondent if the original household respondent's interview DID NOT
progress to the NCVS screen questions beginning with TIMEATADDRESS.
Otherwise, you must end the original household respondent's interview by exiting
the case using the F10 function and then re-entering the case to select a new
household respondent.
Since John Zoe’s interview ended before getting to the TIMEATADDRESS question,
you can select a new household respondent using the New HHR tab. Besides John
Zoe, Maria Zoe is the only other household member present. Since she is eligible to
8-38
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
serve as the new household respondent, you can enter her line number, which is 2,
at the NEWHHR tab. Enter 2 at this screen. (Pause)
Since John Zoe’s interview progressed through the building characteristics and
household roster questions, Maria Zoe’s interview begins at the ROSTERREVIEW
question. Notice that the name at the bottom of the screen has changed from John
Zoe to Maria Zoe.
As mentioned previously, at the ROSTERREVIEW screen you are given the
opportunity to review selected information that you have entered. If at this screen
you indicated that the information listed is NOT correct, in subsequent screens you
will be allowed to change the name, relationship, date of birth, sex, and marital
status for any of the persons listed. For this case, the information listed is correct,
so enter 1.
Everyone should be at the TIMEATADDRESS question. Always read the
introduction, which lets the respondent know that before asking the crime questions,
you have a few questions to ask relating to where and why crimes occur. If the
respondent answer is in fractions or partial months and the respondent has lived at
the address more than one year, round up or down a year based on the number of
months. For example, if the respondent says “5 years and 3 months,” round down
to “5 years.” However, if the respondent says “5 years and 6 months,” round up to
“6 years.” If a respondent has lived at the sample address for less than 12 months,
enter code “0,” “Less than one year.”
_________, please continue the interview with Maria Zoe. Remember to tell us what
you enter at each screen as you proceed through the interview.
8-39
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
TIMEATADDRESS
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
We just moved here two months ago.
(Enter 0, Less than year)
MONTHSATADDRESS
FR:
Ask or verify
How many months?
(If the FR asks the question, remind them that they can simply verify the information
since it was given in the answer to the previous question. For example, “You say
you moved in two months ago, is that correct?)
R:
Two.
(Enter 2)
(Interrupt and say)
For this next item, TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS, we want to know how many times the
respondent has moved in the last 5 years. For those respondents who move
frequently, such as military personnel moving from base to base, you may have
problems getting them to remember exactly how many times they have moved. In
this case, probe to get their best estimate.
_________, please continue.
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS
FR:
Altogether, how many times have you moved in the
8-40
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
last 5 years, that is since (date)?
R:
Just once.
(Enter 1)
BUSINESS
FR:
Does anyone in this household operate a business
from this address?
R:
Yes, my mother does tailoring from our home.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
Since Maria Zoe said that someone in the household operates a business from the
sample address, the next question is asked to determine if the business operated
from the
sample address is considered recognizable
or unrecognizable.
Remember, to be considered recognizable there must be a sign on the sample
household’s property that is visible to the public from outside the sample unit.
____________, please continue.
BUSINESSSIGN
FR:
Is there a sign on the premises or some other
indication to the general public that a business is
operated from this address?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
Since the business operated from the Zoe household is unrecognizable, remember
any theft from the unrecognizable business operated by a sample household
8-41
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
member will be included in the NCVS. (Pause)
You will now begin “Household Respondent’s Screen Questions.” SQTHEFT is the
beginning of what we call the “screen questions” or “screener/screening questions.”
The purpose of these questions is to remind the household respondent of crimes
that may have occurred during the last six months. These questions cover a wide
variety of situations and are designed to give respondents specific examples of
types of crimes that are typically reported for the NCVS and could be overlooked by
respondents. These screen items attempt to ensure that we collect ALL incidents of
crime that occurred during each household member’s six-month reference period.
The kinds of things these questions will help the household respondent remember
are:
1. Items which might have been taken;
2. Different types of crimes which may have occurred; and
3. Different places where crimes may have happened.
Also, SQTHEFT is the first item in which the respondent’s reference period is
displayed. For those respondents who were interviewed previously and their
interview was no longer than six months ago, the start date of the current reference
period is the date of their previous interview. For those respondents who were
interviewed more than 6 months prior to the current interview date, or were never
interviewed before, the start date will be on the first day of the month 6 months prior
to the current month of interview. (Pause) The reference period extends up to the
day before the current interview date. Also, although the reference period is
automatically filled, it is important to understand why you may see different
reference periods for different respondents.
8-42
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now let’s cover the proper way to ask the screen questions. Notice that SQTHEFT
has multiple subcategories. After reading the introductory statements for SQTHEFT,
ask the question as worded, pausing briefly after each subcategory. Pause long
enough to let the respondent know that you are switching subcategories, but not
long enough to make the respondent think you are expecting a response after each
subcategory. On the telephone, do not pause too long between the subcategories
or the respondent may think that you expect an answer after each subcategory. If
the respondent answers “Yes” after a subcategory in a screen question, continue
reading the remaining subcategories for that screen question before entering 1,
“Yes”. This is to ensure that we do not miss any crime incidents. After reading all
categories for a screening question, pause long enough to allow the respondent to
reply. If the respondent doesn’t give you an answer, then ask the question, “Did any
incidents of this type happen to you?”
If you get a “Yes” response at a screen question, enter precode 1, “Yes” and then
ask the respondent “How many times” the reported incident occurred. At this screen,
record the total number of incidents reported at the screening question along with a
brief description of what happened during each incident.
Sometimes a respondent may report an incident that was already reported in a
previous screen question. If you are in doubt about an incident already reported,
probe by asking something like: “Is this the same break-in that you mentioned
earlier?” Also, if a respondent reports a crime that doesn’t relate to a particular
screen question you are asking, you still record the incident in the screen question
where it is reported.
For example, let’s say that you ask a respondent the following question in
SQMVTHEFT, regarding any motor vehicles owned by household members:
8-43
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
“During the last 6 months were any of the vehicles stolen or used without
permission? Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo, hubcap, or
battery? Did anyone steal any gas from them? OR Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal
any vehicle or parts attached to them?”
The respondent replies with: “No, but I had my wallet stolen two weeks ago.” If this
happens, record the theft of the wallet in SQMVTHEFT even though the incident
doesn’t relate to this screen question. Analysts are interested in seeing which
screen questions remind respondents of specific types of crimes, so it is very
important that you record each crime incident in the screen question in which the
respondent reports it, even if the screen question has nothing to do with the crime
reported. Are there any questions about recording the crime incident in the screener
question where it is reported?
(Answer questions)
Although the screen questions dealing with the household are asked only of the
household respondent, any household member could report a household crime, too.
If any eligible household member reports a household crime that has not been
reported earlier in the interview, accept the incident at the screen question where
the respondent reports it. This is true even if the incident doesn’t relate to the
specific screen question. However, if more than one household member reports the
same household crime, only record the household crime incident in one household
member’s screen questions. For example, a household respondent might report
that in May the family van was stolen from their driveway. When you interview the
household respondent’s spouse, she also reports the theft of the family van in May.
If you are sure that both reports are for the same incident, do not record the incident
in the spouse’s screen questions. However, if you are not certain that both
8-44
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
household members reported the same household crime, record the incident in both
household members’ screen questions. In the incident section of the instrument, you
will have the opportunity to indicate whether or not you believe the incidents are
duplicates.
The only situations that require you to record the same crime incident in each
household member’s screen question are those in which more than one household
member reports that he/she was a victim of a personal crime of violence or a
personal theft with contact.
Also, sometimes respondents report the theft of articles belonging to a household
member under 12 years of age, such as a bicycle left outside the house. This can
be considered a crime against the household, because the theft happened near the
home. If the respondent mentions this type of incident, record it in the screen
question. However, DON'T include the theft of items belonging to household
members under 12 years of age when the theft takes place away from home; for
example, a bicycle stolen from a school playground. Also, do not record any threats
of physical harm or attacks to household members under 12 years of age. Since
household members who are under 12 years of age are not eligible respondents for
the NCVS, these crimes fall out of scope for the NCVS.
Finally, when an incident is reported in a screen question, the subsequent screen
questions will begin with the phrase “Other than any incidents already mentioned.”
Make sure to read this phrase as you ask the subsequent screen questions since
we want to remind the respondent to exclude any incidents mentioned previously.
(The reference period month and year may differ from what the trainee
reads depending on when training is conducted.)
8-45
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
_________, please continue the interview.
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you in the last 6 months, that is, since
(date).
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings outside your home such as a garden
hose or lawn furnitureThings belonging to children in the householdThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQBREAKIN
FR:
Has anyone --
Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing
8-46
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
--
past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a
screen, or entering through an open door or
window?
Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get
into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
--
Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
(Interrupt and say)
This question is asked only of the household respondent. In SQBREAKIN, include
both break-ins and attempted break-ins of a household respondent’s
home or
lodging, and second homes or vacation homes owned by the household
respondent, as long as the homes were not rented out to someone else at the time
of the incident. We are also asking about incidents in which the offender did not
have the right to be in the household respondent’s hotel or motel rooms, attached
garages, or buildings on his or her property.
For this question, the respondent answers “No” so enter 2 to proceed to the next
question, SQTOTALVEHICLES, which is also asked only of the household
respondent. Take a look at the question. (Pause) This item asks about the total
number of motor vehicles owned by the entire household during the 6-month
reference period. After asking the question, you will remind the household
respondent to include all vehicles that were owned by household members at any
time during the last 6 months, even if they no longer own the vehicle.
8-47
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
We will now toggle from the instrument to the NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for
Field Representatives. To do this, press Alt + Tab. Once in the manual, press Ctrl
+ F to be able to search the document.
Go to page C2-16 in your NCVS-550
Interviewing Manual and read Topic 5, Ownership of Motor Vehicles. The reading
ends on page C2-17.
(Allow time)
Q.
If a respondent sold one car during the reference period and bought a truck
during the same period, what do you enter in SQTOTALVEHICLES,
_____________?
A.
2, for two vehicles.
Q.
If a respondent uses a minivan solely to carry equipment for his recognizable
carpet installation
business,
do you count
this
business
vehicle in
SQTOTALVEHICLES, _______________?
A.
No, because the business is recognizable.
______________, please continue the interview.
SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any member of that household during the last 6
months? Includes those you no longer own.
R:
We have two cars.
(Enter 2)
SQMVTHEFT
FR:
During the last 6 months, were any of the vehicles -
8-48
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
----
Stolen or used without permission?
Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
(Interrupt and say)
This question asks about the theft and attempted theft of any motor vehicle, as well
as any parts attached to a motor vehicle owned by a household member during the
last 6 months. This also includes items attached to the inside of the vehicle, such
as a CD player, satellite radio, CB radio, steering wheel, and so on. If the respondent
thinks there was an attempted theft, accept his or her judgment.
A respondent may answer in SQMVTHEFT that someone stole packages or clothing
from a vehicle, or things that were not actually part of the vehicle. If this happens,
always remember to record incidents in the screen question where the respondent
reported the incident, even if there is another screen question that is more
applicable.
Now let’s get back to the interview. There was no theft or attempted theft of any
motor vehicle, as well as any parts attached to a motor vehicle owned by any
household member during the last 6 months, so enter 2, “No”, at SQMVTHEFT.
The next four questions ask about attacks, threats of physical harm, thefts,
8-49
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
attempted attacks and thefts, and incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
committed by people known to the respondent, such as someone at work or school,
a neighbor or friend, a relative or family member, some other person the respondent
knows or has met, or someone the respondent does not know.
These threats can include verbal threats of attack or rape, and threats made with a
weapon. However, they don’t include threats made by telephone, email, or regular
mail.
_________, please continue the interview. Remember to tell us what you enter at
each screen as you proceed through the interview.
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Since (date), were you attacked or threatened OR did
you have something stolen from you ---
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or schoolIn places such as a storage shed or laundry
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lo-t
At such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
---
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
8-50
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways -------
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stickBy something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
OR
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Did you have something stolen
from you or were you attacked or threatened by -----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
8-51
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Have you been forced
or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual activity by ---
Someone you didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
The next two questions are considered “catch-all” questions. These questions give
the respondent another opportunity to report things that are believed to be crimes
and may or may not have been reported to the police. Because these questions are
more general, they may encourage the respondent to report some types of crimes
that are not asked about elsewhere in the screen questions.
_____________, please continue the interview.
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, did you call the police to
report something that happened to you which you
8-52
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
thought was a crime?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did
NOT report to the police?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
Now I’d like to talk a little bit about the screener questions that we just asked. We
know that respondents and field representatives alike sometimes get impatient
during these questions, because they can sound repetitive, but there are reasons
we ask the questions from so many different perspectives.
Context is an important factor in people’s ability to remember events. For example,
a respondent may not recall a crime that happened at school when you ask the
screener question about theft, but may remember it when you ask the screener that
asks about the location of possible victimizations. These shifts in the focus of the
screener questions and what may appear to be redundancies are a crucial part of
the crime screener, to help respondents recall events they have experienced.
Are there any questions about the screener section?
(Answer questions)
The next screen, PRESENTFORSQS, is used to determine if anyone was present
or could have overheard all or part of the respondent’s interview. If you are
8-53
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
conducting the interview by telephone, enter Precode (11), Telephone. Precodes
(12) through (18) are for personal visit interviews; enter all that apply. When
completing this item, don’t include yourself, the respondent, the person for whom
you are taking a proxy interview, or any Census observers. (Pause)
For this interview, no one besides the respondent was present so enter Precode
(12) at PRESENTFORSQS. Also enter 1 at the next two screens, NO_CRIMES and
ENDSCREENER. Since the respondent didn’t report any crime incidents, the
interview proceeds to the socio-demographic questions. The socio-demographic
questions contain the topics of disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender
identity, veteran status, and employment. These questions are not always asked
at every enumeration period. Lesson 15 in your NCVS-521 Self Study provides
more information on these questions including why we ask them.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions
demographic characteristics.
about
your
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
8-54
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition do you have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEAVING_HOME
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were
you born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I was born in the U.S.
(Enter 1)
The NCVS includes a question on sexual orientation.
It is asked of those
respondents 16 years of age and older who answer the NCVS by self-interview.
8-55
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
This will never be asked during a proxy interview. Sexual orientation is the direction
of one’s romantic or sexual attraction to members of the same sex, opposite sex,
or both sexes. There are tremendous gaps in information about crime victimization
as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons. By
collecting sexual orientation data, researchers, policy makers, health providers,
and advocates will be able to identify and address crimes affecting the LGBT
community.
A respondent may ask you why you are asking them questions about sexual
orientation and gender identity. If so, reference the FAQs tab and read the
appropriate response. Definitions of some terms are provided on the question
screen. Do not mark this question by observation or probing. Read the question
exactly as worded.
Please note that the training instrument is a different than the production
instrument. In the production instrument, a flashcard icon will appear on the sexual
orientation and gender identity question screens with a page number that
corresponds to your current NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet.
ORIENTATION_FEMALE
FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think
of yourself?
------
R:
Lesbian or gay
Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
Why are you asking me this?
(Interrupt and say)
8-56
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Click on the FAQs tab and choose precode 11, “Why does the NCVS ask about
sexual orientation and gender identity?”
FR:
Research has shown that sexual orientation and
gender identity
are correlated
with crime
victimization. These questions are included in the
NCVS to better understand the relationship between
these characteristics and experiences with criminal
victimization. Additionally, discrimination against
persons because of their sexual orientation and
gender identity is prohibited by federal hate crime
statutes and the 2013 reauthorized Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA). Since the NCVS includes
measures of hate crime and the provision of victim
services, the inclusion of these items in the NCVS
will allow researchers to better address policyrelevant questions about victimization and victim
services.
R:
Well, I’m straight.
(Interrupt and say)
If you were conducting a personal visit interview you would show the
respondent the appropriate SO_ Flash Card in the Information Card
Booklet. Remember that screens with an associated flashcard will have
an open book icon in the upper left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 1 to return to the instrument)
The NCVS includes questions on gender identity which is asked of respondents
age 16 years of age and older who answer the NCVS by self-interview. Gender
identity is a person’s internal sense of gender, that is, being male, female, or a
8-57
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
blend of both. As stated in the sexual orientation question section of this self-study,
there are tremendous gaps in information about crime victimization as it relates to
LGBT persons. Do not mark this question by observation or probing. Read the
question exactly as worded.
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your
original birth certificate?
R:
Male
(Interrupt and say)
If you were conducting a personal visit interview, you would show the
respondent the first question on the GI Flash Card in the Information
Card Booklet. Remember that screens with an associated flashcard will
have an open book icon in the upper left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 2)
GENID_DESCRIBE FR:
R:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female
or transgender?
Female
(Interrupt and say)
If you were conducting a personal visit interview, you would show the
respondent the second question on the GI Flash Card in the Information
Card Booklet. Remember that screens with an associated flashcard will
have an open book icon in the upper left hand corner of the Info pane.
(Enter 1)
8-58
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
GENID_CONFIRM
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Just to confirm, you were assigned male at birth
and now describe yourself as female. Is that
correct?
R:
I don’t want to answer.
(Enter 3)
The veteran status questions are asked of all persons 18 years of age and older.
After the first interview, the veteran status questions are asked of those 18 to 39
years of age who previously answered “Never served in the military,” “Don’t Know,”
or “Refused.”
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
Yes, I was in the Navy.
(Enter 4)
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
FR:
R:
When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces?
I served in August 2005 to 2009.
(Enter 11)
The instrument then moves on to the employment questions. The employment
questions are asked of all household members who are 16 years of age or older.
These questions are important since the respondent’s job may be a reason the
respondent was or was not a victim of crime. The first question, JOBLASTWEEK,
asks whether or not the respondent had a job or was working at a business during
the week prior to the interview. If necessary, you can tell the respondent to NOT
8-59
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
include volunteer work or work around the house.
If you get a “No” answer, then ask if the person worked at a job or business during
the last 6 months. If the respondent had a job during the week prior to the interview
or for at least two consecutive weeks during the 6 months prior to the interview, you
will ask about the respondent’s occupation. The occupations listed are considered
to be jobs that tend to place a person at a higher risk for becoming a crime victim.
You also ask if the respondent works for a private company, the Federal
government, a local government, or is self-employed;
whether the respondent is
employed by a college or university; and the type of area where the respondent
works. (Pause)
These employment questions differ from those asked in the Crime Incident Report.
As already mentioned, these questions are asked of all respondents who are at least
16 years of age and they relate to the respondent’s job during the week prior to
the interview. However, the employment questions in the Crime Incident Report
are asked of any respondent, but only if the incident happened while the respondent
was working or on duty.
Another difference between these two series of employment questions is that the
employment questions in the screen section are designed to obtain less detailed
information about a respondent’s job, while the employment questions in the Crime
Incident Report are designed to obtain more detailed information about the
respondent’s job and employer at the time of the incident.
Now let's continue the interview. _________, please continue.
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST
8-60
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
For the next question, JOBDESCRIPTION, if you are conducting a personal visit
interview, show the respondent the employment flashcard on page 16 in your
Information Card Booklet before asking the question. Note that the training instrument
references the wrong page number, but the production instrument will reference the
correct page number in the Information Card Booklet. This flashcard will make it easier
for the respondent to identify into which category his or her job fits best.
For telephone interviews, read the main headings, such as “Medical Profession” and
“Mental Health Services Field,” until you get a “Yes” response.
Many of your respondents will fall into the “Something else” category. If someone
wonders why their job is not specifically listed, briefly explain that these jobs were
identified as “high risk” jobs and may increase or decrease a person’s likelihood of
becoming a crime victim. Researchers use the entries in the “Something else”
category looking for other high risk occupations to add to the existing list.
__________, please continue the interview.
JOBDESCRIPTION FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
Ask or verify
Which of the following best describes your job?
8-61
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Were you employed in the…
Medical Profession?
Mental Health Services Field?
Teaching Profession?
Law Enforcement or Security Field?
Retail Sales?
Transportation Field?
Something else?
R:
Something else.
(Enter 17,Something else)
JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC
FR:
R:
Please specify the job.
I’m a Dividends Analyst.
(Enter Dividends Analyst)
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
FR:
Ask or verify
Is your job with --
R:
A private company, business, or individual for
wages?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Private company, business, or individual for
wages)
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
FR:
R:
Are you employed by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-62
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
FR:
While working at your job, do you work mostly in ----
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
OR
-R:
Combination of these?
In a city.
(Enter 1, A city)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
(Interrupt and say)
The next question asks about household income. For personal interviews, always
remember to show the household respondent the Household Income flashcard
located on page 18 in the Information Card Booklet BEFORE asking this question.
Note that the production instrument will always reference the correct pages in your
current NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet. (Pause)
Now turn to page B3-61 in your NCVS-550 manual and read “What to Include” and
“What to Exclude” in this item. The reading ends on page B3-62.
(Allow time)
Q:
If a man receives $500 from his grandfather every other month, and the
grandfather does not live with him, do you include this sum as household
income, _______?
8-63
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
A:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Yes, since the respondent is receiving this money every other month and the
grandfather does not live with him.
Q:
What if a person received a lump sum inheritance of $10,000 from an uncle
__________?
A:
No, since this is just a one-time lump sum inheritance.
Q:
Should the respondent include money received from a tax refund and the sale
of his car as part of his household total income?
A:
No, since tax refunds are not included in household income.
___________, please continue the interview.
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
FR:
R:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Which category represents the TOTAL combined
income of all members of this HOUSEHOLD during
the past 12 months? This includes money from jobs,
net income from business, farm or rent, pensions,
dividends, interest, Social Security payments, and
any other money income received by members of this
HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or older.
Category 23
(Enter 23, $50,000-$74,999)
(Interrupt and say)
If the respondent mentions a specific day or time to call or not to call, at the
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY screen, you are given the opportunity to review or update
the interview time preferences. You practiced updating the Interview Time
8-64
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Preferences earlier in training, so for this exercise just enter 1 to continue at this
screen.
_________, please continue.
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
FR:
What is the telephone number where you would like
to be called?
R:
It’s (555) 555-1212.
(Enter 555-555-1212)
RESPONDENTPHONETYPE
FR:
What type of phone is this (for example, a home,
office, or cell phone)?
R:
It’s a home phone.
(Enter 1, Home)
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
FR:
R:
Was this respondent’s interview conducted in a
language other than English?
No
(Enter 2, No)
This concludes Maria Zoe’s interview. Enter 1 at the ENDPERSON screen.
(Allow time)
At NEXTPERSON, you only read the names of the people whose interview status
is “NEED SELF” and ask to speak to them. Also, you will see “DONE-Int” (for done
interview) under the interview status column for persons(s) you already interviewed.
8-65
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Q:
What are the names of the people you would ask to speak to?
A:
Rosa Nombre or John Zoe.
Thank you.
We already know John Zoe is unavailable. Maria Zoe tells you that her mother, Rosa
Nombre is not available to be interviewed at this time. Therefore, at the
NEXTPERSON screen enter 33, “No other person available now.” (Pause) At
REFCBBREAK_CP enter 2, Callback, since Rosa Nombre and John Zoe are not
available at the time of your interview with Maria Zoe. You must call back the
household to complete John Zoe’s and Rosa Nombre’s interviews.
____________, what are you instructed to do at the PERSAPPT screen?
(TRAINEE: Press Control+F7 to enter appointment information for this person
in Case Level Notes and enter 1 to continue.)
Thank you.
Press Ctrl+F7 and enter that you need to call back the household to complete John
Zoe’s and Rosa Nombre’s interviews. Whenever you have to write text in which you
refer to a respondent, such as the screen questions or item summaries, you must
always use the respondent’s line number and not the respondent’s name. However,
it is acceptable to use the respondent’s name when entering text in the Notes Editor
as well as any other pertinent information such as address location, directions, and
so on in the Case Level Notes. This is particularly important when you have difficult,
potential, and real Type A cases. Enter a note that you need to call back the
8-66
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
household to complete John Zoe’s and Rosa Nombre’s interview. Also, enter a date
and time to contact them. When you are done entering this note, press the F10
function key or click on the F10 icon on the toolbar to exit the “Notes Editor.”
(Allow time)
Next, click the “Yes” button to the save the notes entered and OK to the pop-up
message. Then press 1 to continue at PERSAPPT.
(Allow time)
At the THANKYOU_INDIV screen, you thank Maria Zoe, then enter 1 to continue.
(Pause) You don’t need to make any changes to the telephone number and you
don’t need to access the Interview Time Preferences application, so at the VERIFY
screen enter 2. (Pause)
At the “Case Level Notes Editor,” you don't need to enter any new notes so press
the F10 function key or click on the F10 icon on the toolbar to exit the “Notes Editor”
and, pCHI will appear automatically. Then the CAPI Instrument goes to the Case
Management Case List. Be sure to click OK to successfully update the database.
(Allow time)
Let’s go through the pCHI screens. After exiting the NCVS instrument, the pCHI
automatically appears. At the CTATEMPT screen, enter 1. Since this was a
replacement household, we did a personal visit to conduct the interview.
__________, please walk us through the entries for the next pCHI screens.
8-67
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1, at time of contact attempt)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible
persons)
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 1, made contact with John Zoe)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 2, partial interview follow up required)
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, we started interviewing John Zoe, but he had to leave before we could
ask the screener questions, so we changed the household respondent to Maria and
completed her interview.
pNONINTER
(Enter 1, inconvenient time)
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98, no concerns)
(Interrupt and say)
Since John did not have any concerns about completing his interview, select
Precode 98. But look at Precodes 1-5; note that these are for other situations where
a respondent is reluctant. The fact that this was an inconvenient time for John was
recorded in pNONINTER, so we don’t need to record it again here.
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2, scheduled an appointment)
(Interrupt and say)
After entering any strategies used for John, the instrument cycles to the next
8-68
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
respondent, line 2, who is Maria Zoe. __________, please continue.
PCONTACTPER (LN 2)
(Enter 1, made contact with Maria Zoe)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1, completed interview)
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98, no concerns)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 98, no strategies)
PCONTACTPER (LN 3)
(Enter 3, noncontact)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1, person not home)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2, scheduled appointment)
After entering the strategy used for the last eligible person, you exit the pCHI. Click
“OK” at the pop-up screen that tells you that the database has been successfully
updated.
Notice that the letter “P” now appears in the “Status” column for this case. This tells
you that you have started or accessed the case but have not gotten an interview for
one or more persons in the household.
Click on the “Assignment” tab in the Details Pane. Locate the field labeled
“Outcome” which is beneath the “Control Number” field. Using your right mouse pad
button, click on the code, 204, entered in this field.
(Allow time)
_________, please read the description for this outcome code.
8-69
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(TRAINEE: Sufficient partial – follow-up needed)
Thank you.
This means that you have completed the household respondent’s interview but
need to follow up with the household to interview one or more other persons in the
sample unit.
If the interview for the household respondent was incomplete, outcome code 202,
“Accessed instrument – insufficient partial” would have been displayed. We will
discuss a few other outcome codes later in training. This concludes this exercise.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
PRACTICE EXERCISE #3 – Replacement Household by Telephone
Case ID: 00000006
(Approximate time: 30 minutes)
In this exercise, we will go over what to do when you discover a replacement
household during a telephone interview. This can occur when a household has
moved but doesn’t change their telephone number.
Highlight case 373 Alexander Blvd. and press F2 to get into the NCVS CAPI
instrument.
8-70
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
Enter 1 on the “This is a Training Case” screen.
At the START_CP screen enter 1, Telephone interview. Also, enter 1 at the next two
screens, SHOW_CP_ROSTER and SHOW_INFO_CP.
(Allow time)
At this point in the interview, you don’t know that the household has moved.
Therefore, at the HHNUM_VR_CP screen enter 2 “No” indicating that this is not a
replacement household. Then at the DIAL_CP screen enter 1, Someone answers.
(Allow time)
____________, please be our FR for this exercise. Remember to tell us what you
enter at each screen as you proceed through the interview.
HELLO_1_CP
FR:
Hello. This is (TRAINEE’S NAME) from the U.S.
Census Bureau.
May I speak with Jane Voe?
R:
This is Jane.
(Enter 1, This is the correct person)
GETLETTER_CP
FR:
I’m calling concerning
the National Crime
Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is
conducting a survey here and throughout the Nation
to determine how often people are victims of crime.
We contacted your household for this survey several
8-71
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
months ago. Did you receive our introductory letter in
the mail?
R:
No we didn’t.
(Enter 2, No)
VERADD_CP
FR:
I have your address listed as
373 Alexander Blvd.
Any Town, CO 99984
Is that your exact address?
R:
No, we moved three months ago.
(Enter 2, Moved (NOT same address))
MOVED_CP
FR:
Since your address rather than you personally was
chosen for inclusion in the survey, no interview is
required of you at this time. Thank you for your past
cooperation. The help you gave us was an important
contribution to the National Crime Victimization
Survey data.
(Enter 1 to continue)
(Interrupt and say)
Be sure to confirm that all members of the HH roster moved out. As you can see,
when you entered code 1 at MOVED_CP indicating that the household moved, a
hard error message popped up. This is because you
indicated in the
HHNUM_VR_CP screen that this was not a replacement
household but in
VERADD_CP screen you found out that the household moved.
________, please read what the message says.
8-72
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(TRAINEE: This case needs to be made a replacement household. Press
GOTO to continue.)
Thank you.
Click on the “Goto” button located in the bottom right corner of the error message
screen. (Pause) Notice that the instrument takes you back to the screen that is
highlighted, which is HHNUM_VR_CP.
Enter 1 in HHNUM_VR_CP. Since this is a telephone interview, the instrument then
goes to CK_REPLACE FOLLOWUP_CP, which says, “You are attempting to code
a replacement household during a telephone interview. A personal visit followup is
required to verify new respondents have moved into the sample address before this
case can be coded as a replacement.” Since this household was contacted by
telephone, we don’t know if a new household has moved into the sample address.
Enter Precode 1, “Possible replacement household,” at this item.
In order for a replacement household to be created, new respondents have to have
moved into the sample address. You must confirm this by following up with a
personal visit. If no one has moved into the sample address, code the case as Type
B, vacant.
You should now be at the VERIFY screen. Enter Precode (2) to exit the case. At the
“Case Level Notes Editor,” type a note indicating that the household members
moved but did not change their telephone number.
(Allow time)
8-73
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Press the F10 key to exit the "Case Level Notes Editor" and click “Yes” that you want
to save the note entered for this case. Then click OK on the pop-up message.
Since this was a contact attempt, we have to record information about it in pCHI.
Use pCHI for all contact attempts, regardless of their outcome.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2, telephone, outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1, yes)
At pCASECONTACT enter Precode 2, made contact with only non-eligible persons,
because Jane Voe is no longer eligible to be interviewed at the sample address.
Does everyone understand that?
(Answer questions)
At NCTTEL, select Precode 6, spoke with ineligible person. Use this precode in
situations like the one we just went over -- when you are coding the original case as
a replacement household during a personal visit or during a telephone contact, and
there is a possibility that a replacement household exists because the previous
household members have moved out.
Finally, enter Precode 5, at STRATEGS, “Called household,” to document the
strategy used. Then press enter to exit the pCHI.
This concludes this exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
8-74
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #4 - Type A Noninterview
Case ID: 00000002
(Approximate time: 20 minutes)
This practice exercise covers what to do when a sample unit is a Type A
noninterview. As you learned in the pre-classroom self-study, sometimes you may
not be able to get interviews for the entire household. (Pause)
Type A noninterviews are one of four types of NCVS noninterviews you will
encounter. Types A, B, and C noninterviews relate to the entire household or sample
unit, while a Type Z noninterview relates to an individual household member who is
NOT the household respondent. (Pause)
Some noninterviews can be avoided, but there are some that are beyond your
control. Type A noninterviews are often avoidable. A Type A noninterview consists
of a household occupied by eligible respondents, but, for some reason, none of
these persons can be interviewed. Remember, you must complete at least the
household respondent’s interview otherwise the entire household will be classified
as a Type A noninterview. Because Type A noninterviews are often avoidable, it is
part of your job to keep Type A noninterviews to a minimum. (Pause) To avoid Type
A noninterviews, make your visits or calls when people are likely to be home. Often
this means contacting respondents in the early evening and on Saturdays.
When you make your initial visit to a sample unit and find that no one is home, try
to find out from neighbors, a janitor, the rental office, or from some other source,
when it is likely that the household members will be home. However, in keeping with
our confidentiality rules, don’t mention the National Crime Victimization Survey by
8-75
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
name when asking neighbors, janitors, and so on to help you determine when
household members will be home. Instead, identify yourself and the fact that you are
from the United States Census Bureau. Tell the person you are talking to that you
are trying to contact someone at the specific address and ask if they know when it
is likely that someone would be there. Then revisit the sample address at that time.
If the sources that you try are unable to provide any useful information, try visiting
the sample unit at a different time of day on the next visit. If your initial visit was
during the morning and you didn’t find anyone at home, then try visiting in the
afternoon or evening. We also provide a few forms that you can leave at the
household to let them know that you have been there and plan to return.
Find Form 11-38, Request for Appointment, and 11-38A in your materials.
(Hold up a copy of Forms 11-38 and 11-38A. If your region uses other
methods for requesting an appointment, mention them now.)
(Allow time)
Fill out the top of this form before leaving it at the address. This “Request for
Appointment” form says, “There was no one here when I called to obtain information
for an important Census survey. In order to do this I plan to...” and then you can
check a box that says when you will return to conduct the interview. Space is also
provided on this form for you to enter the date and time when you intend to return,
along with your name and telephone number. The bottom half of the form contains
the identical information. Fill out both parts of this form and then separate them.
Leave the top half at the sample address and keep the bottom half for your records.
This will be your reminder to revisit the household at the time and day noted on the
8-76
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
“Request for Appointment” form. Make sure that you keep your appointments and,
if an emergency will keep you from making an appointment, notify the household, if
possible.
Form 11-38A says the same thing as Form 11-38. However, it is designed to be
hung on a door knob and it is perforated.
You will receive a supply of both forms to use in making interview appointments.
Are there any questions so far?
(Answer questions)
Another Type A noninterview that is often avoidable happens when a sample
household refuses to be interviewed. In order for you to sell this survey to a
“reluctant” respondent, you must be able to answer his or her questions about the
survey.
Q:
What do you say to a person who objects to participating in the NCVS because
he or she feels that it is an invasion of privacy, _______?
A:
I would stress the Census Bureau’s excellent record concerning confidentiality
and tell the respondent that the information is kept confidential by law. (OR
SOMETHING SIMILAR)
Thank you. People object to participating in surveys for many different reasons.
However, people are occasionally reluctant to participate because they don’t
understand why the survey is being taken, how important it is, or how the information
will be used. That is why you must be prepared to provide this type of information
8-77
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
about the NCVS. (Pause)
Fortunately, the National Crime Victimization Survey has had fewer problems with
reluctant respondents than some of our other surveys. Perhaps most people are
aware that the crime problems in this country affect everyone. In any event, make
sure that you can explain the importance of the NCVS and its many uses.
In your training materials, you should have an NCVS Fact Sheet, NCVS-110. Take
it out now.
(Hold up a copy of the NCVS-110 Fact Sheet)
(Allow time)
The NCVS Fact Sheet, which is updated each year with the most recent available
data, provides summarized results from the most recent NCVS findings. These
results are presented in text, graphs, and charts, and a copy of this brochure is
mailed to each sample household prior to the first interview. For subsequent
enumeration periods, you can hand or mail the respondent this brochure if:
• The respondent requests the type of information provided in this brochure.
• You discover a replacement household at the sample address.
• You feel that this brochure may encourage a respondent to cooperate.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Remember, each Type A noninterview has an adverse effect on the survey,
8-78
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
because each Type A noninterview means lost data. Since this is a sample survey
and each household represents many other households, you can understand why
each completed interview is so important.
It is your job to keep your Type A’s to a minimum. To avoid refusals, be friendly, but
businesslike. Be prepared to explain the survey and answer a respondent’s
objections. Census Bureau information is confidential.
Are there any questions about Type A noninterviews?
(Answer questions)
Highlight the case, 286 Erasmus Dr. Let’s look at a few things about this case before
starting the interview. (Pause) Click on the “HH Roster” tab in the Details Pane to
view the composition of the household. (Pause) This household contains only one
respondent, David Citizen. Now let’s see what is entered under the “History” tab.
Remember, one way to move from one tab to the next in the Details Pane is to use
the F3 function key. You can also click on the tab using your mouse pad. (Pause)
Notice that the “CAPI Outcome” for the previous interviews for this case are 201.
This means that the household was a completed interview in the previous interview
period. Now let’s look at the “Interview Time Preferences” tab to see if there are any
times specified that are best to contact the household as well as any bad times to
contact the household.
(Allow time)
As you can see, no such times have been specified.
8-79
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now press the F2 function key to start the interview and at the “Confirmation Screen”
click OK or press Enter. Then click 1 on the TRAININGCASE screen.
(Allow time)
Next, enter 1, “Telephone Interview” and at the next two screens,
SHOW_CP_ROSTER and SHOW_INFO_CP, enter 1 to continue.
(Allow time)
This case is not a replacement household so in response to the question in the next
screen, HHNUM_VR_CP, enter 2. (Pause) At the DIAL_CP screen enter 1,
“Someone answers” and also enter a 1, “This is the correct person” at the
HELLO_1_CP screen.
(Allow time)
(Call on Trainee)
__________, please read the introduction in GETLETTER_CP.
(TRAINEE: I’m calling concerning the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The Census Bureau is conducting a survey here and throughout the Nation to
determine how often people are victims of crime. We contacted your
household for this survey several months ago. Did you receive our
introductory letter in the mail?)
Thank you.
8-80
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
After reading the introduction to David Citizen, he tells you that he doesn’t want to
participate. You explain the importance of the survey and his participation, but he
still refuses to cooperate. At this point you need to end the interview. Terminate the
interview using one of the three methods discussed earlier -- either by pressing the
F10 function key, clicking on the F10 tab on the toolbar, or clicking on the Forms tab
on the menu bar and arrow down to the “Exit” function.
(Allow time)
At the next screen, REFCBBREAK_CP, enter 1, Refusal. (Pause) At the VERIFY
screen review the information displayed and determine whether or not you need to
make any changes. You also have the opportunity to review or update the Interview
Time Preferences (ITP). Since you don’t need to make any changes to the
information displayed or need to update the ITP, enter 2 at the VERIFY screen.
(Pause) At the “Case Level Notes Editor” record that the respondent refused to
participate. Include as much information as possible about the refusal in the Notes
to help your supervisor on follow-up for the case.
(Allow time)
Now press the F10 function key or click on the F10 icon on the toolbar to exit the
”Notes Editor.” Then, click Yes on the Notes Editor –Confirmation pop-up, then OK
on the Message pop-up. (Pause) Then fill the pCHI screens.
Let’s step through the pCHI items for a Type A noninterview. At CTATEMPT
enter 2, telephone (outgoing). At TIMEOFCT enter 1, Yes.
Q:
In pCASECONTACT, which precode do you enter?
8-81
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
A:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Precode 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons, because we made
contact with Line 1, David Citizen.
Enter Precode 1 in pCASECONTACT and PCONTACTPER. At pCTTYPE, enter 3,
unable to conduct interview. Since the respondent refused, select Precode 2,
“Respondent is reluctant” at pNONINTER.
Q:
Why do you think we do not enter Precode 5 in pNONINTER in this situation?
A:
Because there is only one household member we can’t have a Type Z for this
household. If they are a noninterview, the case becomes a Type A.
The respondent said they weren’t interested in participating.
Q:
Which precode do we enter in pRSPNDENT, _________?
A:
Precode 1, “Not interested”.
For this exercise, enter 5, called HH and enter 99, request Better Understanding
Letter in pSTRATEGS. Press enter to exit the pCHI, since there are no other
household members at this address.
(Allow time)
Notice that the letter “O” now appears in the “Status” column for this case. If there
are no other people in this household to be interviewed and there is no chance of
converting this case to an interview, you must close out the case and make it a Type
A noninterview before it is considered done and the case can be transmitted. You
can do this at any time before your interviewing closeout date.
8-82
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
However, it is highly recommended that you do this as quickly as possible so the
case is transmitted to the regional office for review and possible follow-up.
(Demonstrate letter management and how to request letters)
Let's record this case as a Type A noninterview. Press F2 to re-enter the CAPI
instrument for this case. At the “Confirmation Screen,” make sure you selected the
correct household, 286 Erasmus Dr, and then click OK or press Enter.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen enter 4, “Noninterview.” The next screen asks you
whether the case is a Type A, Type B, or Type C noninterview. Turn to page 9 of
your Workbook and look over the noninterview reasons listed under each
noninterview type.
(Allow time)
This is a Type A noninterview so enter 1, “Type A” at this screen. (Pause) The
purpose of the next screen, TYPEA, is to capture the noninterview reason. Notice
that you are instructed NOT to exit this screen. This is because the noninterview
outcome code gets set at this screen. We want to capture the noninterview reason,
as this information is extremely important in understanding survey nonresponse.
It is extremely important that for this screen and any other screen in which you are
instructed NOT to press F10 to exit the screen that you follow these instructions. If
you find that you need to exit a case when at such screens, go back to the previous
screen or to the next screen in which it is acceptable to exit the screen. If you don’t
8-83
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
follow the instructions, you will encounter major instrument problems.
Since David Citizen refused to participate, enter 4, “Refused” at this screen. (Pause)
The intent of the next screen, TYPEA_CK, is to make sure that the case wasn’t
incorrectly classified as a Type A noninterview. Since we are sure that this is a Type
A noninterview, enter 1 at this screen and then a 1 at the THANKYOU_CP screen
to continue. (Pause) Since you don’t need to make any changes to the case’s phone
number and you also don’t need to access the Interview Time Preferences
application, enter 2 at the VERIFY screen. (Pause) At the Case Level Notes Editor,
record that the respondent, David Citizen, refused to participate and that you made
this case a Type A noninterview. Also, include any other pertinent information that
may be useful during follow-up, such as whether or not the respondent was hostile.
Now exit the Notes Editor to return to pCHI and Case Management. We already
recorded that the case was a Type A noninterview in pCHI, so when you get back
to the CTATEMPT screen enter Precode (4), “Not attempting contact”. At
NOATTEMPT enter Precode (2), “Readying case for transmission”.
(Allow time)
When you return to the Case Management Main screen, you will see that the case
is no longer displayed on the Case List. However, you can view the case in other
display lists, using the F8 function. Press the F8 function key. (Pause) Arrow down
to the “Type A” display category, then click OK. (Pause) Any cases you make a
Type A noninterview are displayed on this screen.
Now click on the Assignment tab. (Pause) Notice that the outcome code is now set
to 218. Right click on this code to display a description of the Type A reason.
8-84
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
Q:
What reason is displayed, ___________?
A:
Type A – refused.
Thank you.
Now press the Escape key. (Pause)
Press the F8 function key again, arrow up to the “All” display, and then click OK.
(Allow time)
You will see a display of all cases in your monthly NCVS assignment, including
those not yet started. To return to the Case Management Main screen, press F8 one
more time and then click on the “Case List” button which is beneath the “Cancel”
button.
(Allow time)
The process you followed for classifying a case as a Type A noninterview is similar
to the process for classifying Type B and Type C noninterviews. In the next exercise,
you will practice classifying a case as a Type B noninterview.
Remember, you must specify the noninterview reason for all Type A, Type B, and
Type C cases in your monthly NCVS assignment before you can close out and
transmit these cases.
8-85
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
This concludes this practice exercise. Are there any questions about the material
covered in this exercise?
(Answer questions)
8-86
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #5 - Type B Noninterview
Case ID: 00000006
(Approximate time: 20 minutes)
In this exercise you will practice coding a case as a Type B noninterview. Type B
noninterviews consist of sample households that could be vacant or occupied
entirely by persons who have a usual residence elsewhere. Although these cases
are not eligible for interview during the current interview, they could become eligible
at a later time. Unlike Type A noninterviews,
Type B noninterviews
are
unavoidable. (Pause)
In a previous exercise, when conducting a telephone interview at the household
located at 373 Alexander Blvd. you found out that the residents at this sample unit
moved away three months ago but kept their telephone number. When you go to
the sample address to conduct a personal interview with members of the
replacement household, you discover that the household is vacant. According to
survey procedures, when you are unable to interview a sample unit you must
contact a neighbor, apartment manager, or similar person to obtain noninterview
information about the unit or its residents. After talking to a neighbor, Joe Doe, you
find out that the house was sold but the new owners have not moved in yet. If the
sample unit was occupied by the new household, you would interview the new
household. Because the sample unit is still vacant and will remain vacant through
the interview month, you must enter the case and classify it as Type B noninterview.
Highlight the case 373 Alexander Blvd. and press the F2 function key to get into
the NCVS CAPI instrument for this case.
8-87
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen enter code 4, Noninterview (Type A/B/C). (Pause) At the
NONTYP screen you enter the noninterview type. For this exercise, enter 2, Type
B. (Pause) At the TYPEB screen, specify the Type B noninterview reason.
Turn to page 9 of your Workbook and examine the reasons for Type B
noninterviews.
Notice that codes 225 through 233 are reasons for a Type B noninterview. Of those
reasons, the most commonly entered reason is code 226, “Vacant-regular.” The
“Vacant-regular” category includes vacant units that are available for rent or sale,
furnished or unfurnished, or units held off the market for personal reasons.
The “Vacant-regular” category also includes vacant seasonal units, such as
mountain or beach resort cabins, as well as year-round units. A vacant unit that is
dilapidated but is still considered a living quarters can still be classified as a “Vacantregular” Type B noninterview.
If you encounter a vacant mobile home, trailer, tent, or other less common type of
living quarters and it is intended for occupancy, you can classify it as a “Vacantregular” Type B noninterview.
Q:
Based on what we just covered, can you give me an example of a Type B,
Vacant Regular unit, _______?
A:
A vacant apartment unit available for rent. (OR SIMILAR ANSWER)
Thank you.
8-88
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Code 227 is used when a vacant unit is used only for storing excess household
furniture. For example, a garage apartment, or an apartment in an attic or basement
that is used only for the storage of excess household furniture. Do not confuse a
vacant unit used for storage of excess household furniture with a vacant unit offered
for rent as a furnished apartment. Report the latter situation as a “Vacant-regular”
unit.
Now look at code 225, “Temporarily occupied by persons with usual residence
elsewhere (URE).” You would enter this Type B reason when a unit is occupied
temporarily by persons who have a usual place of residence elsewhere. When a
sample unit is occupied entirely by persons who have a usual residence elsewhere,
do not interview those persons. Persons should only be interviewed at their usual
residence and not at a temporary place of residence.
For example, a family whose usual residence is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
should not be interviewed while staying at a vacation cottage in Atlantic City, New
Jersey.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
One category that needs a little explanation is code 228, “Unfit or to be demolished.”
To fit into this category, a sample unit must, first of all, be unoccupied. No matter
how decrepit or run down a place looks, if somebody lives there, you must conduct
an interview. But, if it is unoccupied and the windows or doors no longer protect the
interior, consider the unit to be unfit.
8-89
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
However, be careful not to rush to the conclusion that a unit is “Unfit or to be
demolished.” Sometimes a boarded-up place is mistakenly classified as unfit, when,
in fact, the boards are there to protect the windows and doors until it can be sold or
rented. The point is that you cannot always go by first impressions. Many times you
will have to inquire of residents or merchants in the area to make sure that you
classify the vacant unit correctly.
The other part of code 228, “to be demolished,” only applies when there is positive
evidence, such as a sign, notice, or mark on the house or on the block– stating that
the unit is scheduled for demolition.
Let’s see if you remember what we just discussed.
Q:
What kind of noninterview is a vacant-regular, ____________________?
A:
Type B.
Q:
If a sample unit is obviously unfit to live in and is not occupied as a living
quarters, which noninterview reason do you select, ______________?
A:
Type B - code 228, “Unfit or to be demolished.”
For this exercise, enter reason 1, “Vacant- regular.” (Pause) Unlike Type A
noninterviews, with the exception of Type A - Temporarily Absent, there is one more
step you must take when classifying noninterview cases as a Type B, Type C, or
Type A -Temporarily Absent noninterview. You must record information about the
person you contacted to obtain noninterview information about the unit or its
residents.
8-90
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the BCNAME screen enter the name of the contact person you spoke to which is
Joe Doe. At BCTITL enter the contact person’s title such as neighbor or apartment
manager. For this case enter “Neighbor."
(Allow time)
At BCNUM enter Joe Doe’s telephone number as 999-555-9999 and then press
Enter. (Pause) Press enter at BCEXT and at BCPHTYPE enter code 1, Home.
(Pause)
Complete the next items using the following information about Joe Doe’s address:
House number and street name:
370 Alexander Blvd.
City:
Any Town
The contact person lives in Colorado, which is the same state as the sample unit.
For your production interviews, you will be able to press Enter rather than entering
the 2-character state abbreviation when the contact person lives in the same state
as the sample unit. However, for the training instrument this feature is not active.
(Pause)
Let's assume that we don't know the state abbreviation for Colorado. Enter the letter
C. (Pause) Notice that you get a pop-up screen of state abbreviations. You will be
taken to the first state whose name begins with the letter C. Notice the second
column displays state name. Arrow through the screen until you get to Colorado.
(Allow time)
Click on the Select button. (Pause) When you return to the contact information
8-91
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
screen notice that the 2-character state abbreviation is filled in the answer field.
(Pause) Now press Enter. Now enter the 5-digit zipcode, which is 99999. (Pause)
The contact person doesn't know his 4-digit zipcode so press Enter.
Now enter 2 at the BCOBS screen since you didn't determine the noninterview
status of this sample unit by observation. (Pause) At the THANKYOU_CP screen
you thank Joe Doe for his time and then press 1 to continue. Then enter 2 at the
VERIFY screen.
At the Case Level Notes Editor, enter a note indicating the status of the household.
Enter as much information as possible so that others who review the notes will have
a good understanding of the case, then save your note and return to pCHI.
(Allow time)
Now let’s go through the pCHI items.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 1, personal visit)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1 since you are entering pCHI at the time of the
contact attempt)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 2, contact with NON-SAMPLE unit member)
NCTPER
(Enter 8, spoke with neighbor and 10, completed case –
Type B or C)
STRATEGS
(Enter 8, checked with neighbors)
Any questions about the pCHI items?
(Answer questions)
8-92
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
You will follow this same procedure for handling Type A- Temporarily Absent
noninterviews and for Type C noninterviews. Like Type B noninterviews, Type C
noninterviews are unavoidable. Once a unit is classified as a Type C noninterview,
the sample unit is permanently removed from the NCVS sample and will not be
assigned to you in subsequent enumeration periods. Like Type B noninterviews, the
Type C noninterview reasons are self-explanatory for the most part. Let’s go over a
few of the Type C reasons that are shown on page 9 of your Workbook.
Code 240, “Demolished,” means that the unit has been torn down, burned down, or
otherwise destroyed, or is in the process of being demolished. (Pause)
Code 242, “Outside segment,” applies only to units in area segments. Select this
reason when you find that a sample unit is outside the area segment boundaries
and the unit was listed on the Area Segment Listing Sheet by mistake. (Pause)
Code 243, “Converted to permanent business or storage,” looks very similar to one
of the Type B noninterview reasons.
Q:
Suppose you find that a sample unit has been converted to a business or used
for storage. What distinction must you make before you can classify it as either
a Type B or Type C noninterview, _____________?
A:
Find out whether the conversion is temporary or permanent. If it is temporary,
it will classify as a Type B noninterview and, if it is permanent, it will classify as
a Type C noninterview.
Thank you.
8-93
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Code 244, “Merged,” is used when you discover that a sample unit has been merged
with another unit to form one “new” merged unit. (Pause)
A unit is considered “Condemned,” code 245, if there is positive evidence, such as
a sign, notice, or mark on the house or in the block–stating that the unit is
condemned. Once again, the unit must be unoccupied before you can select this
code. If the unit is occupied, you must conduct an interview, even if there is a
“condemned” sign posted. Remember, if the unit is vacant and no positive evidence
is present that it is condemned, report the unit as “Vacant-regular,” code 226, Type
B noninterview.
Notice the last reason listed for Type B noninterviews is category 233, called “Other.”
Also notice the category 248, “Other (including permit abandoned)” for Type C
noninterviews. When you have a Type B or Type C noninterview that does not fit
any of the other categories, use the “Other” category and specify the reason.
However, before selecting the “Other” reason for a Type B or Type C noninterview,
make sure that one of the reasons already listed doesn't apply.
This concludes this practice exercise. Are there any questions about the material
covered in this exercise?
(Answer questions)
8-94
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #6 – Changing the Household Respondent in
Household with Other Eligible Respondents
Case ID: 00000005
(Approximate time: 15 minutes)
This practice exercise covers changing the household respondent. Highlight the
case, 116 Aphroditedr, and then look at the composition of the household. (Pause)
(Have trainees click on the HH Roster tab in Case Management)
(Call on Trainee)
______________, how many people listed are eligible for the NCVS?
(TRAINEE: 4)
That’s correct.
Press the F2 function key to start the interview. Make sure that you have selected
the correct address, 116 Aphroditedr.
(Allow time)
In this exercise, I will not give you screen-by-screen instructions on what to enter so
listen carefully to the information I provide throughout the exercise.
First, this is a telephone interview (Pause) Second, the unit is not a replacement
8-95
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
household. (Pause) Third, when you dial the telephone number
someone
answers. Now proceed through the various screens using the information I just
provided. When you get to the HELLO_1_CP screen raise your hand.
(Allow time)
As with the previous exercises, I will call on one of you to serve as the FR. You will
ask the questions and I will continue to act as the respondent. Again, at certain
points I will interrupt the interview to provide further explanation about a question.
(Call on Trainee)
______________, will you be our first FR? Remember to tell us what you enter at
each screen as you proceed through the interview.
HELLO_1_CP
FR:
Hello. This is (TRAINEE’S NAME) from the U.S.
Census Bureau. May I please speak with JOEL BOE?
R:
Joel doesn’t live here anymore.
(Enter 5, Person no longer lives here)
(Interrupt and say)
At the HELLO_ALT2_CP screen you need to pick a new household respondent
since Joel Boe was the household respondent in the previous interview.
(Allow time)
Since Brian Public, Michael Goe, and Will Loe all qualify to serve as the new
8-96
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
household respondent you need to ask to speak to one of them.
___________, please continue the interview.
HELLO_ALT2_CP
FR:
May I speak to Brian Public, Michael Goe, or Will
Loe?
R:
This is Brian.
(Enter 2, Line number of Brian Public)
GETLETTER_CP
FR:
I’m calling concerning
the National Crime
Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is
conducting a survey here and throughout the Nation
to determine how often people are victims of crime.
We contacted your household for this survey several
months ago. Did you receive our introductory letter in
the mail?
R:
Yes, I believe we did.
(Enter 1, Yes)
VERADD_CP
FR:
I have your address listed as
116 Aproditedr
Any Town, CA 99984-9997
Is that your exact address?
R:
Yes, it is.
(Enter 1, Same Address)
(Interrupt and say)
Sometimes at the beginning of an interview you may know that the household’s
telephone number has changed. At this CHNGPH_CP screen you are given the
opportunity to change the telephone number.
8-97
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
CHNGPH_CP
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Instruct trainees to enter 2, No)
____________, please continue.
MAILINGSAME_CP FR:
R:
Is your mailing address the same as your physical
address?
Yes it is.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TENURE
FR:
Ask or verify - Are your living quarters
---
R:
Owned or being bought by you or someone in
your household?
Rented for cash?
Yes, we rent this home.
(Press Enter since the item is pre-filled or enter 2, Rented
for cash)
STUDENTHOUSING FR:
R:
Are your living quarters presently used as student
housing by a college or university?
No
(Enter 2, No)
PUBLICHOUSING
FR:
Is this building owned by a public housing authority?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No not public housing)
8-98
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
NUMBEROFUNITS FR:
R:
Observe or ask
How many housing units are in this structure?
Just one
(Enter 1, One)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes this exercise in which you selected a new household respondent. In
the next exercise we will continue to interview this household so don't exit this case
or continue with this case yet.
Are there any questions about the material covered in this practice exercise?
(Answer questions)
8-99
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #7 – Selecting a New Reference Person
Case ID: 00000005
(Approximate time: 45 minutes)
In this practice exercise you pick a new reference person since Joel Boe was not
only the household respondent in the previous enumeration, but also the reference
person. Turn to page 10 of your Workbook and read the definition of a reference
person.
(Allow time)
Now let’s continue interviewing the household.
______________, please be our FR and continue the interview starting at
NAMECHECK. Remember to tell us what you enter at each screen as you proceed
through the interview.
NAMECHECK
FR:
I have Joel Boe, Brian Public, Michael Goe, and Will
Loe listed as living or staying at this address.
Are ALL of these people still living or staying at this
address?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
REFPERSTILLLIVE
FR:
Does Joel Boe still live at this address?
(Interrupt and say)
8-100
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
This is another example of how active listening can help during an interview. When
you first called the household, you were told that Joel Boe had moved out. You can
verify that here instead of asking the question. __________, please continue.
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
NEWREFPER
FR:
What is the name of the person or one of the
persons who owns or rents that home? Would that be
you?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 2, Line number of Brian Public)
(Interrupt and say)
At the next screen, MEMBERCHANGES, you are asked to indicate the reason for
a change in household membership for any member who entered or left the
household since the previous interview.
The next few questions are a little tricky so let me walk you through them. The
MEMBERCHANGES screen displays a table or grid showing the name, sex,
relationship, and membership status of all persons living or staying at the sample
unit as of the previous interview. It also contains a field for you to enter a code that
describes the reason for a change in household membership. For Joel Boe, enter
19 in the “Change member” column since we don’t know the specific reason why he
left the household. After pressing Enter, look at the “Household member” column.
His membership status changed from 1, a member, to 2, a nonmember. Also notice
that his row is now shaded, so no more demographic data will be collected for him.
8-101
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Also notice that Brian Public is now the reference person since his relationship code
was changed to 21.
Since there is no change in Brian Public's membership from the previous interview,
you don't need to enter a reason code, so press Enter in the “Change member”
column. Pressing Enter takes you to the “first” name field. If you need to make a
change to the respondent’s first name for reasons such as misspellings, you can do
that here. Otherwise, press Enter to proceed to the next field or use the arrow key
to move through the table to review or update the remaining information. We are not
going to make any changes to either Brian’s first or last name so arrow through
those fields. (Pause)
Now press Enter in the “Change member” column for Michael Goe since there is no
change in his membership since the previous interview. Then tab through the first
and last name fields. Because the reference person changed, you now need to
specify the relationship of the household member, Michael Goe, to the NEW
reference person, Brian Public.
(Check to see if all trainees are on the “RELATIONSHIP” screen for
Michael Goe. Help any trainees who may have fallen behind.)
____________, please be our FR and continue the interview starting at the
RELATIONSHIP screen for Michael Goe. Don’t forget to tell us what you enter at
each screen as you proceed through the interview.
RELATIONSHIP
FR:
What is Michael Goe’s relationship to you?
(Interrupt and say)
8-102
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Before I provide a response to that question, let’s see what happens when you enter
18, “Sister” in the relation field for Michael Goe. As you learned in the self- study,
several questions contain edit checks to detect inconsistencies in the data at the
time of data capture. The edit checks examine responses to individual items and
determine if the responses are consistent with the other data entered. You also
learned that there are two types of edit checks, soft and hard edits. You can
recognize soft edits because you are given two options - “Suppress,” which accepts
the inconsistency, or “Goto” which returns you to the inconsistent item to make
corrections. (Pause)
Turn to pages 11 and 12 of your Workbook for an example of a soft and hard edit.
(Allow time)
What type of edit shows up when you enter 18 for Michael Goe, soft or hard?
(TRAINEE: Soft)
That’s correct. How did you know that it was a soft edit?
(TRAINEE: It contains a Suppress option that is only available for soft edits)
That’s right. You are not given the option to suppress or accept the inconsistent
entry in a hard edit. The inconsistency must be resolved before you continue the
interview in a hard edit.
Notice that the edit check pop up screen displays an error message and also
8-103
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
identifies the questions that are inconsistent with one another.
___________, please read which questions are inconsistent with one another, the
answers recorded in these questions, and the message that is displayed in the
middle of the screen.
(TRAINEE: RELATIONSHIP with an entry of Sister, and SEX with an entry of
Male. The message reads: The sex entered is inconsistent with the
relationship selected.)
Remember, if you need to go back and correct one of the inconsistent items, make
sure that the item displayed in the “Questions involved” column of the Edit Check
Error Message is highlighted and then click the Goto button, which takes you to that
question to correct.
In our example, we don’t want to accept the inconsistent entry for RELATIONSHIP
so make sure RELATIONSHIP is highlighted. Click the “Goto” button, which returns
you to the relationship question for Michael Goe. Michael Goe and Brian Public are
friends so enter 20, “Nonrelative” at the RELATIONSHIP screen.
___________, please continue being our FR and ask the membership question for
Michael Goe.
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Michael Goe usually live there?
R:
Yes, he does.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
8-104
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
You have returned to the MEMBERCHANGES screen. Press Enter in the “Change
member” column for Will Loe, then tab through the first and last name fields.
Because the reference person changed, you also need to specify Will Loe’s
relationship to the NEW reference person, Brian Public.
____________, please continue the interview starting at the RELATIONSHIP
screen for Will Loe.
RELATIONSHIP
FR:
What is Will Loe’s relationship to you?
R:
We're friends.
(Enter 20, Nonrelative)
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Will Loe usually live there?
R:
Yes, he does.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
Since there are no more persons listed who are living or staying at the sample unit,
enter 999 in the first blank name field and then press Enter to leave the table or grid.
You have just completed the process of selecting a new reference person and
changing the relationship of the other household members to the new reference
person. Are there any questions about that?
(Answer questions)
Now let’s complete the rest of Brian Public’s interview. _____________, please
continue the interview.
8-105
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
HHLDCOVERAGE
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Have I missed anyone else living or staying there
such as any babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is
away at present traveling or in the hospital?
R:
Yes, my sister is recently separated from her
husband and is staying here for awhile.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
Because Brian Public answered “Yes,” that there are persons missing from the
household roster, the instrument takes you back to the grid so you can make
additions to the household roster.
_________, please continue the interview by asking for the name of the person who
was missed.
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What is the name of the person/people that is new to
the household?
R:
My sister Megan Moe.
(Enter Megan, then press Enter)
HHROSTER_LNAME (Enter Moe)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary
Is Megan Moe male or female?
R:
Female
(Enter 2, Female)
8-106
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
RELATIONSHIP
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
What is Megan Moe’s relationship to you?
(Interrupt and say)
Again, another example of how active listening can help during an interview. Since
the question was already answered twice, you can verify that here instead of asking
the question.
__________, please continue.
R:
Sister
(Enter 18, Sister)
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Megan Moe usually live there?
R:
She is staying with us until she finds an apartment.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
Before asking for the names of any other persons new to the household you must
record the reason Megan Moe entered the household. Use the up arrow to go to the
field containing Megan’s name. Now use the left arrow to the blank “Change
member” column in that row. You must enter the code that best describes the
reason for this person being added to the household roster.
Q:
What precode do you enter, ______________?
A:
Precode 13, Entered because of marriage/separation/divorce.
That’s correct. Thank you.
8-107
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Enter Precode 13. Tab through the rest of the row until you get to the next row.
_______________, please continue the interview.
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What is the name of the person/people that is new to
the household?
R:
There’s no one else.
(Enter 999 then press Enter)
HHLDCOVERAGE
FR:
Have I missed anyone else living or staying there
such as any babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is
away at present traveling or in the hospital?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
AGECHECK
FR:
I have you listed as 32 years old.
Is that correct?
R:
Yes it is.
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if
training is conducted after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes age IS correct)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Are you now married, widowed, divorced, separated
or has he never been married?
R:
I’ve never been married.
(Press Enter, since the item is pre-filled, or enter 5)
8-108
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
ARMEDFORCES
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Are you now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No
(Press Enter, if already pre-filled, or enter 2)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Michael Goe
completed or the highest degree he received?
R:
I have a Master’s degree.
(Enter 17, Master’s degree)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Are you currently attending or enrolled either full-time
or part-time in a college or university, trade or
vocational school?
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
AGECHECK
FR:
I have Michael Goe listed as 35 years old.
Is that correct?
R:
Yes it is.
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if training is
conducted after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes age IS correct)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Is Michael Goe now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has he never been married?
8-109
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
He’s never been married.
(Press Enter, if already pre-filled, or Enter 5)
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Is Michael Goe now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Press Enter, if already pre-filled, or enter 2)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Michael Goe
completed or the highest degree he received?
R:
He has a Bachelor’s degree.
(Enter 16, Bachelor’s degree)
(Mention that the FR can verify all these demographic items based on
“last reported as” fill, rather than asking the full question. For example:
“We last recorded that Micahel has a Bachelor’s degree, is that still
correct?”)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Is Michael Goe currently attending or enrolled either
full-time or part-time in a college or university, trade
or vocational school?
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
AGECHECK
FR:
I have Will Loe listed as 55 years old.
Is that correct?
R:
Yes it is.
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if
8-110
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
training is conducted after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes age IS correct)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Is Will Loe now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has he never been married?
R:
He’s divorced
(Enter 3, Divorced)
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Is Will Loe now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Press Enter, if already pre-filled, or enter 2)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Will Loe
completed or the highest degree he received?
R:
High school.
(Press Enter, if already pre-filled, or enter 13)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
Is Will Loe currently attending or enrolled either fulltime or part-time in a college or university, trade, or
vocational school?
R:
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
BRTHDATEMO
FR:
What is Megan Moe’s date of birth?
R:
June 1, 1978.
(Enter 6, June)
8-111
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
BRTHDATEDY
(Enter 1)
BRTHDATEYR
(Enter 1978)
VFYAGE
FR:
That would make Megan Moe 39 years old. Is that
correct?
R:
Yes
(Trainees may read a different age than displayed if training is conducted
after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Is Megan Moe now married, widowed, divorced,
separated or has she never been married?
R:
She’s separated.
(Enter 4, Separated)
(Interrupt and say)
Sometimes the term “separated” causes confusion. Would you always know who to
include in this category? Maybe not, so go to page B2-108 in your NCVS-550
Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives.
(Allow time)
Q:
Read out loud the instructions on this page for when to enter Precode (4)
“Separated,” __________?
A:
Enter Precode (4), “Separated,” when the household member:
• Is married, but has a legal separation.
• Is married, but parted from his/her spouse because of marital discord.
8-112
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
• Expects to obtain a divorce in the future.
• Intends to remain separated from his/her spouse permanently and never get
a divorce.
If the person is separated from his/her spouse for reasons other than marital
discord, enter Precode (1), “Married.”
Thank you.
____________, please continue.
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Is Megan Moe now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school Megan Moe
completed or the highest degree she received?
R:
A Bachelor’s degree.
(Enter 16, Bachelor’s degree)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Is Megan Moe currently attending or enrolled either
full-time or part-time in a college or university, trade
or vocational school?
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
8-113
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
SP_ORIGIN
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Is Megan Moe Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
RACE
FR:
Please choose one or more races that Megan Moe
considers herself to be.
------
R:
White
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White.
(Enter 1, White)
(Interrupt and say)
The instrument now goes to the ROSTERREVIEW screen. At ROSTERREVIEW
notice that Joel Boe is no longer listed as a part of the household roster. (Pause)
Also, at this screen you must review for correctness selected information displayed,
specifically, name, relationship, age, sex, and marital status, for each member of
the household. If any of this information is incorrect, you can indicate that you need
to make corrections by entering 2. For this interview, all information is correct so
enter 1 to continue.
____________, please continue the interview.
TIMEATADDRESS
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
8-114
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
5 years.
(Enter 5)
BUSINESS
FR:
Does anyone in this household operate a business
from this address?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you in the last 6 months, that is, since
(date).
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings outside your home such as a garden
hose or lawn furnitureThings belonging to children in the householdThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
8-115
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SQTHEFTTIMES
FR:
How many times?
R:
One time.
(Enter 1)
SQTHEFTSPEC
FR:
What happened?
R:
Lawn ornaments were stolen from the yard.
(Enter: Lawn ornaments were stolen from L2’s yard.)
SQBREAKIN
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned,
anyone --
--
has
Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing
past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a
screen, or entering through an open door or
window?
Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get
into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
--
Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-116
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any member of that household during the last 6
months? Includes those you no longer own.
R:
We have three cars and a SUV.
(Enter 4)
(Interrupt and say)
In the next screen, SQMVTHEFT, notice the phrase “Other than any incident already
mentioned.” Whenever a respondent has already reported an incident in an earlier
screen question, this is displayed in this question as well as in subsequent
questions. This lets the respondent know that we don’t want them to include any
incidents they have already told you about. Reading this phrase to the respondent
will help avoid the reporting of duplicate incidents.
______________, please continue.
SQMVTHEFT
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incidents
already mentioned, were any of the vehicles ----
Stolen or used without permission?
Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
Ask only if necessary
8-117
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, since
(date), were you attacked or threatened OR did you
have something stolen from you ---
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or schoolIn places such as a storage shed or laundry
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lotAt such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
---
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways ---
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
8-118
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-----
scissors, or stickBy something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
OR
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Other than any incidents already
mentioned, did you have something stolen from you
or were you attacked or threatened by -----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Other than any incidents
already mentioned, have you been forced or coerced
to engage in unwanted sexual activity by -
8-119
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
---
Someone you didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did you call the police to report
something that happened to YOU which you thought
was a crime?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did anything which you thought
was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report
to the police?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
This concludes the screen questions for Brian Public. At the PRESENTFORSQS
(Present for Screen Questions) item enter 11 since this is a telephone interview.
I want to make sure that you’re all aware that we expect you to ask all the questions
8-120
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
in the NCVS screener fully and completely, at a conversational pace. We know that
to do this, it takes about four minutes to interview a household respondent and three
and a half minutes to interview someone who is not the household respondent.
When you transmit your cases, we can tell how long it takes you to ask these
questions in each interview. We also expect you to read all other NCVS questions
fully and completely and at a conversational pace.
These standards will be part of your performance plan; we’ll discuss that later.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Let’s continue with the practice interview. The INC_REPORTS screen indicates the
total of number of incidents reported and whether or not the respondent refused to
report the number of times an incident occurred. One incident was reported by Brian
Public; enter 1 at the INC_REPORTS screen.
___________, please continue with the incident questions.
INCIDENTINTRO
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months lawn
ornaments were stolen from your yard one time.
(Interrupt and say)
Notice that there are a couple of instructions telling you NOT to F10 from this screen.
This is because doing so impacts the incident counter in the instrument. If you need
to exit the case, enter 1 to continue at INCIDENTINTRO and then F10 at the next
screen. However, don’t press F10 because we want to continue this interview. Enter
8-121
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
1 at INCIDENTINTRO now.
In the next screen, INCIDENTDATE, notice that the beginning and ending months
as well as the year of the reference period are displayed on the top of the Info Pane.
In this training instrument these dates are not displaying correctly but in production
the correct beginning and end dates will be displayed. You can refer to this in case
you have to remind the respondent of the reference period especially when the
month given in INCIDENTDATE is outside this reference period. Turn to page 13 of
your Workbook for an explanation of the NCVS reference period.
(Allow time)
___________, please continue with the INCIDENTDATE question.
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
It happened in April.
(For training, make sure the month the incident occurred falls WITHIN the
reference period; that is, within the last six months.)
(Enter 4, April)
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Ask or verify
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?
R:
Just once.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
About what time did this incident happen?
8-122
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
It happened sometime during the night but I’m not
sure what time.
(Enter 18, Don’t know what time of night)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town or village did this incident occur?
R:
Right here in Any Town.
(Enter 3, Same city/town/village as present residence)
(Interrupt and say)
The next question, INCIDENTAIR, differs from the housing unit question pertaining
to American Indian Reservations (INDIANRESERVATIONHU). INCIDENTAIR asks
whether the incident happened on an American Indian Reservation or on American
Indian Lands whereas INDIANRESERVATIONHU asks if the living quarters for
the sample address is located on an American Indian Reservation or on American
Indian Lands.
___________, please continue.
INCIDENTAIR
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, this next question is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. If the wrong category
is selected, you will ask inappropriate questions and the incident may eventually be
classified into the wrong type of crime category. Select category 11 ONLY if the
8-123
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
offender got inside or tried to get inside the respondent’s home or lodging facilities
regardless of whether the offender entered by force, was let in, or gained entrance
through an unlocked door. Category 11 includes the respondent’s house,
apartment, dormitory room, attached or detached garage, shed, or an enclosed
porch. Also included are vacation homes, second homes, hotel or motel rooms at
which the respondent could have been staying at the time of the incident, or ANY
detached structure on the respondent’s property.
Remember, select category 12 for incidents that happened on an unenclosed porch,
patio, or carport. Although these areas are often attached to the home, they are not
enclosed and do not have a door or window through which an offender could enter.
______________, please continue the interview.
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen…
--
R:
In your home or lodging?
Yes.
(Enter 11, Inside home or lodging)
LOCATION_IN_HOME
FR:
Where in your home or lodging did this incident
happen?
R:
In my front yard.
(Interrupt and say)
Notice that the categories listed in this screen apply to incidents that occurred either
INSIDE an enclosed structure of the respondent’s home, a building on the
8-124
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
respondent’s property, or inside a place the respondent was temporarily staying,
such as a vacation home or hotel room and not outside the respondent's home.
Let’s see what happens if we continue down this path of questions. Select category
11.
OFFENDERLIVE
FR:
Did the offender live there or have a right to be there,
for instance, as a guest or a repair person?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
OFFENDERINSIDE FR:
R:
Did the offender actually get INSIDE your house?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
OFFENDERTRY
FR:
Did the offender TRY to get in your house?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
_____________, please read the hard edit message that appears.
(TRAINEE: Inconsistent entries in LOCATION_IN_HOME, OFFENDERLIVE,
OFFENDERINSIDE, and OFFENDERTRY. The reported location of this incident
was inside the respondent’s home or lodging but it was also reported that the
offender did not live there, actually get in, or try to get in.
8-125
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Select GOTO to return to OFFENDERTRY and up-arrow to change
LOCATION_IN_HOME,
OFFENDERLIVE,
OFFENDERINSIDE,
and
OFFENDERTRY)
Thank you.
Remember, if you select that an incident occurred inside the respondent’s home or
lodging facilities then that means that the offender got inside or tried to get inside
the home regardless of whether the offender entered by force, was let in, or gained
entrance through an unlocked door. Since the offender didn’t get inside or try to get
inside the respondent’s home, you know that the location where the incident
occurred was incorrectly identified. Therefore, you need to go back to the
LOCATION_GENERAL screen and change the original answer.
Select the GoTo button and then press the up arrow until you get back to the
LOCATION_GENERAL screen.
(Allow time)
Now change the answer to 12, “Near your home or lodging.”
__________, please continue the interview with the LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
question.
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Where near your home or lodging did this incident
happen?
In the front yard.
(Enter 15, Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, etc.)
8-126
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Notice what happens next. A check item appears asking you to verify whether the
incident happened in a garage and whether the garage was attached or detached.
Since you know that the incident happened in the respondent’s front yard, you can
click “Suppress” to continue. However, if the incident had taken place in a garage,
you would have to click “Goto” and change the answer to LOCATION_GENERAL
to Precode (11), “Inside own home.” Does everyone understand that?
(Allow time)
_______, please continue.
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
R:
Outdoors.
(Enter 2, Outdoors)
FARFROMHOME
FR:
Ask or verify
How far away from home did this happen?
R:
It was at my home.
(Enter 1, At, in, or near the building containing the
respondent’s home or next door)
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Were you or any other household member present
when this incident occurred?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
8-127
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Again, notice what happens. A check item appears asking you to verify whether or
not the respondent or another household member was at the immediate scene of
the crime during the incident. After verifying presence, if you determine they were
present press the Close or Goto button. If you determine they really were not
present, press the Suppress button. We do this check to make sure you have
marked presence correctly; if you have not marked it correctly, the instrument may
not ask the right questions of the respondent. _______, please continue.
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
FR:
Do you know or have you learned anything about the
offender - for instance, whether there was one or
more than one offender involved, whether it was
someone young or old, or male or female?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify
Was something stolen or was taken without
permission that belonged to you or others in the
household?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHATWASTAKEN
FR:
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the
household?
(Interrupt and say)
Some questions allow you to enter multiple responses. Can anyone tell me how you
can tell those questions that accept multiple responses from those that allow only a
single response?
8-128
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Call on Trainee if one volunteers; otherwise explain the difference using the
text below.)
(TRAINEE: The answer categories for multiple response questions contain
square boxes in front of them. The answer categories for single response
questions contain radio buttons in front of them.)
Thank you.
This is a multiple response question and you can record more than one response.
Keep asking the appropriate probe “Anything else?” or “Any other way?” until you
get a “No” response. When recording responses, you can either click on the box to
select all appropriate categories or enter the appropriate category number in the
answer field. When entering multiple responses, you can enter the response values
by either using commas between each category value, such as “12 comma,” “13
comma,” “14 comma,” and so on or by pressing the spacebar after entering each
response value. Let’s see what happens if you don’t do this.
I will give you two values to enter. Make sure that you don't press the Enter key
after entering the values. First enter 27. Remember don't press the Enter key.
(Pause) . Now enter value 28, but again don’t press enter. Notice that the check mark for
the first value is deselected or unmarked and the second value never gets selected or
marked. Now press enter, and back arrow to the screen WHATWASTAKEN. Notice both
values are ultimately recorded. However, without pressing the space bar or entering a
comma between values you may miss which values are selected while in the current
screen.
Now delete these entries by using your backspace key. (Pause) In response to this
question, the respondent tells you that outdoor lawn ornaments were stolen. Take a
look at the categories displayed.
8-129
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
Q:
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Which category do you select for the theft of the lawn ornaments,
__________?
A:
Code 36, Other
(If trainee says code 23, “Other household furnishings,” explain that this
category applies to furnishings inside the house such as furniture, rugs,
lamps, mirrors, and so on.)
After selecting category 36, assume the respondent said that nothing else was
taken. Press enter. At the WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC screen specify what was
taken.
(Allow time)
________, please continue the interview.
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Did the stolen property belong to you personally, to
someone else in the household, or to both you and
other household members?
(Interrupt and say)
This question is asked to identify the owners of the property or money that the
offender stole during the incident. When we refer to household members we mean
household members at the time of the interview, NOT just at the time of the incident.
The property could belong solely to the respondent, to the respondent and other
household members either jointly or partially, to other household members ONLY
8-130
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
and NONE to the respondent, or to a nonhousehold member at the time of the
interview. The property owner could be a current household
member whose
property was stolen from a former residence during the 6-month reference period.
R:
They belonged to me and others in the household.
(Enter 2, Respondent
member(s))
and
the
other
household
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Besides you, which household members owned the
stolen property?
(Interrupt and say)
This question is asked to identify each household member who owned any or part
of the property or money that the offender took without permission. If the property
belongs to the entire household or to more than three household members, enter
Precode (40), Household property. It is acceptable to enter Precode (40) and also
enter one or more line numbers in situations in which the offender took both
personal and household property.
R:
They belonged to everyone.
(Enter 40, Household property)
ARTICLEINCAR
FR:
Ask or verify
Was the article IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle
when it was taken?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-131
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
OTHERONPERSON FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Was there anything ELSE the offenders took directly
from you, for instance, from your pocket or hands, or
something that you were wearing?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PROPERTYVALUE FR:
R:
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was
taken? Include recovered property (If jointly owned
with nonhousehold members, include only share
owned by household members.)
I remember it was exactly $50.86.
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, when entering monetary values, only enter the dollar amount and not
the cents, so enter 51.
___________, please continue.
DECIDEDVALUE
FR:
How did you decide the value of the property that
was taken?
R:
That was the cost we paid to purchase the
decorations.
(Enter 11, Original cost)
ALLPARTRECOVERED
FR:
R:
Was all or part of the stolen property recovered, not
counting anything received from insurance?
No.
(Enter 3, None)
8-132
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
FR:
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DAMAGED
FR:
Other than any stolen property, was anything that
belonged to you or other members of the household
damaged in this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
POLICEINFORMED FR:
R:
Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
FR:
R:
What was the reason it was not reported to the
police?
We didn’t think it was important enough to bother the
police.
(Enter 13, Minor or unsuccessful crime)
FR:
Any other reason?
R:
We also didn’t want to take the time to report it.
(Enter 27, Did not want to or could not take time)
(If the FR doesn’t ask the probe for this question, remind trainees to ask
the probe displayed on the screen for multiple entry questions.)
8-133
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Any other reason?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
NOTREPORTIMPORTANT
FR:
R:
Which of these would you say was the most important
reason why the incident was not reported to the
police?
Because it just wasn’t important enough to call the
police.
(Enter 13, Minor or unsuccessful crime)
AGENCYHELP
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any
help or advice from any office or agency - other than
the police - that deals with victims of crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
What were you doing when this incident happened?
I don’t know.
(Enter 21, Don't know)
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
8-134
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Did you lose any time from work because of this
incident for such things as cooperating with a police
investigation, testifying in court, or repairing or
replacing damaged or stolen property?
No.
(Enter 6, None)
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Were there any household members 16 years or
older who lost time from work because of this
incident?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
The next question, INCIDENTHATECRIME, begins a series of questions asking
about hate crime. These questions are intended to find out whether the respondent
was victimized due to prejudice or bigotry towards members of a specific group.
____________, please continue.
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur
when offenders target people because of one or more
of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just
discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or
bigotry?
R:
I really don’t know.
(Press Ctrl+D, then press Enter)
8-135
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now you need to write a summary about the incident. Remember, you are limited to
300 characters. You can record additional information in the CAPI case level notes
or press the F7 key to record additional information on the SUMMARY screen. To
save space in the summary box, you can also use abbreviations. The standard
recommended abbreviations for the NCVS are found in the Help item on the Menu
bar. To access the standard abbreviations, click on the Help item or press the Shift
and F11 keys. Try this now and take a few minutes to look at the list of abbreviations
that are acceptable to use for the NCVS.
(Allow time)
You can also toggle between the summary and the Help screen by pressing the ALT
and TAB keys. Also, the list of abbreviations is provided on pages 28 and 29 in the
Information Card booklet.
When writing summary reports, you must include the who, what, when, where, and
how of the incident and any pertinent details not covered in the incident report
questions. When writing the summary, avoid pronouns, generalizations, making up
abbreviations and omitting pertinent details. If you run out of room for your summary,
press F7 to record additional information. Now turn to page 14 of your Workbook for
the text you should enter in the Incident Summary.
(Allow time)
SUMMARY
During night on (date) lawn ornaments stolen from L2’s
front yard while HH asleep. Belonged to entire HH.
Incident not reported to police b/c not important enough.
Also L2 didn’t want to take time to report it. Value
8-136
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
property $51. L2 doesn’t know who took the ornaments.
Nothing recovered.
(Allow time)
At SUMMARYPROBE you can either return to the summary to edit it or you can
continue with the interview. Let's go back to the summary for a moment, so press
the UP arrow key. When you return to the summary you need to make sure that the
text is not highlighted before editing or adding more text. Either press F2 or click on
the text box to unhighlight the text. If you don't do this when you begin typing in
additional text you will lose the text previously entered. Edit the summary by
removing the word entire in the sentence “Belonged to entire HH.” When you are
done press Enter.
(Allow time)
At SUMMARYPROBE enter 1 to continue. (Pause)
The next screen, INCIDENTTOADD, provides you with the opportunity to add
incidents that the respondent may have recalled during the interview but which were
not already reported in the screen questions. (Pause) For this exercise, enter code
2.
The next screen, CRIME_END, tells you that you have completed all incident
reports for Brian Public. Enter 1 to continue. Also, enter 1 at the ENDINCIDENT
screen and a 1 at ENDSCREENER, which tells you that there are no more incidents
to report.
At the INTRO_ UNDUP screen read the respondent the text, which tells them that
8-137
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
you must review the incidents reported during the current interview for the
household.
____________, please read the introduction to us.
(TRAINEE: Now it will just take me a minute to review the crime incidents I
have recorded from you during this interview at your household.)
Thank you. Now enter 1 to continue.
The next
screen, UNDUP_OLDINC, compares incidents
reported by the
respondent during the current interview with those that were reported in the
previous interview, either by the respondent or someone else in the household, to
ensure that the current incident reported is not a duplicate of incidents reported in
the past. Selected information about the current incident is displayed in the left
column and selected information about the incident reported in a previous interview
is displayed in the right column. Because the incident reported in a previous
interview may have been reported by another household member, DO NOT discuss
the incident with the current respondent, in order to maintain confidentiality.
Q:
What can you tell me about the two incident reports being compared at this
screen?
A:
The incident report just collected is being compared to an incident report
collected during the previous enumeration (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR)
The unduplication screens are set up to display the same type of information about
the two incident reports. Where one incident report is displayed in a column to the
left and is compared to another incident report displayed in a column to the right.
8-138
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
As you can see, the information was set up to display the same data from each
incident report in each row. For instance, the row with the header titled “Month”
displays the month the incident occurred. When you read that row from left to right
you see that the month of the incident on the left occurred in (month) and then
incident displayed on the right occurred in December. This gives you an efficient
way to compare incident reports.
Q:
How can we tell which incident report is displayed in the left column and which
incident report is displayed in the right column?
A:
The first line under the FR instructions contains the headers “incident
reported during current enumeration” over the column on the left and
“incident reported during previous enumeration” above the right hand
column (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR)
Let’s take a minute to compare the two incidents that are displayed.
(Allow time)
Q:
___________, are these incident reports duplicates of each other? Why or
why not?
A:
No
1. Because the incidents took place in different months.
2. Because they are not the same type of incident (i.e. stolen lawn ornaments
versus the theft of two games) (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR)
Are there any questions about why these are not duplicate incident reports?
(Answer questions)
8-139
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now that we’ve established that these two incidents are not the same, enter 2 to
continue the interview. Since there are no more incidents to compare, the
unduplication process is completed. At the UNDUP_DONE screen enter 1 to
continue.
____________, please continue
the interview with the
socio-demographic
questions.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions
demographic characteristics.
about
your
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition do you have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
8-140
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEAVING_HOME
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were
you born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I became a citizen through naturalization.
(Enter 4)
ORIENTATION_MALE
FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think
of yourself?
------
R:
Gay
Straight, that is, not gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
What do you mean by bisexual?
(Interrupt and say)
8-141
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
If the respondent asks for further clarification of a term on this screen, read the
appropriate definition that appears on this screen in optional text. Do not try and
define these terms yourself.
FR:
By bisexual, we mean romantic or sexual attraction
to persons of both the same sex and opposite sex.
R:
Oh okay, I’m bisexual.
(Enter 3)
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original
birth certificate?
R:
Male.
(Enter 1)
GENID_DESCRIBE FR:
R:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female
or transgender?
Male.
(Enter 1)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
Yes, I’m in the Reserves.
(Enter 2)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
8-142
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Interrupt and say)
Notice that this screen contains a book icon and a page reference at the top left of
the screen. This lets you know there is a corresponding page in the NCVS-554
Information Card Booklet. During personal visit interviews, show the “Employment”
flashcard to the respondent so they can see the job categories. Ask the question in
Item JOBDESCRIPTION, then ask the respondent to identify on the flashcard the
job category that best describes their job. Since this is a telephone interview, read
the answer categories aloud to the respondent until they give a “Yes” response or
provide an answer.
_________, please continue the interview at the screen JOBDESCRIPTION.
JOBDESCRIPTION FR:
Ask or verify
Which of the following best describes your job?
Were you employed in the Medical Profession?
Mental Health Services Field?
R:
Yes, mental health field.
(Enter 12, Mental Health Services Field)
MENTALHEALTHJOB
FR:
Are your duties Professional (Social worker/psychiatrist)?
Custodial care?
Some other Mental Health Services Profession?
R:
It’s professional, I’m a social worker.
(Enter 15, Professional)
8-143
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
FR:
Ask or verify
Is your job with a private company, business, or
individual for wages?
R:
No.
FR:
The Federal government?
R:
No.
FR:
A State, county, or local government?
R:
Yes, it’s with the state.
(Enter 3, A State, county, or local government)
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
FR:
R:
Are you employed by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
FR:
While working at your job, do you work mostly in –
----
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
OR
-R:
Combination of these?
In a city.
(Enter 1, A city)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
8-144
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
(Interrupt and say)
Since this is a telephone interview, if necessary read the answer categories to the
respondent until you get a “Yes” response.
What is the TOTAL combined income of all members
of this HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months?
This includes money from jobs, net income from
business, farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest,
Social Security payments, and any other money
income received by members of this HOUSEHOLD
who are 14 years of age or older.
----
Less than $5,000
Between $5,000 and $7,499
Between $7,500 and $9,999
(Interrupt and say)
R:
It’s about $150,000.
(Enter 26, $150,000 - $199,999)
At the next screen, BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY, you can review or update the
Interview Time Preferences if you need to. For this exercise, enter 1 to continue.
__________, please continue the interview.
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
(Enter 0)
8-145
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
FR:
R:
Was this respondent’s interview conducted in a
language other than English?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes Brian Public’s interview. Enter 1 at the ENDPERSON.
Brian Public tells you that Michael Goe, Will Loe, and Megan Moe are not available
to be interviewed at this time. Therefore, at the NEXTPERSON screen enter 33,
which takes you to REFCBBREAK_CP. This question asks you if the interview with
the household ended because of a refusal, a callback was needed, a breakoff
occurred, or because of a language or other problem. Since Michael Goe, Will Loe,
and Megan Moe are not available to be interviewed, you will need to call the
household back to complete their interview. Enter 2, Callback.
(Pause) At PERSAPPT you may want to ask the respondent what time would be
best to call the household back to complete the remaining interviews. At this screen
you can either enter 1 to proceed and enter a note later in the Case Level Notes
Editor or you can enter a note now by pressing Ctrl+F7. Let's enter a note later, so
enter 1 at PERSAPPT.
At the THANKYOU_INDIV screen you thank Brian Public and tell him that you will
call back at the suggested time, if he provided a specific time for you to call. Enter
1 to continue.
8-146
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
You don’t need to make any changes to the telephone number and you don’t need
to access the Interview Time Preferences application, so at the VERIFY screen
enter 2. (Pause)
(Allow time)
Now at the “Case Level Notes Editor,” enter a note that you have to call back the
household to complete interviews with Michael Goe, Will Loe, and Megan Moe. For
this exercise, assume that Brian Public told you to call back after 7:00 p.m. so also
enter the date and time to call back the household. You can also enter notes here
regarding the incident that you captured and any other details about the case.
(Allow time)
Press F10 to exit the “Notes Editor.” When the “Case Level Notes Editor”
pop-up screen appears asking if you want to save the notes entered, click the “Yes”
button. You then automatically return to pCHI, then Case Management.
__________, will you walk us through the pCHI items? Note that we won’t be
collecting any contact information for L1, as he is no longer a household member.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2 for telephone, outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1 since you are entering pCHI at the time of the
contact attempt)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons)
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 1, made contact with Brian Public)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1, completed interview)
8-147
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98 since the respondent completed his interview
without expressing any concerns about participating)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 5, called household)
PCONTACTPER (LN3)
(Enter 3, noncontact)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1, person not home)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2, scheduled appointment)
PCONTACTPER (LN4)
(Enter 3, noncontact)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1, person not home)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2, scheduled appointment)
PCONTACTPER (LN5)
(Enter 3, noncontact)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1, person not home)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 2, scheduled appointment)
Then we exit the pCHI, because we’ve updated the contact information for all the
household members.
Click on the “OK” button at the Case Management pop-up screen.
Notice that the status code changes to a “P”. This lets you know that you have
completed the household respondent’s interview but that there are other eligible
household members whose interview you still need to complete.
This concludes the interview for this practice exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
8-148
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #8 - Re-entering a Case to Complete Interview with
Remaining Eligible Household Members
Case ID: 00000004
(Approximate time: 15 minutes)
In this exercise you will practice re-entering a case. We’ll be working with the
training case for the Moe household. You already completed Megan Moe’s
interview, the household respondent, during the self-study Practice Interview. Now
you need to call back the household to interview her husband, Ted Moe.
Highlight the case, 508 Neil St. Start the interview by pressing the F2 function key
and get into the NCVS CAPI instrument for this case.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen, enter 1 since you are calling the household back to
interview Ted Moe. Look at the next to the last column, STATUS, on the
SHOW_CP_ROSTER screen. As you can see, Megan Moe’s interview is done but
Ted Moe has an interview designation of “NEED SELF” which means that he still
needs to be interviewed. Enter 1 at this screen to continue. (Pause)
At the SHOW_INFO_CP screen you can view any notes about the case by pressing
Ctrl F7 and you can look to see if there are any best or worst time preferences to
contact this case by pressing the Ctrl+T keys. For this exercise, enter 1 at the
SHOW_INFO_CP screen to continue the interview. (Pause) The next screen you
see is WHOTOCALL_CP. This screen displays the names of the household
members with whom you still need to complete an interview. Notice that Ted Moe’s
8-149
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
name is listed. Enter 1 to select Ted Moe as the person to interview. (Pause)
At the DIAL_CP screen, call the household. Assume someone answers, so enter
1. (Pause) At the HELLO_1_CP screen read the introduction, then ask to speak to
Ted Moe. The person who answered the phone calls Ted Moe to the telephone so
at the HELLO_1_CP screen enter 2, “Correct person called to the phone.”
At the next screen, INTRO_REC_CP, introduce yourself to Ted Moe since this is
the first time you are talking to him. Also, explain to him the purpose of the survey
and tell him that you would like to complete his interview. However, Ted Moe tells
you that he doesn’t want to be interviewed. At this point, you should try to explain
the importance of the survey and his participation. You can refer to the responses
under the Frequently Asked Questions tab to help explain the importance of the
survey to him.
Let’s take a look at some of the responses available. Click on the FAQs tab on the
toolbar. As you can see, there are several questions that are frequently asked about
the NCVS. Let’s look at question 4, “Who uses this information? What good is it?”
Enter 4.
_____________, please read the response to this question.
(TRAINEE: This survey is widely used by policy makers at all levels of
government, crime prevention groups, people who help crime victims,
researchers in many fields, the media, as well as others. It has sometimes
been used by the Supreme Court in making decisions. The survey informs our
users in a neutral, unbiased way to help them make public policy.)
Thank you.
8-150
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Let’s take a look at one more question so enter 2 to return to the list of questions,
then select question 3, “Why not ask the police about crimes?”
_____________, would you please read the response to Question 3?
(TRAINEE: Less than half of all crimes are reported to police. The survey is
the only way we have to find out about these crimes. We also get the details
about the characteristics of the crimes and the effects of the crime on the
victim. The survey provides much more detailed information than we get from
the police on both reported and unreported crime.)
Thank you.
Now let’s continue the interview, so enter 1.
After attempting to convince Ted Moe to participate he still refuses, so press F10 at
the INTRO_REC_CP screen. (Pause) Then, enter 1 at the REFCBBREAK_CP
screen and a 2 at the VERIFY screen.
At the "Case Level Notes Editor" enter “Ted Moe refused to be interviewed.” It is
acceptable to enter household members’ names at the “Case Level Notes Editor.”
Exit and save the notes.
Now let’s enter contact information in the pCHI.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2 for telephone, outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1 since you are entering pCHI at the time of the
contact attempt)
8-151
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
When you get to pCASECONTACT, look at the roster. Ted Moe is in blue text, which
means that he is eligible for the NCVS and his interview has not been completed
yet. Megan Moe is in gray text with a “C” next to her name, which means that she
completed her NCVS interview in a previous contact, so we don’t have to enter any
pCHI information for her.
__________, please walk us through the remaining pCHI screens.
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons)
(Interrupt and say)
Even though we did not complete his interview, we did speak with Ted Moe, so we
want to note that contact was made.
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 1, made contact with Ted Moe)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 3, unable to conduct interview)
pNONINTER
(Enter 5, potential Type-Z)
(Interrupt and say)
Use this category, “Potential Type Z” for household members who are potential or
confirmed Type Zs, as shown in this exercise.
Look at the next item, pRSPNDENT. Let’s say that Ted refused to participate
because the survey is voluntary, and he’s too busy. What precodes do you enter,
_________?
8-152
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
pRSPNDENT
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Enter 5, survey is voluntary, and 2, too busy)
Thank you. When possible, enter the precodes in the order the respondent
mentions them, just as we did here. This is so we can see how often a category is
mentioned, and how often it is mentioned first. That would imply that it is the most
important reason for that respondent.
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 5, called household)
We don’t need to collect any contact information for Megan since she is grayed out.
This concludes this practice exercise of re-entering a case to interview any
remaining eligible household members.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
8-153
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #9– Classifying an NCVS Respondent as a Type Z
Noninterview
Case ID: 00000004
(Approximate time: 15 minutes)
This next exercise covers classifying an NCVS respondent as a Type Z
noninterview. When a case is ready to be transmitted, it means that the household
doesn’t require any more follow-up contacts. This is because you either interviewed
all eligible members in the household, completed an interview with one or more
eligible members and made every attempt to interview other household members
but were unsuccessful, or the household was a Type A, Type B, or Type C
noninterview.
If the household contains any members who have not been interviewed, either
because they refused, were never available despite repeated attempts to interview
them, they were physically or mentally unable to answer and no proxy was available,
or they were temporarily absent and no proxy was available, you must specify the
Type Z noninterview reason for every noninterview person in the household before
you can transmit the case. Since this process can only be done at the time you are
ready to transmit the case to Headquarters, it is very important that if you have
identified any eligible household members as a noninterview early in the interview
period, you annotate the reason in the CAPI notes so you don’t forget the reason
when you are ready to transmit the case later on.
Let’s go back to the training case for the Moe household. You completed Megan
Moe’s interview, but her husband, Ted Moe, refused to be interviewed. There aren't
8-154
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
any other eligible household members whose interview you need to complete so
this case is ready to be transmitted. However, in order to transmit this case, you first
need to specify the reason why Ted Moe is a Type Z noninterview. In the Case List,
highlight the case 508 Neil St. Start the interview by pressing the F2 function key
and get into the NCVS CAPI instrument for this case.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen notice that the “Case Status” indicates that the household
respondent’s interview was completed. Since this case doesn’t require any more
follow-up, enter 5, “Ready to transmit case-no more follow up.” You now see a pop
up screen that asks you if you are ready to transmit the case. Since this case doesn’t
require any more follow-up you are ready to transmit it, so click the “Suppress”
button. The TYPE Z screen tells you that no survey data was collected for Ted Moe
and instructs you to select the reason that best describes why survey data were not
collected for him. Enter 3 since Ted Moe refused to participate. At the VERIFY
screen enter 2. In the Case Level Notes Editor enter that Ted Moe refused to
participate, then save the notes entered.
(Allow time)
Since we got back into the NCVS instrument to code Ted as a Type Z and did not
attempt another contact we can enter Precode (4), “Not attempting contact” at
CTATEMPT and Precode (2), “Readying case for transmission” at NOATTEMPT. If
we entered data in pCHI it would be a duplicate of the last record entered in pCHI;
since there was not another attempt, we don’t need to enter any contact information
here. Does everyone understand that?
8-155
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Answer questions)
Notice that the case is no longer listed on the Case List.
This concludes this practice exercise. Are there any other questions?
(Answer questions)
8-156
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #10 – Unduplication of Incidents
Case ID: 00000005
(Approximate time: 30 minutes)
In this exercise you will practice handling duplicate incidents. We will be working with
the training case with the address 116 Aphroditedr. You already completed Brian
Public’s interview. Now you are calling the household back to interview Michael Goe,
Will Loe, and Megan Moe.
Highlight the case and then start the interview by pressing the F2 function key to get
into the NCVS CAPI instrument for this case.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen, notice that the Case Status description changed from
New Case to Household Respondent Complete since you completed the household
respondent's interview. Enter 1 at this screen since you are calling the household
back to interview other eligible household members. At the next
screen,
SHOW_CP_ROSTER, look at the column labeled STATUS. Notice that you still
need to complete interviews for Michael Goe, Will Loe, and Megan Moe. (Pause)
Enter 1 at this screen and also enter 1 at the SHOW_INFO_CP screen. (Pause)
The next screen you see is WHOTOCALL_CP. This screen displays the name and
the line number of household members with whom you still need to complete an
NCVS interview. You can select either Michael Goe, Will Loe, or Megan Moe to
interview next. Select Michael Goe. Enter his line number, 3, as the person to
interview next. (Pause)
8-157
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the DIAL_CP screen call the household. Assume someone answers, so enter
(Pause)
__________, please continue the interview. Remember to tell us what you enter at
each screen as you proceed through the interview.
HELLO_1_CP
FR:
Hello. This is (TRAINEE’S NAME) from the U.S.
Census Bureau. May I please speak to Michael Goe?
R:
This is Michael Goe.
(Enter 1, This is the correct person)
INTRO_REC_CP
FR:
We are talking with members of your household to
obtain statistics on the kinds and amount of crime
committed against individuals 12 years of age or
older.
We would like to complete your interview now.
R:
Ok.
(Enter 1, Proceed with interview)
You don’t need to re-ask the respondent questions that were answered when you
conducted the interview earlier. Therefore, press the “END” key to resume the
interview at the question where the interview was terminated.
(Press the End key to proceed to the next unanswered question)
INTERVIEWSTATUS (Enter 1 to continue interview)
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT
(Enter 1 to proceed with interview)
8-158
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
TIMEATADDRESS
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
5 years.
(Enter 5)
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you in the last 6 months, that is, since
(date).
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings outside your home such as a garden
hose or lawn furnitureThings belonging to children in the householdThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
8-159
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
SQTHEFTTIMES
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
How many times?
R:
One time.
(Enter 1)
SQTHEFTSPEC
FR:
What happened?
R:
Lawn ornaments were stolen from our front yard.
(Enter: Lawn ornaments were stolen from household’s
front yard.)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, since
(date), were you attacked or threatened OR did you
have something stolen from you ---
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or schoolIn places such as a storage shed or laundry
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lot
At such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
---
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-160
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
SQATTACKHOW
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways ---
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stickBy something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
----OR
R:
(Interrupts) No, nothing like that at all.
(Interrupt and say)
This is a good place for us to talk about asking the respondent to wait until you are
finished reading the whole question. Here, we are interrupted by the respondent
before the FR has asked all the cues. Notice how the FR now politely asks the
respondent to wait until the whole question is asked.
FR:
If you could just bear with me while I finish reading
the question, please.
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-161
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Did you have something stolen
from you or were you attacked or threatened by -----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual
acts are often difficult to talk about. Have you been
forced or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual
activity by ---
Someone you didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did you call the police to report
something that happened to you which you thought
was a crime?
8-162
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did anything which you thought
was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report
to the police?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes the screen questions for Michael Goe. At the “Present for Screen
Questions” screen enter 11 since this is a telephone interview.
The INC_REPORTS screen tells you that an incident was reported by Michael Goe.
Enter 1 at this screen.
__________, please continue with the incident questions.
INCIDENTINTRO
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months lawn
ornaments were stolen from your household’s front
yard one time.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
I think it happened sometime in March.
(Make sure the month the incident occurred falls WITHIN the reference
period.)
(Enter 3, March)
8-163
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Ask or verify
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?
R:
Just once.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
About what time did this incident happen?
R:
I didn’t notice that the ornaments were missing until
the next day so it must have happened sometime
during the night.
(Enter 18, Don’t know what time of night)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town or village did this incident occur?
R:
Right here in Any Town.
(Enter 3, Same city/town/village as present residence)
INCIDENTAIR
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen
---
R:
In your home or lodging?
Near your home or lodging?
It happened in my front yard.
(Enter 12, Near your home or lodging)
8-164
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
FR:
Ask or verify
Where near your home or lodging did this incident
happen?
(Interrupt and say)
An important skill you can use as an interviewer is the skill of active listening, which
means using the information the respondent has already provided. One way to
practice active listening at this screen is to verify the location without asking the full
question, since the respondent gave us a detailed description of the location in a
previous question. For example, instead of asking “Where near your home or
lodging did this incident happen?” we can use the answer category to verify the
answer by asking “You just said this happened in your front yard, is that correct?”
Using this active listening technique will help the respondent know that you really
are paying attention to their answers and make interviewing more efficient.
R:
In the front yard.
(Enter 15, Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, etc.)
Notice the pop-up that appears. It asks, “Did this incident happen in a garage? If
yes, was the garage attached or detached?” In this example, the incident did not
happen in a garage, so click “Suppress.”
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
R:
Outdoors.
(Enter 2, Outdoors)
8-165
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
FARFROMHOME
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Ask or verify
How far away from home did this happen?
R:
It was at my home.
(Enter 1, At, in, or near the building containing the
respondent’s home or next door)
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Were you or any other household member present
when this incident occurred?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
Notice that we have another pop-up screen: “Verify whether or not the respondent
or another household member was at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident. If after verifying presence, you determine they were present, press the
Close or Goto button. If after verifying presence, you determine they were not
present, press the Suppress button.” You must verify that the household member
was in fact not present. The respondent could be sleeping, remember to probe.
After you verify, click “Suppress.”
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
FR:
Do you know or have you learned anything about the
offender for instance, whether there was one or more
than one offender involved, whether it was someone
young or old, or male or female?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify
Was something stolen or taken without permission
that belonged to you or others in the household?
8-166
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHATWASTAKEN
FR:
Ask or verify
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the
household?
R:
Outdoor lawn decorations.
(Enter 36, Other)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC
(Enter “Lawn ornaments”)
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Did the stolen property belong to you personally, to
someone else in the household, or to both you and
other household members?
R:
To me and others in the household.
(Enter 2, Respondent
member(s))
and
the
other
household
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Besides you, which household members owned the
stolen property?
R:
They belonged to everyone.
(Enter 40, Household property)
8-167
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
ARTICLEINCAR
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Ask or verify
Was the article IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle
when it was taken?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
OTHERONPERSON FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Was there anything ELSE the offenders took directly
from you, for instance, from your pocket or hands, or
something that you were wearing?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PROPERTYVALUE FR:
R:
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was
taken? Include recovered property (If jointly owned
with nonhousehold members, include only share
owned by household members.)
About $50.
(Enter 50)
DECIDEDVALUE
FR:
How did you decide the value of the property that
was taken?
R:
That was the cost we paid to purchase the
decorations.
(Enter 11, Original cost)
FR:
Any other way?
R:
No.
(Press ENTER)
8-168
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(If the FR doesn’t ask the probe for this question, remind trainees to ask
the probe displayed on the screen for multiple entry questions.)
ALLPARTRECOVERED
FR:
R:
Was all or part of the stolen property recovered, not
counting anything received from insurance?
No.
(Enter 3, None)
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
FR:
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DAMAGED
FR:
Other than any stolen property, was anything that
belonged to you or other members of the household
damaged in this incident?
R:
Yes, some shrubs were damaged.
(Enter 1, Yes)
DAMAGEDREPAIRED
FR:
Were the damaged items repaired or replaced?
R:
Yes, we had to replace the two bushes that were
damaged.
(Enter 1, Yes, all)
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
FR:
How much was the repair or replacement cost?
R:
About $50.
(Enter 50)
8-169
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
PAIDREPAIRS
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Who paid for the repairs or replacement?
R:
We did.
(Enter 2, Household member)
POLICEINFORMED FR:
R:
Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
FR:
R:
What was the reason it was not reported to the
police?
We figured it was just kids playing around.
(Enter 14, Child offender(s); “kid stuff”)
FR:
Any other reason?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
AGENCYHELP
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any
help or advice from any office or agency -- other than
the police -- that deals with victims of crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
What were you doing when this incident happened?
I was probably sleeping.
(Enter 18, Sleeping)
8-170
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Did you lose any time from work because of this
incident for such things as cooperating with a police
investigation, testifying in court, or repairing or
replacing damaged or stolen property?
No.
(Enter 6, None)
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Were there any household members 16 years or
older who lost time from work because of this
incident?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur
when offenders target people because of one or more
of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just
discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or
bigotry?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
8-171
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now you need to write a summary about the incident. Remember to answer who,
what, when, where, and how in your summary. After you finish, turn to page 15 of
your workbook for the text you should enter. When you are done completing and
comparing the summary press Enter.
SUMMARY
In (enter date within reference period) lawn decorations
taken from L3’s front yard at night. Hhld sleeping.
Decorations belonged to the HH. Incident not reported to
police since kid’s stuff. Stolen items valued at $50.
Shrubs damaged; cost to replace shrubs was $50. L3
doesn’t know who took. No time lost from work. Nothing
recovered.
(Allow time)
After completing the summary you proceed to SUMMARYPROBE. You don't need
to edit or continue entering any more summary text, so enter 1 to continue. (Pause)
Now enter 2 at INCIDENTTOADD since the respondent did not recall during the
interview any additional incidents that were not already reported in the screen
questions. (Pause)
The next screen, CRIME_END, tells you that you have completed all incident
reports for Michael Goe. Enter 1 to continue. Also, enter 1 at the ENDINCIDENT
screen and a 1 at the ENDSCREENER screen, which tells you that there are no
more incidents to report.
In the next screen, INTRO_UNDUP, remember you read the text to the respondent
to let him or her know that you need to review the incidents reported during the
current interview for the household. (Pause) The unduplication process is an NCVS
8-172
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
process to ensure that each reported incident is not a duplicate of another
incident already reported for the respondent or the sample household in the
current and previous enumeration periods. This quality assurance measure is
designed so that we can provide a more accurate measure of criminal victimization
in the United States.
A “duplicate” incident report is a report of the same crime incident, not similar
incidents. For example, when two different respondents report that Line Number 1's
bicycle was stolen in January, this is considered a duplicate incident. Whereas, if
Line Number 1 reports that their bicycle was stolen in November and Line Number
2's bicycle was stolen in September these incidents, although similar, are not
considered duplicates because they are two separate crimes. This section of the
instrument is set up to avoid double reporting of incidents.
Now enter 1 at the INTRO_UNDUP screen to continue. (Pause) If more than one
incident was reported by the respondent OR by the respondent and someone else
in the household during the current interview period, you review the remaining
incidents to identify whether the incidents are potential duplicates.
In this exercise, both Michael Goe and Brian Public reported incidents during the
current interview period, so at the UNDUP_CURINC screen, compare the incidents
reported. During the unduplication process, in order to keep the data confidential,
DO NOT discuss the incidents you are reviewing with the respondent, particularly
when the incidents are reported by different household members.
Q:
What comparisons will we be making in the unduplication section this time?
A:
1.
We’ll compare this respondent’s incident report to the incident report
collected for the household respondent.
8-173
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
2.
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
We’ll also compare this respondent’s incident report to the incident report
collected in the previous enumeration. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.
Discuss any of these points that were not mentioned.)
Does everyone follow the logic that the instrument will prompt you to review the
current incident report against two other incident reports?
(Answer questions)
Q:
Based on the information displayed, how can we tell which incident report is the
current respondent’s incident and which incident report was collected during
the household respondent’s interview?
A:
1.
The row of data that contains the header “Enum” or enumeration, also has
the headers “Ln No.” for the Line number of the respondent who reported
that incident and “Inc. No.” for the incident number.
2.
You can also compare the summaries of the two incident reports to help
differentiate between the two. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. Discuss any
of these points that were not mentioned.)
As we discussed in the previous exercise, the unduplication screens were set up to
display the same type of information about the two incident reports. One incident
report is displayed in a column on the left and is compared to another incident report
displayed in a column to the right. Let’s take a minute to discuss the header Inc. No.
or “incident number.” That number is linked to the respondent who reported the
incident. For example, if Line Number 2 reported two incidents, their first incident
8-174
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
would have an Incident Number of 1, while their second incident would have an
Incident Number of 2. As you can see from the UNDUP_CURINC screen, we are
comparing an incident reported by Line Number 2 to an incident reported by Line
Number 3.
The purpose of comparing the two incidents on this screen is to
determine if Line 2 and Line 3 are reporting the same incident, so please read each
summary carefully.
Does everyone understand the purpose of reviewing the summaries of the two
incidents displayed at this screen?
(Answer questions)
Let’s take a minute to compare the two incidents that are displayed.
(Allow time)
Q:
___________, are these incidents duplicates of each other? Why or why not?
A:
Yes, the incidents are the same; it was the same situation and it happened in
the same time frame. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. If any of these points
were left out of the answer, mention them now.)
Are there any questions about why these are duplicate incident reports?
(Answer questions)
Ask trainees, how and why are they different?
(Allow time)
8-175
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now that we’ve established that these two incident reports are the same incident,
enter 1 at the UNDUP_CURINC screen.
In the next screen, UNDUP_OLDINC, incidents reported during the current interview
are also compared to incidents reported in previous interviews to ensure that they
aren't duplicates. Review the incidents to see if the current incident is a duplicate of
one previously reported.
(Allow time)
Q:
Are these two incident reports duplicates? Why or why not?
A:
No.
1. Because the incidents took place in different locations.
2. Because they are not the same type of incident. (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.
If any of these points were left out of the answer, mention them now.)
The incidents don’t appear to be duplicates so enter 2 at the UNDUP_OLDINC
screen. Continue this process until there are no more incidents to compare.
(Allow time)
At the UNDUP_DONE screen, the unduplication process is completed. Enter 1 to
continue.
_________, please continue the interview with the employment questions.
8-176
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions
demographic characteristics.
about
your
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition do you have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
8-177
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
LEAVING_HOME
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were
you born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I was born in Guam.
(Enter 2)
ORIENTATION_MALE
FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think
of yourself?
------
R:
Gay
Straight, that is, not gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
I’d prefer not to answer.
(Enter 6, Refused)
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original
birth certificate?
R:
Male.
(Enter 1)
GENID_DESCRIBE FR:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female
or transgender?
8-178
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Male.
(Enter 1)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
No.
(Enter 1)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
JOBDESCRIPTION FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
Ask or verify
Which of the following best describes your job?
Were you employed in the –
Medical Profession?
Mental Health Services Field?
Teaching Profession?
Law Enforcement or Security Field?
R:
Yes, law enforcement.
(Enter 14, Law Enforcement or Security Field)
LAWENFORCEJOB
FR:
Were you employed as a --
Law enforcement officer?
8-179
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes, I’m a police officer.
(Enter 26, Law enforcement officer)
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
FR:
Ask or verify
Is your job with A private company, business, or individual for
wages?
R:
No.
FR:
The Federal government?
R:
No.
FR:
A State, county, or local government?
R:
Yes, it’s with the state.
(Enter 3, A State, county, or local government)
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
FR:
R:
Are you employed by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
FR:
While working at your job, do you work mostly in
----
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
OR
--
Combination of these?
8-180
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
I would say it’s a combination.
(Enter 4, Combination of these)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY
(Enter 1 to continue)
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
(Enter 0 to continue)
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes Michael Goe’s interview. Enter 1 at the ENDPERSON. This ends
the interview for this practice exercise. In the next exercise we will continue with this
case. Are there any questions about this exercise?
(Answer questions)
8-181
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #11 – Proxy Interview
Case ID: 00000005
(Approximate time: 30 minutes)
In this practice exercise you will complete a proxy interview. Turn to page 16 of your
Workbook to review the NCVS proxy rules.
(Allow time)
Now let’s continue with the interview. Everyone should be at the NEXTPERSON
screen. Notice that this is another screen where you are instructed NOT to F10.
Please make sure that you follow this instruction.
Q:
Can anyone tell me whose interview you still need to complete?
A:
Will Loe’s and Megan Moe’s
That’s correct.
After telling Michael Goe that you need to speak to Will Loe or Megan Moe he tells
you that Will Loe had a stroke that left him cognitively impaired and he is unable to
complete the interview himself.
Michael Goe is eligible to serve as the proxy
respondent for Will Loe and agrees to do so. At the NEXTPERSON screen enter
Will Loe’s line number, which is 4.
Take a look at the INTERVIEWSTATUS screen. It currently indicates that Will Loe’s
interview is a self-response interview. (Pause) Also, take a look at the “Talking to”
8-182
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
and “About” fields at the bottom of the screen. Both of these fields contain Will Loe’s
name. (Pause) When you change the interview status to proxy and select a proxy
respondent, you will notice that the “Talking to” field will contain Michael Goe's
name, the proxy respondent.
To change the interview status from self to proxy, select Precode (2), “Change to a
proxy interview” since you will be conducting Will Loe’s interview by proxy and not
by self-response. When you enter 2, notice that you get a soft edit informing you
that the interview status is about to be changed to “Proxy interview.” Here you have
the option to either accept the change by clicking on the “Suppress” button or to go
back to the INTERVIEWSTATUS screen and change the entry. Since you want to
change the interview status for Will Loe to proxy, the entry of 2 is correct so click the
“Suppress” button.
Michael Goe told you that Will Loe had a stroke and is unable to answer the survey
questions, so at the PROXYREASON screen enter 2, “Proxy person is
physically/mentally
unable
to
answer.”
(Pause)
At
the
next
screen,
PROXYREASONSPEC, describe the physical or mental condition that prevents the
respondent from completing the interview by self-response. Turn to page 17 of your
Workbook for examples of acceptable or valid proxy reasons.
(Allow time)
Now in the PROXYREASONSPEC screen enter “L4 suffered a stroke.” Then
press Enter.
(Allow time)
8-183
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the next screen, PICKPROXYRESP, enter the line number of the proxy
respondent. Notice that Megan Moe’s name is not listed as an eligible proxy
respondent. This is because she has not yet completed her interview by selfresponse.
Enter 3, which is Michael Goe’s line number, and then press Enter. (Enter 3)
At the next screen, INTROPROXYSTATUS, look at the five FR instructions in blue.
These instructions tell you that you are conducting a proxy interview; that the
interview is for Will Loe, and that you are talking to Michael Goe, the proxy
respondent. Also look at the Status bar located in the grey portion at the bottom of
the screen. Notice that the “Talking to” field now reflects the name of the proxy
respondent, Michael Goe. The survey questions will now be worded so that you are
asking Michael Goe about Will Loe. If you click on the HH Roster tab, you will notice
that Will Loe’s STATUS has changed from “NEED SELF” to “NEED PRXY.” After
look at this, go back to the interview by clicking the Main tab.
Enter 1 at this screen.
_________________, please be our FR. Remember to tell us what you enter at
each screen as you proceed through the interview.
TIMEATADDRESS
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
How long has Will Loe lived at this address?
R:
10 years.
(Enter 10)
8-184
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
SQTHEFT
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to Will Loe in the last 6 months, that is,
since (date).
Was something belonging to WILL LOE stolen, such
as --------
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings outside your home such as a garden
hose or lawn furnitureThings belonging to children in the householdThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to Will Loe?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to him?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Since (date), was Will Loe attacked or threatened OR
did he have something stolen from him ----
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or school-
8-185
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
--
In places such as a storage shed or laundry
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lotAt such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to him from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to Will Loe?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Has anyone attacked or threatened Will Loe in any
of these ways -------
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stickBy something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
OR
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to Will Loe?
8-186
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Did Will Loe have something
stolen from him or was he attacked or threatened
by-----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person he has met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to Will Loe?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFTIMES
FR:
How many times?
R:
Two times.
(Enter 2)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFSPEC
FR:
What happened?
R:
One of the guys at the rehab center where Will goes
threatened to beat him up.
(Enter “One of the guys at the rehab center where L4
goes threatened to beat him up”)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual
acts are often difficult to talk about. Other than
incidents already mentioned, has he been forced or
8-187
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
coerced to engage in unwanted sexual activity by ---
Someone he didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone he knows well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to him?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, other than any incidents
already mentioned, did Will Loe call the police to
report something that happened to HIM which he
thought was a crime?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incidents
already mentioned, did anything which Will Loe
thought was a crime happen to HIM, but he did NOT
report to the police?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PRESENTFORSQS
(Enter 11, Telephone)
INC_REPORTS
(Enter 1 to continue)
8-188
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
INCIDENTINTRO
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months one of
the guys at the rehab center where Will Loe goes
threatened to beat him up two times.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did the first incident happen?
(Interrupt and say)
Since this incident happened more than one time, make sure that you let the
respondent know that the questions you will be asking pertain to the first incident.
Be sure to read the words “the first” when asking this question.
R:
I think it happened sometime in October.
(Make sure the month the incident occurred falls OUTSIDE the reference
period.)
(Enter 10, October)
(Interrupt and say)
Because the incident occurred outside the reference period, an edit error message
pops up for you to verify the response given.
__________, please continue the interview by asking the question appearing in the
edit error message.
FR:
Did you say October?
R:
Yes.
(Select “Suppress” button)
OSINCNOTNEEDED
FR:
We are only asking about crimes that happened
8-189
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
during the last 6 months. We will not collect
information on this incident.
(Interrupt and say)
This is a quick way to remove an incident if you make a mistake.
(Press 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATEPROBE
FR:
R:
Did Will Loe have anything else like this happen
between (date) and (date)?
This incident happened to him one other time.
(Interrupt and say)
The intent of this question is to find out if anything similar to the incident that is
outside the reference period happened to the respondent during the reference
period. However, this includes ONLY incidents that have NOT already been
reported to you. The production instrument makes it clearer that we only are asking
about incidents not already reported. For this exercise enter 2, No. By selecting “No”
the current incident entry will be deleted. Now at INC_REDUCE enter that the first
incident is outside the reference period, then press Enter. Enter 1 at ENDINCIDENT.
Notice that you have returned to INCIDENTINTRO which begins the incident report
for the next incident.
______________, please begin the incident report for the second incident.
INCIDENTINTRO
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months one of
the guys at the rehab center where Will Loe goes
threatened to beat him up two times.
(Enter 1 to continue)
8-190
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
INCIDENTDATE
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
I believe it happened in May.
(Make sure the month the incident occurred falls WITHIN the reference
period.)
(Enter 5, May)
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Ask or verify
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?
R:
Once.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
About what time did this incident happen?
R:
I’m not exactly sure but he he is at rehab in the
morning between 9 and 12.
(Enter 11, After 6a.m –12 noon)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town or village did this incident occur?
R:
Right here in Any Town.
(Enter 3, Same city/town/village as present residence)
INCIDENTAIR
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen…
8-191
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
--------R:
In Will Loe’s home or lodging?
Near Will Loe’s home or lodging?
At, in, or near a friend’s/relatives/neighbor’s
home?
At a commercial place?
In a parking lot or garage?
At school?
In open areas, on the street, or on public
transportation?
Somewhere else?
It happened somewhere else, at the rehabilitation
center.
(Enter 36, Somewhere else)
LOCATION_SPEC
(Enter “Rehab center”)
RESTRICTEDAREA FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did the incident happen in an area restricted to
certain people or was it open to the public at the
time?
It’s restricted.
(Enter 2, Restricted to certain people)
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
R:
Indoors.
(Enter 1, Indoors)
FARFROMHOME
FR:
Ask or verify
How far away from home did this happen?
R:
The rehab center is about 10 miles from home.
(Enter 4, Fifty miles or less)
8-192
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Was Will Loe or any other household member
present when this incident occurred?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHICHMEMBER
FR:
Which household members were present?
R:
Just Will.
(Enter 1, Victim only)
SEEOFFENDER
FR:
Did Will Loe personally see an offender?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WEAPONPRESENT FR:
R:
Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun or
knife, or something to use as a weapon, such as a
bottle or wrench?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ATTACK
FR:
Did the offender hit Will Loe, knock him down or
actually attack him in any way?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
TRYATTACK
FR:
Did the offender TRY to attack Will Loe?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-193
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
THREATEN
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Did the offender THREATEN Will Loe with harm in
any way?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
HOWTHREATEN
FR:
How was Will Loe threatened?
R:
Well, the other guy at the rehab center threatened to
beat up Will.
FR:
Any other way?
R:
No, that’s it.
(Enter 13, Verbal threat of attack other than kill or rape)
IMPACT_JOB
FR:
Being a victim of crime affects people in different
ways. Next I would like to ask you some questions
about how being a crime victim may have affected
him.
Did being a victim of this crime lead Will Loe to have
significant problems with his job or schoolwork, or
trouble with his boss, coworkers, or peers?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
IMPACT_FAMILY
FR:
Did being a victim of this crime lead Will Loe to have
significant problems with family members or friends,
including getting into more arguments or fights than
he did before, not feeling he could trust them as
much, or not feeling as close to them as he did
before?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-194
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
HOW_DISTRESSING
FR:
R:
How distressing was being a victim of this crime to
Will Loe? Was it not at all distressing, mildly
distressing, moderately distressing, or severely
distressing?
Mildly distressing, I think.
(Enter 2, Mildly distressing)
PROTECTSELF
FR:
Did Will Loe do anything with the idea of protecting
HIMSELF or his PROPERTY while the incident was
going on?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No/took no action/kept still)
DURINGINCIDENT
FR:
Was there anything Will Loe did or tried to do about
the incident while it was going on?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No/took no action/kept still)
ANYONEPRESENT FR:
R:
Was anyone present during the incident besides Will
Loe and the offender? Other than children under age
12.
I don’t know.
(Enter 3, Don’t know)
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
FR:
Ask or verify
Was the crime committed by only one or by more
than one offender?
R:
Just one offender.
(Enter 1, Only one)
8-195
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
SINGOFFENDERKNEW
FR:
R:
Was the offender someone Will Loe knew or a
stranger he had never seen before?
He knows the guy.
(Enter 1, Knew or had seen before)
SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL
FR:
How well did Will Loe know the offender -- by sight
only, casual acquaintance, or well known?
(Interrupt and say)
“Sight only” means that the victim had seen the offender before, but had never
said much to him or her. “Casual acquaintance” means that the victim knew the
offender well enough to say more than just “Hello,” but did not necessarily know the
offender by name. Determining whether the offender was “Well known” should be
the sole decision of the respondent. Only select this category when the respondent
says the offender was well known to him or her.
R:
By sight only.
(Enter 1, Sight only)
SINGLEOFFENDERSIGHT
FR:
Would Will Loe have been able to tell the police how
they might find the offender, for instance, where he
lived, worked, went to school, or spent time?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SINGOFFENDERGENDER
FR:
Was the offender male or female?
8-196
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Male.
(Enter 1, Male)
SINGOFFENDERAGE
FR:
R:
How old would Will Loe say the offender was?
He was probably in his forties.
(Enter 6, 30 or older)
SINGOFFENDERETHNICITY
FR:
Was the offender Hispanic or Latino?
R:
I don’t think so.
(Enter 2, No)
SINGOFFRRACE
FR:
What race or races was the offender? You may
select more than one. Was the offender…
------
White?
Black or African American?
American Indian or Alaska Native?
Asian?
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
(Interrupt and say)
This question is asked to determine the offender’s race as perceived by the
respondent.
R:
He is White.
(Enter 1, White)
SINGOFFENDERGANG
FR:
Was the offender a member of a street gang, or
doesn’t Will Loe know?
8-197
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
I don’t think that Will knows.
(Enter 3, Don’t know)
SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
FR:
Was the offender drinking or on drugs, or doesn’t Will
Loe know?
R:
He doesn’t know.
(Enter 3, Don’t know)
SINGLEOFFENDERONLYTIME
FR:
Was this the only time this offender committed a
crime or made threats against Will Loe or his
household?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No (there were other times)
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify
Was something stolen or was taken without
permission that belonged to Will Loe or others in the
household?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ATTEMPTTHEFT
FR:
Did the offender ATTEMPT to take something that
belonged to Will Loe or others in the household?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DAMAGED
FR:
Was anything that belonged to Will Loe or other
members of the household damaged in this incident?
8-198
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
POLICEINFORMED FR:
R:
Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
For a proxy interview, the next item, POLICEFINDOUT, begins a series of police
questions that will NOT be directed to Will Loe, the person for whom the proxy
interview is being taken. Instead, you ask the questions in Items POLICEFINDOUT
through ANYTHINGFURTHER directly of the proxy respondent, Michael Goe. Just
for this series of questions, we are interested in the proxy respondent’s feelings
about why the police were or were not informed.
As you ask these questions notice that instrument substitutes the word “you” rather
than Will Loe’s name.
_________, please continue the interview with POLICEFINDOUT.
POLICEFINDOUT
FR:
How did the police find out about it?
R:
When Will told us about the incident Brian called the
police to report the threat.
(Enter 12, Other household member)
POLICEARRIVE
FR:
Did the police come when they found out about the
incident?
8-199
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
POLICECONTACT
FR:
Did you or anyone in your household have any later
contact with the police about the incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SIGNCOMPLAINT
FR:
Did you or someone in your household sign a
complaint against the offender to the police
department or the authorities?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ARRESTMADE
FR:
As far as you know, was anyone arrested or were
charges brought against anyone in connection with
this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
AGENCYHELP
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any
help or advice from any office or agency -- other than
the police -- that deals with victims of crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
CONTACTAUTHORITIES
FR:
Have you or someone in your household had contact
with any other authorities about this incident (such as
a prosecutor, court, or juvenile officer)?
8-200
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ANYTHINGFURTHER
FR:
R:
Do you expect the police, courts, or other authorities
will be doing anything further in connection with this
incident?
No, I really don’t.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes the series of police questions directed to Michael Goe. For the
remaining questions, Will Loe’s name is substituted in the questions.
Please continue,
.
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
What was Will Loe doing when this incident
happened?
He was at rehab going through therapy.
(Enter 15, Shopping, errands)
(Interrupt and say)
Doctor appointments, such as therapy, can be considered an errand for this
question, so use precode 15.
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
FR:
Ask or verify
8-201
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Did Will Loe have a job at the time of the incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
MAJORACTIVITY
FR:
What was his major activity the week of the incident
– was he looking for work, keeping house, going to
school, or doing something else?
R:
He’s retired, so he stays at home.
(Enter 5, Retired)
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Were there any household members 16 years or
older who lost time from work because of this
incident?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur
when offenders target people because of one or more
of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Does Will Loe have any reason to suspect the incident
just discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice
or bigotry?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
Now you must write a summary about the incident. Remember to include all
pertinent facts surrounding the reported crime incident. Write each summary so that
8-202
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
anyone reading it can get a clear, well-defined picture of how the person was
victimized.
When writing the summary report remember the key words – WHO, WHAT,
WHERE, WHEN, and HOW. Use the words to explain who was victimized, what
happened, where and when the crime took place, and how the crime was executed.
Also include other details about the crime, such as whether or not a weapon was
used and whether or not the police were contacted.
Now complete the summary.
(Call on a couple of trainees to read the incident summary they wrote.
Help identify what other details they should include in the summary if it
seems incomplete.)
Example:
SUMMARY
On (date) bet 6am-noon at rehab center male offender
threatened to beat up L4. Happened once within last 6
months. L4 knows offender by sight only. L2 called
police. Police did not do anything. Nothing taken, no
weapon used.
At SUMMARYPROBE
enter
1
to
continue.
(Pause) Now
enter
2 at
INCIDENTTOADD since the respondent did not recall during the interview any
additional incidents that were not already reported in the screen questions. (Pause)
The next screen, CRIME_END, tells you that you have completed all incident
reports for Will Loe. Enter 1 to continue. Also, enter 1 at the ENDINCIDENT screen
and a 1 at the ENDSCREENER screen, which tells you that there are no more
incidents to report.
8-203
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now proceed through
the incident unduplication
screens. Remember, the
UNDUP_CURINC screen displays incidents reported by the household during the
current interview period for you to compare. The UNDUP_OLDINC screen
compares incidents reported by the respondent during the current interview with
those that were reported in previous interviews, either by the respondent or
someone else in the household, to ensure that the incidents are not duplicates.
(Allow time)
INTRO_UNDUP
(Enter 1 to continue)
UNDUP_CURINC
(Enter 2, No)
UNDUP_CURINC
(Enter 2, No)
UNDUP_OLDINC
(Enter 2, No)
UNDUP_DONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
___________, please continue the interview with socio-demographic questions.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions about Will Loe’s
demographic characteristics.
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Is Will Loe deaf or does he have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
8-204
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
VISION
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Is Will Loe blind or does he have serious difficulty
seeing even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition does he have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
LEAVING_HOME
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, does he have difficulty doing errands
alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Is Will Loe a citizen of the United States? That is, was
he born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
8-205
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
I’m not sure.
(Enter Ctrl+D)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Has Will Loe ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
No.
(Enter 1)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did Will Loe have a job or work at a business LAST
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
JOBDURINGREFPERIOD
FR:
R:
Did he have a job or work at a business DURING
THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY
(Enter 1 to continue)
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
(Enter 0 to continue)
8-206
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
(Enter 2, No)
ENDPERSON
(Enter 1 to continue)
(Interrupt and say)
This concludes Will Loe’s interview. You still need to interview Megan Moe;
however, Michael Goe says that she is not home right now so at NEXTPERSON
enter code 33, No other person available now. (Pause) At REFCBBREAK_CP
select code 2, Callback. (Pause) Now at PERSAPPT press Control F7 and enter a
note to call back the household to complete Megan Moe’s interview, then press F10
to exit the Notes Editor. Be sure to save the notes you entered.
(Allow time)
Now enter 1 at PERSAPPT and also at THANKYOU_INDIV. (Pause) At the
VERIFY screen you don’t need to make any changes to the telephone number nor
do you need to review or edit the Interview Time Preferences application, so enter
2 to continue. (Pause)
At the “Case Level Notes Editor” enter a note that “Line 4, Will Loe, is cognitively
impaired and that his interview was completed by proxy by Line 3, Michael Goe.”
When you are done entering this note, press F10 to return to pCHI.
(Allow time)
Everyone should be at the CTATEMPT screen in pCHI. Is everyone there?
8-207
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time, help any trainees who are not at the correct screen)
Before we continue, let’s look at the household roster. Click on the “Roster
Information” tab. Here we see the same five people listed in the NCVS instrument.
Notice that L1 is in gray text and has an “I” next to the name. This means Joel Boe
is no longer a household member. L2, Brian Public, is also in gray text and there’s
a “C” next to the name; that means his interview is complete. That leaves L3, L4,
and L5 still eligible for entries in pCHI. We can also tell that Michael, Will, and Megan
are still eligible for pCHI because their information is displayed in blue text.
Q:
Who can tell me the two methods we can use now to get back to the
CTATEMPT screen?
A:
Either enter 1 to continue in the “Roster Information” tab or click on the pCHI
tab.
Thank you. Use either method to get back to pCHI. _________, please walk us
through the pCHI screens.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2 for telephone, outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1, Yes)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons)
(Interrupt and say)
Notice that the instrument automatically goes to Item PCONTACTPER for L3, since
we do not need to collect contact information for L1 or L2. _______, please
continue.
8-208
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PCONTACTPER(LN3) (Enter 1, made contact with Michael Goe.)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1, completed interview)
(Interrupt and say)
For this respondent, let’s assume there were no concerns about completing the
interview and that no additional strategies were used. _______, please continue.
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98, no concerns)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 5, called household)
Thank you. __________, please walk us through the remaining pCHI screens.
PCONTACTPER(LN4)
(Enter 2, made contact with proxy)
(If FR misses this, remind trainees that Will Loe’s interview was
completed by proxy.)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1, completed interview)
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98, no concerns)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 5, called household)
(If necessary: explain that the fact that the interview was conducted by
proxy was captured in a previous item, so we don’t need to enter that in
pSTRATEGS)
After completing the proxy interview for L4, Michael Goe tells you that Megan is not
8-209
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
home. _________, please walk us through the pCHI items for L5.
PCONTACTPER(LN5)
(Enter 3, noncontact)
pNOCONTACT
(Enter 1, person not home)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 5, called
appointment)
household,
and
2,
scheduled
Press enter to return to Case Management. This concludes the interview for this
practice exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
8-210
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #12 – Quitting a Case at Onset of Interview
Case ID: 00000001
(Approximate time: 5 minutes)
The next practice exercise covers what to do if you get into the CAPI instrument for
a case but then decide that you don’t want to start the interview. For example, you
may realize that after checking the Interview Time Preferences that the time you
accessed the case was a time that the sample unit requested not to be contacted.
To quit a case is a simple process. At the Case Management Case List, highlight
the case 502 Stuart St., then press F2 to start the interview.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen enter Precode (6), “Quit, Do not attempt now.” Then at
the VERIFY screen, enter 2 since you don’t need to make any changes to the
telephone number nor do you need to review or update the interview time
preferences. At the “Case Level Notes Editor” press F10 without entering any notes.
When pCHI appears, enter Precode (4), “Not attempting contact” at CTATEMPT. At
NOATTEMPT enter Precode (6), “Opened case/CHI by mistake”. You return to the
Case Management main screen to select another case to interview. This concludes
this practice exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
8-211
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #13 – Incident of Rape
Case ID: 00000005
(Approximate time: 30 minutes)
In this exercise you will work with the training case with the address 116 Aphroditedr.
You already completed interviews with three of the four household members. Now
you are calling the household back to interview Megan Moe.
When you call the household back, Megan Moe answers the telephone and is
available to be interviewed.
Highlight the case, then start the interview by pressing the F2 function key to get
into the NCVS CAPI instrument for this case.
(Allow time)
__________, please begin the interview at the START_CP screen. Remember to
tell us what you enter at each screen as you proceed through the interview.
START_CP
(Enter 1, Telephone interview)
SHOW_CP_ROSTER (Enter 1 to continue)
SHOW_INFO_CP
(Enter 1 to continue)
WHOTOCALL_CP
(Enter 5, Megan Moe)
DIAL_CP
(Enter 1, Someone answers)
8-212
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
HELLO_1_CP
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Hello. This is (TRAINEE’S NAME) from the U.S.
Census Bureau. May I please speak to Megan Moe?
R:
This is Megan Moe.
(Enter 1, This is the correct person)
INTRO_REC_CP
FR:
We are talking with members of your household to
obtain statistics on the kinds and amount of crime
committed against individuals 12 years of age or
older.
We would like to complete your interview now.
R:
Ok.
(Enter 1, Proceed with interview)
You don’t need to re-ask the respondent questions that were answered when you
conducted the interview earlier. Therefore, press the “END” key to resume the
interview at the question where the interview was terminated.
(Press the End key to proceed to the next unanswer e d
question)
INTERVIEWSTATUS (Enter 1 to continue interview)
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT
(Enter 1 to continue interview)
TIMEATADDRESS
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
2 months.
(Enter 0)
8-213
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Make sure trainees enter zero at TIMEATADDRESS, otherwise if trainees
enter 2 the instrument interprets this entry as 2 years.)
MONTHSATADDRESS
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
How many months?
2 months.
(Enter 2)
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS
FR:
R:
Altogether, how many times have you moved in the
last 5 years, that is since (date)?
2 times.
(Enter 2)
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you in the last 6 months, that is, since
(date).
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as ------
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
8-214
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Since (date), were you attacked or threatened OR did
you have something stolen from you ---
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or schoolIn places such as a storage shed or laundry
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lotAt such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
---
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SQATTACKWHERETIMES
FR:
How many times?
8-215
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Just once.
(Enter 1)
SQATTACKWHERESPEC
FR:
R:
What happened?
I was leaving a shopping mall when a man attacked
me and stole my purse.
(L5 was leaving a shopping mall when a man attacked
her and stole her purse.)
SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways -------
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stickBy something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
OR
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Other than any incidents already
8-216
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
mentioned, did you have something stolen from you
or were you attacked or threatened by -----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Other than any incidents
already mentioned, have you been forced or coerced
to engage in unwanted sexual activity by ---
Someone you didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did you call the police to report
something that happened to YOU which you thought
was a crime?
8-217
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did anything which you thought
was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report
to the police?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PRESENTFORSQS
(Enter 11, Telephone)
INC_REPORTS
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTINTRO
FR:
You said that during the last 6 months that you were
leaving a shopping mall when a man attacked you
and stole your purse one time.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTADDRESS
FR:
Did this incident happen while you were living here
or before you moved to this address?
R:
A couple of months before I moved here.
(Enter 2, Before moving to this address)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
It happened in May.
(Make sure the month the incident occurred falls WITHIN the reference
period.)
(Enter 5, May)
8-218
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Ask or verify
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?
R:
Just one time.
(Enter 1)
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
About what time did this incident happen?
R:
It happened around 9:30 in the evening.
(Enter 16, After 9 p. – 12 midnight)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town or village did this incident occur?
R:
It happened in Midtown.
(Enter 4, DIFFERENT city/town/village
residence)
as
present
INCIDENTPLACESPEC
(Enter Midtown)
INCIDENTSTATE
FR:
In what state did it occur?
R:
California.
(Enter CA)
INCIDENTCOUNTY FR:
R
In what county did it occur?
Los Angeles County.
(Enter Los Angeles)
COUNTYSTATE
FR:
Is this the same county and state as your present
residence?
8-219
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
INCIDENTAIR
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen…
------
R:
In your home or lodging?
Near your home or lodging?
At, in, or near a friend’s/ relative’s/ neighbor’s
home?
At a commercial place?
In a parking lot or garage?
It happened in the parking lot at our shopping mall.
(Enter 15, In a parking lot or garage)
LOCATION_PARKING
FR:
Ask or verify
In what type of a parking lot or garage did this
incident happen?
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, sometimes you may need to probe to determine if the parking lot is
commercial or noncommercial. As mentioned earlier in training, noncommercial
parking lots or garages are those in which the general public can park free of charge,
such as a shopping mall. They also include a parking lot or garage that has parking
8-220
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
meters and those operated by a local, state, or Federal government regardless of
whether or not a fee is required. Commercial parking lots or garages are those that
are privately operated for profit AND require a parking fee regardless of whether or
not the parking lot or garage is attended or unattended. Notice that these definitions
are provided on the screen. If it is unclear which type of parking lot the respondent is
referring to, probe to find out if the parking lot is privately owned and a fee is paid to
park.
R:
It’s the parking lot at the shopping mall.
(Enter 29, Noncommercial parking lot/garage)
RESTRICTEDAREA FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did the incident happen in an area restricted to
certain people or was it open to the public at the
time?
It’s open to the public.
(Enter 1, Open to the public)
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
R:
Outdoors.
(Enter 2, Outdoors)
FARFROMHOME
FR:
Ask or verify
How far away from home did this happen?
R:
Our mall is about 15 miles from our home.
(Enter 4, Fifty miles or less)
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
Ask or verify
Were you or any other member of this household
8-221
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
present when this incident occurred?
R:
I was the only member present.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHICHMEMBER
FR:
Ask or verify
Which household members were present?
(If FR asks the full question, remind trainees that we can just verify the
answer since it was already given in HHMEMBERPRESENT.)
R:
Just me.
(Enter 1, Respondent only)
SEEOFFENDER
FR:
Ask or verify
Did you personally see an offender?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
WEAPONPRESENT FR:
R:
Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun or
knife, or something to use as a weapon, such as a
bottle or wrench?
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
The next question, WEAPON, asks about the type of weapon the offender had
during the incident. Hand guns, shot guns, knives, and most other types of guns are
considered weapons. Also considered a weapon are objects the offender had that
he or she intended to use as a weapon, such as scissors, an ice pick, an axe, a rock,
8-222
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
club, or blackjack. Pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols, flare guns, stun guns, and tear
gas guns are NOT considered weapons, unless they are used as clubs. Other
objects which are not considered weapons include animals, parts of the body, , mace
or pepper spray, tear gas, chloroform, rings, and casts. You can press F1 at any
time during an interview for a help screen when asking the weapons questions.
_____________, please continue the interview.
WEAPON
FR:
What was the weapon?
R:
A knife.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Enter 3, Knife)
ATTACK
FR:
Did the offender hit you, knock you down or actually
attack you in any way?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
HOWATTACK
FR:
How were you attacked?
R:
Well, he raped me and stole my purse.
FR:
Any other way?
R:
No.
(Enter 11, Raped)
(Interrupt and say)
8-223
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Notice that when you enter code 11, “Raped,” you must ask the additional probe
question, “Do you mean forced or coerced sexual intercourse?” If the respondent
answers “No” to the probe question or was unsure of the answer to your probe
question, then you must probe further by asking, “What do you mean?” This
additional probe is needed to determine if the crime was actually a rape, an
attempted rape, or some other sexual assault. From the answer to the probe
question “What do you mean?” you will either accept the answer by selecting
“Suppress” or go back and change the response in HOWATTACK by selecting
“Goto.” Do not probe further for details beyond what the question is asking.
However, since the reporting of sexual crimes is rare, make sure to include in your
summary report as many details about the “rape” incident as the respondent
provides.
The same procedure must be followed when the respondent replies “Tried to rape.”
(Pause)
Open your Workbook to page 18. When you get to that page, read the NCVS
definition for rape.
(Allow time)
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
______________, please continue the interview with the rape probe.
8-224
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or coerced
sexual intercourse?
R:
Yes.
(Select “Suppress”)
PRETHREATEN
FR:
Did the offender THREATEN to hurt you before you
were actually attacked?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
INJURY
FR:
What were the injuries you suffered, if any?
R:
A few bruises and scratches.
(Enter 20, Bruises, black eye ...)
FR:
Anything else?
(Interrupt and say)
In this item you MUST also select code 12, “Raped,” as an injury even though the
respondent did not report it as an injury. Mention to the respondent that for this
survey we always consider rape as an injury. That way the respondent will
understand why you are asking the following questions about an injury.
When you enter code 12, “Raped,” the special probe question is displayed again.
However, you don’t have to ask the special instruction in this case, since you have
already asked this probe question earlier in HOWATTACK.
(Select “Suppress”)
8-225
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Nothing else
(Press Enter)
______________, please continue the interview.
INJURYNOTGUN
FR:
Ask or verify
Were any of the injuries caused by a weapon other
than a gun or knife?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
MEDICALCARE
FR:
Were you injured to the extent that you received any
medical care, including self-treatment?
(Interrupt and say)
By medical care we mean any care or treatment given for physical injuries. If the
victim is taken to the hospital, it is evident that he or she had medical treatment.
Medical care also includes home care, such as ice packs and bandages. When the
respondent receives any type of medical care the next series of questions asks the
respondent where medical care was received. A victim may receive emergency
treatment at the scene of the crime, further treatment at a doctor’s office, and
additional care at home. If the respondent received care in a hospital you ask if the
respondent stayed overnight in a hospital because of injuries received in the
incident and how many days the respondent stayed in the hospital. Questions are
also asked about medical insurance the victim had at the time of the incident and
the total amount of the victim’s medical expenses resulting from the incident.
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
8-226
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
RECEIVEDCAREWHERE
FR:
Where did you receive this care?
R:
I went to the emergency room.
FR:
Anywhere else?
R:
No.
(Enter 15, Emergency room at hospital/emergency clinic)
MEDICALINSURANCE
FR:
R:
At the time of the incident, were you covered by any
medical insurance, or were you eligible for benefits
from any other type of health benefits program, such
as Medicaid, Veterans Administration, or Public
Welfare?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
MEDICALEXPENSES FR:
R:
What was the total amount of your medical expenses
resulting from this incident (INCLUDING anything
paid by insurance)? Include hospital and doctor bills,
medicine, therapy, braces, and any other injuryrelating expenses.
About $500.00.
(Enter 500)
IMPACT_JOB
FR:
Being a victim of crime affects people in different
ways. Next I would like to ask you some questions
about how being a crime victim may have affected
you.
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to have
significant problems with your job or schoolwork, or
trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
8-227
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
IMPACT_FAMILY
FR:
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to have
significant problems with family members or friends,
including getting into more arguments or fights than
you did before, not feeling you could trust them as
much, or not feeling as close to them as you did
before?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
HOW_DISTRESSING
FR:
R:
How distressing was being a victim of this crime to
you? Was it not at all distressing, mildly distressing,
moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
It was severely distressing.
(Enter 4, Severely distressing)
FEEL_WORRIED
FR:
Still thinking about your distress associated with
being a victim of this crime, did you feel any of the
following ways for A MONTH OR MORE? Did you
feel…
Worried or anxious?
R:
Yes
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_ANGRY
FR:
Angry?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_SAD
FR:
Sad or depressed?
8-228
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_VULNERABLE
FR:
R:
Vulnerable?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_VIOLATED
FR:
Violated?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_MISTRUST
FR:
R:
Like you couldn’t trust people?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_UNSAFE
FR:
Unsafe?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
FEEL_OTHER_WAY FR:
R:
Some other way?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SEEK_PRO_HELP
FR:
Did you seek any kind of professional help for the
feelings you experienced as a result of being a victim
of this crime?
8-229
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
HAVE_HEADACHES
FR:
Did you experience any of the following physical
problems associated with being a victim of this crime
for A MONTH OR MORE? Did you experience…
Headaches?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
TRBL_SLEEPING
FR:
Trouble sleeping?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
EATING_PROBS
FR:
Changes in your eating or drinking habits?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
UPSET_STOMACH FR:
R:
Upset stomach?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
FATIGUE
FR:
Fatigue:
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
HIGH_BLOOD_PRESS
FR:
Did you experience any of the following physical
problems associated with being a victim of this crime
8-230
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
for A MONTH OR MORE?...
High blood pressure?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
MUSCLE_TENSION FR:
R:
Muscle tension:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
OTHER_PHYSICAL FR:
R:
Some other physical problem?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS
FR:
R:
Other than any medical care you received for the
injuries you suffered, did you seek any kind of
professional or medical help for the physical
problems you experienced as a result of being a
victim of this crime?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PREGATTIEMOFINC
FR:
Research shows that pregnant women may be at a
higher risk of being the victim of a violent crime.
Were you pregnant at the time of this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
8-231
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
PROTECTSELF
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Did you do anything with the idea of protecting
YOURSELF or your PROPERTY while the incident
was going on?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
ACTIONSDURINGINC
FR:
What did you do?
R:
I screamed as loud as I could out of fear.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
I ran away as soon as I could.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Enter 25, Screamed from pain or fear; 22, Ran or drove
away, or tried; hid, locked door)
INJACTION
FR:
Did you take these actions before, after, or at the
same time that you were injured?
R:
Well, at the same time and after.
(Enter 2, After injury, and 3, Same time)
INJACTIONHELP
FR:
Did any of your actions help the situation in any way?
R:
Yes, I think so.
(Enter 1, Yes)
HELP
FR:
How were they helpful?
R:
It kept him from hurting me worse.
FR:
Any other way?
8-232
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 1, Help avoid injury or greater injury)
ACTIONWORSE
FR:
Did any of your actions make the situation worse in
any way?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ANYONEPRESENT FR:
R:
Was anyone present during the incident besides you
and the offender (other than children under age 12?)
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
FR:
Ask or verify
Was the crime committed by only one or by more
than one offender?
R:
Only one.
(Enter 1, Only one)
SINGOFFENDERKNEW
FR:
R:
Was the offender someone you knew or a stranger
you had never seen before?
A stranger.
(Enter 2, Stranger)
SINGOFFENDERRECOG
FR:
Would you be able to recognize the offender if you
saw him?
.
8-233
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT
FR:
R:
Would you have been able to tell the police how they
might find the offender, for instance, where he lived,
worked, went to school, or spent time?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SINGOFFENDERGENDER
FR:
Was the offender male or female?
R:
Male.
(Enter 1, Male)
SINGOFFENDERAGE
FR:
R:
How old would you say the offender was?
I would saw around 25.
(Enter 5, Twenty-one to twenty-nine)
SINGOFFENDERETHNICITY
FR:
Was the offender Hispanic or Latino?
R:
I don’t know.
(Enter 3, Don’t know)
SINGOFFENDERRACE
FR:
What race or races was the offender? You may
select more than one. Was the offender…
-----
White?
Black or African American?
American Indian or Alaska Native?
Asian?
8-234
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-R:
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
White.
(Enter 1, White)
SINGOFFENDERGANG
FR:
R:
Was the offender a member of a street gang, or don’t
you know?
I don’t know.
(Enter 3, Don’t know)
SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
FR:
Was the offender drinking or on drugs, or don’t you
know?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes (drinking or on drugs))
SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG
FR:
Which was it? (Drinking or on drugs)?
R:
Drinking. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
(Enter 1, Drinking)
SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME
FR:
Was this the only time this offender committed a
crime against you or your household or made threats
against you or your household?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes (only time))
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify
Was something stolen or was taken without
permission that belonged to you or others in the
household?
8-235
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHATWASTAKEN
FR:
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the
household?
R:
My purse and everything in it.
(Interrupt and say)
Since we need the respondent to tell us what was in the purse when it was stolen,
you need to probe for the respondent to itemize the stolen items. Please continue
by asking the respondent to tell you what was in the purse when it was stolen.
FR:
Can you tell me what was in your purse when it was
stolen?
R:
Well, my wallet, about $75, my driver’s license and
credit cards, and house keys.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Enter 12, “Purse”; 13, “Wallet”; 11, “Cash”; 29 “Other
personal and portable objects”; 14, “Credit cards,
checks, bank cards”; 26, “Jewelry, watch, keys”)
PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY
FR:
Did the stolen purse and wallet contain any money?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
8-236
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
AMOUNTCASHTAKEN
FR:
R:
If not sure, ask
How much cash was taken?
$75.00.
(Enter 75)
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Did the stolen property and money belong to you
personally, to someone else in the household, or to
both you and other household members?
R:
It was all mine.
(Enter 1, Respondent only)
ARTICLEINCAR
FR:
Ask or verify
Were the articles IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle
when they were taken?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
CASHONPERSON
FR:
Was the cash, purse, or wallet on your person, for
instance, in a pocket or being held?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
OTHERONPERSON
FR:
Ask or verify
Was there anything ELSE the offender took directly
from you, for instance, from your pocket or hands, or
something that you were wearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PROPERTYVALUE FR:
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was
8-237
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
taken? Include recovered property (Exclude any
stolen cash/checks/credit cards. If jointly owned with
nonhousehold members, include only share owned
by household members.)
R:
I’d say about $400.
(Enter 400)
DECIDEDVALUE
FR:
How did you decide the value of the property that
was taken?
R:
Based on what I paid for the items and how old they
were.
FR:
Any other way?
R:
No.
(Enter 11 “Original cost” and 13 “Personal estimate”)
ALLPARTRECOVERED
FR:
R:
Was all or part of the stolen money and property
recovered, not counting anything received from
insurance?
I only got back my purse and my credit cards.
Nothing else.
(Enter 2, Part)
WHATRECOVERED FR:
R:
What was recovered?
As I just told you, only my purse and my credit cards.
(Enter 2 and 4, (Purse and credit cards, ect))
CONTAINMONEY
FR:
Did the recovered purse contain any money?
R:
Are you kidding? Of course not.
(Enter 2, No)
8-238
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
RECOVEREDCASHVALUE
FR:
Considering any damage, what was the value of the
property after it was recovered?
R:
I’d say about $40.
(Enter 40)
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
FR:
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
R:
I don’t have any insurance.
(Enter 4, Don’t have insurance)
DAMAGED
FR:
Other than the stolen property, was anything that
belonged to you or other members of the household
damaged in this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
POLICEINFORMED FR:
R:
Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
POLICEFINDOUT
FR:
How did the police find out about it?
R:
I ran into a store and a security officer called the
police.
(Enter 13, Someone offical)
POLICEARRIVE
FR:
Did the police come when they found out about the
incident?
8-239
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TIMEPOLICEARRIVE
FR:
R:
How soon after the police found out did they
respond? Was it within 5 minutes, within 10 minutes,
an hour, a day, or longer?
Within 10 minutes.
(Enter 2, Within 10 minutes)
POLICEACTION
FR:
What did they do while they were there?
R:
They searched the shopping mall area, took a report,
and said they would investigate the incident.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Enter 12, “Searched/looked around”; 11, “Took report”;
16, “Promised to investigate”)
POLICECONTACT
FR:
Did you or anyone in your household have any later
contact with the police about the incident?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
POLICEINTOUCH
FR:
Did the police get in touch with you or did you get in
touch with them?
R:
I got in touch with them.
(Enter 2, Respondent or other household member)
HOWPOLICECONTACT
FR:
Was that in person, by phone, or some other way?
8-240
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
By phone
(Enter 2, Not in person)
POLICEFOLLOWUP FR:
What did the police do in following up this incident?
R:
They said they had questioned witnesses.
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Enter 12, Questioned witnesses or suspects)
SIGNCOMPLAINT
FR:
Did you or someone in your household sign a
complaint against the offender to the police
department or the authorities?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ARRESTMADE
FR:
Ask or verify
As far as you know, was anyone arrested or were
charges brought against anyone in connection with
this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
AGENCYHELP
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any
help or advice from any office or agency -- other than
the police -- that deals with victims of crime?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TYPEOFAGENCY
FR:
Was that a government or private agency?
8-241
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
A private agency.
(Enter 2, Private)
CONTACTAUTHORITIES
FR:
R:
Have you or someone in your household had contact
with any other authorities about this incident (such as
a prosecutor, court, or juvenile officer)?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
ANYTHINGFURTHER
FR:
R:
Do you expect the police, courts, or other authorities
will be doing anything further in connection with this
incident?
Yes, hopefully they’ll make an arrest.
(Enter 1, Yes)
ANYTHINGFURTHERSPEC
(Enter “Make an arrest”)
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
R:
What were you doing when this incident started?
I was walking to my car after shopping.
(Enter 14, On the way to or from other place)
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
MAJORACTIVITY
FR:
What was your major activity the week of the incident
8-242
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
were you looking for work, keeping house, going to
school, or doing something else?
R:
Well, I’m taking college courses, but my major
activity would be keeping house.
(Enter 2, Keeping house)
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Were there any household members 16 years or
older who lost time from work because of this
incident?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
TYPETRANSPORTATION
FR:
Ask or verify
You told me earlier you were on the way (to/from)
some place when the incident happened.
What means of transportation were you using?
R:
I was walking to my car.
(Enter 14, On foot)
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur
when offenders target people because of one or more
of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just
discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or
bigotry?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
8-243
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Now you need to write a summary about the incident. Remember to include who,
what, when, where, and how.
(Allow time; select an FR to read the summary they have written)
_____________, will you read us the summary you wrote?
(Allow time for FR to read summary, then solicit input from other FRs)
Does anyone else have additional information that should be in the summary?
(Accept suggestions, then say)
Now complete the next several screen items based the following information:
1. You don't need to make any changes to the summary.
2. The respondent didn't recall any additional incidents.
3. The incident is not a duplicate of any other incidents reported during the
current or previous enumeration period.
(Allow time)
SUMMARYPROBE
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTTOADD
(Enter 2, No: NONE to add)
CRIME_END
(Enter 1 to continue)
ENDINCIDENT
(Enter 1 to continue)
ENSCREENER
(Enter 1 to continue)
8-244
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
INTRO_UNDUP
(Enter 1 to continue)
UNDUP_CURINC
(Enter 2, No) (Incident 1)
UNDUP_CURINC
(Enter 2, No) (Incident 2)
UNDUP_CURINC
(Enter 2, No) (Incident 4)
UNDUP_OLDINC
(Enter 2, No)
UNDUP_DONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
___________, please continue the interview with JOBLASTWEEK.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions
demographic characteristics.
about
your
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition do you have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
8-245
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEAVING_HOME
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were
you born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I was born abroad.
(Enter 3)
ORIENTATION_FEMALE
FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think
of yourself?
-----
Lesbian or gay
Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
Bisexual
Something else
8-246
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-R:
I don’t know the answer
Something else.
(Enter 4, Something else)
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original
birth certificate?
R:
Female.
(Enter 2)
GENID_DESCRIBE FR:
R:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female
or transgender?
Female.
(Enter 2)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
I have.
(Enter 4)
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
FR:
R:
When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces?
I served in January 2000 through 2004.
(Enter 11 and 12)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
8-247
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
JOBDURINGREFPERIOD
FR:
R:
Did you have a job or work at a business DURING
THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY
(Enter 1 to continue)
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
(Enter 0 to continue)
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
(Enter 2, No)
ENDPERSON
(Enter 1 to continue)
THANKYOU_CP
FR:
Six months from now we will be contacting you again.
Thank you for your time. You’ve been very helpful.
(Interrupt and say)
In addition to thanking the respondent, you should also mention to the respondent
that a supervisor may call them to conduct reinterview. If necessary, you may have
to explain to the respondent what reinterview is. You can tell respondents that
reinterview is a quality control measure used to evaluate your on-the-job
performance in which a sample of cases are recontacted to verify that the
8-248
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
information collected was accurately recorded.
This concludes Megan Moe's interview and the last interview for the household. Now
enter 1 to continue. (Pause)
Now at the VERIFY screen, enter 2 since you don’t need to make any changes to
the telephone number nor do you need to review or update the Interview Time
Preferences. At the “Case Level Notes Editor” enter “L5 interview complete/hhld
done” and press F10. You will return to the Case Management main screen to select
another case to interview.
Since Megan is the last person we needed to interview, you only have to enter data
into the pCHI about your contact with her. __________, will you lead us through the
pCHI screens?
CTATEMPT
(Enter 2 for telephone, outgoing)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1 since you are entering pCHI at the time of the
contact attempt)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1 [made contact with one or more eligible persons]
because you were able to complete Megan Moe’s
interview during this contact attempt)
PCONTACTPER(LN5) (Enter 1 because you made contact with Megan Moe)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1 for a completed interview.)
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98 [no concerns]; we’ll assume Megan had no
concerns about completing her interview)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 98 [no strategies] because no additional
strategies were needed to complete L5’s interview)
8-249
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
This concludes this practice exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
PRACTICE EXERCISE #14 – Series Incidents
Case ID: 00000001
(Approximate time: 30 minutes)
Highlight the case 502 Stuart St. Take a look at the interview number and segment
type designation displayed for this unit in the Assignment tab. (Pause) This case is
a first time in sample case (Int #: 01). Now get into the NCVS CAPI instrument to
begin the interview.
(Allow time)
Since this is a first time in sample case, your initial contact with the household
respondent must be by personal visit. Before selecting Precode (2) or (3) at the
START_CP screen for personal interview, let's see what happens if you entered
code 1, Telephone, for a personal visit case. Enter 1 and then press Enter. (Pause)
As you can see, an error message appears. ____________, please read the error
message.
(TRAINEE: This is an incoming case and requires a personal visit interview
with the household respondent, unless this is a last resort. If this is a last
resort, select to continue with a telephone interview for this case.
Otherwise, select to return to the START_CP screen and select
personal interview.)
8-250
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Thank you.
Sometimes when attempting to conduct interviews with cases whose interviews
must be conducted by a personal visit, the household respondent insists that his or
her interview be completed by telephone even though survey procedures require
you to complete the household respondent's interview in person. When
you
encounter such a situation and have exhausted all possible attempts to persuade
the household respondent to complete his or her interview in person, you can
complete the household respondent's interview by telephone as a LAST RESORT.
For this case, we don't want to conduct a telephone interview. Before going back to
the START_CP screen and correcting your entry, let me explain to you what to do
if you need to conduct a telephone interview for this case. As I describe the process
DO NOT press any keys until I tell you to.
If you need to conduct a telephone interview for this case, at the error pop-up screen
click the “Suppress” button to proceed to the next screen. Then press F10 to
terminate the interview. Pressing F10 takes you to the back of the instrument where
you can record the telephone number at which the household respondent requested
to be called.
Now let’s go back to the START_CP screen. Press the Escape key or click either
the Close or GoTo button. (Pause) Now enter 3 and then press Enter. (Pause)
For this exercise, let's assume that the person who answers the door is at least 18
years of age and knowledgeable about the household and is also ready to complete
the interview. So at the GEN_INTRO_CP screen enter 1, Respondent available, and
at the CAPI_INTRO_B screen enter 1 to continue to the interview.
8-251
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
__________, please be our FR for this exercise. Remember to tell us what you enter
at each screen.
GETLETTER_CP
FR:
I’m here concerning the National Crime Victimization
Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting a survey
here and throughout the Nation to determine how
often people are victims of crime. Did you receive our
introductory letter in the mail?
R:
I don’t think so.
(Enter 2, No)
VERADD_CP
FR:
I have your address listed as
502 Stuart St.
Any Town, AL 99996
Is that your exact address?
R:
Yes, it is.
(Enter 1, Same Address)
MAILINGSAME_CP FR:
R:
Is your mailing address the same as your physical
address?
Yes it is.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TENURE
FR:
Ask or verify
Are your living quarters…
--
Owned or being bought by you or someone in
8-252
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-R:
your household?
Rented for cash?
Rented for cash.
(Enter 2, Rented for cash)
STUDENTHOUSING FR:
R:
Are your living quarters presently used as student
housing by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PUBLICHOUSING
FR:
Is this building owned by a public housing authority?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No not public housing)
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
FR:
R:
Are your living quarters located on an American
Indian Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
FARMSALES
FR:
During the past 12 months did sales of crops,
livestock, and other farm products from this place
amount to $1,000 or more?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
Now open your Workbook to page 19. Start by reading the three things to remember
about FARMSALES and then complete the exercise at the bottom of page 19.
8-253
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Allow time)
Please read the exercise and question, and then give us your answer, __________.
(Trainee: Q: Jimmy Voe bought a cucumber farm two months ago. Since the
time he bought the farm, he has sold about $500 worth of cucumbers. The
previous owner, Carl Loe, told Mr. Voe that he sold almost $800 worth of
cucumbers during the last three months that he owned the farm. Which
precode do you enter in FARMSALES? A: I would enter Precode (1),Yes.)
Thank you. Is this clear to everyone?
(If not, explain further.)
Now to help you through the next couple of questions, here is some additional
information about the household. It is in a building consisting of two units each
having direct access.
___________, please continue.
ACCESS
(Enter 1, Direct)
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT
(Enter 1, House, apartment, flat)
NUMBEROFUNITS FR:
R:
Observe or ask
How many housing units are in this structure?
About 2 units.
(Enter 2, Two)
8-254
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT
FR:
Observe or ask
Does the unit have an outside entrance, patio
doors, or windows, etc., on the ground level - or
outside stairs leading directly to this unit?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY
FR:
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a gated or walled community that
restricts access by non-residents or requires entry
codes, key cards, or security guard approval to
access?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
RESTRICTEDACCESS
FR:
R:
Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a building that requires a special entry
system such as entry codes, key cards, or security
guard approval to access?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here? Start with the name of the person or
the people who rents this home.
R:
I’m the only one who lives here. My name is Jason
Doe.
(Enter Jason)
8-255
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
HHROSTER_LNAME (Enter Doe)
SEX
FR:
Ask if necessary.
Is Jason Doe male or female?
R:
Male.
(Enter 1, Male)
HHMEMBER
FR:
Does Jason Doe usually live here?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
HHROSTER_FNAME
FR:
What are the names of all the other people living or
staying here?
R:
There is no one else.
(Enter 999, then press Enter)
HHLDCOVERAGE
FR:
Have I missed anyone else living or staying here such
as any babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is away
at present traveling or in the hospital?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PICK1STHHRESP
(Enter 1, line number of Jason Doe)
BRTHDATEMO
FR:
What is your date of birth?
R:
September 16, 1978
(Enter 9, September)
BRTHDATEDY
(Enter 16)
BRTHDATEYR
(Enter 1978)
8-256
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
VFYAGE
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
That would make you 38 years old. Is that correct?
R:
Yes.
(TRAINEES may read a different age than displayed if training is
conducted after 2017.)
(Enter 1, Yes)
MARITAL
FR:
If in doubt, ask
Are you now married, widowed, divorced, separated
or have you never been married?
R:
I’ve never been married.
(Enter 5, Never married)
ARMEDFORCES
FR:
Are you now in the Armed Forces?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
EDUCATIONATTAIN FR:
R:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school you completed or
the highest degree you received?
I really don’t have time to answer any more questions.
(Interrupt and say)
The respondent tells you that he doesn’t have the time to answer any more
questions right now and closes the door. You must exit this case.
______, what do we need to press to exit the case? (F10)
8-257
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
At the next screen, REFCBBREAK_CP, what should we enter?
(Enter 3, Breakoff)
(Enter 2 at VERIFY)
At the “Case Level Notes Editor” record that the respondent, Jason Doe, broke off
the interview and you need to recontact the household to complete his interview.
(Allow time)
Now press the F10 function key or click on the F10 icon on the toolbar to exit the
"Notes Editor.” Next, click the “Yes” button to the save the notes entered. (Pause)
Now let’s update the pCHI. We need to record the contact attempt with Jason. Since
this is an incoming case and no roster existed before, you’ll see that pCHI knows
this is a one person household, based on the data it gets from the NCVS instrument.
Follow along now in the pCHI.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 1, personal interview)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1, Yes)
CASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons)
CONTACTPER
(Enter 1, contact, made contact with Jason Doe)
CTTYPE
(Enter 2, partial interview)
Since we started but did not complete Jason’s NCVS interview we code this contact
attempt as a partial interview in pCHI.
8-258
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Q:
Which precode or precodes do we enter at PNONINTER?
A:
“Respondent is reluctant,” since he said he didn’t have time for more question
and closed the door before you could set up a callback appointment.
NONINTER
(Enter 2, respondent is reluctant)
Q:
Which precode or precodes do we enter at PRSPNDENT?
A:
Precode 2, “Too busy,” and Precode 9, “Hangup/slams door on FR)
RSPNDENT
(Enter 2, Too busy, and 9, Hangup/slams door on FR)
STRATEGS
(Enter 1, Advanced letter given, and 99, Other-specify)
STRATOTH
(Write in “Request Better Understanding Letter”)
In the next part of this exercise you will practice collecting incidents that are a series.
Remember, series incidents are incidents of 6 or more that all occurred during the
respondent's 6-month reference period, were reported all in the same screen item,
are all very similar in nature, and the respondent can't describe them separately in
enough detail.
Now let’s get back into the previous case, 502 Stuart St., to complete Jason Doe’s
interview. On your return visit to the household a couple of days later you find Jason
Doe at home.
____________, please be our FR. Remember to tell us what you enter at each
screen as you go through the interview.
START_CP
(Enter 3, Personal interview)
GEN_INTRO_CP
(Enter 1, Respondent available)
8-259
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
(Interrupt and say)
You don’t need to re-ask the respondent questions that were answered when you
conducted the interview earlier. Therefore, press the “END” key to resume the
interview at the question where the interview was terminated. For this case, the
interview ended at the EDUCATIONATTAIN question.
_________, please continue the interview.
EDUCATIONATTAIN
FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
What is the highest level of school you completed or
the highest degree you received?
R:
I have a Bachelor’s degree.
(Enter 16, Bachelor’s degree)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
FR:
R:
Are you currently attending or enrolled either full-time
or part-time in a college or university, trade or
vocational school?
No.
(Enter 5, None of the above schools)
SP_ORIGIN
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
RACE
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Please choose one or more races that you consider
8-260
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
yourself to be
-----R:
White
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
I’m White.
(Enter 1, White)
ROSTERREVIEW
(Enter 1, Yes)
TIMEATADDRESS
FR:
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some
questions that are helpful in studying where and
why crimes occur.
How long have you lived at this address?
R:
6 years.
(Enter 6)
BUSINESS
FR:
Does anyone in this household operate a business
from this address?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these
happened to you in the last 6 months, that is, since
(date).
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
8-261
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-------
purse, briefcase, bookClothing, jewelry, or cellphoneBicycle or sports equipmentThings in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
toolsThings outside your home such as a garden
hose or lawn furnitureThings belonging to children in the householdThings from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs-
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQBREAKIN
FR:
Has anyone --
--
Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing
past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a
screen, or entering through an open door or
window?
Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get
into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
--
Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
8-262
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any member of that household during the last 6
months? Includes those you no longer own.
R:
Just one car.
(Enter 1)
SQMVTHEFT
FR:
During the last 6 months, was the vehicle ----
Stolen or used without permission?
Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
--
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
Since (date), were you attacked or threatened OR did
you have something stolen from you -----
At home including the porch or yardAt or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
homeAt work or schoolIn places such as a storage shed or laundry
8-263
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airportWhile riding in any vehicleOn the street or in a parking lotAt such places as a party, theater, gym,
picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
hunting-
----
OR
-
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
SQATTACKWHERETIMES
FR:
How many times?
R:
It’s happened about 10 times.
(Enter 10)
SQATTACKWHERESPEC
FR:
R:
What happened?
Someone kept taking my newspaper off my porch.
(Enter: Newspaper taken from L1’s porch 10 times.)
SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways ---
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knifeWith anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stick-
8-264
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
-----
By something thrown, such as a rock or bottleInclude any grabbing, punching, or choking,
Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of
sexual attackAny face to face threats-
OR
--
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone
at all? Please mention it even if you are not
certain it was a crime.
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Other than any incidents already
mentioned, did you have something stolen from you
or were you attacked or threatened by -----
Someone at work or schoolA neighbor or friendA relative or family memberAny other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Other than any incidents
already mentioned, have you been forced or coerced
to engage in unwanted sexual activity by -
8-265
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
---
Someone you didn't knowA casual acquaintance-
OR
--
Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did you call the police to report
something that happened to YOU which you thought
was a crime?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s)
already mentioned, did anything which you thought
was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report
to the police?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
(Interrupt and say)
This is the end of the screen questions for Jason Doe. No one besides the
respondent was present for the screen questions so at the PRESENTFORSQS
screen enter 12.
8-266
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
The INC_REPORTS screen tells you that 10 incidents were reported by the
respondent. Enter 1 to continue the interview.
___________, please continue with the incident questions.
INCIDENTINTRO
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months your
newspaper was taken from the porch 10 times.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
March.
(For training, make sure the month the incident occurred falls WITHIN the
reference period.)
(Enter 3, March)
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
FR:
Ask or verify
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?
R:
About 10 times.
(Enter 10)
INCIDENTSIMILAR
RECALLDETAILS
FR:
If unsure ask
Are these incidents similar to each other in detail or
are they for different types of crimes?
R:
They are similar to one another.
(Enter 1, Similar)
FR:
If unsure ask
Can you recall enough details of each incident to
distinguish them from each other?
8-267
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No I cant.
(Enter 2, No (is a series))
INCIDENTTIME
FR:
The following questions refer only to the most recent
incident.
About what time did the most recent incident
happen?
(Interrupt and say)
This screen contains an introductory statement only displayed when there is a
series of incidents, determined when item RECALLDETAILS is coded (2), “No (is a
series).” The introduction tells the respondent that we only want to collect data about
the most recent incident.
R:
It happened sometime before I left for work in the
morning probably around 6 o'clock.
(Enter 11, After 6 a.m. – 12 noon)
INCIDENTPLACE
FR:
In what city, town or village did this incident occur?
R:
Right here in Any Town.
(Enter 3, Same city/town/village as present residence)
INCIDENTAIR
FR:
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
LOCATION_GENERAL
FR:
Did this incident happen…
8-268
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
--R:
In your home or lodging?
Near your home or lodging?
It happened on my porch.
(Interrupt and say)
You need to probe to find out if the porch is enclosed or unenclosed. Enclosed
structures on the respondent's property, such as an enclosed porch, garage, or
shed, are included in category 11 as being IN the respondent's home or lodging.
Unenclosed structures on the respondent's property are included in category 12,
Near home or lodging.
FR:
Is this an enclosed or unenclosed porch?
R:
Unenclosed.
(Enter 12, Near your home or lodging)
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
FR:
Ask or verify
Where near your home or lodging did this incident
happen?
(If FR reads the question as worded, remind them they can verify the
answer without asking the full question because the answer has already
been given.)
R:
On my porch.
(Enter 15, Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, etc.)
Notice the pop-up that appears. It asks, “Did this happen in a garage? If yes, was
the garage attached or detached?” In this example, the incident did not happen in a
8-269
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
garage, so click “Suppress.” __________, please continue.
INSIDEOROUT
FR:
Ask or verify
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
R:
Outdoors.
(Enter 2, Outdoors)
FARFROMHOME
FR:
Ask or verify
How far away from home did this happen?
R:
It was at my home.
(Enter 1, At, in, or near the building containing the
respondent’s home or next door)
HHMEMBERPRESENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Were you or any other household member present
when this incident occurred?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
Notice that we have another pop-up screen: “Verify whether or not the respondent
or another household member was at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident. If after verifying presence, you determine they were present, press the
Close or Goto button. If after verifying presence, you determine they were not
present, press the suppress button.” You must verify that the household member
was in fact not present. After you verify, click “Suppress.”
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
FR:
Do you know or have you learned anything about the
offender for instance, whether there was one or more
than one offender involved, whether it was someone
8-270
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
young or old, or male or female?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
THEFT
FR:
Ask or verify
Was something stolen or taken without permission
that belonged to you or others in the household?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
WHATWASTAKEN
FR:
Ask or verify
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the
household?
R:
Newspaper.
(Enter 36, Other specify)
FR:
Anything else?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC
(Enter “Newspaper”)
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
FR:
Did the stolen property belong to you personally, to
someone else in the household, or to both you and
other household members?
R:
The newspaper belonged to me.
(Enter 1, Respondent only)
ARTICLEINCAR
FR:
Ask or verify
8-271
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Was the article IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle
when it was taken?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
OTHERONPERSON
FR:
Ask or verify
Was there anything the offender took directly from
you, for instance, from your pocket or hands, or
something that you were wearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
PROPERTYVALUE FR:
R:
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was
taken? Include recovered property (If jointly owned
with nonhousehold members, include only share
owned by household members.)
A dollar.
(Enter 1)
DECIDEDVALUE
FR:
How did you decide the value of the property that
was taken?
R:
That’s the cost of the paper each day.
(Enter 11, Original cost)
FR:
R:
Any other way?
No.
(Press Enter)
ALLPARTRECOVERED
FR:
Was all or part of the stolen property recovered, not
counting anything received from insurance?
8-272
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 3, None)
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
FR:
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DAMAGED
FR:
Other than any stolen property, was anything that
belonged to you or other members of the household
damaged in this incident?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
POLICEINFORMED FR:
R:
Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
FR:
R:
What was the reason it was not reported to the
police?
Because it was so minor.
(Enter 13, Minor or unsuccessful crime)
FR:
Any other reason?
R:
No.
(Press Enter)
AGENCYHELP
FR:
Did you or someone in your household receive any
help or advice from any office or agency -- other than
8-273
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
the police -- that deals with victims of crime?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
What were you doing when this incident happened?
Probably sleeping.
(Enter 18, Sleeping)
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
FR:
R:
Ask or verify
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
FR:
R:
Did you lose any time from work because of this
incident for such things as cooperating with a police
investigation, testifying in court, or repairing or
replacing damaged or stolen property?
No.
(Enter 6, None)
SERIESNUMTIMES FR:
R:
You have told me about the most recent incident.
How many times did this kind of thing happen to you
during the last 6 months?
About 10 times.
(Enter 10)
(Interrupt and say)
8-274
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
The next questions ask about the series of incidents. In the production instrument,
the respondent will be asked what month or months the incidents took place. These are
not on path in the training instrument.
_____________, please continue.
SERIESLOCATION FR:
R:
Did all, some, or none of these incidents occur in the
same place?
They all happened in the same place.
(Enter 1, All in the same place)
SERIESOFFENDER FR:
R:
Were all, some, or none of these incidents done by
the same person(s)?
I don’t know.
(Enter 4, Don’t know)
SAMETHINGEACHTIME
FR:
R:
Did the same thing happen each time?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TROUBLEONGOING
FR:
Is the trouble still going on?
R:
No.
(Enter 2, No)
WHATENDEDIT
FR:
What ended it?
8-275
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
I don't know.
(Press Ctrl+D, then press Enter)
(Interrupt and say)
In the next screen, SERIESCONTACTORNOT, you are asked to select the
explanation that best describes the series of crimes reported. If more than one
category describes the series of incidents, enter the precode with the lowest
number. For example, if categories 21 and 22 apply, select category 21. For this
series of crimes, only one category applies. Enter 21 at this screen.
____________, please continue the interview.
INCIDENTHATECRIME
FR:
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur
when offenders target people because of one or more
of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just
discussed was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or
bigotry?
R:
I really don’t know.
(Press Ctrl+D, then press Enter)
(Interrupt and say)
Now write a summary about the incident. Remember to answer the WHO, WHAT,
WHEN, WHERE, and HOW questions, such as who the offender was, who did the
property belong to, what happened, what the respondent was doing, where it
8-276
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
happened, and so on.
(Allow time)
Your summary should include the following:
SUMMARY:
Newspaper stolen from L1 unenclosed front porch 10x
throughout last 6 mos while L1 was asleep, value $1,
belonged to L1 only, not reported to police, L1 not
present, no injury, no insurance
At the SUMMARYPROBE screen you don't need to edit or enter any more summary
text, so enter 1 to continue the interview.
We will continue the interview for this case in the next practice exercise so keep the
case open. But first, are there any questions about what we have covered so far with
handling series incidents?
(Answer questions)
8-277
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
PRACTICE EXERCISE #15 – Adding an Incident
Case ID: 00000001
(Approximate time: 15 minutes)
Now let’s continue Jason Doe’s interview. During the interview, he recalled that
someone stole his car tools, which he hadn't reported in the screen questions. At
the INCIDENTTOADD screen, enter 1 indicating that another incident is needed
for this person.
The next screen, INCIDENTNUMTOADD, asks you how many incidents you want
to add. Since the respondent mentioned only one incident, enter 1 at this screen.
(Pause)
Now, in INCIDENTTOADDWHY enter a description of the incident you are adding.
For example, enter L1's car tools stolen.
(Enter 1 at ENDINCIDENT)
(Enter 1 at ENDSCREENER)
(Allow time)
Now we’ll complete an incident report for the newly added incident.
_________, please continue the interview.
8-278
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
INCIDENTINTRO
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
You said before that during the last 6 months your car
tools were stolen.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATE
FR:
In what month did this incident happen?
R:
September.
(For training, make sure the month the incident occurred falls OUTSIDE
the reference period.)
(Enter 9)
FR:
Did you say September?
R:
Yes.
(Interrupt and say)
Remember, when you enter a month that is outside the reference period, a soft edit
pops up for you to verify with the respondent the answer provided. Since the
respondent confirmed that his answer is correct, click on the “Suppress” button to
accept the entry.
_________, please continue.
OSINCNOTNEEDED
FR:
We are only asking about crimes that happened
during the last 6 months. We will not collect
information on this incident.
(Enter 1 to continue)
INCIDENTDATEPROBE
FR:
Did you have anything like this happen between
(date) and (date)?
8-279
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
No.
(Enter 2, Deletes the current incident entered)
(Interrupt and say)
At the INC_REDUCE screen, you need to explain why the incident is being deleted,
such as the incident is out-of-scope or outside the reference period. Enter a reason.
(Allow time)
At the INCIDENTTOADD screen enter 2 since you don't have any more incidents to
add. (Pause) The next screen, CRIME_END, tells you that you have completed all
incident reports for Jason Doe. Enter 1 to continue. Also, enter 1 at the
ENDINCIDENT screen and a 1 at the ENDSCREENER screen, which tells you that
there are no more incidents to report. (Pause)
Now complete the incident unduplication screens.
INTRO_UNDUP
(Enter 1 to continue)
UNDUP_DONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
(Allow time)
___________, please continue the interview with the socio-demographic questions.
8-280
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
FR:
Now we have some questions
demographic characteristics.
about
your
(Enter 1 to continue)
HEARING
FR:
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty
hearing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
VISION
FR:
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
FR:
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition do you have serious difficulty:
Concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
FR:
Walking or climbing stairs?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
DRESS_BATH
FR:
Dressing or bathing?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
8-281
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
LEAVING_HOME
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
FR:
Because of a physical, mental or emotional
condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone
such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
CITIZENSHIP
FR:
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were
you born in the United States, born in a U.S. territory,
born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of
the U.S. through naturalization?
R:
Yes, I was born in the U.S.
(Enter 1)
ORIENTATION_MALE
FR:
Which of the following best represents how you think
of yourself?
------
R:
Gay
Straight, that is, not gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
Straight.
(Enter 2)
GENID_BIRTH
FR:
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original
birth certificate?
R:
Male.
(Enter 1)
GENID_DESCRIBE FR:
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female
or transgender?
8-282
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
R:
Male.
(Enter 1)
ACTIVE_DUTY
FR:
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
R:
No.
(Enter 1)
JOBLASTWEEK
FR:
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST
WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work
around the house.
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
JOBDESCRIPTION FR:
(SHOWFLASHCARD)
Ask or verify
Which of the following best describes your job?
Were you employed in the –
Medical Profession?
Mental Health Services Field?
Teaching Profession?
Law Enforcement or Security Field?
Retail Sales?
Transportation Field?
Something else?
R:
It’s something else. I’m a real estate agent.
(Enter 17,Something else)
JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC
(Enter “Real estate agent”)
8-283
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
FR:
Ask or verify
Is your job with a private company, business, or
individual for wages?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Private company, business, or individual for
wages)
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
FR:
R:
Are you employed by a college or university?
No.
(Enter 2, No)
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
FR:
While working at your job, do you work mostly in ----
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
OR
-R:
Combination of these?
Suburbs.
(Enter 2, Suburban area)
INTVDONE
(Enter 1 to continue)
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
FR:
(SHOW FLASHCARD)
Which category represents the TOTAL combined
income of all members of this HOUSEHOLD during
the past 12 months? This includes money from jobs,
net income from business, farm or rent, pensions,
dividends, interest, Social Security payments, and
any other money income received by members of this
8-284
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or older.
R:
Its about $32,000.
(Enter 20, $30,000-$34,999)
TELEPHONEINUNIT FR:
R:
Is there a telephone in this home? Please include cell
phones, regular phones, and any other type of
telephone service.
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
TELEPHONENUMBERFIRST
FR:
What is the telephone number?
R:
991-555-1134.
(Enter 9915551134)
TELEPHONETYPE1ST
FR:
R:
What type of phone is this for example, a home,
office, or cell phone?
Home.
(Enter 1, Home)
TELEPHONECK
(Enter 2, No, you don't want to ask for a second phone
number)
TELEPHONEACCEPTABLE
FR:
Is a telephone interview acceptable?
R:
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes)
(Interrupt and say)
8-285
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
The respondent doesn’t mention any specific day or time to call the household, so
at the BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY screen enter 1 to continue.
__________, please continue the interview.
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
FR:
R:
Was this respondent’s interview conducted in a
language other than English?
No
(Enter 2, No)
ENDPERSON
(Enter 1 to continue)
THANKYOU_CP
FR:
Six months from now we will be contacting you again.
Thank you for your time. You’ve been very helpful.
(Enter 1 to continue)
At the VERIFY screen enter 2 since you don’t need to make any changes to the
telephone number and you don’t need to access the Interview Time Preferences
application. At the “Case Level Notes Editor,” enter that you completed L1’s
interview, then press the F10 function key to exit the “Notes Editor,” and complete
pCHI and return to Case Management. __________, please lead us through the
pCHI screens.
CTATEMPT
(Enter 1, Personal interview)
TIMEOFCT
(Enter 1, Yes)
pCASECONTACT
(Enter 1, made contact with one or more eligible persons)
PCONTACTPER
(Enter 1, made contact with Jason Doe)
pCTTYPE
(Enter 1, completed interview)
8-286
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
pRSPNDENT
(Enter 98, no concerns)
pSTRATEGS
(Enter 98, no strategies)
(Allow time)
This concludes this practice exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
PRACTICE EXERCISE #16 – Accessing the NCVS CAPI Spanish Instrument
Case ID: 00000003
(Approximate time: 10 minutes)
This next practice exercise covers accessing the Spanish NCVS CAPI instrument.
Highlight the case 611 Produce St. If you recall, this was a replacement household.
You started to interview John Zoe, who was the original household respondent, but
because he was unable to complete the interview you selected a new household
respondent, Maria Zoe, since she was present and willing to complete her interview
at the time of your visit. Since your initial contact with the household respondent was
by personal visit, survey procedures allow you to finish interviews with remaining
household members by telephone. Rosa Nombre, Maria's mother, still needs to be
interviewed, in addition to John Zoe.
Get into the CAPI instrument for this case.
(Allow time)
At the START_CP screen notice that the “Case Status” no longer says “New Case.”
8-287
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
_______________, please read what is now displayed for “Case Status.”
(TRAINEE: Household respondent complete)
Thank you.
Since you completed the household respondent’s interview, the status for this case
changed. As mentioned earlier in training, the “Case Status” measures the progress
of the case throughout the interview process.
Now enter 1, Telephone interview, at the START_CP screen. (Pause) At the next
screen, look at the STATUS column, which tells you the interview status of each
eligible household member. Notice that John Zoe’s interview status says “Need
Self” rather than “Partial.”
This is because his interview ended before the
TIMEATADDRESS question. Maria Zoe’s interview is done and Rosa Nombre’s
interview has not been started (“Need self” is noted in the STATUS column).
(Pause)
Now enter
a 1 at the
SHOW_CP_ROSTER screen
and
also
at the
SHOW_INFO_CP screen.
(Allow time)
At the WHOTOCALL_CP screen, enter 3, Rosa Nombre's line number. (Pause) At
the DIAL_CP screen someone answers the phone so enter 1. (Pause) At the
HELLO_1_CP screen you introduce yourself to the person who answers the
telephone and ask to speak with Rosa Nombre. The person you are speaking to tells
you in Spanish that she does not speak English. If you speak Spanish, you can
8-288
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
toggle to the NCVS Spanish instrument to continue the interview.
Let's take a look at the NCVS Spanish instrument. At the HELLO_1_CP screen,
press the SHIFT and F5 keys. (Pause) At the “Form Languages” screen arrow down
to “ESP” which is the name for the NCVS Spanish instrument. Then click OK.
(Pause) Notice that the question text is now in Spanish. Another way to access the
Spanish instrument is to press “Options” in the toolbar and then choose “Language.” In
some screens in the Spanish instrument, the answer categories that need to be read
to the respondent are also in Spanish; however, for this section they are not because
the categories do not need to be read to the respondent. You are ready to complete
the interview in Spanish.
Let's go through a couple of screens in the Spanish instrument. You are speaking
to Rosa Nombre so enter 1. This is the correct person at the HELLO_1_CP screen.
(Pause) At the INTRO_REC_CP screen, the respondent agrees to be interviewed
so enter 1 to proceed with the interview. At the VERADD_CP enter 1 to verify that
Rosa lives at the same address. Next, at the NEXTPERSON screen enter 3 to select
Rosa to be interviewed. Enter 1 at the INTERVIEWSTATUS screen to continue the
interview.
You are now ready to begin asking the survey questions starting with the
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT question. For this exercise, let's assume that Rosa
Nombre tells you she really doesn't have the time right now to complete the
interview and to call her back later around 8 o'clock. Before you set a callback
appointment for Rosa Nombre, let's practice how to toggle back to the English
version of the NCVS CAPI instrument. You don't need to be back into the English
version of the instrument to exit the case or to set a callback appointment. The intent
of this exercise is to show you how to toggle or move between instruments.
8-289
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Practice Interviews
Press the SHIFT and F5 keys or press “Options” and then “Languages.” Then arrow
up to “ENG.” (Pause) Click OK to return to the English NCVS CAPI instrument.
Now let's set a call back appointment for Rosa Nombre. Press the F10 function key.
At the REFCBBREAK_CP screen enter 2, Callback. Then at the PERSAPPT
screen press Ctrl+F7 to enter appointment information for Rosa Nombre in the Case
Level Notes. Enter a note that you need to call back Rosa Nombre to complete her
interview and that she is a Spanish speaking respondent. When you are done
entering a note, exit the Notes Editor and be sure to save the information entered,
then enter 1 at PERSAPPT to continue.
At the THANKYOU_INDV screen enter 1 after thanking the respondent. (Pause)
Now, enter 2 at the VERIFY screen. (Pause) At the “Case Level Notes Editor” if you
have any other notes you want to enter you can do that now, otherwise press F10
to exit to return to the pCHI, then the “Case List.” For this exercise we won’t fill out
the pCHI, so at CTATEMPT, enter Precode (4), “Not attempting contact.” At
NOATTEMPT enter Precode (6), “Opened case/CHI by mistake”.
(Allow time)
Although you still need to complete John Zoe’s interview, for this exercise you are
not going to get back into the case to complete his interview. This concludes this
exercise. Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
(Continue to the next chapter)
8-290
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
Chapter 9 – Performance and Supervisory Topics
(Approximate time: 1 hour)
Instructor Preparation:
•
•
Review the RO procedures on the measures used to evaluate the
performance of NCVS field representatives.
Review other RO administrative topics not covered in Chapter 2.
Objectives:
•
Provide trainees with an understanding of the measures in place to evaluate
their performance as NCVS field representatives.
The final part of this training covers the production and quality standards expected
of you, as well as other administrative topics and a paired practice interview.
As an NCVS field representative, there are established measures for various
elements of your job. Your performance is evaluated based on these measures. The
success of the NCVS depends on accurate and complete information. We count on
you, our field representatives, to help us succeed in this effort.
We hope that you will always strive for the highest level of quality and productivity in
your NCVS work. We also realize that a new field representative cannot be expected
to start out with an outstanding performance rating. However, we expect you to do
your best and to improve as you gain more interviewing experience using the NCVS
CAPI instrument. Your work will be monitored and measured. Your supervisor will
provide frequent feedback and direction about your work and its quality.
This survey operates on a fixed budget. The only way we can conduct the NCVS on
schedule and within budget is with your cooperation. We depend on you to conduct
9-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
your work accurately and efficiently. Completing a sufficient number of NCVS
interviews within the specified interview period is not only important from a cost
standpoint, but also is essential for meeting the survey’s processing schedules.
The following are some pointers for saving survey costs and time without sacrificing
accuracy:
• With the exception of holidays, always begin your assignment on the first
working day of the month. Schedule your work so that your assignment is
completed before the closeout date for the interview month.
• Conduct interviews with units in sample for their second through seventh
interview by telephone. We realize that there are times when this is not
possible, such as when the unit is a Type A or Type B noninterview the
previous enumeration, there is no telephone available in the sample unit, or
the household said a telephone interview is not acceptable.
• Begin your telephone work first. In the process of doing the telephone
interview cases first, you may discover some replacement households as
well as some other situations where it becomes necessary to make a
personal visit. Because of these possible personal visits, it is extremely
important that you try to complete the telephone interviewing within the first
few days of the interview period. Since the primary purpose of the telephone
procedure is to save money by reducing travel costs, Do NOT go out to a
sample unit until you have attempted to complete telephone interviewing of
all the households that qualify for a telephone interview.
• To reduce travel costs, plan your travel route so you can do your NCVS work
and move from one case to another using the least amount of time and
mileage. Try to plan your personal visits during the most productive hours of
the day and days of the week, so you can find household members at home
and reduce the number of return visits to a sample address. Evening hours
9-2
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
and weekends tend to be most productive in areas where a majority of the
household members work outside the home.
• Make the fewest number of trips to a sample area as possible to complete
your assignment. If you need to make personal visit callbacks in a sample
area where you still have some initial visits, try to complete these interviews
in one trip. If no one is at home at the time of your visit, try to find out the best
time to contact the household before you leave the sample area. You can
inquire of neighbors, apartment managers, janitors, and the like, but you
cannot mention the survey name to these people.
• After completing the household
respondent’s interview, always try to
complete interviews for all remaining eligible household members during the
same contact. Any follow-up contacts to interview remaining household
members should be done by telephone. For sample units that must be
interviewed
during a personal visit, if you complete the household
respondent’s personal interview, you may make telephone callbacks to get
interviews with the remaining household members.
• Become familiar with the sequence of the items in the NCVS instrument and
understand how to enter answers on each NCVS screen so the interview
flows smoothly.
For each interview month, we calculate the response rates for
your NCVS
interviewing assignment. This includes
• Household Response Rates – your Type As,
• Person-Level Response Rates – your Type Zs, and
• NCVS Supplement Response Rates.
The household response rates take into consideration how many interviews you were
able to complete from all eligible sample addresses assigned to you (excluding Type
9-3
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
B and C noninterviews). Person-level response rates take into consideration how
many interviews you were able to complete from all eligible household members.
The NCVS supplement response rates take into consideration how many
supplement interviews you were able to complete for all eligible individuals. You can
find more detailed information on response rates on pages A4-7 thru A4-9 of your
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives on your laptop.
By reviewing your response rates, you and your supervisor can track how effective
you are at obtaining interviews. The NCVS prides itself on having high response
rates. Maintaining such response rates is essential to ensure that the NCVS and
supplement data are representative of the entire U.S. population. Failure to interview
all eligible household members can introduce a serious bias into the survey. For
example, sample persons who are difficult to contact or who resist being interviewed
could have very different victimization experiences than those sample persons who
are easy to contact and interview.
There are a number of other performance measures. Data quality indicators are
incorporated into your performance plan; your supervisor will go over them with you when
you go over your performance plan together. The indicators are intended to help you
achieve a fully successful performance review while aligning your performance with the
sponsor’s and the Census Bureau’s goals of improving and maintaining NCVS data
quality. The indicators may change from time to time. These indicators include
• pCHI completion,
• time to administer screener questions,
• time to administer crime incident questions,
• monitoring when interviews are conducted outside of normal operating hours,
• monitoring when you begin your assignment during the interview month, and
• monitoring the quality of the crime incident data you collect.
9-4
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
Now, I will take a moment to briefly explain each of these.
You should complete the pCHI for each contact you attempt. This helps you demonstrate
the level of effort you invested in achieving the specific disposition of the case. Not
completing pCHI misrepresents the level of effort you invested in a case.
You must read questions as worded. The time goal for going through the screener
questions with the household respondent is at least 4 minutes and at least 3.5 minutes
for all other eligible household members. Other eligible household members receive less
questions than the household respondent, hence, the lower time goal. The time goal for
going through the crime incident questions is 10 minutes for a violent crime and 8
minutes for all other crimes.
The time of day you conduct your interviews will also be monitored. While there may
be a legitimate reason for an NCVS interview to be conducted at 2 a.m. on occasion, FRs
who consistently conduct interviews at odd hours require further investigation and
explanation of the circumstances.
It is important to begin working your NCVS cases early.
When you begin your
assignment during the interview month will be monitored. This helps identify FRs that
are beginning their assignment (or a large percentage of it) so late in the interview month
that it may jeopardize the FR’s ability to maximize household and person response.
The quality of the crime incident data you collect is also monitored. All crime incidents
are reviewed once the data is collected. If critical items are mismarked that effect the
classification of a crime, you will get specific feedback from an NCVS supervisor.
9-5
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
In fact, for all of these data quality indicators I mentioned, you will get feedback
from an NCVS supervisor if it appears you aren’t meeting quality expectations.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
Periodically, a portion of your assignment is eligible for reinterview. Remember,
reinterview is a method we use to evaluate your performance independently. An
independent Census Bureau interviewer reinterviews a portion of your assignment for
the interview month. The reinterviewer contacts some of the same households that
you have already contacted. The reinterview answers are compared against the
original answers that you recorded, differences are identified, and reasons for the
differences are determined. The reinterviewer verifies that the correct sample units
were interviewed, you properly followed procedures during interviews, and any
noninterviews were classified accurately.
In some cases, the extent and type of errors identified may require a special needs
observation and/or retraining.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions)
If you have any other questions after you leave this training session, all the
information we discussed can be found in detail in your other NCVS materials – the
NCVS-550 Interviewing Manual for Field Representatives on your laptop, the NCVS554 Information Card Booklet, and the NCVS-550.1 “At a Glance.” I encourage you
9-6
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Performance and Supervisory Topics
to use all of these manuals and job aids if you ever have any questions about the
survey. If after consulting all your NCVS materials, you still can’t find an answer to
your question, get in touch with (me/your supervisor). Are there any questions about
these survey materials?
(Answer questions)
To conclude this chapter, we’re going to talk about some other topics that are of
concern for this regional office.
(Cover any other topics that you feel are important to the survey and the
relationship between the survey supervisor and the FR. Emphasize the
importance of the telephone communication process between the FRs
and the RO staff. Ask the FRs for suggestions on making survey
operations run smoothly.)
(Answer questions. Allow time for discussion.)
(If necessary, continue to Chapter 10, “2010 Redesign and Coverage” for new
hires who have not had the 2010 redesign and coverage training.
Otherwise, go to Chapter 11, “Paired Practice Interview”.)
9-7
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
2010 Redesign Listing and Coverage
Chapter 10 – 2010 Redesign Listing and Coverage
(Approximate time: 1 hour)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Make sure each trainee has a copy of the 11-925, 2010 Redesign New Hire Listing
and Coverage Training (Classroom Workbook).
Objectives:
•
Introduce the trainees to the concept of Listing and Coverage.
Materials Needed:
•
11-924, 2010 Redesign New Hire Listing and Coverage Training (Training Guide)
11-924, New Hire Listing and Coverage Training (Training Guide)
If training NEW FRs on 2010 redesign topics, follow along with the 11-924, New
Hire Listing and Coverage Training (Training Guide). If there are no new FRs who
require this training, go on to Chapter 11. Otherwise, after this chapter, go on to
Chapter 11.
As of September 2017, FLD Training is in the process of updating generic initial
training for FRs to include a CLC exercise titled "LiMA Training - Locating Sample
Units (Stateside)." Once this is implemented, you will no longer need to review the
11-924 with NEW FRs.
10-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Paired Practice Interview
Chapter 11 – Paired Practice Interview
(Approximate time: 2 hours)
Instructor Preparation:
•
Make sure all trainees are logged into their laptops and using AC power. (Ensure all
trainees have access to electrical outlets to plug in their laptop computers. If necessary,
assist the trainees using extension cords or adaptors and connection to outlets in the
training room.)
Objective:
•
Provide trainees experience administering the survey and recording answers.
Materials Needed:
Trainee
• Laptop Computer
• Function Key Template
• NCVS-522.1 Classroom Workbook
• NCVS-554 Information Card Booklet
• NCVS-572(L) Introductory Letter
You will now have the opportunity to administer an NCVS interview. I will pair you
up and you will each have a chance to be the FR and the respondent.
(Pair up trainees, if they need to move, ensure that they bring their materials
with them.)
Turn to page 20 in your NCVS CAPI Classroom Workbook.
(If you are short on time, use Case ID 2 (286 Erasmus Dr) instead of Case ID 1
(502 Stuart St). In Case ID 2, trainees will not need to build a roster and will
instead just interview the 1 household member already listed; trainees
should follow the other information given in the workbook besides the first 4
bulleted items.)
11-1
NCVS-522(I)
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training Guide
Paired Practice Interview
Follow the instructions for the paired practice interview. Please let me know if you
have any questions. Once you have fully completed the interview with the details
provided in your workbook, you may switch roles.
(Answer any questions that trainees have during and after the paired practice
interview. After answering all questions, conclude the training.)
11-2
NCVS‐522(I3)
(1/2018)
National Crime
Victimization Survey
Classroom Training Guide:
NCVS Initial Training for Field Representatives
Supplemental Trainer Instructions
Effective January 2018
This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable Information.
All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. Consistent with Field
Division policy, any names referenced in practice interviews or other exercises are not meant to
refer to any actual businesses, schools, group quarters, or persons, especially any current or
former Census Bureau employees.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
Effective January 2018, this document serves as a supplement to the NCVS Classroom Training
Guide: NCVS Initial Training for Field Representatives (NCVS‐522(I), 9/2017).
LEGAL CITATION CHANGES
In September 2017, the U.S. Office of the Law Revision made an editorial reclassification to the
United States Code (U.S.C.) that caused the legal citations that refer to Title 42 U.S.C. to change.
Nothing has changed in the way NCVS data is treated or handled. This change is only to the
number of the law and is shown in the table below.
Authority for Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS) to
collect NCVS
Confidentiality of NCVS data
Confidentiality of NCVS data
Old Title 42 Citation
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3732
New Title 34 Citation
Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10132
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3789g Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10231
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3735 Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10134
The Census Bureau’s authority to conduct the NCVS remains Title 13, U.S.C., Section 8. Title 13,
U.S.C., Section 9 continues to protect the confidentiality of the NCVS data.
LEGAL CITATION UPDATES TO MATERIALS
References to the numbers of these laws appear in a few places throughout the initial training
materials.
Electronic Materials
Electronic materials have been updated. The 1/2018 versions of the NCVS Interviewing Manual
for Field Representatives (NCVS-550, 1/2018) and the NCVS: At a Glance (NCVS-550.1, 1/2018)
documents on the FR laptops have these law number updates incorporated.
Paper Materials
Rather than printing new materials just for this change, trainers and new FRs will need to
update the few existing references from Title 42 to Title 34 in their paper initial training
materials by hand. These paper materials will be updated and reprinted at a later date. The
instructions that follow specify the needed updates to paper initial training materials.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
ONE TIME UPDATE FOR TRAINERS TO MAKE TO THEIR
NCVS‐522(I), 9/2017
Before your next classroom training, update page 1-3 in two places from Title 42 to Title 34. See
below.
No additional updates are needed for this document.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
UPDATES TO INSTRUCT FRs TO MAKE ON THE
FIRST DAY OF CLASSROOM TRAINING
After you welcome the FRs to training and introduce yourself, have the FRs update their initial
training materials with the reclassifications in the table below before you get started discussing
Administrative Topics.
Authority for Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS) to
collect NCVS
Confidentiality of NCVS data
Confidentiality of NCVS data
Old Title 42 Citation
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3732
New Title 34 Citation
Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10132
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3789g Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10231
Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3735 Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10134
All of the updates that need to be made are listed below.
NCVS 521, 9/2017 – NCVS CAPI Self-Study for NCVS Field Representatives
• page 1-4, last two sentences under question “8”
• page 1-5, paragraph 2, sentence 2
• page 1-5, paragraph 2, last sentence
NCVS 550.1, 8/2017 – NCVS: At a Glance
• page 1, in the 2nd sentence under the heading “Sponsor”
NCVS 554, 6/2017 – NCVS Field Representative’s Information Card Booklet
• page 1, paragraph 1, last sentence
• page 1, paragraph 2, sentence 3
• page 2, paragraph 1, sentence 4
Refer to the pictures on the following pages to see highlights of all the updates that need to be
made.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
NCVS 521, 9/2017 – NCVS CAPI Self-Study for NCVS Field Representatives
• page 1-4, last two sentences under question “8”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
NCVS 521, 9/2017 – NCVS CAPI Self-Study for NCVS Field Representatives
• page 1-5, paragraph 2, sentence 2
• page 1-5, paragraph 2, last sentence
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
NCVS 550.1, 8/2017 – NCVS: At a Glance
•
page 1, in the 2nd sentence under the heading “Sponsor”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
6
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
NCVS 554, 6/2017 – NCVS Field Representative’s Information Card Booklet
• page 1, paragraph 1, last sentence
• page 1, paragraph 2, sentence 3
_____________________________________________________________________________________
7
NCVS‐522(I3) (1/2018)
NCVS 554, 6/2017 – NCVS Field Representative’s Information Card Booklet
•
page 2, paragraph 1, sentence 4
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
National Crime
Victimization Survey
Classroom Workbook:
NCVS Initial Training
for Field Representatives
This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable Information.
All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. Consistent with Field
Division policy, any names referenced in practice interviews or other exercises are not meant to
refer to any actual person, especially any current or past Census Bureau employees.
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Household Membership
1. Paul Moe is staying in the sample unit, but is looking for another place to
live. He has no other residence. Is Paul a household member?
Yes
No
2. Janet Voe is a paid housekeeper who lives in the sample unit. Is Janet a
household member?
Yes
No
3. When you interview the Zoe household, Mr. Zoe tells you that his daughter
Emily is away at college. Is Emily a household member?
Yes
No
4. When you contact the Coe household, Pamela Coe, the household
respondent, tells you that her husband, John, is serving with the Army and
stationed in Iraq. Is John a household member?
Yes
No
5. If you list someone as living and staying at the sample unit as of the night
before the interview and then determine at HSEMEMURE that the person
usually lives somewhere else, what precode do you enter in HSEMEMURE?
Precode 1, Yes
Precode 2, No
1
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Function Keys
Press function
key:
To perform this operation within the instrument during the
interview:
F1
QUESTION HELP
Displays any help screens for the current question. Help screens are
designed to aid you with a particular concept, to define the meaning or
intent of a particular word, to provide specific probes, etc. Use ALT + F4
to leave a help screen.
F4
JUMP MENU
Accesses a “Jump” menu, which enables you to jump back to a
previously answered section of the incident report items. Note that this
function only works in the incident report items, which are part of the
middle section of the NCVS instrument.
F7
ITEM NOTES/REMARKS
Allows you to view or add comments and explanations for the screen
currently displayed. After pressing F7, a pop-up “Notes” box appears.
Enter the text of your note, and then click the “Save” button in the box to
leave the F7 notes mode. When F7 notes are entered for an instrument
screen, a paperclip icon will appear next to the item name on the form
pane telling you that a “Note Exists.”
F8
RETURN
Allows you to return or skip back to the item from which you pressed the
F10 key, which skips to the end of the interview. This would come in
handy if you should press the F10 key by mistake.
F10
EXIT
Skips from the present question to the end of the instrument when a
respondent breaks off the interview before you can complete it or
whenever you must make an early exit from the interview. After pressing
the F10 function key, you will skip to the back section of the instrument to
the callback screen where you can schedule a callback. The instrument
sets a person’s interview status to “partially completed,” so that you can
resume the interview for that person later when the respondent is
available.
SHIFT + F1
DISPLAY HOUSEHOLD ROSTER
Accesses the household roster at the SHOWROS_CP screen. You can
access the household roster at any time during an NCVS interview to
reference the information shown on this screen. The SHOWROS_CP
screen does not allow you to make changes to the household roster.
Allows you to switch from the English version of the instrument to the
Spanish version for the current question displayed and all subsequent
questions.
2
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
SHIFT + F2
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Accesses the help screens for nine frequently asked NCVS questions
from the FAQMain screen. These help screens will help you answer
respondent’s questions.
SHIFT + F5
LANGUAGE
Switches to the Spanish version of the NCVS instrument for the current
question and all subsequent questions. To return to the English version,
press the SHIFT and F5 keys simultaneously again and select “English”
from the pop-up menu.
SHIFT + F7
VIEW NOTES
Allows you to only view notes. To add more notes use the F7 function
key.
SHIFT + F11
SHOW STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS
Displays the standard recommended and acceptable abbreviations for
the NCVS. Abbreviations can be used to conserve space when entering
text in item text boxes that allow only a limited number of characters to
be entered.
END
Takes you to the next unanswered question in the instrument path.
CTRL + D
DON’T KNOW
Allows you to record a don’t know response to a question when a
separate “Don’t Know” response category is not part of the question
answer list.
CTRL + R
REFUSED
Allows you to record a refusal to a question by the respondent.
CTRL + T
INTERVIEW TIME PREFERENCES
Accesses the BOOST/BLOCK feature of the instrument for you to view or
record the best times or worst times to contact the household.
3
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
The Parts of the Crime Incident Report
The crime incident report is made up of eleven sections:
1.
Location and presence is the first section and collects information about
where the incident occurred, details about a break-in when it happened at
the respondent’s home or lodging, and whether or not the respondent was
present.
2.
Attack/threat/injury/medical care section asks questions about how the
respondent was attacked or threatened, injuries the respondent may have
suffered (if any), whether the respondent sought medical care, and details
about that medical care.
3.
Emotional toll section asks questions about the emotional toll the crime
took on the respondent, such as how it affected work, relationships, the
respondent’s emotional and physical health, and so on.
4.
Actions against offender section asks about what actions were taken by
the victim during the incident, whether those actions helped or made the
situation worse, whether others were present at the scene, their actions, and
so on.
5.
Offender section asks about the number and characteristics of the
offender(s) such as their gender and age, how well the victim knew the
offender(s), whether offender(s) were drinking or on drugs and if the
offender(s) belonged to a gang, and so on.
4
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
6.
Attempted and completed thefts section asks about the type and value of
any stolen items or about items the offender attempted to steal, whether
items were in or attached to a motor vehicle, whether property was
recovered, and so on.
7.
Property damage and police section asks about whether there was any
damage to household property and if so, how much it cost to repair or
replace the damaged items, and about contact with the police and their
response to the incident.
8.
Activity at the time of the incident and time or money lost This section
asks about what the respondent was doing when the incident happened and
whether the respondent was employed at the time of the incident, and
whether the respondent or other household members lost time or pay from
work because of the incident.
9.
Series of crimes section is asked when six or more incidents were coded
as a series. This section asks how many incidents were part of the series,
where they took place, how well the respondent knew the offenders, and so
on.
10. Hate crime section asks about whether the respondent feels the incident
was a hate crime, and if so, what the reason was for the hate crime, such as
the respondent’s religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, and so on.
11. Summary section is where you enter a detailed descriptive summary of the
crime incident.
5
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #1
(Household Roster)
Who to List:
• All persons living or staying at the sample address at the time of your
contact.
• All persons who usually live at the sample address, but who are temporarily
away for reasons such as visiting friends or relatives, traveling for their jobs,
in “general” hospitals, and so forth.
• All children who usually live at the sample address, including infants under
1 year of age.
• Any lodgers, servants, hired hands, and other persons who usually live at
the sample address.
• Visitors and other persons who are not household members (do not usually
live at the sample address), but are in the sample household at the time of
your interview and have stayed at the sample address at least one night
before your interview, such as a visitor or student with a usual residence
elsewhere.
• Households consisting entirely of persons who are not household members
and who have a usual residence elsewhere. If you determine that the entire
household has a usual residence elsewhere (URE), you will classify the
household as a Type B noninterview, “Temporarily occupied by persons with
URE.”
6
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #1
(Armed Forces)
A household member is considered to be “in the Armed Forces” when the person
is:
• Serving on active duty at the time of the interview in the U.S. Army, Navy,
Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
• In the reserve branch of any of the above Armed Services and is currently
on active duty status for several months.
• In the U.S. Public Health Service as commissioned officers who are
attached to any branch of the above Armed Services.
• In the National Guard in Federal Service (if his/her unit has become part
of the regular forces by Presidential Order.)
• In the U.S. military academies as Cadets.
Members of the regular component of any branch of the Armed Forces are
ALWAYS considered to be on active duty, unless they are retired. Members of
the reserve component of any branch of the Armed Forces are only considered
to be on active duty when they have been called to duty by military order and are
currently on active duty for several months.
Q:
Let’s say that a household member is in the U.S. Army Reserves and spends
two weeks on active duty in June of each year. If you are conducting an
interview on June 7th and his wife says that he is away on active duty with
the Army Reserve, what do you enter in ARMEDFORCES and why?
7
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #2
(Household Respondent)
The household respondent is someone who is at least 18 years old and the most
knowledgeable household member, that is, the one who appears to know or
might reasonably be expected to know the answers to the household questions.
Most frequently this will be the reference person or spouse (one of the persons
who owns or rents the home).
Exceptions:
• In households in which the reference person and/or spouse are under 18,
either of them may be the household respondent.
• If
ALL
household
members
are under
18, interview
the
most
knowledgeable household member as the household respondent.
The household respondent MUST be the first person interviewed in a household
whether you are conducting the interview in person or by telephone.
8
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #4
(Noninterview Reasons by Noninterview Type)
TYPE A
213 Language problems
216 No one home
217 Temporarily absent
218 Refused
219 Other occupied
TYPE B
225 Temporarily occupied by persons with usual residence elsewhere (URE)
226 Vacant - regular
227 Vacant - storage of furniture
228 Unfit or to be demolished
229 Under construction, not ready
230 Converted to temporary business or storage
231 Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
232 Permit granted, construction not started
233 Other
TYPE C
240 Demolished
241 House or trailer moved
242 Outside segment
243 Converted to permanent business or storage
244 Merged
245 Condemned
247 Unused line of listing sheet
248 Other (including permit abandoned)
258 Unlocatable sample address
259 Unit does not exist or unit is out of scope
9
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #7
(Reference Person)
The reference person is one of the persons who owns or rents the sample unit
or is any adult household member if the unit is occupied without payment of cash
rent.
10
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #7
(Example of Soft Edit Screen)
11
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #7
(Example of Hard Edit Screen)
12
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #7
(Reference Period)
Incoming and Replacement Households
For first period households and replacement households, the reference period
begins on the first day, six months preceding the month of interview and extends
up to the day prior to the day of interview.
Second and Subsequent Enumeration Periods
For second and subsequent enumeration periods, the reference period is from
the day of the last interview to the day prior to the current interview. Each person
within a household may have a different reference period depending on the day
each household member was interviewed.
For households that were a Type A noninterview the previous enumeration or
persons who were a Type Z noninterview in the previous interview period, the
reference period begins on the first day, six months preceding the month of
interview and extends up to the day prior to the day of interview
13
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #7
(Incident Summary for Brian Public)
Use the following information to write your summary report for Brian Public.
Household Roster
L2
Brian Public
L3
Michael Goe
L4
Will Loe
L5
Megan Moe
During night on (date) lawn ornaments stolen from L2’s front yard while HH
asleep. Belonged to entire HH. Incident not reported to police b/c not
important enough. Also L2 didn’t want to take time to report it. Value
property $51. L2 doesn’t know who took the ornaments. Nothing recovered.
14
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #10
(Incident Summary for Michael Goe)
Use the following information to write your summary report for Michael Goe.
Household Roster
L2
Brian Public
L3
Michael Goe
L4
Will Loe
L5
Megan Moe
In (enter date within reference period) lawn decorations taken from L3’s
front yard at night. Hhld sleeping. Decorations belonged to the HH. Incident
not reported to police since kid’s stuff. Stolen items valued at $50. Shrubs
damaged; cost to replace shrubs was $50. L3 doesn’t know who took. No
time lost from work. Nothing recovered.
15
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #11
(NCVS Proxy Rules)
Household Member Proxy Respondent
The proxy respondent MUST be a household member who is at least 18 years
old with the exception of those households in which the reference person and/or
spouse or all members of the household are under 18 years. In this case, select
a knowledgeable household member to serve as the proxy respondent. The
proxy respondent must have completed their own NCVS interview and be
knowledgeable about the household member for whom he/she is responding.
Nonhousehold Member Proxy Respondent
A nonhousehold member may serve as a proxy respondent for a household
member only if ALL of the following five (5) conditions apply:
1.
All household members are unable to be interviewed because of health
problems or mental incompetence.
2.
All
the
household
members
have
been
unable
to
leave
home
unaccompanied during the ENTIRE reference period.
3.
One of the proxy interviews obtained using a nonhousehold member proxy
respondent must be the household respondent’s.
4.
The proxy respondent is 18 years of age or older.
5.
The proxy respondent has had responsibility for the care of the
individual household member for the entire reference period.
16
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #11
(Acceptable Proxy Reasons)
You may obtain information about an individual household
member by
conducting a proxy interview only under ONE of the following circumstances:
• If a household member is 12 or 13 years old, you should obtain a selfresponse interview. However, if the parents or guardian refuse to let you
speak to the 12 or 13 year old, you may instead conduct a proxy interview
with the parent or guardian.
• If a household member 12 years of age or older is temporarily absent and
is NOT expected to return to the sample household at all during the entire
interview period, you may instead accept a proxy interview for him/her.
• If a household member 12 years of age or older is physically or mentally
incapacitated. For a household member to be physically or mentally
incapacitated, the person MUST be unable to be interviewed due to health
problems or mental incompetence. This condition MUST be continuous
during the entire interview period and DOES NOT include colds or flu,
drunkenness, drugs, or problems that might be aggravated because the
questions are upsetting. Old age alone is NOT an acceptable reason for
proxy interview.
17
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
NCVS DEFINITION OF RAPE
Forced sexual intercourse includes both psychological coercion as well as
physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral
penetration by the offender(s). This category also includes incidents
where the penetration is from a foreign object, such as a bottle.
18
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Practice Exercise #14
(FARMSALES)
Remember these three things about FARMSALES:
1. This question refers to the “past 12 months.” If you are interviewing on
February 5, 2017, “past 12 months” means February 1, 2016 through
January 31, 2017.
2. FARMSALES asks for the amount of farm sales. Do not include food grown
for the consumption of household members themselves; only include farm
products that were actually sold.
3. This question refers to sales of farm products from this place. We are not
concerned with who was living on the farm during the past 12 months. For
example, if a respondent moved to a farm 5 months ago, it is possible the
respondent may know the amount of farm sales during the entire 12 months
before the interview.
Exercise:
Jimmy Voe bought a cucumber farm two months ago. Since the time
he bought the farm, he has sold about $500 worth of cucumbers. The
previous owner, Carl Loe, told Mr. Voe that he sold almost $800 worth
of cucumbers during the last three months that he owned the farm.
Which precode do you enter in Item FARMSALES?
19
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
Paired Practice Interview
For this exercise, you will need to reinstall the training cases. To do this, you first
need to uninstall. On the screen shown below, press F12 to uninstall. Proceed
through the pop-ups to complete uninstalling the cases.
Notice that you now have a “Y” in your “Need to Install” column.
Press F5 to install the cases. You will get a pop-up letting you know that it was
successful. Notice that the “Y” has now changed to an “N”. Your cases have now
been restarted. Press F8 to get to your case list.
Choose the address 502 Stuart St and press F2 to begin the interview. When you
are the FR for this case, you will be building a roster and completing a Crime
Incident Report.
provided.
When being the respondent, please answer with the details
If details are not provided for a specific screen, answer at your
discretion.
• This is an incoming case (Interview Number 1 – personal interview needed)
• 1-unit apartment rented for cash
• 1-person household (John Doe)
o DOB: July 12, 1978
20
NCVS-522.1
(9/2017)
NCVS Initial Training
Classroom Workbook
______________________________________________________________________________
o Divorced
o Master’s degree
o John is not of Hispanic origin and considers his race to be Asian.
• Lived at this address for 5 months and has moved once.
• Owns 2 cars
• Only 1 crime reported within the reference period.
o 1 car belonging to the respondent was stolen in a month WITHIN the
reference period.
Car was parked in an attached garage at the
sample address but the garage door was left open.
o Respondent was sleeping at the time of the incident and did not
discover the theft until the morning.
o Value of the car was $10,000 and was recovered with damages.
Value of the car after recovery was $8,000.
o The respondent called the police who came out and took a report and
promised to investigate.
o The police called the respondent later to let him know that they
recovered the vehicle.
• The respondent has a phone and the number is 999-888-7777.
21
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Instrument Screens
Quality Assurance and Measurement Error Staff
Demographic Statistical Methods Division
Front Section
RIREASON
Reinterview Help Menu
♦ Press F8 to proceed to the reinterview.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why are you calling me again?
Are you calling everyone or am I just lucky?
Don't you have anything better to do with my tax dollars? I'm too busy to answer
your questions again.
Are you “checking up” on me? I told you the truth the first time you called.
Do I have to answer your questions?
Return to Reinterview
RIREF1
Why are you calling me again?
Like any business, we're interested in maintaining the quality of our product, so each
month we reinterview a few households who are in the survey to ensure we are
efficiently and accurately collecting data.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Reinterview Help Menu
RIREF2
Are you calling everyone or am I just lucky?
We are able to get a reliable measure of data quality by reinterviewing only a small
percentage of the total households interviewed in the survey.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Reinterview Help Menu
RIREF3
Don't you have anything better to do with my tax dollars?
I'm too busy to answer your questions again.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
2
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) will use the data to prepare periodic and special
reports about crimes. Occasionally, questions are added to the survey to obtain
information on important crime issues. The Census Bureau feels a strong need for an
independent measure of the data’s quality. Consequently, we feel that the results
from our reinterview are a wise use of our tax dollars.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Reinterview Help Menu
RIREF4
Are you “checking up” on me?
I told you the truth the first time you called.
The purpose of reinterview is not to check up on respondents. In order to ensure that
we are efficiently and accurately collecting data, we reinterview a few households
who are in the survey.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Reinterview Help Menu
RIREF5
Do I have to answer your questions?
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. However, the information you provide
will help us to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of our data collection procedures.
Like any business, we’re interested in maintaining the quality of our product.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Reinterview Help Menu
H_PURPOSE
Choose from the following topics of frequently asked questions:
♦ Press F8 to proceed with the reinterview.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
(800) Number
Wasting taxpayers money
Why not ask the police about crimes?
Who uses this information? What good is it?
Why so many questions when I told you “No crimes”?
No crimes here, so go ask somebody else
Survey doesn’t seem to be working, crimes still occur
How many times will I be contacted?
How can I get information regarding BJS/NCVS?
OMB NOTICE statement for respondents with a serious grievance
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
3
11. Return to Reinterview
H_PURPOSE1
♦ Confirm Call/Survey
To verify that I am calling from the Census Bureau, you may call our toll free number:
1-800-642-0469 (TTC)
♦ or provide your regional office number.
When you call, please provide your name and the following identification number:
[Fill: CASEID]
♦
Read if necessary:
To verify that the toll free number is legitimate, you may call Directory Assistance
on 1-800-555-1212.
1. Continue
2. Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE2
♦ YOU ARE WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY BY CONDUCTING THIS USELESS SURVEY.
The survey tells us about the amount and nature as well as crime trends and crimes
not reported to the police. It can help save taxpayer money where new programs are
developed by focusing on the people who are most likely to be victims of crime and
making crime prevention and control programs more effective.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE3
♦ WHY DON’T YOU CALL THE POLICE IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CRIME...
Less than half of all crimes are reported to police. The survey is the only way we have
to find out about these crimes. We also get the details about the characteristics of the
crimes and the effects of crime on the victim. The survey provides much more
detailed information than we get from the police on both reported and unreported
crime.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
4
H_PURPOSE4
♦ WHO USES THIS INFORMATION? WHAT GOOD IS IT?
The survey is widely used by policy makers at all levels of government, crime
prevention groups, people who help crime victims, researchers in many fields, the
media, as well as others. It has sometimes been used by the Supreme Court in making
decisions. The survey informs our users in a neutral, unbiased way to help them make
public policy.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE5
♦ WHY DO I HAVE TO ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS WHEN I ALREADY TOLD
YOU NO CRIMES WERE COMMITTED AGAINST US IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS?
We have studied asking fewer questions, but have found that people sometimes don’t
think about a crime until a specific question reminds them about it. We need to ask all
people the same questions to guarantee the quality of the data.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE6
♦ I DON’T HAVE ANY CRIMES TO REPORT. WHY DON’T YOU INTRERVIEW MY
NEIGHBOR? I KNOW HE’D HAVE SOME CRIMES TO REPORT.
Your participation is important whether or not you report a crime. We cannot
accurately find out the percentage of people who experience crime, unless we get
information from both victims and non-victims.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE7
♦ I ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS BUT CRIMES STILL OCCUR. THIS SURVEY
DOESN’T SEEM TO BE WORKING.
It may not be possible to eliminate all crime, although we want to reduce it as much as
possible. The survey is also used to develop and improve programs for assisting those
who have become crime victims.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
5
H_PURPOSE8
♦
I’VE ALREADY ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS ONCE. HOW MANY TIMES WILL
I BE CONTACTED?
You will probably be contacted a total of seven times over three years. We hope that
you will not become a victim of crime during that time, but we need to keep asking
the questions to find people who do become victims. Research has shown that by
contacting the same households a number of times we get the most accurate
information.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE9
♦
I ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, BUT NEVER SEE ANY RESULTS. HOW CAN I GET
INFORMATION REGARDING BJS/NCVS?
You can find detailed results from the survey at the BJS website at www.bjs.gov
Many newspapers and television stations write about the survey results when reports
come out so you may see something there too.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
H_PURPOSE10
♦
OMB NOTICE
♦ Read the NOTICE statement to the respondent only if they have a serious grievance
and would like to make a complaint regarding the survey.
♦ Allow the respondent time to copy the agency title and addresses listed in the NOTICE
statement.
OMB No. 1121-0111: Approval Expires: 08/31/2018
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY NOTICE The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census
Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify
you. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the United
States Department of Justice under the authority of law (Title 13, United States Code,
Section 8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized to collect this survey
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
6
information by law (Title 34, United States Code, Section 10132). Federal law protects
your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States Code,
Section 9 and Title 34, United States Code, Sections 10231 and 10134). Per the Federal
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity
risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.
This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The eight-digit OMB approval number that appears on your survey letter confirms this
approval. If this number were not displayed we could not conduct this survey.
Send comments regarding any aspect of this survey to the Chief, Victimization
Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
1.
2.
Continue
Back to Frequently Asked Questions menu
KEY_REF
Function Keys Description:
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
Item specific Help
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Jump menu
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Enter item specific notes
Return from skip
(Unassigned)
Exit-skip to END
Calculator
Copy
Shift-F1
Shift-F2
Shift-F3
Shift-F4
Shift-F5
Shift-F6
Shift-F7
Shift-F8
Shift-F9
Shift-F10
Shift-F11
Shift-F12
Display the household roster
Original Interview FAQs
Reinterview FAQs
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
View Remarks/Item Notes
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Display function keys
Display standard abbreviation list
Display original CAPI notes
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
7
Ctrl-D
Ctrl-F3
Ctrl-E
Ctrl-F
Ctrl-F7
Ctrl-H
Ctrl-K
Ctrl-M
Ctrl-R
Ctrl-S
Don’t Know (D)
(Unassigned)
(Unassigned)
Search
Access reinterview notes
Show info
Display function key descriptions
Show Don’t Know & Refusals
Refusal (R)
Save
H_ABBREV1
Standard Abbreviation List
[Display the standard abbreviation list]
NOTE: This screen can be accessed at any time during the reinterview by pressing "Shift
F11."
REACTOCAPI_RI_CT
This should not have been assigned to CATI because this case [fill: BADCASE].
This case needs to be recycled to field.
1.
Continue
HELLO_TC_CT
Hello, This is ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I please speak to [Fill: RESPNAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
This is correct person, or correct person called to the phone.
Person not available now. Call back later.
Person cannot be reached. Speak with another household member.
Person unknown at this number.
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
Person can be reached at another number.
Other outcome OR problem interviewing household
HELLO_TCX_CT
Hello. This is ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
8
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
HELLO_TN_CT
Hello, This is ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I please speak to [Fill: NAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
This is correct person, or correct person called to the phone.
Person not available now.
Person unknown at this number.
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
Person can be reached at another number.
Other outcome OR problem interviewing household
HELLO_TNX_CT
Hello. I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your location to verify the status of:
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or someone else answer a few questions to help us evaluate the interviewer’s
work?
1. Yes
2. No
3. Inconvenient time. Try again later.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
9
INTRO_TC_CT
Thank you for helping us recently with the [Fill: SURVEY_NAME].
[Fill: INTRO]
Is your address: [Fill: ADDRESS1]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Refused to verify Address
INTRO_TN_CT
Thank you for recently helping us verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
[Fill: INTRO]
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
INTRBO_RI_CT
This call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes. Do I have permission to
record this call?
♦ If the respondent does not wish to be recorded:
Click on the NICE stop recording button.
Read: I appreciate your concern. I am turning off the recording.
1.
2.
3.
Yes; continue with the interview.
Inconvenient time; schedule an appointment to callback.
No; recording is turned off. Continue interview.
VERTELE_CT
Excuse me. I need to verify your telephone number again.
Have I reached area code [Fill: (AREA) PREFIX-SUFFIX, ext. EXTN] /
[CPPHON, ext. CPEXT]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No. Exit instrument and redial.
Refused to verify.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
10
ADDVER_CT
I need to verify that the address there is:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
1.
2.
3.
Same Address.
Not same Address.
Refused to verify.
HHMEM_CT
Perhaps you can help me.
Are you a household member [Fill: “who is” MIN_AGE “years or older” / blank]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
HHMEM2_CT
Is there a household member present I may speak to [Fill: “who is” MIN_AGE “years or
older” / blank]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_C_CT
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_N_CT
Perhaps you can help me.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
11
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
this location to verify the status of
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or someone else answer a few questions to help us evaluate the interviewer’s
work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_UC_CT
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
LIVEHERE_CT
Were you living here on [Fill: INTDATE]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later. Make an appointment.
ADDVER_N_CT
Perhaps you can help me.
I’m trying to find out information about:
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
Can you or someone else help me?
1. Yes.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
12
2. Inconvenient time, call back later. Make an appointment.
3. No, but I have a phone number of someone who can.
4. No.
PROX_UN_CT
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
this location to verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
1.
Continue
HELLO_PRB_RI_CT
Thank you for your cooperation. You’ve been very helpful.
♦ Problem reinterviewing household – Household not available or another problem
Make several attempts before selecting choice 8 or 9. Then contact your supervisor.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Hard refusal.
Respondent can’t remember.
Entire HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible.
Entire HH under age [Fill: MIN_AGE].
Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE).
Entire household deceased.
Entire household moved.
No knowledgeable proxy available.
Other problems with reinterview
HELLO_SP_CT
Hello, I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I speak to [Fill: PROX_NAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
This is correct person, or correct person called to the phone.
Person not available now. Call back later.
Person cannot be reached.
Person deceased.
Person can be reached at another number.
FIN
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
13
THIS CASE IS NOT COMPLETED.
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
START
[Fill: SURVEY_NAME]
CAPI QUALITY CONTROL REINTERVIEW
Date: [Fill: RIDATE]
Time: [Fill: TIME_C]
Reinterview Case Status: [Fill: OUTCOME] – [Fill: OUTCOME_DESCRIP]
Original Interview Date: [Fill: INTDATE]
Original FR Code: [Fill: ORIFR]
Original James Bond ID: [Fill: ORIUSERID]
Original Name: [Fill: FR_NAME]
Original Outcome:
[Fill: ORIOUT]”-“ [Fill: ORIOUT_DESCRIP] “-”
[Fill; TYPEA_SP/TYPEB_SP/TYPEC_SP/Blank]
Original Respondent Name: [Fill: RESPNAME]
Sample Unit Phone: ([Fill: AREA]) [Fill: PREFIX]-[Fill: SUFFIX], ext.[Fill: EXTN] ([Fill:
PHTYP’s description])
[Fill: "Second Phone:" SPHONE (SPHTYP) / blank]
Sample Unit Address: [Fill: ADDRESS1]
[Fill: “Best Time to Contact:” BESTTIME’s description / “Best Time to Contact:”
BESTTIM2 / blank]
[Fill: “Or” BESTTIM2 / blank]
[Fill: “DO NOT call on Sunday” / blank]
[Fill: “Spanish speaking” / blank]
1.
2.
Continue
Quit - Attempt later
START_1A
CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION
Name: [Fill: CPNAME]
Title:
[Fill: CPTITL]
Phone: [Fill: CPPHON], ext. [Fill: CPEXT] ([Fill: CPPHT])
Address: [Fill: CPADD1]
CPADD2
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
14
CPPO, CPST, CPZP5-CPZP4]
[Fill: “NO CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE” / blank]
1.
Continue
HHCOMP
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
Name
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
[Fill:
AGE] SEX]
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
♦ Press Shift-F1 to access this screen at any time during the reinterview.
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
BY_OBS
The interviewer determined the original outcome by observation. No contact person
information was collected.
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
METHOD
♦ Choose one of the following options to continue:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Telephone Reinterview
Personal Visit Reinterview
Quit - Attempt later
Reinterview Noninterview
RO/HQ Discretion - Type A (Contact Supervisor)
DIAL
Respondent Name:
[Fill: RESPNAME]
Respondent Address: [Fill: ADDRESS1]
Contact Name:
Contact Address:
[Fill:
[Fill:
CPNAME]
CPADD1
CPADD2
CPPO, CPST, CPZP5-CPZP4]
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
15
♦
Dial this number:
([Fill: AREA]) [Fill: PREFIX]-[Fill: SUFFIX], ext. [Fill: EXTN] ([Fill: PHTYP’s
description]) /
[Fill: CPPHON], ext. [Fill: CPEXT] ([Fill: CPPHT’s description])
1.
2.
3.
4.
Someone answers
Enter new telephone number
Reinterview Noninterview
Quit - Attempt later
_INTRO_
♦ Enter 1 to update the telephone number.
1.
Update telephone number
NEWNUMBER_A
♦ Record new number.
In Area Code: [Fill: AREA]
♦ Edit area code or press Enter for same.
New Number: [Fill: PREFIX]-[Fill: SUFFIX]
EXT: [Fill: EXTN]
NEWNUMBER_P
♦ Record new number.
In Area Code: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_A]
New Number: [Fill: PREFIX]-[Fill: SUFFIX] ♦ Edit prefix or press Enter for same.
EXT: [Fill: EXTN]
NEWNUMBER_S
♦ Record new number.
In Area Code: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_A]
New Number: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_P]-[Fill: SUFFIX] ♦ Edit suffix or press Enter for
same.
EXT: [Fill: EXTN]
NEWNUMBER_E
♦ Record new number.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
16
In Area Code: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_A]
New Number: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_P]-[Fill: NEWNUMBER_S]
EXT: [Fill: EXTN] ♦ Edit extension or press Enter for same.
NEWNUMBER_CP
♦ Record new number.
New Number: [Fill: CPPHON] ♦ Edit phone or press Enter for same.
EXT: [Fill: CPEXT]
NEWNUMBER_CE
♦ Record new number.
New Number: [Fill: NEWNUMBER_CP]
EXT: [Fill: CPEXT] ♦ Edit extension or press Enter for same.
_END_
♦ Enter 1 to go back to Dial screen.
♦ You may have to press Enter twice to update the phone number entries.
CKSUP
♦ Contact your supervisor for authorization before conducting a personal visit.
1.
2.
Personal visit reinterview authorized
Quit - Attempt later
HELLO_TC
Hello, I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I speak to [Fill: RESPNAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
This is correct person, or correct person called to the phone.
Person not available now. Call back later.
Person cannot be reached. Speak with another household member.
Person unknown at this number.
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
Person can be reached at another number.
Reinterview Noninterview.
HELLO_TCX
Hello. This is ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
17
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
VERTELE
Have I reached area code [Fill: (AREA) PREFIX-SUFFIX, ext. EXTN] /
[CPPHON, ext. CPEXT]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Refused to verify
INTRO_TC
Thank you for helping us recently with the [Fill: SURVEY_NAME].
[Fill: INTRO]
Is your address:[Fill:
1.
2.
3.
ADDRESS1]?
Yes
No
Refused to verify Address
WRNUM
I'm sorry. I must have dialed incorrectly.
I'll try again.
♦ Enter 1 to go back to Dial screen.
♦ You may have to press Enter twice to go back to Dial screen.
1.
Redial
REFNUM
I'm sorry. I'll dial again to be sure I've dialed correctly.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
18
1.
2.
After several attempts, wrap up case.
Redial
HELLO_TN
Hello, I’m... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I speak to [Fill: CPNAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
This is correct person, or correct person called to the phone.
Person not available now.
Person unknown at this number
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
Person can be reached at another number.
Reinterview Noninterview
VERTYPEA
This case was a Type A in the original interview.
♦ Please use any available resource to check that the original outcome was:
[Fill: ORIOUT’s description] [Fill: “-” TYPEA_SP / blank] on [Fill: INTDATE].
1.
2.
3.
4.
Original outcome was correct.
Original outcome was incorrect.
Reinterview Noninterview.
Quit - Attempt later.
HELLO_TNX
Hello. I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your location to verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or someone else answer a few questions to help us evaluate the interviewer’s
work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
19
3.
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
INTRO_TN
Thank you for recently helping us verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
HELLO_PC
Hello. I’m ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here is my identification card.
♦ Show ID card.
May I speak to [Fill: RESPNAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Correct person available.
Person not available now. Come back later.
Person cannot be reached. Speak with another household member.
Person unknown at this address.
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
No one lives at this address.
Reinterview Noninterview.
HELLO_PCX
Hello, I’m... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here is my identification card.
♦
Show ID card.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
20
3.
4.
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
No one lives at this address.
INTRO_PC
Thank you for helping us recently with the [Fill: SURVEY_NAME].
[Fill: INTRO]
Is your address:[Fill:
1.
2.
3.
ADDRESS1]?
Yes
No
Refused to verify address
HELLO_PN
Hello. I’m... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here is my identification card.
♦ Show ID card.
May I speak to [Fill: CPNAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Correct person available.
Person not available now.
Person unknown at this address.
Person no longer lives there.
Person deceased.
Reinterview Noninterview.
HELLO_PNX
Hello, I’m... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here is my identification card.
♦
Show ID card.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
this location to verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or someone else answer a few questions to help us evaluate the interviewer’s
work?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
21
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
ADDVER
I need to verify that the address [Fill: “here” / “there”] is:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
1.
2.
3.
Same Address.
Not same Address.
Refused to verify.
INTRO_PN
Thank you for recently helping us verify the status of:
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
[Fill: INTRO]
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
VERBYOBS
The interviewer determined the original outcome by observation.
♦
Please use any available resource to check that:
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
was [Fill: ORIOUT’s description] [Fill: “-” TYPEB_SP / “-” TYPEC_SP / blank]
on [Fill: INTDATE].
1.
2.
3.
4.
Original outcome was correct.
Original outcome was incorrect.
Reinterview Noninterview.
Quit - Attempt later.
HHMEM
Perhaps you can help me.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
22
Are you a household member [Fill: “who is” MIN_AGE “years or older” / blank]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
HHMEM2
Is there a household member present I may speak to [Fill: “who is” MIN_AGE “years or
older” / blank]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_C
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_N
Perhaps you can help me.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
this location to verify the status of
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or someone else answer a few questions to help us evaluate the interviewer’s
work?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PROX_UC
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
23
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
your household.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Can you or another household member answer a few questions to help us evaluate
the interviewer’s work?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later.
LIVEHERE
Were you living here on [Fill: INTDATE]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Inconvenient time. Try again later (make an appointment).
ADDVER_N
Perhaps you can help me.
I’m trying to find out information about:
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
Can you or someone else help me?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Yes.
Inconvenient time, call back later.
No, but I have a phone number of someone who can.
No,
PROX_UN
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
someone [Fill: NUM_HERE] to verify the status of
[Fill: ADDRESS1].
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
1.
Continue
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
24
HELLO_SP
Hello, I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I speak to [Fill: PROX_NAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
This is correct person, or correct person called to phone.
Person not available now. Call back later.
Person cannot be reached.
Person deceased
Person can be reached at another number.
Middle Section
RIRESP
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
Name
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
[Fill:
AGE] SEX]
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
♦ Ask if necessary ♦ With whom am I speaking?
♦ Enter line number of person you are speaking to or (0) if person is not on roster.
RIRESPB_RI_CT
This call may be recorded for quality assurance. Do I have permission to record this
call?
♦ If the respondent does not wish to be recorded:
Click on the NICE stop recording button.
Read: I appreciate your concern. I am turning off the recording.
1.
2.
3.
Continue
Inconvenient time; schedule an appointment to callback.
No; recording is turned off. Continue interview.
CONTACT_C
Did an interviewer contact [Fill: CONTACT_C_INFO1 on or about [Fill: INTDATE] and
ask questions about [Fill: CONTACT_C_INFO2]?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
25
1.
2.
Yes
No
ORMODE
Did the interviewer visit in person or call on the telephone?
1.
2.
3.
Personal visit only
Telephone call only
Both - Interviewer visited and called
PHONE_REQUEST
1.
2.
Yes
No – Telephone interview requested by interviewer
POLITE
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
1.
2.
Yes
No
PO_NOTES
♦ Enter comments from the reinterview respondent here.
LENGTH_H
About how long did the interview last?
____ hours ____ min.
♦
If no hours, enter 0.
LENGTH_M
About how long did the interview last?
[Fill: LENGTH_H] hours ___ minutes.
LAPTOP
Did the interviewer use a laptop computer?
1.
Yes
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
26
2.
No
ROSTER_1
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
Name
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
AGE] SEX]
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill:
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
Our records indicate that ♦ Read above name(s) in blue [Fill: HH_SIZE] living or staying
at
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
on [Fill: INTDATE].
Is this correct?
1.
2.
Yes
No
ROSTER_2
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
Name
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
AGE] SEX]
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill:
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
♦ Enter the line number of the household member(s) (above name(s) in blue) who
wasn’t/weren’t living or staying at the household on [Fill: INTDATE].
ROSTER_3
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
Name
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
AGE] SEX]
Have I missed any household member who
-
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO1]
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO2]
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill:
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
27
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO3]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
ROSTER_4
Line
No.
[Fill:
LNO]
♦
♦
Name
Relationship Age Sex
[Fill:
FNAME
LNAME]
[Fill: REL]
HH_INFO1
[Fill: [Fill: [Fill: HH_FILL1]
AGE] SEX]
HH_INFO2
HH_INFO3
[Fill:
HH_FILL2]
[Fill:
HH_FILL3]
Enter the name of each missing household member who
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO1]
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO2]
[Fill: ROSTER_INFO3]
Press Enter after each name and again after last name to continue.
START BLOCK: RI_DEMO_VER block
AGECHECK
I have [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] listed as [Fill: AGE_NO] [Fill:YEAR_YEARS] old [Fill:
AS_OF_LAST_MONTH]. Is that correct?
1.
2.
Yes, age IS correct.
No, age is NOT correct.
AGE_RANGE
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] a child, a teenager, or an adult?
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] ...
♦ Read appropriate age categories.
1.
2.
3.
4.
0 – 11 years old?
12 – 13 years old?
14 – 15 years old?
16 – 17 years old?
6.
7.
8.
9.
25 – 34 years old?
35 – 49 years old?
50 – 65 years old?
66 years old or older?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
28
5. 18 – 24 years old?
SEX_VER
I have [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] listed as [Fill: GENDR]. Is that correct?
1.
2.
Yes, sex IS correct.
No, sex is NOT correct.
RI_SEX
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] male or female?
1.
2.
Male
Female
RACE_VER
I have [Fill: YOUR_NAMES] race listed as [Fill: DRACE]. Is that correct?
1.
2.
Yes, race IS correct.
No, race is NOT correct.
RACE
Please choose one or more races that [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] [Fill: CONSIDER_SELF] to
be.
1. White
2. Black or African American
3. American Indian or Alaska Native
4. Asian
5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
6. Other – specify
RACE_SPECIFY
♦
Specify the other race for this person.
ORIGIN_VER
I have [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] listed as [Fill: ORIGN] being Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino. Is that correct?
1. Yes, Hispanic origin IS correct
2. No , Hispanic origin is NOT correct
ORIGIN
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
29
1. Yes
2. No
MARITAL_VER
I have [Fill: YOUR_NAMES] marital status listed as [Fill: MARTL]. Is that correct?
1. Yes, marital status IS correct
2. No , marital status is NOT correct
MARITAL
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] married, widowed, divorced, separated or never
married?
1. Married
2. Widowed
3. Divorced
4. Separated
5. Never Married
END BLOCK: RI_DEMO_VER block
START BLOCK: RI_DEMO_NEW block
AGE_RANGE
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] a child, a teenager, or an adult?
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] ...
♦
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read appropriate age categories.
0 – 11 years old?
12 – 13 years old?
14 – 15 years old?
16 – 17 years old?
18 – 24 years old?
6.
7.
8.
9.
25 – 34 years old?
35 – 49 years old?
50 – 65 years old?
66 years old or older?
RI_SEX
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] male or female?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
30
1.
2.
Male
Female
RACE
Please choose one or more races that [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] [Fill: CONSIDER_SELF] to
be.
1. White
2. Black or African American
3. American Indian or Alaska Native
4. Asian
5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
6. Other – specify
RACE_SPECIFY
♦
Specify the other race for this person.
ORIGIN
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
1. Yes
2. No
MARITAL
[Fill: IS_ARE] [Fill: YOU_NAME_CC] married, widowed, divorced, separated or never
married?
1. Married
2. Widowed
3. Divorced
4. Separated
5. Never Married
END BLOCK: RI-DEMO_NEW block
RI_HHINCOME_VER
The total household income for your household is listed as [Fill: HHINC].
Is that correct?
1. Yes, household income IS correct
2. No, household income is NOT correct
RI_HHINCOME
Which of the following categories represents the TOTAL combined income of all
members of this HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This includes money from
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
31
jobs, net income from business, farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social
Security payments, and any other money income received by members of this
HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or older.
♦
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Read income categories.
Less than $5,000
$5,000 - $7,499
$7,500 - $9,999
$10,000 - $12,499
$12,500 - $14,999
$15,000 - $17,499
$17,500 - $19,999
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
$20,000 - $24,999 25. $100,000 -$149,999
$25,000 - $29,999 26. $150,000 -$199,999
$30,000 - $34,999 27. $200,000 or more
$35,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $74,999
$75,000 - $99,999
RI_HHTENURE_VER
I have that your living quarters are [Fill: TENR]. Is that correct?
1. Yes, tenure IS correct.
2. No, tenure is NOT correct.
RI_HHTENURE
Are your living quarters …
♦
Read answer categories.
1. Owned or being bought by you or someone in your household?
2. Rented for cash?
3. Occupied without payment of cash rent?
RI_SQTHEFT
I’m going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this
study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months,
that is between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2].
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as –
♦ Read each category
--Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase, book --Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone --Bicycle or sports equipment --Things in your home – like a TV, stereo, or tools --Things outside your home such as a garden hose or lawn furniture --Things belonging to children in the household
--Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs - OR
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
32
--Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
♦ Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQTHEFTTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQBREAKIN
Has anyone -♦
Read each category
- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your home by forcing a door or window,
pushing past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or entering through an
open door or window?
- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or motel room or vacation home
where you were staying?
♦
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQBREAKINTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQBREAKINSPEC
What happened?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
33
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, or other motor
vehicles owned by you or any other member of this household during the last 6
months, that is between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2]?
Include those you no longer own.
♦ If greater than 4, enter 4.
RI_SQMVTHEFT
During the last 6 months, that is between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2],
were any of the vehicles –
♦
Read each category
♦
Stolen or used without permission?
Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo, hubcap, or battery?
Did anyone steal any gas from them? OR
Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or parts attached to them? (Screen
RI_SQMVTHEFT)
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQMVTHEFTTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQMVTHEFTSPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_THANKHR
Thank you for your cooperation. I now have a few more questions I would like to ask
[Fill: YOU_PROX_NAME].
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
34
1.
Continue
RI_SPEAKTOSP
May I speak to [Fill: PROX_NAME]?
1.
2.
3.
Yes, sample person is available.
Sample person not available now. Call or come back later.
No, sample person will not be available.
RI_INTROSP
Hello. I’m .... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewer
followed the correct procedures when he/she recently interviewed you for the
National Crime Victimization Survey.
I’ve already completed part of this interview with [Fill: RESPNAME] and would like
to finish this interview by asking you a few questions.
1.
2.
Continue
Sample person unwilling or unable to continue.
RI_QUESTYPESP
The questions I will ask you will be about the crime incidents that occurred to [Fill:
TORESP] between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2].
1.
Continue
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
[Fill: SINCE_OTHERTHAN],[Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2],
[Fill: WERE_WAS] [Fill: YOU_NAME] attacked or threatened OR did [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE]
have something stolen from [Fill: YOU_HIM_HER] ♦
Read each category
-
At home including the porch or yard At or near a friend’s, relative’s, or neighbor’s home At work or school In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant,
bank, or airport While riding in any vehicle -
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
35
♦
On the street or in a parking lot At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while
fishing or hunting - OR
Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you
from any of these places?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to [Fill: YOU_NAME]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQATTACKWHERETIMES
How many times?
RI_SQATTACKWHERESPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
[Fill: HAS_OTHERTHAN] anyone attacked or threatened [Fill: YOU_NAME] in any of
these ways –
♦
♦
Exclude telephone threats
Read each category
-
With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle Include any grabbing, punching, or choking Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual attack Any face to face threats - OR
Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
♦
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to [Fill: YOU_NAME]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
36
RI_SQATTACKHOWTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQATTACKHOWSPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
People often don’t think of incidents committed by someone they know.
[Fill:DID_OTHERTHAN] [Fill:YOU_NAME] have something stolen from
[Fill:YOU_HIM_HER] or [Fill:WERE_WAS] [Fill:YOU_HE_SHE] attacked or threatened
by –
♦
Exclude telephone threats
♦
Read each category
♦
Someone at work or school A neighbor or friend A relative or family member Any other person [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] [Fill: HAVE_HAS] met or known?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to [Fill: YOU_NAME]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFSPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQSEXUAL
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
37
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about.
[Fill: HAVE_OTHERTHAN] [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] been forced or coerced to engage in
unwanted sexual activity by –
♦
Read each category
♦
Someone [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] didn’t knowA casual acquaintance - OR
Someone [Fill: YOU_HE_SHE] [Fill: KNOW_KNOWS] well?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to [Fill: YOU_NAME]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQSEXUALTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQSEXUALSPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
During the last 6 months, that is between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2],
[Fill:OTHER_THAN_ALREADY] did [Fill: YOU_NAME] call the police to report something
that happened to [Fill: YOU_HIM_HERCAP] which [Fill:YOU_HE_SHE] thought was a
crime?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQCALLPOLICESPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
♦ If not sure ask:
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
38
[Fill: WERE_WAS_C] [Fill: YOU_NAME] attacked or threatened, or was something
stolen or an attempt made to steal something that belonged to [Fill:YOU_HIM_HER] or
another household member?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
How many times?
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
During the last 6 months, that is between [Fill: REFPRD1] and [Fill: REFPRD2],
[Fill: OTHER_THAN_ALREADY] did anything [Fill: YOU_NAME] thought was a crime
happen to [Fill: YOU_HIM_HERCAP], but [Fill:YOU_HE_SHE] did NOT report to the
police?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC
What happened?
♦ (Describe all incidents for this screener below)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
♦ If not sure ask:
[Fill: WERE_WAS_C] [Fill: YOU_NAME] attacked or threatened, or was something
stolen or an attempt made to steal something that belonged to [Fill:YOU_HIM_HER] or
another household member?
1.
2.
Yes
No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
How many times?
PROX_PRESENT
Were you present during the original interview?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
39
1.
2.
Yes
No
SOMEONE_ELSE
Could the interviewer have spoken to another person [Fill: AT_ABOUT]
[Fill:
1.
2.
ADDRESS1]
Yes
No
SPEAKTO:
May I speak to that person?
1.
2.
Yes
No
CONTACT_N
Did an interviewer visit or call regarding:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
VACANT
Was
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
vacant on [Fill: INTDATE]?
1.
2.
Yes
No
STAT_VER
Is there someone present I could speak with who could tell me the status of
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
on or about [Fill: INTDATE]?
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
40
1.
2.
Yes
No
SPEAKTO2:
May I speak to that person?
1.
2.
Yes
No
VACANT2
Hello, I’m ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Our records show that one of our interviewers, [Fill: FR_NAME], recently contacted
this location to verify the status of:
[Fill: ADDRESS1]
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure that our interviewers are
following correct procedures.
Was
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
vacant on [Fill: INTDATE]?
3.
4.
Yes
No
STATUS
Our records show that on [Fill: INTDATE],
[Fill:
ADDRESS1]
[Fill: ORIOUT’s description].
Is this information correct?
1.
2.
Yes
No
STAT_PROBE:
Original Outcome:
[Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill: ORIOUT’s description]”-“
[Fill: TYPEB_SP / TYPEC_SP / blank]
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
41
Original Interview Date: [Fill: INTDATE]
What was the status of [Fill:
ADDRESS1]
on or about [Fill: INTDATE]?
♦
Enter reported status.
♦ Explain any discrepancy between reported status and original outcome.
STAT_PROB2
Original Outcome: [Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill: ORIOUT’s description]”-“
[Fill: TYPEB_SP / TYPEC_SP / blank]
Original Interview Date: [Fill: INDATE]
What was the status of [Fill:
ADDRESS1]
on or about [Fill: INDATE]?
♦
Enter reported status.
♦
Explain any discrepancy between reported status and original outcome.
Back Section
THANK_SORRY
I'm sorry, I have the wrong address or telephone number. Thank you for your help.
♦ Attempt to contact the correct household now or at a later time.
1.
Continue
THANK_YOU
Thank you for your cooperation. You've been very helpful.
♦ Enter 1 to continue.
1.
Continue
THANK_REF
I’m sorry to have bothered you.
1.
Continue
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
42
THANK_NOHH
Thank you for your help, but I need to speak to a household member. I'll try back
later.
♦
1.
Enter 1 to continue.
Continue
APPT
I'd like to schedule a date to complete the quality check. What Date and Time would
be best to call or visit?
Today is: [Fill: RIDATE].
♦ Enter Date and Time
♦ Enter (1) if you don’t intend to follow up on this case.
APPT2
What Date AND Time would be best to contact
[Fill: RESPNAME /CPNAME, CPTITL] in order to conduct the quality check?
Today is: [Fill: RIDATE]
♦
Enter Date and Time
♦
Enter (1) if you don't intend to follow up on this case.
APPT_CT
♦ Once in WebCATI, set callback appointment. If necessary, ask respondent for best
callback date and time.
1.
Enter 1 to Continue
CBTHANK
Thank you for your help.
We will call or visit again at the time suggested.
1.
Continue
RI_DESCRIPTSP
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
43
♦ Which one of the following best describes what happened in reinterview with
[Fill: PROX_NAME]?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You could NOT complete reinterview with [Fill: PROX_NAME] because he/she was
unavailable for reinterview.
You could NOT complete reinterview with [Fill: PROX_NAME] because he/she
refused to be reinterviewed.
You could NOT complete reinterview with [Fill: PROX_NAME] because he/she but
was physically/mentally unable to complete the reinterview.
You could NOT complete reinterview with [Fill: PROX_NAME] because he/she was
temporarily absent during reinterview.
You could NOT complete reinterview with [Fill: PROX_NAME] because of a reason
not listed above. Specify in the Reinterview Notes.
STATUS_RI
This case is not completed.
♦ Make several attempts to contact respondent/contact person before selecting
reinterview noninterview.
1.
2.
Quit - Complete later
Reinterview Noninterview
RI_OUTCM
Original Outcome: [FILL: ORIOUT] – [FILL: ORIOUT’s description“-”
[Fill: TYPEA_SP/TYPEB_SP/TYPEC_SP/blank]]
Original Interview Date: [FILL: INTDATE].
♦ Was the original outcome correct ?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Reinterview Noninterview
RIOUT_NOTES
Original Outcome:
[FILL: ORIOUT] - [FILL: ORIOUT’s description]
[Fill: TYPEA_SP/TYPEB_SP/TYPEC_SP/blank]
Original Interview Date: [FILL: INTDATE].
♦ The reinterview respondent indicated that the original outcome was not correct.
♦ Enter the reason(s) here that lead you to determine that the original outcome was
correct.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
44
NONINT
♦ Which outcome describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Type A Noninterview.
Type B Noninterview.
Type C Noninterview.
Type D Noninterview – Household replaced by new household since the original
interview.
TYPEA:
♦ Which Type A outcome describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Unable to complete, bad telephone number.
Unable to locate.
No one home.
Temporarily absent.
Refused.
Language problem.
Respondent can’t remember.
Insufficient partial.
Other Type A - Specify in the Reinterview Notes.
TYPEB
♦ Which Type B outcome describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Vacant, regular or seasonal.
Vacant, storage of household furniture.
Converted to temporary business or storage.
Unoccupied tent or trailer site.
Unfit, to be demolished.
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible.
Entire HH under age [Fill: MIN_AGE].
Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE).
Other Type B - Specify in the Reinterview Notes.
TYPEB_ALT
♦ Which Type B outcome describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Vacant, regular.
Vacant, seasonal.
Vacant, storage of household furniture.
Converted to temporary business or storage.
Unoccupied tent or trailer site.
Unfit, to be demolished.
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible.
Entire HH under age [Fill: MIN_AGE].
Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE), regular.
Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE), seasonal.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
45
11. Other Type B - Specify in the Reinterview Notes.
TYPEC
♦ Which Type C outcome describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Demolished.
House or trailer moved.
Converted to permanent business or storage.
Condemned.
Deceased.
Moved.
Other Type C - Specify in the Reinterview Notes.
MISC_B:
♦ Which of the following options describes the misclassification of this original Type B
case?
1.
2.
3.
Should have been an Interview or Type A.
Should have been another Type B.
Should have been a Type C.
MISC_C:
♦ Which of the following options describes the misclassification of this original Type C
case?
1.
2.
3.
Should have been an Interview or Type A (occupied at time of interview).
Should have been a Type B.
Should have been another Type C.
MISC_VINT:
♦ Which of the following options describes the misclassification of this original vacant
interview case?
1.
2.
Should have been an Interview or Type A.
Should have been a Type B or C.
MISC_BVINT:
♦ Which of the following options describes the misclassification of this original Type B
case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Should have been an Interview or Type A.
Should have been a vacant interview.
Should have been another Type B.
Should have been a Type C.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
46
MISC_CVINT:
♦ Which of the following options describes the misclassification of this original Type C
case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Should have been an Interview or Type A.
Should have been a vacant interview.
Should have been a Type B.
Should have been another Type C.
FALSIF
[Fill: “Your reinterview indicates the following discrepancies:” code and description of
each code listed in DISCREPANCY array /
“Your reinterview did not indicate any discrepancies.”]
♦ Do you suspect falsification?
1.
2.
3.
Yes
No
Unable to determine
FALSIF2
[Fill: “Your reinterview indicates the following discrepancies:”
code and description of each code listed in DISCREPANCY array]
♦
Falsification is suspected. Be sure to enter all proper notes explaining the
situation.
1. Continue
DISCREP_NOTES
♦ Explain why you do not suspect falsification in the WebCATI Notes after the
instrument goes through READYWRAP.
♦ Explain why you do suspect falsification in Case Notes.
♦ Press Ctrl-F7 to access Notes.
♦ Enter 1 when done with your explanation.
NSF_RIDISP
Your reinterview detected multiple discrepancies.
♦ Enter the code of the detected discrepancy which best describes this case.
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
47
1.
2.
6.
7.
11.
13.
14.
The reinterview respondent said no one contacted this household regarding this
survey.
You determined that the original status, [Fill: ORIOUT] “-“ [Fill: ORIOUT’s
description was incorrect.
The reinterview respondent indicated that the original status, [Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill:
ORIOUT’s description from Attachment D] was incorrect.
The household roster was incorrect.
The interviewer entered a bad telephone number for this case.
Demographic characteristic(s) was/were incorrectly recorded on roster.
The household income and/or tenure was/were incorrectly recorded.
RO_DISC
♦ Caution: Obtain supervisor's permission before selecting an option below.
♦ Which of the following options describes this reinterview case?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hard to interview original case
More than 50 miles from nearest reinterviewer and no phone number
Observed during the original interview
Personal visit needed, but not authorized
Case management or ROSCO problems - Obtain HQ approval
Sample adjustment - Obtain HQ approval
Other RO discretion - Specify in the Reinterview Notes
NO_DISCREP
♦ Explain why you suspect falsification in the Reinterview Notes now.
♦ Press Ctrl-F7 to access Reinterview Notes.
♦ Enter 1 when done with your explanation in the Reinterview Notes.
1. Continue
SF_RIDISP
Your reinterview detected multiple discrepancies.
♦ Enter the code of the detected discrepancy which best describes the primary reason you suspect
falsification.
2. You determined that the original status, [Fill: ORIOUT] “-“ [Fill: ORIOUT’s
description, was incorrect.
3. The status of this case was completed by observation in the original interview. You
determined that the original status, [Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill: ORIOUT’s description from
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
48
Attachment D] was incorrect.
This case was a Type A in the original interview. You determined that the original
status, [Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill: ORIOUT’s description from Attachment D], was
incorrect.
6. The reinterview respondent indicated that the original status, [Fill: ORIOUT] - [Fill:
ORIOUT’s description from Attachment D] was incorrect.
7. The household roster was incorrect.
11. The interviewer entered a bad telephone number for this case.
13. Demographic characteristic(s) was/were incorrectly recorded on roster.
14. The household income and/or tenure was/were incorrectly recorded.
4.
READYWRAP
♦
This case is completed and ready to be transmitted. After exiting, the case will
be removed from your Case List view.
1.
Continue
WRAP_UP
OUTCOME: [fill: OUTCOME]
ACTION: [fill: ACTION]
RI_DISP: [fill: RI_DISP]
1.
Continue
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
49
Index to NCVS 2018
Reinterview Instrument Screens
_END_, 16
_INTRO_, 15
ADDVER, 21
ADDVER_CT, 10
ADDVER_N, 23
ADDVER_N_CT, 11
AGE_RANGE, 27, 29
AGECHECK, 27
APPT, 42
APPT_CT, 42
APPT2, 42
BY_OBS, 14
CBTHANK, 43
CKSUP, 16
CONTACT_C, 25
CONTACT_N, 39
DIAL, 14
DISCREP_NOTES, 46
FALSIF, 46
FALSIF2, 46
FIN, 13
H_ABBREV1, 7
H_PURPOSE, 2
H_PURPOSE1, 3
H_PURPOSE10, 5
H_PURPOSE2, 3
H_PURPOSE3, 3
H_PURPOSE4, 4
H_PURPOSE5, 4
H_PURPOSE6, 4
H_PURPOSE7, 4
H_PURPOSE8, 5
H_PURPOSE9, 5
HELLO_PC, 19
HELLO_PCX, 19
HELLO_PN, 20
HELLO_PNX, 20
HELLO_PRB_RI_CT, 12
HELLO_SP, 24
HELLO_SP_CT, 12
HELLO_TC, 16
HELLO_TC_CT, 7
HELLO_TCX, 17
HELLO_TCX_CT, 8
HELLO_TN, 18
HELLO_TN_CT, 8
HELLO_TNX, 18
HELLO_TNX_CT, 8
HHCOMP, 14
HHMEM, 22
HHMEM_CT, 10
HHMEM2, 22
HHMEM2_CT, 10
INTRBO_RI_CT, 9
INTRO_PC, 20
INTRO_PN, 21
INTRO_TC, 17
INTRO_TC_CT, 9
INTRO_TN, 19
INTRO_TN_CT, 9
KEY_REF, 6
LAPTOP, 26
LENGTH_H, 25
LENGTH_M, 25
LIVEHERE, 23
LIVEHERE_CT, 11
MARITAL, 29, 30
MARITAL_VER, 29
METHOD, 14
MISC_B, 45
MISC_BVINT, 46
MISC_C, 45
MISC_CVINT, 46
MISC_VINT, 45
NEWNUMBER_A, 15
NEWNUMBER_CE, 16
NEWNUMBER_CP, 16
NEWNUMBER_E, 16
NEWNUMBER_P, 15
NEWNUMBER_S, 15
NO_DISCREP, 47
NONINT, 44
NSF_RIDISP, 47
ORIGIN, 29, 30
ORIGIN_VER, 29
ORMODE, 25
PHONE_REQUEST, 25
PO_NOTES, 25
POLITE, 25
PROX_C, 22
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
50
PROX_C_CT, 10
PROX_N, 22
PROX_N_CT, 11
PROX_PRESENT, 39
PROX_UC, 23
PROX_UC_CT, 11
PROX_UN, 23
PROX_UN_CT, 12
RACE, 28, 30
RACE_SPECIFY, 28, 30
RACE_VER, 28
REACTOCAPI_RI_CT, 7
READYWRAP, 48
REFNUM, 18
RI_DESCRIPTSP, 43
RI_HHINCOME, 31
RI_HHINCOME_VER, 31
RI_HHTENURE, 31
RI_HHTENURE_VER, 31
RI_INTROSP, 34
RI_OUTCM, 43
RI_QUESTYPESP, 34
RI_SEX, 28, 30
RI_SPEAKTOSP, 34
RI_SQATTACKHOW, 35
RI_SQATTACKHOWSPEC, 36
RI_SQATTACKHOWTIMES, 36
RI_SQATTACKWHERE, 34
RI_SQATTACKWHERESPEC, 35
RI_SQATTACKWHERETIMES, 35
RI_SQBREAKIN, 32
RI_SQBREAKINSPEC, 33
RI_SQBREAKINTIMES, 33
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT, 38
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES, 38
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME, 37
RI_SQCALLPOLICESPEC, 38
RI_SQMVTHEFT, 33
RI_SQMVTHEFTSPEC, 34
RI_SQMVTHEFTTIMES, 33
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT, 38
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES, 39
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME, 38
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC, 38
RI_SQSEXUAL, 37
RI_SQSEXUALSPEC, 37
RI_SQSEXUALTIMES, 37
RI_SQTHEFT, 31
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF, 36
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFSPEC, 37
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFTIMES, 36
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC, 32
RI_SQTHEFTTIMES, 32
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES, 33
RI_THANKHR, 34
RIOUT_NOTES, 44
RIREASON, 1
RIREF1, 1
RIREF2, 1
RIREF3, 1
RIREF4, 2
RIREF5, 2
RIRESP, 24
RIRESPB_RI_CT, 24
RO_DISC, 47
ROSTER_1, 26
ROSTER_2, 26
ROSTER_3, 26
ROSTER_4, 27
SEX_VER, 28
SF_RIDISP, 48
SOMEONE_ELSE, 39
SPEAKTO, 39
SPEAKTO2, 40
START, 13
START_1A, 13
STAT_PROB2, 41
STAT_PROBE, 41
STAT_VER, 40
STATUS, 40
STATUS_RI, 43
THANK_NOHH, 42
THANK_REF, 42
THANK_SORRY, 41
THANK_YOU, 41
TYPEA, 44
TYPEB, 44
TYPEB_ALT, 44
TYPEC, 45
VACANT, 39
VACANT2, 40
VERBYOBS, 21
VERTELE, 17
VERTELE_CT, 9
VERTYPEA, 18
WRAP_UP, 48
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
51
WRNUM, 17
NCVS 2018 Reinterview Screens
Form 11-170
April 2016
National Crime Victimization Survey
Quality Control Reinterview
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing
(CATI)
Reinterviewer Training Guide
This document contains no Title 13 data or other Personally
Identifiable Information (PII). All data are fictitious and any
resemblance to actual data is coincidental.
Table of Contents
About this training ....................................................................................... About-i
Introduction ..................................................................................................... About-i
Required materials .......................................................................................... About-i
Instructor preparation ...................................................................................... About-i
Room set-up ................................................................................................... About-ii
Instructional strategies ................................................................................... About-ii
Classroom training techniques ...................................................................... About-iii
Unit 1 – Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance .................. 1-1
Welcome ................................................................................................................ 1-2
Training Objectives ............................................................................................... 1-3
Participant Introductions ........................................................................................ 1-4
NCVS Overview .................................................................................................... 1-5
Quality Assurance .................................................................................................. 1-8
Unit 2 – NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes......................................... 2-1
What is Reinterview (RI)? ..................................................................................... 2-2
Cases Selected for Reinterview ................................................................... 2-3
Noninterviews .............................................................................................. 2-4
Cases Eligible for Reinterview .............................................................................. 2-9
TOC-i
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Table of Contents
Unit 2 – NCVS Reinterview, continued
Reinterview Outcome Codes ..................................................................... 2-12
Unit 2 Knowledge Check ..................................................................................... 2-14
Unit 2 Knowledge Check Answer Key ..................................................... 2-15
Unit 3 – NCVS RI Instrument ............................................................................ 3-1
NCVS RI Instrument .............................................................................................. 3-2
Front of the Instrument ................................................................................ 3-3
Middle of the Instrument ............................................................................. 3-4
Back of the Instrument ................................................................................ 3-6
Preview of Instrument Main Screens ..................................................................... 3-6
Unit 3 Knowledge Check ..................................................................................... 3-17
Unit 3 Knowledge Check Answer Key ........................................................ 3-18
Unit 4 – Discrepancies and Finding Errors ....................................................... 4-1
Discrepancies: Finding Errors................................................................................ 4-2
What is a Discrepancy? ............................................................................... 4-2
Applicable RI Discrepancies ....................................................................... 4-3
Unit 4 Knowledge Check ....................................................................................... 4-7
Unit 4 Knowledge Check Answer Key ....................................................... 4-8
TOC-ii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Table of Contents
Unit 5 – Data Falsification................................................................................... 5-1
Data Falsification ................................................................................................... 5-2
RI_OUTCM screen ...................................................................................... 5-3
What is Data Falsification?.......................................................................... 5-5
When Falsification is suspected .................................................................. 5-6
FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens .................................................................... 5-8
Using RI Notes ....................................................................................................... 5-9
Required RI Notes ..................................................................................... 5-10
Unit 5 Review Activity ........................................................................................ 5-13
Unit 6 – Walk-through Reinterviews ................................................................. 6-1
Reinterview Walk-throughs ................................................................................... 6-2
Unit 7 – Reinterview Noninterviews................................................................... 7-1
Type A Noninterviews ........................................................................................... 7-2
Type B and C Noninterviews................................................................................. 7-3
Type D Noninterviews ........................................................................................... 7-5
Unit 7 Knowledge Check ....................................................................................... 7-9
Unit 7 Knowledge Check Answer Key ..................................................... 7-10
TOC-iii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Table of Contents
Unit 8 – Paired-Practice Reinterviews ............................................................... 8-1
Paired-Practice Reinterviews ................................................................................. 8-2
Case ID 38 – Control Number 609004169 J27 02 199 ............................. 8-4
Case ID 16 – Control Number 669004301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-6
Case ID 11 – Control Number 659004301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-8
Case ID 13 – Control Number 919234301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-9
TOC-iv
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
About this Training
Introduction
This instructor’s guide provides all of the information needed to conduct the
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) CATI Reinterviewer training. The
goal of this training is to provide reinterviewers with the skills they need to conduct
NCVS reinterviews efficiently and effectively. The course PowerPoint slides and
exercises are included in this guide.
The training lasts approximately five hours and includes a 15-minute break. The
instructor will designate the time for the 15-minute break.
Required materials
Be sure that you have all of the following required materials before class.
• Form 11-170 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training
Guide (this Training Guide), April 2016
•
Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer
Training Workbook, April 2016
•
Computer, computer projector, and screen
•
PowerPoint slides
•
Flip chart, markers, paper, pencils (optional)
Instructor preparation
Study this instructor’s guide thoroughly in preparation for conducting the training.
This includes reading through the guide and reviewing the course topics and
About-i
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
About this Training
exercises.
Be sure that you have familiarized yourself with the NCVS Reinterview instrument
before the training session begins. This will help prepare you for answering
questions the participants are likely to ask during training.
Prior to the training, go over the demonstration reinterview (“walk-through”) and
practice reinterviews so you will be prepared to answer questions that will come up
during training.
Specific notes for the instructor are bolded in parenthesis and centered on the page.
Some examples are:
(Allow time.)
(Pause.)
(Answer questions.)
Room set-up
Before the course begins, be sure that all participants have a clear view of you, the
screen, and the flip charts (if used). If possible, the participants should be seated so
each will easily have a partner for the paired-practice reinterview.
Instructional strategies
Provide clear instructions for the participant activities and exercises.
The participants must have a clear understanding of what to do, including the length
of the activity/exercise and the expected outcomes.
Speak clearly and make sure everyone can hear you without difficulty.
About-ii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
About this Training
Summarize frequently.
Summarize key points at the end of each training unit. This allows for a smoother
transition to the next training unit. Avoid moving abruptly from one unit to
another.
Ask the participants questions.
Ask direct questions, using the names of the individual participants. Questions can
be spontaneous or follow-up.
Encourage participation.
Make learner reaction and active participation an essential part of the learning
process. Provide frequent response opportunities to all participants.
Classroom Training Techniques
Listed below are some training techniques that will help you manage the attention of
the class and guide the participants through an effective learning experience.
●
Stand when you conduct the training.
This will help you in two ways. First, you will have better control of the class
because you can see all the participants. Second, everyone in the room can easily
hear you.
●
Maintain eye contact with the training participants.
Watch for signs that reflect how well the participants are learning and how well you
are holding their attention. Signs to watch for include if someone looks confused,
the participants’ answers to your questions, their questions to you, and their
participation in discussions.
About-iii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
About this Training
●
Provide Case IDs for each training participant.
You are responsible for providing the training participants with their equivalent
Case ID numbers they will use for practice exercises. Be sure to have a list of these
numbers before training begins, and give each participant the numbers that are
needed for each training unit.
●
Answering questions.
If you do not know the answer to a question, refer to your materials and, if the
subject is not covered in your materials, tell the class you will speak to your sponsor
and get the answer to the question. Once you get the answer, be sure to let the class
know.
●
Limit class discussions.
Class participation is a key to effective training, but must be used wisely. For
example, if a participant’s question relates to a topic that will be covered later, tell
him or her that you will cover the topic later in the training. If a discussion takes
longer than anticipated, tell the participant to see you during the break or after class.
Remember, you must cover all of the material in the training guide within the
allotted time.
●
Encourage all training participants.
Do not always call on the same eager participants. Attempt to bring all participants
into discussions. Be tactful when a participant gives an incorrect answer; try to lead
him or her to the correct answer. Always treat the training participants with
courtesy and respect.
About-iv
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, participants will:
• Know the objectives of the training.
• Have basic information about the National Crime Victimization Survey
(NCVS).
• Know about Quality Assurance.
Presenter’s outline
Welcome ................................................................................................................ 1-2
Training Objectives ............................................................................................... 1-3
Participant Introductions ........................................................................................ 1-4
NCVS Overview .................................................................................................... 1-5
Quality Assurance .................................................................................................. 1-8
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training
Workbook, April 2016
1-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Welcome
(Show the “Welcome” slide to the participants. Introduce yourself and others
who will assist with conducting the training. Introduce any guests who are
attending the training. Read the following text to the training participants.)
Welcome to the National Crime Victimization Survey CATI Reinterviewer
classroom training! Throughout this training, I’ll often refer to the National Crime
Victimization Survey Reinterview as “NCVS RI.”
This training will provide you with specific knowledge and practice so you can
complete the NCVS reinterviews efficiently and effectively. It consists of
classroom discussions, review exercises and activities, and practice reinterviews.
Your participants’ workbook contains all of the materials that you’ll need for the
training. After this training, you can continue to use the workbook as a reference if
you have questions or need to refresh your memory.
We hope you enjoy the training and we encourage your participation!
1-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Training Objectives
(Show the “Training Objectives” slide and direct the participants to the
Training Objectives listed on page 1-2 in the workbook. Read the following
objectives to the participants.)
The objectives of this training are for you to:
• Receive an overview about the National Crime Victimization Survey, or
what’s known as the NCVS;
• Learn about Quality Assurance;
• Learn about the NCVS Reinterview case types;
• Learn about the Reinterview outcome codes;
• Learn about the Reinterview instrument;
• Learn about interview discrepancies and finding errors; and
• Learn about data falsification.
We’ll also do some walk-through practice reinterviews so that you’ll gain some
hands-on practice with the NCVS RI instrument.
1-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Introductions
(Show the “Introductions” slide. Read the following text to the participants.)
Now, it’s time for introductions! I would like everyone to introduce themselves.
Please tell us:
• Your name;
• How long you have been with the Census Bureau;
• Other types of surveys you’ve worked on; and
• An activity you like to do in your spare time or the type of music you enjoy.
(Allow about five minutes for the introductions, and then continue with the
NCVS Overview.)
1-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
NCVS Overview
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS), provides detailed information about people victimized by
certain types of crime, such as theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, robbery, assault,
rape and purse snatching/pocket picking.
The NCVS also serves as a vehicle for obtaining supplemental data on crime and the
criminal justice system, including:
• Perceptions of contacts with police officers;
• Stalking;
• Identity theft; and
• Crime in schools.
This supplemental information is collected periodically along with the standard
NCVS data.
The NCVS serves a variety of roles and is the only ongoing national program that
can provide information not only on how much crime occurs and who is victimized
by that crime, but also tells us about the impact crime has on victims. The NCVS
measures crimes both reported and not reported to police.
1-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
(Pause.)
The Census Bureau administers the NCVS to persons 12 years of age or older using
a scientifically selected sample of households in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. Every 6 months, thousands of housing units and other living quarters,
such as college dormitories and religious group dwellings, are designated for
sample. Each selected address is interviewed once every 6 months over a 3-year
period for a total of 7 interviews. Since addresses are selected for the sample and
not the people in the household themselves, if a family moves away while the
address is still in the sample, the new family that moves into the housing unit will be
interviewed.
Every eligible person in the household is interviewed for the NCVS. People who
are ineligible to be interviewed include: crewmembers of merchant vessels, armed
forces personnel living in military barracks, and persons living in institutions, such
as correctional facilities and hospitals.
The NCVS is a completely computerized survey and is administered by Census
Bureau field representatives across the country through both personal and telephone
interviews. The first interview with a household is always conducted in person.
Whenever possible, subsequent NCVS interviews are conducted by telephone.
(Pause.)
The NCVS begins by building a roster of people who usually live at the household or
by confirming the status of the household if it is unoccupied. We collect names,
ages, birthdays, relationships, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status. We
then ask a series of questions on participation in the military and educational
1-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
attainment. After a roster with demographics is established, we then ask questions
to determine whether any of the household members were victimized by crime
during the 6-month reference period. These questions are referred to as the
screening portion of the NCVS. This portion of the NCVS is designed to give each
respondent every opportunity to remember any crime incidents that occurred during
the 6-month reference period. We then collect detailed information about each
reported incidence of crime that occurred to get a clear picture of what happened
during the incident. These questions are referred to as the incident report items of
the NCVS instrument.
Examples of some of the questions the NCVS asks are shown on pages 1-4 through
1-7 in your workbook. Take a minute and look over those questions.
(Allow time.)
Understanding that the NCVS is an ongoing survey and the type of information we
collect will help you with NCVS RI as you talk to respondents.
1-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance
(Show the “What is Quality Assurance?” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Let’s take a little time now and talk about “Quality Assurance.”
Quality assurance, or QA, is the planned and systematic evaluation of interviewer
performance during the survey cycle. The objectives of quality assurance are to:
• Ensure that interviewer performance meets minimum quality standards;
• Ensure that the data collected is of the highest quality; and
• Identify data quality issues and inform stakeholders.
NCVS Reinterview is one of the main tools to perform Quality Assurance. It’s not
enough to just collect data. We want to be sure that the data we collect is of the
highest quality. Here in the contact centers, we do this by interview monitoring.
Do you have any questions about what our training will cover, the National Crime
Victimization Survey, or quality assurance?
(Answer questions, and then continue to Unit 2 – NCVS RI Case Types and
Outcome Codes.)
1-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Notes
1-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, the training participants will learn about the cases that
are eligible for NCVS Reinterview and the reinterview outcome codes.
Presenter’s outline
What is Reinterview (RI)? ..................................................................................... 2-2
Cases Selected for Reinterview ................................................................... 2-3
Noninterviews .............................................................................................. 2-4
Cases Eligible for Reinterview .............................................................................. 2-9
Reinterview Outcome Codes ............................................................................... 2-12
Unit 2 Knowledge Check ..................................................................................... 2-14
Unit 2 Knowledge Check Answer Key ..................................................... 2-15
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
•
Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer
Training Workbook, April 2016
2-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
What is Reinterview?
(Show the “What is Reinterview?” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Let us begin this training unit with the definition of “Reinterview.” As we just
discussed, reinterview is a QA tool that is used to measure and control errors in the
data and information that’s collected. It is a second contact with a subset of
households interviewed in Production. The NCVS RI instrument is used to detect
errors like an incomplete or wrong household roster, not all survey questions being
asked, or no laptop used to record respondent answers, result in errors in the data.
(Pause.)
The other goals of Reinterview include the detection and deterring of data
falsification and the monitoring of interviewer job performance. One way to
accomplish the goal of detecting and deterring falsification is by noting the
differences between the production interview and the reinterview. We’ll discuss
those differences later.
2-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Cases Selected for Reinterview
(Show the “Cases Selected for Reinterview” slide.)
Reinterview cases are selected in two ways. The first way is through random
sampling and the second way is through supplemental interview.
The majority of reinterview cases are selected by a random sample. Why do we
select randomly? Ideally, we would like to check every case, but this is not possible
due to budget and time constraints. By selecting randomly, we get a selection of
cases per interviewer. This allows us to use the smaller selection of cases to tell us
about all of the cases.
How are the supplemental cases selected? The Regional Office and/or Census
Headquarters (HQ) may place an interviewer with an original assignment in
supplemental reinterview.
You will be assigned both random and supplemental RI cases. There are no
differences in how these cases are handled, so you do not need to worry about the
difference between the two types of cases.
2-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Type A and Type B Noninterviews
(Show the “Types A and B Noninterviews” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
Let’s talk about the different types of cases in both Production and Reinterview.
Please turn to the “Case Types” table on page 2-4 in your workbook.
(Allow time.)
The first line is an interview. We all know what interviews are. Obviously,
complete interviews in NCVS are eligible for Reinterview, but some noninterviews
are also eligible.
As the table shows, there are four types of NCVS noninterviews – Types A, B, C,
and D. Take a look at the Type A row of the table and notice the checkmarks under
“How to Identify” – “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied?” sub-columns on the chart.
These checkmarks tell you how to identify a Type A noninterview. So, the
checkmarks tell us for a case to be a Type A it has to be a housing unit, and it has to
be occupied. A description of the Type A noninterview is under the “Description”
column.
Can someone please read the Type A noninterview description?
(Select a volunteer. Volunteer should read the following: The housing unit is
2-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
occupied but unwilling or unable to complete the interview.
Example: Refusal)
A “refusal” is an example of a Type A noninterview.
Notice there are also checkmarks under the “When Can It Happen?” – “Production”
and “RI Case Status” sub-columns. These checkmarks mean that you can get a
Type A noninterview for the case you are working in Production, and you can also
get a Type A noninterview for a case you are working in RI. The “X” in the
“Eligible for RI” sub-column means that a Type A is not eligible for reinterview.
So, you will never attempt to do a reinterview on something in Production like “No
one home” because if we never reached the respondents, how can we reinterview
them? But, you can get a Type A outcome in RI because a respondent could refuse
to do the reinterview after having participated in the production interview.
Does everyone understand?
(Answer questions.)
Next is the Type B noninterview. Type B noninterview cases are cases where the
unit either has the potential to be occupied but is not occupied, or the unit is occupied
but it does not meet housing unit eligibility requirements. For NCVS, this would be
the whole household is occupied by people with a usual residence elsewhere or in
the military.
On the chart, there’s an “X” under the “Occupied?” sub-column, which means that
units that are Type B cases are not occupied. A good example of a Type B is a
vacant unit.
2-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
The checkmarks in the “Production,” “Eligible for RI,” and “RI Case Status”
sub-columns mean that you can get a Type B noninterview in Production and it is
eligible to be reinterviewed. You would just talk to the contact person or qualified
proxy, who confirmed the case was a Type B instead of a household member. For
instance, you might talk to a real estate agent if the unit is vacant and up for sale.
You can also get a Type B noninterview for a case you are working in RI. In this
case, the status of the case has changed since the production interview and is now
“vacant” when it was occupied at time of interview.
Do you have any questions about Type A and Type B noninterviews?
(Answer questions.)
2-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Type C and Type D Noninterviews
(Show the “Types C and D Noninterviews” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
Type C noninterviews are those where the unit does not have the potential to be
occupied by a household. An example of a Type C noninterview would be a case
where the unit is “demolished.” There is no housing unit and it cannot be occupied
as indicated by an “X” in the “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied?” sub-columns. Like
the Type B noninterview, the checkmarks in the “Production,” “Eligible for RI,” and
“RI Case Status” sub-columns mean you can get a Type C noninterview for the case
worked in Production. A Type C is also eligible for reinterview and you can get a
Type C for a case you are working in RI.
(Pause.)
Finally, there’s the Type D noninterview, which applies to cases where the old
household has moved and has been replaced by a new household since the
production interview. An example of a Type D noninterview would be if the Jones
family moved out and the Smith family now occupies the unit. For the NCVS,
Type D noninterviews can only happen in Reinterview. This is because NCVS
scientifically selects addresses, not the people in the household themselves, for the
2-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
survey. The new family now occupying the unit would be interviewed in
Production and eligible for Reinterview. As the “N/A” on the chart shows, Type D
noninterviews do not exist for the NCVS in production interviews.
Checkmarks in the “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied?” sub-columns show that it is a
housing unit and occupied. The difference from the “Interview” row is that the
people occupying the housing unit have changed.
Understanding these noninterview types is important because you will verify the
production interview outcome and if that outcome is wrong, you will need to
identify the type it should have been.
Are there any questions about Type C and Type D noninterviews?
(Answer questions.)
2-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Cases Eligible for Reinterview
(Show the “Cases Eligible for Reinterview” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
Now let’s focus on the Production case types that are eligible for reinterview.
Please turn to the “NCVS Production Outcome Codes Eligible for Reinterview”
table on page 2-8 in your workbook.
(Allow time.)
These are the field outcome codes for the Production instrument. These outcomes
are categorized into the types and are only for those field cases that are eligible to be
reinterviewed. In addition to other information that is passed from the production
interview to the reinterview instrument, these outcome codes allow you to conduct
the proper RI for each case.
The table has two columns – the Outcome Code and the Description of the Outcome
Code. First on the chart are the “201”, “203”, and “204” Complete and Sufficient
partial interview outcome codes. Can someone please read the descriptions of the
“201”, “203”, and “204” outcomes for us?
(Select a volunteer. Allow time. Volunteer should read the following:
2-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
201
203
204
Completed interview
Sufficient partial – no more follow-up needed
Sufficient partial – follow-up needed
Thank you (volunteer’s name).
The “204” outcome is eligible, but is rare for reinterview.
Next on the table are the outcome codes for the Type B noninterview cases that are
eligible for reinterview. As I stated earlier, a Type B noninterview can occur when
the unit has the potential to be occupied, but is not occupied. Take a minute to look
over the descriptions of those codes.
(Allow time.)
A Type B noninterview can also occur when the unit is occupied, but does not meet
eligibility requirements. An example of such a unit is Outcome Code 225 – a
household that is “Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence
Elsewhere,” or what’s referred to as a URE.
UREs happen most frequently in places with vacation homes that people rent for the
week or for the month. So these cases are not occupied by eligible persons.
It is important to make sure these are coded correctly because Type B units are
interviewed again in future months of NCVS Production, in case these units become
occupied.
Last on the chart are the Type C outcome codes. These units are those that do not
have the potential to be occupied, because they are not a housing unit. You can
think of a Type C unit as being permanently ineligible for NCVS. It’s important to
confirm this status is correct because we never attempt to interview these cases again
2-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
in future months, and we don’t want to lose any sample permanently if it should have
been a housing unit.
Take a minute now and look over the Type C outcome code descriptions.
(Allow time.)
2-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Reinterview (RI) Outcome Codes
(Show the “Reinterview (RI) Outcome Codes” slide. Read the following text
to the participants.)
Recall that to conduct the proper RI for each case, the RI instrument uses the
Production outcome code, along with other information that is passed to it. Like the
production instrument, the RI instrument also has its own set of outcome codes. In
addition, the RI instrument has some outcomes that the production instrument does
not have.
Please turn to the “NCVS Reinterview Outcome Codes” table on page 2-10 in your
workbook. Listed on this page are all the outcome codes for complete interviews
and on page 2-11 are all the codes for Noninterviews.
(Allow time.)
Similar to the Production outcome codes table that we just reviewed, this table also
has “Outcome Code” and “Description” columns. But, notice that this outcome
code list also has an “RI Disposition” column. The disposition of a case indicates
what differences the RI instrument detected, the status of the RI case, and whether
the case is suspected of falsification. A case that has a disposition code greater than
“060” is suspected of falsification. So for each case, there is an Outcome Code and
2-12
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Disposition Code combination set for the case. The answers you collect in the
reinterview will also set the Outcome Code and RI Disposition code. The lower
Outcome Code goes with the lower RI Disposition Code and is not suspected of
falsification. The higher Outcome Code goes with the higher RI Disposition Code
and is suspected of falsification. For example, under misclassified cases – the third
line – “Originally classified as a Type B, should have been a Type C,” the “064”
Outcome Code goes with the “046” in the RI Disposition column. The “064”
Outcome Code and the corresponding “046” RI Disposition code will appear on the
last screen of the instrument before you exit. For this combination, falsification is
not suspected because “046” is less than “060”.
On that same line, when “065” and “099” are a pair, falsification is suspected
because “099” is greater than “060”. You don’t need to memorize these, but it will
help to look at the outcome and disposition code at the end of the interview before
exiting to make sure you coded everything correctly.
If a line only has one number in the RI Disposition column, it means that
falsification is automatically set as suspected or not. An example is “065” –
Discrepancy – Laptop not used. This is always suspected of falsification.
Are there any questions about the NCVS RI Outcomes Codes?
(Answer questions.)
2-13
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Unit 2 Knowledge Check
(Show the “Unit 2 Knowledge Check” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Now it’s time for a short review exercise. Please take a few minutes now and
complete the Unit 2 Knowledge Check on page 2-12 in your workbook. When
you’re finished, we’ll go over the answers.
(Allow about 5 minutes for the Knowledge Check. When the participants are
finished, review the answers on the next page, and then continue to Unit 3 –
NCVS RI Instrument.)
2-14
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Unit 2 Knowledge Check Answer Key
Provide the correct answers for the following:
1. Both random and supplemental reinterview cases will be assigned to you.
a. ☒ True
b. ☐ False
2. To conduct the proper RI for each case, the RI instrument uses the Production
outcome code, along with other information that is passed to it.
a. ☒ True
b. ☐ False
3. All noninterviews are eligible to be in Reinterview.
a. ☐ True
b. ☒ False
4. A “Demolished” unit is an example of a Type B noninterview.
a. ☐ True
b. ☒ False
Correct answer:
A “Demolished” unit is an example of a Type C noninterview.
2-15
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Notes
2-16
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, the training participants will have received an
overview about NCVS Reinterview instrument.
Presenter’s outline
NCVS RI Instrument .............................................................................................. 3-2
Front of the Instrument ................................................................................ 3-3
Middle of the Instrument ............................................................................. 3-4
Back of the Instrument ................................................................................ 3-6
Preview of Instrument Main Screens ..................................................................... 3-6
Unit 3 Knowledge Check ..................................................................................... 3-17
Unit 3 Knowledge Check Answer Key ........................................................ 3-18
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training
Workbook, April 2016
Note for the Presenter
The training participants will need their case number equivalents for Case ID 28 for
this training unit. Units for this training package are duplicated in 100s. So 28, 128,
228, etc. are all the same case.
3-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
NCVS RI Instrument
(Show the “NCVS RI Instrument” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Information is passed to the RI instrument from the production interview. Based on
that information, the RI instrument displays the proper interview questions for the
reinterviewer.
(Show the “NCVS RI Instrument Sections” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
The RI instrument contains three sections – Front, Middle, and Back. Each section
contains different questions depending upon the information passed from the
production interview.
3-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Front of the Instrument
(Show the “Front of the NCVS RI Instrument” slide. Read the following text
to the participants.)
When you leave the DIAL screen in WebCATI, you will launch into the front of the
RI Instrument, which contains the screens that help you contact the household.
These screens include the introduction screen, respondent or contact person’s name
and telephone number. All of this information is in the instrument.
For RI, remember that sometimes you will be contacting a household member, and
sometimes you will be contacting a contact person. The NCVS RI respondent is the
person who responded in the original interview. If the household respondent is
unavailable, a proxy is allowed to complete the reinterview. The proxy respondent
must be a household member that is 18 years of age or older.
In the case of original noninterviews – such as Type B’s and C’s –proxies are also
acceptable if the contact person is unavailable. The proxy respondent must be 18
years of age or older and knowledgeable about the status of the sample unit.
Otherwise, the front of the RI instrument is similar to that of other surveys you have
worked.
3-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
One thing that may be different is that you may have up to 3 phone numbers to
choose from. You should use the main phone number to contact the household,
unless something in the Production notes indicates that one of the other numbers
would be more useful, or a respondent requests one of the other numbers.
(Pause.)
Middle of the Instrument
(Show the “Middle of the NCVS RI Instrument” slide. Read the following text
to the participants.)
The middle of the NCVS RI instrument includes those screens that are specific to
NCVS. These screens check to see if procedures were followed and specific
questions were asked.
In addition, the NCVS RI instrument includes questions for a response error (RE)
analysis. The RE analysis includes re-asking some crime victimization questions in
order to analyze the consistency of responses. The RE questions are asked only for
complete original interviews. These questions are asked of the household
respondent and of a randomly chosen RE sample person, which may possibly be the
3-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
same person. You will not select either of them. The NCVS RI instrument
automatically fills the names of the household respondent and RE sample person
when appropriate.
If the RE sample person is not available, the RI instrument will NOT allow a proxy
to answer questions for the RE sample person. The RI instrument will guide you
through what to do when the RE sample person is unavailable. You will have the
option of scheduling a time to complete the reinterview if the RE sample will be
available prior to closeout. Please keep in mind that a case will still be considered a
complete reinterview even if you are unable to reach the RE sample person.
As with the screens that appear at the front of the instrument, the number and types
of screens that appear in the middle of the RI instrument depend upon the
information that was passed from the production interview.
Questions that appear in the middle of the instrument are from the following areas:
interview verification, household roster, demographic characteristic verification
(such as age, sex, marital status, etc.), and verification of household income and
tenure. Household crime and person crime, screener questions may also be asked.
3-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Back of the Instrument
(Show the “Back of the NCVS RI Instrument” slide. Read the following text
to the participants.)
The back of the NCVS RI instrument includes screens that help you reschedule or
wrap up the reinterview. Examples of these screens at the back of the instrument
include the appointment screen and thanking the respondent or contact person.
The back of the instrument is also where you determine if the outcome of the
Production case is correct and if you suspect falsification after you hang up with the
respondent. It’s also where the RI outcome and disposition codes are set.
Preview of Instrument Main Screens
Now that we’ve talked about the major sections of the NCVS RI instrument, let’s do
a quick walk-through of a case for a preview of the screens for each section.
Please turn to the case on page 3-5 in your workbook. Follow steps 1 through 5 and
stop when you reach the Dial Screen.
3-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
(Allow time. Make sure they select the proper survey id for your Telephone
Center. Be sure training participants have the proper Case ID 28 equivalent
numbers.)
This is where you can see what kind of cases you are calling. You should click on
the case notes screen here to see the history of the case in Production. This will tell
you if it was a complete interview or noninterview. Also, if the respondent name is
filled you know it is a complete interview.
On page 3-6 of your workbook is the keying path so you can follow along with me.
The titles in the “Screen” column are the names of the screens that we’ll see as we
proceed through the reinterviews. The “Selection/Action” column has the options
you will select and the actions you will take on each screen.
Specific information about Case 28 including the Control Number, Mode, and the
Original Case Description are across the top. Notice that the Original Case
Description says that this is a one-person household.
This is just for you to follow along. Please stay with me as I am going to discuss
each screen as we get to it. Let’s move ahead.
1. Click on “2. Go to Dial” under the Navigation section of the screen.
2. On the “Dial” screen, click on the radio button for the respondent’s phone
number.
Remember I mentioned earlier to use the first phone number listed, unless
case notes suggested that one of the other numbers would be more successful.
3-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Let’s continue.
3.
Click “3. Dial Selected Number” under the Navigation section of the screen.
4.
On the “Dial Outcome” screen, click “9. Start Interview” under the “Record
Your Dial Attempt” section of the screen.
Everyone should be on the HELLO_TC_CT screen. Please wait here until we are
all together.
(Walk around to make sure everyone is on the HELLO_TC_CT screen.)
This is the first screen in the instrument. Remember that the front of the instrument
includes the introduction and the respondent or contact person’s name.
HELLO_TC_CT is the first of the introduction screens at the front of the instrument.
It appears the first time the household is contacted and it asks if you are speaking to
a specific person. The name that appears is the household respondent from the
NCVS Production interview. For this case, that respondent is Jane Doe.
Let’s assume that Jane answers the phone. We’ll select option 1 on this screen.
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
3-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
(Interrupt and say)
INTRO_TC_CT is the second introduction screen. On this screen, you thank the
respondents for their participation in the NCVS survey, inform them that you are
conducting a short quality check to ensure the original interviewer followed the
correct procedures, and verify the respondent’s address.
We’ll assume that the respondent has verified the address is correct, and select “1”
on this screen.
Screen
Selection/Action
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say)
The INTROB_RI_CT screen notifies the household respondent that the interview
may be recorded for quality control purposes. If the person agrees to be recorded,
you enter “1” to proceed with the interview. However, on rare occasions when a
respondent refuses to be recorded, you will enter 3 and stop recording. You should
be familiar with this screen from other surveys.
Enter 1 to continue.
Screen
Selection/Action
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say)
The RIRESP screen marks the middle of the instrument. This is the first of the
screens where we are checking that the interviewer in Production followed
procedures. This is the household roster for Case 28. If people have been called
to the phone and you are not sure who is speaking, you have the option of
confirming the respondent. We are speaking with Jane Doe, so enter 1.
3-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Screen
Selection/Action
RIRESP
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say)
First, we confirm that they did in fact contact the respondent for this assignment
period around the date mentioned. It’s important to clarify if there is any
confusion. Remember NCVS is a longitudinal survey, and the respondent may
have been contacted or visited many times in previous months. Jane confirms she
was visited, so we’ll enter 1.
Screen
Selection/Action
CONTACT_C
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say.)
This screen confirms how the interview was conducted. Again, we are interested
in the interview for this assignment period. You are also trying to record the
mode of the actual interview. Often times, the contacts may be both Telephone
and Personal visit as they try to reach the respondent, but you are interested in how
the interview was done. Most of the time you should pick, either 1 or 2. We will
say Jane was visited and enter 1.
Screen
Selection/Action
ORMODE
1. Personal Visit Only
(Interrupt and say.)
This screen is asking if they felt the interviewer was polite. You should always
enter how the respondent answers. The respondent says the interviewer was
polite, so select “1.”
3-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Screen
Selection/Action
POLITE
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say)
At this point, you will ask the respondent about the length of the production
interview. Most of the time the NCVS interview takes about 20 minutes. Due to
the supplements and the variation of the households, anywhere from 5 to 30
minutes is normal. Again, enter what they provide with no probing. Jane says the
interview was 45 minutes, so enter 0 for the hours and 45 for the minutes.
Screen
Selection/Action
LENGTH_H
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 45
(Interrupt and say)
Enter 1 to indicate that the interviewer used a laptop to conduct the interview.
Screen
Selection/Action
LAPTOP
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say)
Now we are moving into the questions that check the data quality. The next two
questions confirm if the roster is correct. ROSTER_1 confirms that no one extra is
on the roster. Jane says everything is correct, so let’s enter 1 for this ROSTER_1
verification screen.
Screen
Selection/Action
ROSTER_1
1. Yes
3-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
(Interrupt and say)
ROSTER_3 confirms there isn’t anyone who needs to be added to the roster. Jane
says the roster is correct. Enter 2.
Screen
Selection/Action
ROSTER_3
2. No
(Interrupt and say)
The next set of questions verify the respondent’s demographic characteristics.
The questions change based on what they reported in the production interview and
are tailored to the person and their situation. This screen inquires about whether
the production interviewer collected Jane’s age correctly.
The respondent answers “Yes,” so select option 1. We’ll also select “Yes” on the
next few screens verifying that Jane’s sex, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status
were all collected correctly at the time of the production interview.
Screen
Selection/Action
AGE_CHECK
1. Yes
SEX_VER
1. Yes
RACE_VER
1. Yes
ORIGIN_VER
1. Yes
MARITAL_VER
1. Yes
3-12
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
(Interrupt and say)
Next, we move on to questions that check to make sure the household income and
tenure data were collected correctly in the production interview. These questions
are also tailored to what the respondent reported in Production. This screen
verifies the household income.
The respondent answers “Yes,” so select option 1. We’ll also select “Yes” on the
next screen that verifies the tenure.
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_HHINCOME_VER
1. Yes
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say)
The next set of questions re-asks the respondent some of the crime victimization
questions for a response error (RE) analysis. Remember, these questions are asked
of the household respondent and the RE sample person, and the RI instrument
automatically fills the names. In this example, the household respondent and RE
sample person are the same.
We’ll assume Jane has not had a theft or break-in during the reference period, so
we’ll select “No” on the next screens.
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQBREAKIN
2. No
(Interrupt and say)
This question asks how many vehicles are owned by the household. Jane says she
owns one car, so Enter 1.
3-13
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
(Interrupt and say)
We continue on the next few screens re-asking the respondent a few more crime
victimization questions. Again, we’re assuming Jane has had no crime incidents
to report, so we’ll select “No” on the next few screens.
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2. No
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2. No
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2. No
RI_SQSEXUAL
2. No
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
(Interrupt and say)
We’ve now arrived at the back of the RI instrument. This THANK_YOU screen
begins the reinterview wrap up by thanking the respondent for their help and
cooperation. While you are not done with the reinterview case, you are done with
the interview. Hang up with the respondent.
Enter 1 to continue.
Screen
Selection/Action
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
3-14
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
(Interrupt and say)
You are now at the two screens where you will need to make a determination about
the Production case. The first thing you will do is determine if the type and
outcome code for the Production case is correct. You do this on the RI_OUTCM
screen.
The top of this RI_OUTCM screen shows the original interview date and outcome.
As we discussed earlier, it’s important that you select the correct option on this
screen, because an incorrect selection will result in an incorrect discrepancy on the
next FALSIF screen.
In this case, the RI respondent said they were contacted and were asked questions.
So we will answer “Yes” to verify that the original outcome is correct.
We’ll talk about discrepancies and finding errors in the status in the next chapter.
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
(Interrupt and say.)
This is the suspected falsification screen also known as the FALSIF screen. Here
is where you decide if you suspect falsification. Later in the training, we’ll take a
closer look at determining suspected falsification, but for now we have no
discrepancies so we will select option 2 for “No.”
Screen
Selection/Action
FALSIF
2. No
(Interrupt and say)
Select 1 to continue on this READYWRAP screen.
3-15
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Screen
Selection/Action
READYWRAP
1. Continue
(Interrupt and say)
This final screen marks the end of the reinterview. It shows an outcome code and
outcome subtype of 001 for this case. Please turn to the “NCVS Reinterview
Outcome Codes” table on page 2-10 in your workbooks.
(Allow time.)
As the table shows, an outcome code of “001” means the original interview or
noninterview is verified as correct.
Enter 1 to continue.
Screen
Selection/Action
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
Now you will enter the appropriate notes and exit the case. We’ll talk about the
importance of notes later. For now, just enter “Complete” and exit the case.
Do you have any questions about the RI Instrument?
(Answer questions.)
3-16
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Unit 3 Knowledge Check
(Show the “Unit 3 Knowledge Check” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Please turn to the Unit 3 Knowledge Check on page 3-8 in your workbook.
(Allow time.)
Take a few minutes to complete the Knowledge Check on this page. When you’re
finished, we’ll go over the answers.
(Allow about 5 minutes for the Knowledge Check, and then review the
answers. The Knowledge Check Answer Key is on the next page in the
training unit.
Continue to Unit 4 – Discrepancies and Finding Errors.)
3-17
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Unit 3 Knowledge Check Answer Key
Provide the correct answers for the following statements.
1. The Middle of the Instrument always asks the same questions for NCVS RI.
a. ☐
True
b. ☒
False
Correct answer:
The screens in the middle of the RI instrument asks questions that are specific to
the NCVS production interview.
2. What are the two questions you need to answer after you hang up with the
respondent?
RI_OUTCM and FALSIF.
3. The FALSIF screen asks the reinterviewer if falsification is suspected.
a. ☒
True
b. ☐
False
4. The ________________ screen begins the reinterview wrap up by _________
the respondent for their help and cooperation.
a. ☐
POLITE, asking
b. ☒
THANK_YOU, thanking
3-18
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Notes
3-19
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, participants will know about finding production interview
discrepancies.
Presenter’s outline
Discrepancies: Finding Errors................................................................................ 4-2
What is a Discrepancy? ............................................................................... 4-2
Applicable RI Discrepancies ....................................................................... 4-3
Unit 4 Knowledge Check ....................................................................................... 4-7
Unit 4 Knowledge Check Answer Key ....................................................... 4-8
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control Reinterview
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training Workbook,
April 2016
4-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies: Finding Errors
Discrepancies: Finding Errors
(Show the “Discrepancies: Finding Errors” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
During this training unit, our focus will be on interview “discrepancies.” We will
define what a reinterview discrepancy is and discuss the specific discrepancies that you
may find when you are conducting the NCVS reinterviews.
What is a Discrepancy?
(Show the “What is a Discrepancy?” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
A “discrepancy” is a difference detected between the reinterview and production
interview. It indicates that the information given in the production interview is not
matching the information you obtained from the reinterview respondent, or that there
4-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
was a deviation from interviewer procedures.
A discrepancy also indicates that the Production interviewer did not follow procedures
– for example, a laptop was not used for a personal visit with the respondent.
Applicable RI Discrepancies
(Show the “Applicable RI Discrepancies?” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
You can find ten discrepancies in NCVS RI. These discrepancies are described in the
“NCVS Reinterview Discrepancy Code” table on page 4-4 in your workbook. Please
turn to that table now.
(Allow time.)
Notice that there are ten defined discrepancy codes in the NCVS RI instrument. Please
not that the discrepancies are not numbered sequentially in the table. That’s because
the codes are for all surveys, but not all codes are used in all surveys.
If the reinterview detects any discrepancies, one or more of these discrepancy codes
will be listed on the FALSIF screen where you’ll make the falsification determination in
the RI instrument. We’ll see more of these discrepancies and the FALSIF screen when
4-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies: Finding Errors
we walk-through the practice reinterviews.
(Pause.)
If the information the RI respondent gives matches the information given in the
production interview and the interviewer followed procedures, then the case will not
have any discrepancies. This is what will happen most often. However, a case could
generate more than one discrepancy code.
Take a few minutes now and read over the descriptions for each discrepancy number.
(Allow time.)
For all RI surveys, we have what we’ll call the “Big 3” discrepancy codes – numbers 1,
5, and 10. The instrument will automatically suspect falsification when any of these
codes appear on the FALSIF2 screen. There are no choices!
Let’s take a closer look at discrepancies 1, 5, and 10. Can a volunteer please read the
description for discrepancy number 1?
(Select a volunteer. Allow time. Volunteer should read the following:
The reinterview respondent said no one contacted this household regarding this
survey.)
Thank you (volunteer’s name.) Obviously, if no one contacted the household then
there is no way the data was collected accurately.
Will someone read the description for discrepancy number 5?
(Select a volunteer. Allow time. Volunteer should read the following:
The interviewer classified the Interview/Type A unit as Type B/C.)
4-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Thank you (volunteer’s name.)
If you recall, a Type B unit is one that is vacant and has the potential to be occupied but
is not occupied, and a Type C unit does not have the potential to be occupied because it
is condemned or demolished. Discrepancy 5 is a big error because we are missing data
on an occupied household.
Can another volunteer read the discrepancy number 10 description, please?
(Select a volunteer. Allow time. Volunteer should read the following:
The case was done by a personal visit and the reinterview respondent said the
interviewer did not use a laptop.)
Thank you (volunteer’s name.) Think of your surveys. Would you be able to say the
survey exactly as worded with the questions in the proper order if you didn’t have your
computer in front of you? I know I couldn’t, and no one “accidentally” does not use
their laptop.
Let’s talk about the other discrepancies. For discrepancy codes 2 and 6, the status of
the production case was not correct. These discrepancies usually appear together.
The difference is for 6, the respondent indicated the error, and for 2, you confirmed the
status as incorrect.
For discrepancy 3, the status of the case was completed by observation in the original
interview, and it is discovered in reinterview that the original status is incorrect.
For discrepancy 7, there is some sort of error in the roster.
You will only receive discrepancy 11 when you indicate that you reached a phone
number that doesn’t belong to the respondent or housing unit in the instrument. This
4-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies: Finding Errors
will happen when you get a noninterview. We are covering noninterviews later in the
training.
For the last two discrepancies 13 and 14, the responses in the middle of RI determine if
the demographic characteristics and the household and/or tenure were recorded
correctly. An example for discrepancy 13 would be if all of a single person’s
characteristics are all incorrect, then that may mean the person’s information was
falsified.
For all of these discrepancies, suspected falsification is not automatic. Keep in mind
that you can suspect falsification when a case generates a discrepancy other than 1, 5,
and 10, but usually those are more errors in procedures and not intentional.
We’ll talk more about suspecting falsification in the next unit. Do you have any
questions about the RI discrepancy codes?
(Answer questions.)
4-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Unit 4 Knowledge Check
(Show the “Unit 4 Knowledge Check” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Now it’s time for a short review exercise. Please take a few minutes now and complete
the Unit 4 Knowledge Check on page 4-5 in your workbook. We’ll go over the
answers when you’re finished.
(Allow about 5 minutes for the Knowledge Check. When the participants are
finished, review the answers on the next page, and then continue to Unit 5 – Data
Falsification.)
4-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies: Finding Errors
Unit 4: Knowledge Check Answer Key
Provide the correct answers to the following statements and questions.
1. A “discrepancy” is a difference detected between the reinterview and production
interview.
2. The “Big 3” discrepancy codes are 1, 5, and 10.
a.
☒
True
b.
☐
False
3. Falsification cannot be suspected when a case generates a discrepancy other than
1, 5, and 10.
a.
☐
True
b.
☒
False
You can suspect falsification when a case generates a discrepancy other than 1, 5,
and 10.
4-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Notes
4-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, the training participants will have received
information about data falsification and the RI Outcome screen, the FALSIF and
FALSIF2 screens, and using RI notes when falsification is suspected.
Presenter’s outline
Data Falsification ................................................................................................... 5-2
RI_OUTCM screen ...................................................................................... 5-3
What is Data Falsification?.......................................................................... 5-5
When Falsification is suspected .................................................................. 5-6
FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens .................................................................... 5-8
Using RI Notes ....................................................................................................... 5-9
Required RI Notes ..................................................................................... 5-10
Unit 5 Review Activity ........................................................................................ 5-13
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training
Workbook, April 2016
5-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Data Falsification
(Show the “Data Falsification” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
During this training unit our focus is on the two items you will need to determine if
falsification is suspected. We’ll have a review of verifying outcome code statuses.
Then, we’ll define what data falsification is and whether to suspect falsification.
As part of that, we’ll have more discussion about the role the FALSIF and FALSIF2
screens play in determining suspected falsification. We’ll also talk about the case
notes content requirements when falsification is suspected.
First, let’s talk about how to determine if the status of the production case was
correct.
5-2
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
RI_OUTCM screen
(Show the “RI_OUTCM” slide. Read the following text to the participants.)
Remember the RI_OUTCM screen? On this screen, you complete your first step to
determine if a case is suspected of falsification. Turn to page 2-4 in your workbook
and let’s revisit the NCVS RI Case Types table.
(Allow time.)
For the RI_OUTCM screen, you will use the first two columns in this table to decide
if the case type is correct. You have to ask yourself two main questions – “Was the
case a housing unit?” and “Was the unit occupied during Production?” based on
what happened in Reinterview. Answers to both of these questions will tell you the
status. If the status you determine is based on the response from RI and it matches
the status listed on the RI_OUTCM screen, then you can say, yes, the original
outcome is correct.
Think about the case we completed earlier. It was a 201 – Completed Interview in
Production.
(Ask the participants the following questions. Select a volunteer.)
Q: Based on Reinterview, was the case a housing unit?
5-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
A: Yes
Q: Was the unit occupied?
A: Yes
Q: Based on the “NCVS RI Case Types ” table, is the Production status correct?
A: Yes
Does everyone understand?
(Answer questions.)
Let’s try an example that’s a little more difficult. Say you contact a person in RI
and they say the housing unit is for sale and empty.
Q: Is the case a housing unit?
A: Yes
Q: Is the unit occupied?
A: No
Q: So, that makes it what type of noninterview?
A: Type B
Don’t worry if this is not completely clear to you now. We will practice this often
and it will become second nature to you.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions.)
5-4
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
What is Data Falsification?
(Show the “What is Data Falsification?” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Data falsification occurs when the interviewer knowingly deviates from
interviewing procedures by:
• Making up some or all of the information;
• Intentionally not following established survey procedures;
• Deliberately miscoding the answer to a question to avoid follow-up
questions;
• Intentionally misclassifying occupied units as Type B or C noninterviews;
or
• Intentionally misreporting the household roster.
Falsification is not the result when the interviewer missed a household member
or included a household member by mistake. It also is not falsification when
the interviewer mistakenly misclassified a housing unit as vacant when in fact
the housing unit is now temporary storage. These are errors but not suspected
falsification.
5-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
When Falsification is suspected
(Show the “When Falsification is Suspected” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
Please turn to the “Guidance for Suspecting Falsification” table on page 5-4 in
your workbook. I want to make sure everyone understands this table because it
details the conditions under which falsification is suspected.
(Allow time.)
The left column of the table shows the discrepancy numbers and combinations of
numbers that are displayed on the FALSIF or FALSIF2 screens. The right column
shows the option you will select depending on the discrepancy numbers.
As the table shows, if any of the “Big 3” discrepancies – 1, 5, or 10 – appears alone
or as a combination with any other discrepancy numbers, falsification is
automatically suspected, and the instrument will display the FALSIF2 screen.
If the FALSIF screen displays discrepancies 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, or any
combination of these numbers, you will usually select “2” on the FALSIF screen.
The one exception is if you have 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, or some combination of these
numbers on the FALSIF screen and the respondent or contact person gives you some
indication that the interviewer knowingly and intentionally did not collect the
5-6
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
correct data. In this case, you can select “1” on the FALSIF screen, and provide full
details in the case notes. However, we usually give the interviewers the benefit of
the doubt for these discrepancies and assume they are honest mistakes or that they
need some reinforcement on procedures. The interviewers will receive feedback
about all cases that have discrepancies, so they can correct what they are doing
incorrectly.
If there are no discrepancies, you will always select “2” on the FALSIF screen.
Notice the asterisk on the table in your workbook. This table is for complete
reinterviews and not noninterviews. We will review what to do for noninterviews
toward the end of training.
(Pause.)
Listening closely to the respondent will help you determine if an interviewer’s error
was intentional or a mistake. For example, you will suspect falsification when the
respondent or contact person leads you to believe the NCVS interviewer did not
conduct an interview with the household and possibly made up the data entered
during Production.
Remember – when suspecting falsification, the emphasis should be on the intent of
the interviewer. In other words, ask yourself if you believe the
interviewer intentionally acted in a way that caused the interview to contain
incorrect data. Unless you have some sort of proof they did, then you will assume
they weren’t doing anything intentionally.
Now, turn to the “FALSIF and FALSIF2” information on page 5-6 in your
5-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
workbook so we can discuss these screens a little further.
(Allow time.)
FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens
(Show the “FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens” slide. Read the following text to
the participants.)
Pictures of the FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens are shown on pages 5-6 and 5-7.
These screens indicate when falsification has occurred, so both are important screens
in the reinterview instrument.
(Pause.)
The FALSIF screen has very specific responses to the question, “Do you suspect
falsification?” Entering “1. Yes” means you do suspect falsification, and entering
“2. No” means you do not suspect falsification.
There is also a third option for when you are “Unable to determine” if falsification
has occurred. When you enter “3,” it means you are unsure if there is falsification
because the respondent could not provide enough information, or the reinterview is a
noninterview. Typically, you won’t see any discrepancies on the FALSIF screen
5-8
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
when this happens. Again, we’ll talk more about noninterviews later.
I want to emphasize that you should NOT speed through the FALSIF screen. This
screen is one of the last few screens you will see in the reinterview instrument and
it’s easy to quickly enter 1’s and exit the instrument.
Entering “Yes” for suspecting falsification when there is no valid reason is your
error as a reinterviewer, so always take your time and correctly answer the FALSIF
question as you complete the reinterview.
Remember FALSIF2 appears when you find one of the Big 3 Discrepancies – 1, 5,
or 10 in Reinterview. Your only option is to suspect falsification and continue
forward.
Are there any questions about when data falsification is suspected or the FALSIF
and FALSIF2 screens?
(Answer questions.)
Using RI Notes
(Show the “Using RI Notes” slide. Read the following text to the participants.)
As we all know, notes are always important. You will document your call attempts
as you always do. But, when a case is suspected of falsification, your notes become
5-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
the way to get detailed information to the Regional Office. Your notes are the first
step in the investigation process, so it is important that the notes are as thorough as
possible. A supervisor will review your notes and also enter their notes, so be sure
that your case notes are as clear as possible. What you include or fail to include in
the case notes may be critical to resolving a situation.
Required RI Notes Contents when Falsification is suspected
(Show the first “Required RI Notes Contents When Falsification is Suspected”
slide. Read the following text to the participants.)
Page 5-8 in your workbook provides the required contents for RI notes when you
suspect falsification.
(Allow time.)
Your notes should indicate whom you spoke with when you conducted the
reinterview. Provide details as to why you suspect falsification – the what, where,
when, and how – that led to your suspicion about the case. Be sure to include any
additional information they mentioned beyond the question. Example situations
could be that the interviewer said the respondent did not have to do the interview or
no one ever came to the respondent’s residence for six months.
5-10
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
(Show the second “Required RI Notes Contents When Falsification is
Suspected” slide. Read the following text to the participants.)
Indicate whom to follow up with, if that person or those persons are different from
those you spoke with. For example, you talk to the lady of the house and she
indicated issues, but it really sounded like the gentleman of the house did the
interview. In this case, the Regional Office should follow-up with the gentleman.
Also, note any special incidents with the case – for example, the interviewer
scheduled a call back but never called or the interviewer asked the respondent a few
questions and wrote the answers on a piece of paper. Again, any information the
respondent provides is important, so be as thorough as possible. This information
is also important when you find discrepancies and do not suspect falsification,
because your notes can help the supervisor explain more clearly to the FR the errors
they made in procedures.
(Pause.)
You can put quite a bit of information into case notes but you may not always have
it. We want to be clear. You should only add information that the respondent
gives. It is not your job to probe in order to determine the interviewer’s intent or get
extra details from the respondent. You are not doing the investigation. You
5-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
should not probe. If need be you can clarify an answer as always, but we do not
want you to probe.
Do you have any questions about using RI notes or anything else we’ve covered in
this training segment?
(Answer questions.)
5-12
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Unit 5 Review Activity
(Show the “Unit 5 Review Activity” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Now, let’s do a review activity to recap what we’ve learned so far.
This activity is called the “Neighbor Nudge.” For this activity, you’ll “nudge” your
neighbor – the person sitting to the left or right of you – and share with him or her
two or more things that you’ve learned about when to suspect data falsification and
how to document it. If necessary, so that everyone has a chance to participate,
please share with more than one person.
Feel free to refer to your workbook.
Take about five minutes for the activity.
(Allow five minutes for the activity, and then continue to Unit 6 – Walkthrough
Reinterviews.)
5-13
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Notes
5-14
NCVSCATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, participants will have obtained hands-on practice with
NCVS CATI reinterviews and instrument.
Presenter’s outline
Reinterview Walk-throughs ................................................................................... 6-2
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slide
Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control Reinterview
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training Workbook,
April 2016
Note for the presenter
The training participants will need their individual case number equivalents for the
following 5 cases that will be completed in this training unit. Case numbers are
duplicated in the 100s:
Case ID 9 – Control Number 919114301 J27 01 100
Case ID 15 – Control Number 619544369 J27 01 100
Case ID 27 – Control Number 609004169 J27 01 199
Case ID 30 – Control Number 609544469 J26 02 200
Case ID 37 – Control Number 919154201A J27 01B100
6-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
In this training unit, we will complete some reinterviews so that you will obtain
hands-on practice with the NCVS RI instrument. As we complete the reinterviews,
we will pause periodically and I will re-emphasize some important points about the
reinterview process.
We will complete reinterviews that cover various scenarios – those that are
reinterviews with discrepancy codes other than 1, 5, and 10, and some with
suspected falsification reinterview discrepancies 1, 5, and 10.
Please turn to page 6-3 in your workbook. These are the steps to follow to launch
WebCATI and go to our first Case 9. Remember to use your Case IDs I gave you
and use NCVS QCRI TRN (tctt). Stop before you click “Start Interview”.
(Allow time.)
You will play the role of the Reinterviewer and read aloud the reinterview questions
that appear on our computer screens. You will take turns playing the Reinterviewer
in sequential order, based on where you are sitting. I will play the respondent role
and read aloud the responses. Read aloud any keystrokes you take. If you fall
behind or need something to follow, each scenario is in your workbook, but please
attempt to follow along with us as much as possible.
Are there any questions so far?
(Answer questions.)
Case 9 is our first reinterview. You should be on page 6-4 of your workbook. It’s
important that everyone stay together, so please do not work ahead, and stop me if
you’re falling behind. Select “Start Interview”.
6-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Everyone should be on the HELLO_TC_CT screen.
(Make sure everyone is on the HELLO_TC_CT screen.)
Can you please be our first Reinterviewer (participant’s name)?
(Your response is in Bold. Keystrokes are entered if you need to assist in
selection of Answer Choices.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
Yes, this is Jane.
Enter 1
INTRO_TC_CT
Yes.
Enter 1
INTROB_RI_CT
That’s fine.
Enter 1. Yes
RIRESP
We know we’re talking to Jane, so Enter
1.
CONTACT_C
Yes.
Enter 1.
ORMODE
We spoke over the phone.
Enter 2
POLITE
Yes.
Enter 1
6-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
LENGTH_H
It was about an hour and 10 minutes.
Enter 1
LENGTH_M
Enter 10
ROSTER_1
Yes, it’s just me and my husband.
Enter 1
ROSTER_3
Nope.
Enter 2
AGE_CHECK
Yes.
(LNO 1)
Enter 1
SEX_VER
Yes.
(LNO 1)
Enter 1
RACE_VER
Yes.
(LNO 1)
Enter 1
ORIGIN_VER
Yes.
(LNO 1)
Enter 1
MARITAL_VER
Yes.
(LNO 1)
Enter 1
AGE_CHECK
Yes, he is.
(LNO 2)
Enter 1
SEX_VER
Yes.
(LNO 2)
Enter 1
6-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RACE_VER
Yes.
(LNO 2)
Enter 1
ORIGIN_VER
Yes.
(LNO 2)
Enter 1
MARITAL_VER
Yes.
(LNO 2)
Enter 1
RI_HHINCOME
Between $35,000 - $39,999.
Enter 21
RI_HHTENURE_VER
Yes, we own our home.
Enter 1
RI_SQTHEFT
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQBREAKIN
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
We have two cars.
Enter 2
RI_SQMVTHEFT
No.
Enter 2
6-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
(Interrupt and say.)
At this point of the reinterview, we are done interviewing the household
respondent, Jane, and are ready to interview the RE sample person. The
instrument has automatically selected Andrew Voe as the RE sample person.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_THANKHR
Sure. Hold on. I’ll put him on the
phone.
1. Continue
(Interrupt and say.)
Let’s take a minute and look at this RI_SPEAKTOSP screen. As I mentioned
earlier, there may be cases where the RE sample person will not be available. If
the RI respondent indicates the RE sample person will be available before closeout,
you will select option 2 and schedule a time to complete the reinterview. Upon
reentering the NCVS RI instrument, it will prompt you ask to for the RE sample
person.
If the RE sample person will not be available prior to closeout, then you will select
option 3, and the instrument will prompt you to indicate the appropriate reason you
were unable to interview the RE sample person.
Remember, a case is still considered to be a complete reinterview, even if you are
unable to reach the RE sample person.
In this case, Jane told us that Andrew is available, so we’ll enter 1 on this screen.
6-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_SPEAKTOSP
Hello, this is Andrew.
Enter 1
RI_INTROSP
Sure. That’s fine.
1. Continue
RI_QUESTYPESP
Okay, but I don’t have anything to
report.
1. Continue
RI_SQATTCKWHERE
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQATTACKHOW
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF No.
Enter 2
RI_SQSEXUAL
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
No.
Enter 2
THANK_YOU
You’re welcome. Bye.
Enter 1
6-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
(Interrupt and say.)
Now it’s time to decide if the original outcome was correct. The original outcome
for this case was a 201 – completed interview. What do you think we should
select?
(Allow time. Select a participant. He/she should select Yes.)
From the affirmative responses to the survey specific questions the respondent gave
us in this reinterview, we can assume that the original outcome is correct. We’ll
select “Yes” on this RI Outcome screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_OUTCM
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
This reinterview did not result in any discrepancies, and we determined the original
outcome to be correct, so we safely say that we do not suspect falsification.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF
Enter 2
READYWRAP
Enter 1
Show_Ctrl
Enter 1 to exit to WebCATI
6-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Even though we did not suspect falsification, we should enter a note saying that the
original outcome was correct, there were no discrepancies found, and we did not
suspect falsification.
Okay, let’s continue with our next case, Case 15, which is on page 6-6 of your
workbook.
(Allow time for the participants to access Caseid 15.)
Screen
Selection/Action/ Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
This is Megan Moe.
1. Correct person
INTRO_TC_CT
Yes it is.
Enter 1
INTROB_RI_CT
No, I don’t mind if you record the call.
Enter 1
RIRESP
Enter 2
6-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
CONTACT_C
Yes.
Enter 1
ORMODE
The person came to my house.
Enter 1
POLITE
Yes, she was very polite!
1. Yes
LENGTH_H
Oh, I guess it was about 40 minutes.
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 40
LAPTOP
I remember her using a laptop computer.
Enter 1
ROSTER_1
No. My husband Ted wasn’t living here
then. He’s in a nursing home.
Enter 2
ROSTER_2
Since Ted Moe wasn’t living there at the
time, enter 1 for line number 1.
ROSTER_3
No, that’s it.
Enter 2
AGE_CHECK
Yes.
Enter 1
SEX_VER
Yes.
Enter 1
6-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/ Text for the trainer
RACE_VER
Yes.
Enter 1
ORIGIN_VER
Yes.
Enter 1
MARITAL_VER
Yes.
Enter 1
RI_HHINCOME
Between $40,000 – $49,990.
Enter 22
RI_HHTENURE_VER
Yes, I rent.
Enter 1
RI_SQTHEFT
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQBREAKIN
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
I have one car.
Enter 1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQATTACKHOW
No.
Enter 2
6-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/ Text for the trainer
RI_SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQSEXUAL
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
No. This is a very safe neighborhood.
Enter 2
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME No, not that I can remember.
Enter 2
THANK_YOU
Thank you, glad I could help!
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
Again, notice the original outcome for this case was a 201 – completed interview,
which is the right status.
Enter “1. Yes” on this RI Outcome screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/ Text for the trainer
RI_OUTCM
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
This reinterview resulted in discrepancy 7, which means the household roster was
incorrect. This is because the respondent stated that Line Number 1, Ted Moe, was
not living there at the time of the production interview when the roster was verified
on the ROSTER_1 screen. Look at the Guidance to Suspecting Falsification table
6-12
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
in your Workbook on page 5-4.
(Allow time.)
Since, the respondent didn’t tell us anything that says the interviewer knowingly and
intentionally left a person off of the roster and this is not one of the “Big 3”
discrepancies of 1, 5, and 10, we will not suspect falsification.
Are there any questions?
(Answer questions.)
Select “No” on this FALSIF screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF
Enter 2
(Interrupt and say.)
Although the reinterview resulted in a discrepancy, the original outcome was correct
and falsification is not suspected. We’ll enter a case note shortly.
Select “1” on this Discrepancy Notes screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
DISCREP_NOTES
Enter 1
READYWRAP
Enter 1
Show_Ctrl
Enter 1
Now we enter the case notes. We should put in the notes “ Household roster
incorrect – Ln#1did not live there.” And since we did not suspect falsification, let’s
6-13
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
enter another note saying the original outcome was correct, and we did not suspect
falsification.
Are there any questions about Case 15?
(Answer questions.)
Keep the Guidance to Suspecting Falsification table handy. We’ll be referring to it
again during this training unit.
Let’s continue with Case 27. You should be on page 6-8 of your workbook.
(Allow time for the participants to access Caseid 27.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
This is Jane Doe.
Enter 1
INTRO_TC_CT
Yes.
Enter 1
INTROB_RI_CT
Sure.
Enter 1
RIRESP
Enter 1
CONTACT_C
Yes.
Enter 1
ORMODE
Someone called me.
Enter 2
POLITE
For the most part.
Enter 1
6-14
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
LENGTH_H
It was pretty short. He just asked me if I
called the police for anything in the past 6
six months. I think the call lasted maybe
10 minutes?
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 10
ROSTER_1
Yes.
Enter 1
ROSTER_3
No, I live here alone.
Enter 2
AGE_CHECK
No, that’s incorrect. I’m 30 years old.
Enter 2
AGE_RANGE
Since Jane stated she was 30, enter 6.
SEX_VER
Yes.
Enter 1
RACE_VER
No. That’s not correct.
Enter 2
RACE
I’m Native American.
Enter 3
ORIGIN_VER
No, I am not Hispanic.
Enter 2
MARITAL_VER
No. That’s also incorrect.
Enter 2
6-15
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
MARITAL
I don’t recall being asked all these
personal questions, but, no. I’m divorced.
Enter 3
RI_HHINCOME
Yes.
Enter 1
RI_HHTENURE_VER
Yes, I own my home.
Enter 1
RI_SQTHEFT
Yes
Enter 1
RI_SQTHEFTTIMES
Once.
Enter 1
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC
My purse was stolen.
Enter “Purse stolen”
RI_SQBREAKIN
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
Just one.
Enter 1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQATTACKHOW
No.
Enter 2
6-16
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQSEXUAL
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
No.
Enter 2
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME No.
Enter 2
THANK_YOU
You’re welcome.
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
This case is a prime example of a bad Production interview with incorrect
demographic data recorded on the roster and where the respondent states she only
recalls being asked about whether or not she called the police to report any
incidents. But, it is a housing unit that was occupied, and an interviewer did call
the respondent, so it has the correct status.
Enter “1. Yes” on this RI Outcome screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_OUTCM
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
The reinterview resulted only in discrepancy 13 – incorrect demographic data on
6-17
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
roster. Everyone turn to the Guidance for Suspecting Falsification table again, and
read the description of this discrepancy.
(Allow time.)
Notice that this discrepancy code would not normally indicate falsification since it
is not one of the Big 3. However, almost all of the respondent’s demographic
characteristics were incorrect, and the respondent mentioned that she was only
asked if she called the police in the past 6 months. We can reasonably assume the
original interviewer intentionally made up the demographic information and
completed the rest of the interview without the respondent. So, in this case we can
suspect falsification. Let’s select “Yes” on the FALSIF screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF
Enter 1
READYWRAP
Enter 1
Show_Ctrl
Enter 1
Ok, now we need to enter detailed notes on our findings.
Q: What should we enter?
(Allow time, select a volunteer, and enter the following note.)
A: Interviewer only asked if the respondent called the police, and almost all
demographic characteristics were incorrect. Falsification suspected.
Great! Case 30 is next. You should now be on page 6-10 of your workbook.
6-18
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
(Allow time for the participants to access Caseid 30.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
Hi, this is she.
Enter 1
INTRO_TC_CT
Yes it is.
Enter 1
INTROB_RI_CT
No, I would prefer if you didn’t.
Enter 3.
RIRESP
Since we know we are speaking to Jane Doe, enter 1.
CONTACT_C
No, I was never contacted by the Census Bureau.
Enter 2.
SOMEONE_ELSE
No.
Enter 2
THANK_YOU
Okay, you’re welcome.
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
Turn to the “Case Types Table” on page 2-4 of your workbook. This is an
occupied housing unit. Therefore, the production interview should have been an
interview or a Type A.
The Production status of 201 is correct, even though the respondent says there was
no contact, because it is a housing unit and it is occupied. Remember – we are
confirming the status, not the errors. If the status in RI matches the status listed on
6-19
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
this screen, then we can say that the case type is correct.
Are there any questions about that?
(Answer questions.)
We’ll select “Yes” on this RI_OUTCM screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_OUTCM
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
The reinterview resulted in discrepancy 1, meaning falsification is automatically
suspected. Will someone read the description for that discrepancy?
(Allow time. Select a volunteer. Volunteer should read the following:
The reinterview respondent said no one contacted this household regarding
this survey.)
This is where the fact that no one visited or contacted the unit comes into play.
Since this is one of the “Big 3” discrepancies, the instrument takes you to the
FALSIF2 screen prompting you to enter proper case notes explaining the situation.
Select “1” to continue on the following screens.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF2
Enter 1
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
READYWRAP
Enter 1
Show_Ctrl
Enter 1
6-20
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Remember to enter your case notes. For this case, enter “the contact person, phone
number, and address in the instrument were correct; however, the respondent was
never contacted by an interviewer.”
Let’s move on to Case 37, which is our last reinterview. You should be on page
6-11 of your workbook.
(Allow time for participants to access Caseid 37.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
This is David.
Enter 1
INTRO_TC_CT
Yes.
Enter 1
INTROB_RI_CT
You can record.
Enter 1
RIRESP
We are speaking with David, so enter 1
CONTACT_C
I don’t know.
Ctrl D
Someone_Else
I don’t know.
Ctrl D
6-21
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
THANK_YOU
You’re welcome.
Enter 1
(Interrupt and say.)
The respondent could not confirm that someone came to the unit, so the existing
data could be from an earlier interview. They really couldn’t confirm or deny
anything about the interview. Because of that, we cannot call this an interview,
which makes this our first case of an RI Noninterview.
Option “3. Reinterview Noninterview” is the best choice on this RI Outcome
screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
RI_OUTCM
3. Reinterview Noninterview
(Interrupt and say.)
Look at your “Case Types Table.” Someone please tell us which Noninterview
Type we should pick on this screen?
(Allow time. Select a volunteer, who should select option 1 – Type A.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
NONINT
1. Type A
6-22
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
(Interrupt and say.)
Which is the most accurate selection for this TYPEA screen?
(Allow time. Select a volunteer. The volunteer should say option 7 –
Respondent couldn’t remember.)
Select option 7.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
TYPEA
7. Respondent couldn’t remember
(Interrupt and say.)
For almost all Type A Noninterviews in RI, you won’t have enough information to
make a determination on the FALSIF screen. In addition, there may be situations
like this when you are unsure or unable to determine if falsification occurred. For
these cases, option “3. Unable to determine” is the best choice on this screen.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF
3. Unable to determine
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue,
Remember to enter your case notes. For this case, enter “the respondent didn’t
know if the FR came or if he talked with anyone else. No useful information
given.”
We are going to review getting noninterviews in reinterview next. Any questions
on what we just covered before we move on?
6-23
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Notes
6-24
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, participants will have an understanding of when and how
noninterviews can happen in NCVS RI.
Presenter’s outline
Type A Noninterviews ........................................................................................... 7-2
Type B and Type C Noninterviews ....................................................................... 7-3
Type D Noninterviews ........................................................................................... 7-5
Unit 7 Knowledge Check ....................................................................................... 7-9
Unit 7 Knowledge Check Answer Key ..................................................... 7-10
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slide
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control Reinterview
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training Workbook,
April 2016
7-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Noninterview in RI
(Show the “Reinterview Noninterviews” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
So in the last example we had a noninterview in reinterview for the first time. I want to
take some time and talk about them now. What kind of noninterviews do you get in
your surveys now?
(Take answers. They should consist of: Ring No answers, Refusals, Hang Ups,
Language Issues, etc.)
You will of course get all of these for NCVS Reinterview as well. They are the “Type
A” noninterviews. You reach the housing unit and it has a person who can answer, but
you can’t get an interview. You will handle these as normal either in WebCATI on the
Dial Outcome Screen or in the Instrument Front. The only noninterview you are
probably not used to is the scenario we just covered where the respondent cannot
remember.
There is also one Type A Noninterview that results in a discrepancy. We haven’t
talked about Discrepancy 11 – the interviewer entered a bad telephone number for this
case. You will get this when you enter the instrument and you confirm that the person
7-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
is unknown at that number and you have reached the wrong address. You will still
treat this as a noninterview though. Any questions about Type A Noninterviews?
(Answer.)
Now let’s talk about Type B and Type C Noninterviews.
Remember on your table
that they can happen in both Production and in Reinterview. They have a slightly
different definition in RI compared to a production interview. You are looking at the
status after the production interview. This is different than what we practiced earlier
where we confirmed it should have been a Type B or C at the time of interview.
You will get a Type B or C Noninterview if you reach a respondent and they tell you the
unit is no longer an occupied housing unit like it was in production. Let’s do an
example. You call a respondent for a household. They can’t answer any questions
because they weren’t there at the time of the interview, but they tell you they moved out
of the house AFTER the production interview. You can mark this case as a Type B
Noninterview - Vacant. Open your workbook to Page 2-11 for a list of all the
Reinterview Type B and C codes you can get.
(Allow Time)
Notice that they all have two outcome codes just like complete cases with
discrepancies. This is because we always allow you to suspect falsification should you
get any information that suggests it, BUT you will almost always not have enough
information in ANY of the noninterviews to suspect falsification. You will almost
always select “3. Unable to Determine” no matter what you have on the FALSIF screen.
Type B and C Noninterviews will be very rare in NCVS and even more rare in the Call
Center because you are calling just a couple days after the production interview and the
7-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
change in status will make it difficult to reach the respondent by phone. But, they can
happen, so we want to be sure you know how to handle them. Let’s do a practice case.
Everyone open Case 4 in WebCATI. Again, if anyone needs to follow along you can
find the cases in your workbook starting on Page 7-4.
(Allow time to access. Be sure they are using the proper case equivalent. Call on
volunteer to be Reinterviewer.)
Case 4 – Type A Noninterview
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
Person answers the phone and is very hostile
and refuses to answer any questions, except
that someone did visit the address.
Enter 8. Other outcome OR problem
interviewing household
HELLO_PRB_RI_CT
Respondent refused.
Enter 1. Hard refusal.
FALSIF
Falsification is not suspected because the
respondent indicated that someone from
Census did visit the address.
Enter 2. No
7-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Screen
Selection/Action
READYWRAP
Enter 1 to complete, the case is ready to be
transmitted.
1. Continue
Enter 1 to transmit the case.
Show_Ctrl
Enter 1 to continue.
We would enter notes that explain the respondent was hostile and refused the interview.
Do that now.
(Allow Time.)
Again, it will be very rare to get Type B and C Noninterviews in NCVS RI because of
the timing. Also with cell phones, you can still reach the respondent and get an
interview even if the status of the housing unit has changed since the production
interview. Say we reached Susan on her cell phone; our goal is to confirm what
happened at time of Production, so we would complete the reinterview if possible and
put the change in status just in notes.
Any questions about Type B or C Noninterviews?
(Answer.)
Now let’s talk about Type D Noninterviews. Can anyone tell me what Type D
noninterviews are?
(Answer: They only happen in Reinterview and happen when one household has
moved out and another has moved in.)
7-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Type D Noninterviews will also be very rare in NCVS Reinterview, but can happen, so
let’s review one now. Go to Case 10. This case is on page 7-5 in your workbook.
(Allow time for the participants to access Case ID 10.)
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
HELLO_TC_CT
I don’t know that person.
Enter 4. Person unknown at this number
VERTELE_CT
Yes, you have reached that number.
1. Yes
ADDVER_CT
The address is right.
1. Yes
HHMEM_CT
Yes, I live here and I’m older than 18.
1. Yes
PROX_UC_CT
I bet that woman you mentioned is the woman who
moved out yesterday. I don’t know anything about
her. I’m moving in now.
In this scenario, there’s a glitch in the instrument. If the
respondent mentions moving, you need to answer “Yes”
on this screen for you to collect that the respondent wasn’t
here at the time of the Production interview.
If they don’t mention moving, then you can answer “No.”
Enter 1. Yes
LIVEHERE_CT
No. I was not.
2. No
7-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
SOMEONE_ELSE
I don’t know.
Ctrl D
THANK_YOU
No problem.
1. Continue
(Interrupt and say.)
The instrument displays the message informing us that this case is not completed
and that several attempts to contact the respondent or contact person should be
made before the Reinterview Noninterview option is selected on this STATUS_RI
screen.
You would do this if you thought that you could reach the original respondent if
you called back. This might be a time to try one of the other numbers in
WebCATI if you have more than one. But for this example, we found out the
original respondent has moved and can’t be reached at this number, so we will
mark this as a Reinterview Noninterview.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
STATUS_RI
2. Reinterview Noninterview
(Interrupt and say.)
So guess what option we are selecting here? That’s right, Type D. Select option
4 – Type D.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
NONINT
4. Type D Noninterview
7-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
(Interrupt and say.)
This is a situation when you may question if there was intentional falsification
because it seems odd to reach another household. However, the person you spoke
with mentioned they just moved in today, and the person who was living there
moved out yesterday making it clear that this happened after the date of the
production interview. This is just like the Type B and Cs, we never reached a
person who knows about the production interview, so we’ll select 3. Unable to
Determine.
Screen
Selection/Action/Text for the trainer
FALSIF
3. Unable to Determine
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to Continue
Enter your case notes. The notes should include all of the details you can collect, such
as dates of moves, etc. Do that now and exit the case.
(Allow time)
That concludes Unit 7. Are there any questions about noninterviews before we do our
review?
(Answer questions.)
7-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Unit 7 Knowledge Check
(Show the “Unit 7 Knowledge Check” slide. Read the following text to the
participants.)
Now it’s time for a short review exercise. Please take a few minutes now and complete
a short Unit 7 Knowledge Check on page 7-6 in your workbook. We’ll go over the
answers when you’re finished.
(Allow about 5 minutes for the Knowledge Check. When the participants are
finished, review the answers on the next page, and then continue to Unit 8 –
Paired-Practice Reinterviews.)
7-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Unit 7: Knowledge Check Answer Key
Provide the correct answers to the following.
1. “Respondent Can’t Remember” is what type of Noninterview?
Type A.
2. Type B and C Noninterviews happen often in NCVS Reinterview.
a. ☐ True
b. ☒ False
Correct answer:
It will be very rare.
3. You will almost always select “Unable to Determine” on the FALSIF Screen for
Noninterviews.
a. ☒ True
b. ☐ False
You should almost always select “Unable to Determine” because you will
not reach a knowledgeable respondent about the interview at the time of
production.
7-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Notes
7-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, the training participants will have obtained additional
hands-on practice by completing four paired-practice NCVS CATI reinterviews.
Presenter’s outline
Paired-Practice Reinterviews ................................................................................. 8-2
Case ID 38 – Control Number 609004169 J27 02 199 ............................. 8-4
Case ID 16 – Control Number 669004301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-6
Case ID 11 – Control Number 659004301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-8
Case ID 13 – Control Number 919234301 J27 01 100 ............................. 8-9
Required materials
• Computer and projection system
• PowerPoint slides
• Form 11-171 – National Crime Victimization Survey Quality Control
Reinterview Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing Reinterviewer Training
Workbook, April 2016
Note for the presenter
The training participants will need individual case number equivalents for the
above-listed cases that will be completed in this training unit.
8-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Paired-Practice Reinterviews
(Show the “Paired-Practice Reinterviews” slide. Read the following text to
the training participants.)
Turn to the Unit 8 – Paired-Practice Reinterviews on page 8-2 in your workbook.
(Pause.)
There are four paired-practice interview cases that you’ll complete for this training
unit. Each of you will have a partner for the reinterviews. One person will play
the Respondent role and the other person will play the Reinterviewer role.
Change roles so that both you and your partner have the opportunity to obtain more
practice with conducting the reinterview and becoming more familiar with the
NCVS CATI RI instrument.
After you have located your case(s) in WebCATI, you can go ahead and begin the
reinterview(s).
8-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
(Be sure that each participant has a partner for the reinterviews. If there are
an odd number of participants, you or your assistant should be a partner. If
necessary, assist the participants in locating and accessing cases in WebCATI.
After the participants have finished the paired-practice reinterviews, ask if
there are any questions about the training and allow time for discussion.
If there is more time or anything you would like to cover, the following Case
IDS can be used for additional practice. Case IDs 38, 16, 11, and 13)
Have the participants complete the Training Evaluation form.)
8-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 38
Control Number:
609004169 J27 02 199
Caseid:
38
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
No Suspected Falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1(Yes)
RIRESP
Enter 1 (Jack Sprat)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
1 (Personal visit only)
POLITE
1 (Yes)
LENGTH_H
Enter 1 (hour)
LENGTH_M
Enter 25 (minutes)
LAPTOP
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_1
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
8-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Screen
Selection
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2 (No)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2 (No)
RI_SQSEXUAL
2 (No)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
1 (Yes)
RI_SQCALLPOLICESPEC
“Someone ran over the mailbox”
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
2 (No)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF
2 (No)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case16
Control Number:
669004301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
16
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Discrepancy (Incorrect Household Roster), no suspected falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1 (Yes)
RIRESP
Enter 1 (Jane Voe)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
3 (Both)
POLITE
2 (No)
PO_NOTES
Enter “Hounded me”
LENGTH_H
Enter 1
LENGTH_M
Enter 0
LAPTOP
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_1
2 (No)
ROSTER_2
2 (Andrew Voe)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME
19 ($25,000 - $29,999)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
8-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Screen
Selection
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_THANKHR
1 (Continue)
RI_SPEAKTOSP
3 (No, sample person will not be available.)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_DESCRIPTSP
5 (You could NOT complete reinterview with
Andrew Voe because of a reason not listed
above. Specify in Reinterview notes.)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF
2 (No)
DISCREP_NOTES
1 (Continue)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 11
Control Number:
659004301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
11
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode: CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Noninterview, Type A – No falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
5 (No longer there)
HHMEM_CT
1 (Yes)
PROX_ C_CT
2 (No)
HELL_PRB_RI_CT
8 (No knowledgeable proxy available)
Show_Ctrl
1 (continue)
8-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 13
Control Number:
919234301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
13
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Discrepancy (No laptop used), suspected falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1 (Yes)
RIRESP
1 (Andy Voe)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
1 (Personal Visit)
POLITE
1 (Yes)
LENGTH_H
0 hour
LENGTH_M
20 minutes
LAPTOP
2 (No)
ROSTER_1
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
AGE_CHECK (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
8-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
MARITAL_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME
20 ($30,000 - $34,999)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
2
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2 (No)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWOFF
2 (No)
RI_SQSEXUAL
2 (No)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF2
1 (Continue)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Notes
8-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide
Form 11-171
April 2016
National Crime Victimization Survey
Quality Control Reinterview
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing
(CATI)
Reinterviewer Training Workbook
This document contains no Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable
Information (PII). All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual
data is coincidental.
Table of Contents
About this training.................................................................................................. About-i
Unit 1 – Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance ............................. 1-1
Training Objectives................................................................................................................ 1-2
NCVS Overview .................................................................................................................... 1-3
Quality Assurance .................................................................................................................. 1-8
Unit 2 – NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes ................................................... 2-1
What is Reinterview (RI)? ..................................................................................................... 2-2
Cases Selected for Reinterview .................................................................................. 2-2
Case Types ................................................................................................................. 2-4
Noninterviews ............................................................................................................ 2-5
Cases Eligible for Reinterview .............................................................................................. 2-7
Production Outcome Codes........................................................................................ 2-8
Reinterview Outcome Codes...................................................................................... 2-9
Unit 2 Knowledge Check..................................................................................................... 2-12
Unit 3 – NCVS RI Instrument ....................................................................................... 3-1
NCVS RI Instrument ............................................................................................................. 3-2
Front of the Instrument ............................................................................................... 3-2
Middle of the Instrument ............................................................................................ 3-3
Back of the Instrument ............................................................................................... 3-3
Preview of Instrument Main Screens ..................................................................................... 3-4
TOC-i
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Table of Contents
Unit 3 – CATI Reinterview Instrument, continued
Example Case 28 ........................................................................................................ 3-5
Unit 3 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 3-8
Unit 4 – Discrepancies and Finding Errors .................................................................. 4-1
What is a Discrepancy?.......................................................................................................... 4-2
Applicable RI Discrepancies ................................................................................................. 4-2
NCVS Reinterview Discrepancy Codes ................................................................................ 4-4
Unit 4 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 4-5
Unit 5 – Data Falsification ............................................................................................. 5-1
Confirming Case Type – RI_OUTCM screen .................................................................. 5-2
What is Data Falsification? .............................................................................................. 5-3
When Falsification is suspected ............................................................................ 5-3
Guidance for Suspecting Falsification .................................................................. 5-4
FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens .............................................................................. 5-6
Required RI Notes ............................................................................................................ 5-8
Unit 5 Review Activity ..................................................................................................... 5-9
Unit 6 – Walk-through Reinterviews ............................................................................ 6-1
Reinterview Walk-throughs ................................................................................................... 6-2
Steps for Accessing a Case in WebCATI .................................................................. 6-3
Case ID 9 – Control Number 919114301 J27 01 100 .............................................. 6-4
Case ID 15 – Control Number 619544369 J27 01 100 ............................................ 6-6
TOC-ii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Table of Contents
Unit 6 – Walk-through Reinterviews, continued
Case ID 27 – Control Number 609004169 J27 01 199 ............................................ 6-8
Case ID 30 – Control Number 609544469 J26 02 200 .......................................... 6-10
Case ID 37 – Control Number 919154201A J27 01B100 ....................................... 6-11
Unit 7 – Reinterview Noninterviews ............................................................................. 7-1
Type A Noninterviews ........................................................................................................... 7-2
Type B and C Noninterviews ................................................................................................ 7-2
Type D Noninterviews ........................................................................................................... 7-3
Noninterview Case Examples ................................................................................................ 7-4
Unit 7 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 7-6
Unit 8 – Paired-Practice Reinterviews .......................................................................... 8-1
Paired-Practice Reinterviews ................................................................................................. 8-2
Case ID 38 – Control Number 609004169 J27 02 199 ............................................ 8-3
Case ID 16 – Control Number 669004301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-5
Case ID 11 – Control Number 659004301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-7
Case ID 13 – Control Number 919234301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-8
TOC-iii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
About this Training
Welcome to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Reinterviewer
Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) training. This training provides you with
specific knowledge and practice exercises so that you can complete NCVS telephone
reinterviews efficiently and effectively. The training is delivered through classroom
discussions, review exercises/activities, and walk-through practice interviews.
This participants’ workbook/manual contains all of the NCVS Reinterview (RI) information
that you need for this training. It can serve as a reference after training while you conduct the
reinterviews.
The training lasts approximately five hours and includes a 15-minute break. The instructor
will designate the time for the 15-minute break.
We hope you enjoy the course and we encourage your participation!
About-i
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
About this Training
Notes
About-ii
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will:
• Know the objectives of the training.
• Have basic information about the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).
• Know about Quality Assurance.
This unit also provides you with an opportunity to introduce yourself and meet the other
training participants.
Unit outline
Training Objectives................................................................................................................ 1-2
NCVS Overview .................................................................................................................... 1-3
Quality Assurance .................................................................................................................. 1-8
1-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Training Objectives
The objectives of this training are for you to:
• Receive an overview about the National Crime Victimization Survey, or what’s known
as NCVS;
• Learn about Quality Assurance;
• Learn about the NCVS Reinterview case types;
• Learn about the Reinterview outcome codes;
• Learn about the Reinterview instrument;
• Learn about interview discrepancies and finding errors;
• Learn about data falsification; and
• Receive hands-on practice with completing the NCVS reinterviews.
1-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
NCVS Overview
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS), provides detailed information about people victimized by certain types of
crime, such as theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, robbery, assault, rape and purse
snatching/pocket picking.
The NCVS also serves as a vehicle for obtaining supplemental data on crime and the criminal
justice system, including:
• Perceptions of contact with police officers;
• Stalking;
• Identity theft; and
• Crime in schools.
This supplemental information is collected periodically along with the standard NCVS data.
The NCVS serves a variety of roles and is the only ongoing national program that can provide
information not only on how much crime occurs and who is victimized by that crime, but also
tell us about the impact crime has on victims. The NCVS measures crimes both reported and
not reported to police.
Methodology
The Census Bureau administers the NCVS to persons 12 years of age or older using a
scientifically selected sample of households in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Every 6 months, thousands of housing units and other living quarters, such as college
dormitories and religious group dwellings, are designated for sample. Each selected address
is interviewed once every 6 months over a 3-year period for a total of 7 interviews.
Since addresses are selected for the sample and not the people in the household themselves, if
a family moves away while the address is still in the sample, the new family that moves into
1-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
the housing unit will be interviewed.
Every eligible person in the household is interviewed for the NCVS. People who are
ineligible to be interviewed include: crew members of merchant vessels, armed forces
personnel living in military barracks, and persons living in institutions, such as correctional
facilities and hospitals.
The NCVS is a completely computerized survey and is administered by Census Bureau field
representatives across the country through both personal and telephone interviews. The first
interview with a household is always conducted in person. Whenever possible, subsequent
NCVS interviews are conducted by telephone.
Survey Questions
The NCVS begins by building a roster of people who usually live at the household or
confirming the status of the household if it is unoccupied. We collect names, ages, birthdays,
relationships, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status. We then ask a series of questions
about participation in the military and educational attainment. After a roster with
demographics is established, we ask questions to determine whether any of the household
members were victimized by crime during the 6-month reference period. These questions are
referred to as screening portion of the NCVS. This portion of the NCVS is designed to give
each respondent every opportunity to remember any crime incidents that occurred during the
6-month reference period. We then collect detailed information about each reported
incidence of crime that occurred to get a clear picture of what happened during the incident.
These questions are referred to as the incident report items of the NCVS instrument. Some of
the questions the NCVS asks are:
SQTHEFT
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months,
that is, since (THE REFERENCE PERIOD). Was something belonging to you stolen, such
as-1-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
- Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase, book - Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone - Bicycle or sports equipment - Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools - Things outside your home, such as a garden hose or lawn furniture - Things belonging to children in the household - Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs
OR
- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQBREAKIN
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has anyone -- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your home by forcing a door or window, pushing
past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or entering through an open door or window?
- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
1 Yes
2 No
SQTOTALVEHICLES
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, or other motor vehicles
owned by you or any other member of this household during the last 6 months?
Include those you no longer own.
SQMVTHEFT
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, was the vehicle/were
any of the vehicles –
- Stolen or used without permission?
- Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo, hubcap, or battery?
- Did anyone steal any gas from it/them?
OR
- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or parts attached to it/them?
1 Yes
2 No
1-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
SQATTACKWHERE
Other than any incidents already mentioned, since (THE REFERENCE PREIOD), were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something stolen from you –
- At home including the porch or yard - At or near a friend’s, relative’s, or neighbor’s home - At work or school - In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or
airport- While riding in any vehicle - On the street or in a parking lot - At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or
huntingOR
- Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any
of these places?
1 Yes
2 No
SQATTACKHOW
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways –
- With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife - With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick - By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle - Include any grabbing, punching, or choking - Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual attack - Any face to face threats OR
- Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
1 Yes
2 No
SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
People often don’t think of incidents committed by someone they know. Other than any
incidents already mentioned, did you have something stolen from you or were you attacked or
threatened by –
1-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
- Someone at work or school - A neighbor or friend - A relative or family member - Any other person you have met or known?
1 Yes
2 No
SQSEXUAL
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. Other than
any incidents already mentioned, have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity by -- Someone you didn’t know - A casual acquaintance OR
- Someone you know well?
1 Yes
2 No
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
1 Yes
2 No
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, did anything which
you thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
1 Yes
2 No
1-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) is the planned and systematic evaluation of interviewer performance
during the survey cycle. The objectives of quality assurance are to:
• Ensure that interviewer performance meets minimum quality standards;
• Ensure that the data collected is of the highest quality; and
• Identify data quality issues and inform stakeholders.
NCVS Reinterview is one of the main tools to perform QA. We want to be sure that the
collected data is of the highest quality.
1-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 1: Introductions, NCVS Overview, and Quality Assurance
Notes
1-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will learn about the cases that are eligible for NCVS
Reinterview and the reinterview outcome codes.
Unit outline
What is Reinterview (RI)? ..................................................................................................... 2-2
Cases Selected for Reinterview .................................................................................. 2-2
Case Types ................................................................................................................ .2-4
Noninterviews ............................................................................................................ 2-5
Cases Eligible for Reinterview .............................................................................................. 2-7
Production Outcome Codes………………………………………………………….2-8
Reinterview Outcome Codes...................................................................................... 2-9
Unit 2 Knowledge Check..................................................................................................... 2-12
2-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
What is Reinterview?
Reinterview (RI) is a quality assurance (QA) tool that is used to measure and control errors in
the information and data that the Census Bureau collects. It is a second contact with a subset
of households interviewed in Production. The purposes of the RI is to detect errors like: an
incomplete or wrong household roster, not all questions being asked, or no laptop used to
record respondent answers, which will result in data errors.
The detection and deterring of data falsification and the monitoring of interviewer job
performance is the other goal of RI. Noting the differences between the production interview
and the reinterview is one way to accomplish the goal of detecting and deterring falsification.
Cases Selected for Reinterview
Reinterview cases are selected in two ways: through random sampling and supplemental
interview. The majority of reinterview cases are selected by random reinterview. Due to
budget and time constraints, it is not possible to check every case; by selecting
cases/households randomly, we get a selection of cases per interviewer.
An interviewer with an original assignment can also be added for supplemental reinterview.
The Regional Office (RO) and/or Census Headquarters (HQ) may place an interviewer in
supplemental reinterview for any of the following reasons:
• The interviewer is suspected of falsification;
• The interviewer has had trouble classifying noninterviews correctly;
• The interviewer has problems with other aspects of the interview procedures;
• The interviewer was hired after the reinterview sample was selected and needs to be
checked for falsification or proper classification of noninterviews; or
• The Field Supervisor (FS) or Survey Statistician Field (SSF) recommends the
interviewer for supplemental reinterview.
2-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
As an NCVS reinterviewer, you will be assigned both random and supplemental reinterview
cases. There are no differences in how these cases are handled.
Noninterviews
There are four types of NCVS noninterviews — Types A, B, C, and D — as shown in the Case
Types table on the next page.
2-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Case Types Table
Type and Description
Type
B
C
*D
When Can it Happen?
Housing
Unit?
Occupied?
Production
Eligible
for RI
RI Case
Status
The housing unit is
occupied but
unwilling or unable
to complete the
interview
Example: Refusal
X
The unit has the
potential to be
occupied but is not;
the unit does not
meet housing unit
eligibility
requirements
Example: Vacant
X
The unit does not
have the potential to
be occupied by a
household
Example:
Demolished
X
X
A new household
has replaced the old
household since the
production
interview
Example: Jones
moved, Smiths live
here now
N/A
Description
The housing unit is
Interview occupied and did the
interview
A
How to Identify
* For NCVS, Type D noninterviews can occur only in Reinterview.
2-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Type A Noninterview
On the Type A row in the table on page 2-4, the checkmarks () under the “How to Identify” “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied?” sub-columns tell you a Type A Noninterview happens
when it is a housing unit and occupied. A description of the Type A noninterview is under the
Description column.
The checkmarks under the “When Can It Happen?” – “Production” and “RI Case Status”
sub-columns mean that you can get a Type A noninterview for the case you are working in
Production and you can also get a Type A noninterview for a case you are working in RI. The
“X” in the “Eligible for RI” sub-column means that a Type A is not eligible for reinterview.
A “refusal” is an example of a Type A noninterview.
Type B Noninterview
Type B noninterview cases are cases where the unit either has the potential to be occupied but
is not, or the unit is occupied but it is not occupied by eligible occupants. For NCVS, this
would be people who have a usual residence elsewhere or are in the military. So the Type B
row has a in “Housing unit?” and an “X” under the “Occupied ?” sub-columns. A good
example of a Type B is a vacant unit.
The checkmarks in the “Production,” “Eligible for RI,” and “RI Case Status” sub-columns
mean that you can get a Type B noninterview in Production and it is eligible to be
reinterviewed. You would just talk to the contact person or qualified proxy who confirmed
the case was a Type B instead of a household member. You can also get a Type B
noninterview for a case you are working in RI. In this case, the status has changed since the
production interview and is now “vacant” when it was occupied at time of interview.
Type C Noninterviews
Type C noninterviews are those where the unit does not have the potential to be occupied by a
household. An example of a Type C noninterview would be a case where the unit is
2-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
“demolished.” There is no housing unit, and it cannot be occupied as indicated by an “X” in
the “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied?” sub-columns. Like the Type B noninterview, the
checkmarks in the “Production,” “Eligible for RI,” and “RI Case Status” sub-columns mean
you can get a Type C noninterview for the case you are working in Production. A Type C is
also eligible for reinterview and you can get a Type C for a case you are working in RI.
Type D Noninterviews
The Type D noninterview applies to cases where the old household has moved and has been
replaced by a new household since the production interview. An example of a Type D
noninterview would be if the Jones family moved out and the Smith family now occupies the
unit. For NCVS, Type D noninterviews can only happen in RI. This is because NCVS
scientifically selects addresses, not the people in the household themselves, for the survey.
Therefore, the new family now occupying the unit would be interviewed in Production and is
eligible for reinterview.
Type D noninterviews technically do not exist in NCVS production interviews, as indicated by
the “N/A” on the Type D row in the table.
Checkmarks in the “Housing Unit?” and “Occupied ?” sub-columns show that it is a housing
unit and occupied. The difference from the “Interview” row for or Type A is that the people
occupying the housing unit have changed.
2-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Cases Eligible for Reinterview
The NCVS outcome codes for the production instrument that are eligible for reinterview are
shown in the table on page 2-8. These outcomes are categorized into types and are only for
those field cases that are eligible to be reinterviewed. In addition to other information that is
passed from the production interview to the reinterview instrument, these outcome codes allow
you to conduct the proper RI for each case.
The table has two columns – the “Outcome Code” and the “Description” of the outcome code.
First on the chart are the “201,” “203,” and “204” Complete and Sufficient partial interview
outcome codes.
Next on the table are the outcome codes for the Type B noninterview cases that are eligible for
reinterview. A Type B noninterview can occur when the unit is vacant. A Type B
noninterview can also occur when the unit is occupied, but does not meet eligibility
requirements. An example of such a unit is Outcome Code 225, which is a residence that is
“Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere,” or what is referred to as
a URE. UREs happen most frequently in places with vacation homes that people rent out for
the week or for the month.
Last on the chart are the Type C outcome codes. Type C units are those that do not have the
potential to be occupied, because they are not a housing unit.
2-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
NCVS Production Outcome Codes Eligible for Reinterview
Outcome code
Description
201
Completed interview
203
Sufficient partial – no more follow-up needed
204
Sufficient partial – follow-up needed
Type B Non-Interviews (Temporarily Ineligible)
225
Temporarily occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere
(URE)
226
Vacant – regular
227
Vacant – storage of furniture
228
Unfit or to be demolished
229
Under construction, not ready
230
Converted to temporary business or storage
231
Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
232
Permit granted, construction not started
233
Other – specify
Type C Non-Interviews (Permanently Ineligible)
240
Demolished
241
House or trailer moved
242
Outside segment
243
Convert to permanent business or storage
244
Merged
245
Condemned
247
Unused line of listing sheet
248
Other – specify
258
Unlocatable sample address
259
Unit does not exist or unit is out of scope
2-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Reinterview (RI) Outcome Codes
To conduct the proper RI for each case, the RI instrument uses the production outcome code,
along with other information that is passed to it. The RI instrument also has a set of its own
outcome codes, but it has some outcomes that the production instrument does not have, as
shown in the “NCVS Reinterview Outcome Codes” table on pages 2-10 through 2-11.
The “NCVS Reinterview Outcome Codes” table contains three columns – “Outcome Code,”
“Description,” and “RI Disposition.” The disposition of a case indicates what differences the
RI instrument detected, the status of the RI case, and whether the case is suspected of
falsification. A case that has a disposition code greater than “060” is suspected of
falsification. So for each case, there is an Outcome Code and Disposition Code combination
set for the case. The answers you collect in the reinterview will also set the Outcome Code
and RI Disposition code. The lower Outcome Code goes with the lower RI Disposition Code
and is not suspected of falsification. The higher Outcome Code goes with the higher RI
Disposition Code and is suspected of falsification. For example, under misclassified cases –
the third line – “Originally classified as a Type B, should have been a Type C,” the “064”
Outcome Code goes with the “046” in the RI Disposition column. The “064” Outcome Code
and the corresponding “046” RI Disposition code will appear on the last screen of the
instrument before you exit. For this combination, falsification is not suspected because “046”
is less than “060.”
On that same line, when “065” and “099” are a pair, falsification is suspected because “099” is
greater than “060.” You don’t need to memorize these but it will help to look at the outcome
and disposition codes at the end of the interview before exiting to make sure you coded
everything correctly.
If a line only has one number in the RI Disposition column, it means that falsification is
automatically set as suspected. An example is “065” – Discrepancy – Laptop not used. This
is always suspected of falsification.
2-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
NCVS Reinterview Outcome Codes
Outcome Code
Description
RI Disposition
001
Original interview or noninterview
verified as correct
001
065
Suspected falsification, no discrepancies
060
Originally classified as a Type B, should
have been an interview or Type A
Originally classified as a Type C, should
have been an interview or Type A
Originally classified as a Type B, should have
been a C
Originally classified as a Type C, should have
been a B
Other misclassification – specify in notes
043, 096
Wrong unit/person visited originally
Discrepancy – household not contacted
Discrepancy – laptop not used
Discrepancy – bad telephone number
Discrepancy – not all questions asked in
original interview
Discrepancy – use of proxy in original when
self response is required
Discrepancy – use of ineligible proxy when
when proxy is allowed
Discrepancy – incorrect household roster
Discrepancy – telephone interview when
personal visit required
Discrepancy – Other
Discrepancy – incorrect demographic data
on roster
Discrepancy – incorrect income and/or tenure
data
065
066
112
003,105
005, 062
Misclassified Cases
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
044, 097
046, 099
048, 101
058, 103
Discrepancy Cases
065
065
065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
064/065
006, 063
007, 064
009, 061
011, 111
012, 066
035, 126
036,127
2-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
NCVS Reinterview Outcome Codes, continued
Type A Noninterviews
Standard List of Noninterviews such as Answer Machine Message left,
Language Problem, etc.
Type B Noninterviews
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
Vacant, regular or seasonal
Vacant, storage of HH furniture
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied mobile home, trailer, or tent site
Household institutionalized or temporarily
ineligible
Unfit, to be demolished
017, 071
019, 073
020, 074
021, 075
022, 076
Entire HH under or over age limit
Temporarily occupied by persons with
Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE)
Other Type B
038, 091
039, 092
023, 077
041, 094
Type C Noninterviews
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
066/067
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Convert to permanent business or storage
Condemned
Deceased
Moved out of country
Other Type C
024, 078
025, 079
026, 080
027, 081
030, 083
031, 084
042, 095
Type D Noninterviews
NA/NA
Household replaced by new household
since the original interview
032, 085
2-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Unit 2 Knowledge Check
Provide the correct answers for the following:
1. Both random and supplemental reinterview cases will be assigned to you.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
2. To conduct the proper RI for each case, the RI instrument uses the production outcome
code, along with other information that is passed to it.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
3. All noninterviews are eligible to be in Reinterview.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
4. A “Demolished” unit is an example of a Type B noninterview.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
2-12
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 2: NCVS RI Case Types and Outcome Codes
Notes
2-13
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will have received an overview about the NCVS
Reinterview instrument.
Unit outline
NCVS RI Instrument ............................................................................................................. 3-2
Front of the Instrument ............................................................................................... 3-2
Middle of the Instrument ............................................................................................ 3-3
Back of the Instrument ............................................................................................... 3-3
Preview of Instrument Main Screens ..................................................................................... 3-4
Example Case 28 ........................................................................................................ 3-5
Unit 3 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 3-8
3-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
NCVS RI Instrument
Information is passed to the RI instrument from the Production interview. Based on that
information, the RI instrument displays the proper interview questions for the reinterviewer.
The RI instrument contains three sections – Front, Middle, and Back. Each section contains
different types of questions depending upon the information passed from the production
interview.
Front of the Instrument
The front of the RI instrument contains the screens that help the reinterviewer contact the
household. These screens include the introduction screen, respondent name or contact
person’s name, and telephone number. For RI, remember that sometimes you will be
contacting a household member, and sometimes you will be contacting a contact person. In
the case of noninterviews, that contact person could a neighbor, mailman, real estate agent, or
anyone knowledgeable.
The NCVS RI respondent is the person who responded in the original interview. If the
household respondent is unavailable, a proxy is allowed to complete the reinterview. The
proxy respondent must be a household member that is 18 years of age or older.
For cases treated as Type B and C original noninterviews, proxies are also acceptable if the
contact person is unavailable. The proxy respondent must be 18 years of age or older and
knowledgeable about the status of the sample unit.
You may have up to 3 phone numbers to choose from. You should use the main phone
number to contact the household, unless something in the Production notes indicates that one
of the other numbers would be more useful or a respondent requests one of the other numbers.
3-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Middle of the Instrument
The middle of the NCVS RI instrument includes those screens that are specific to NCVS to
check that the FR followed procedures and to check that specific questions were asked. The
number and types of screens that appear in the middle of the RI instrument depend upon the
information passed from the production interview.
In addition, the NCVS RI instrument includes questions for a response error (RE) analysis.
The RE analysis includes re-asking some crime victimization questions in order to analyze the
consistency of responses. The RE questions are asked of the household respondent and of a
randomly chosen RE sample person only for complete original interviews. It is possible for
the household respondent and the RE sample person to be the same person. You will not
select either of them. The NCVS RI instrument automatically fills the names of the
household respondent and RE sample person when appropriate.
If the RE sample person is not available, the RI instrument will NOT allow a proxy to answer
questions for the RE sample person. However, the RI instrument will guide you through what
to do when the RE sample person is unavailable. You will have the option of scheduling a
time to complete the reinterview with the RE sample if they will be available prior to closeout.
A case will still be considered a complete reinterview even if you are unable to reach the RE
sample person prior to closeout.
Questions that appear in the middle of the instrument are from the following areas: interview
verification, date of birth, household roster, demographic characteristic verification (such as
age, sex marital status, etc.), and verification of household income and tenure. Household
crime and person crime, screener questions may also be asked.
Back of the Instrument
The back of the NCVS RI instrument includes screens that help you to reschedule or wrap up
the reinterview. Examples of these screens include the appointment screen and thanking the
3-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
respondent or contact person. After hanging up with the respondent, the two most important
questions are answered by you; verifying the status is correct and whether to suspect
falsification.
Preview of Instrument Main Screens
Case ID 28 on page 3-6, will be completed as a preview of the main screens of the RI
instrument. The titles in the “Screen” column are the names of the screens that appear when
working through the reinterview. The “Selection/Action” column has the options you will
select on each screen.
3-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Steps for accessing Case ID 28 in WebCATI
1. Log on to WebCATI Production.
2. Click on “1. Conduct an Interview.”
3. Click on the “Survey” drop down arrow, and select NCVS QCRI Trn (tctt for Tucson)
from the list, and then click “Select Survey.”
4. Under “Search for Specific Case,” enter your equivalent case number to 28 into the
Case ID: field, and then click “Search.”
5. Be sure that you have selected Case 28, and click on the red “SELECT” in the Select
column.
The WebCATI screen for Case ID 28 appears.
6. Click on “2. Go to Dial” under the Navigation section of the screen.
7. On the “Dial” screen, click on the radio button for the respondent’s phone number.
8. Click “3. Dial Selected Number” under the Navigation section of the screen.
9. On the “Dial Outcome” screen, click “9. Start Interview” under the “Record Your Dial
Attempt” section of the screen.
3-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Caseid 28 Reinterview
Control Number:
Caseid:
919214159 J27 01 100
28
Mode:
CATI
Original
Outcome:
Complete
Original Case Description:
1 Person HH
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes
RIRESP
Enter 1
CONTACT_C
1. Yes
ORMODE
1. Personal Visit Only
POLITE
1. Yes
LENGTH_H
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 45
LAPTOP
1. Yes
ROSTER_1
1. Yes
ROSTER_3
2. No
AGE_CHECK
1. Yes
SEX_VER
1. Yes
RACE_VER
1. Yes
ORIGIN_VER
1. Yes
MARITAL_VER
1. Yes
RI_HHINCOME_VER
1. Yes
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1. Yes
RI_SQTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQBREAKIN
2. No
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
3-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2. No
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2. No
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2. No
RI_SQSEXUAL
2. No
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
FALSIF
2. No
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
3-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Unit 3 Knowledge Check
Provide the correct answers for the following statements.
1. The middle of the instrument always asks the same questions for NCVS RI.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
2. What are the two questions you need to answer after you hang up with the respondent?
_________________ and ________________
3. The FALSIF screen asks the reinterviewer if falsification is suspected.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
4. The ________________ screen begins the reinterview wrap up by _________ the
respondent for their help and cooperation.
a. ☐
POLITE, asking
b. ☐
THANK_YOU, thanking
3-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 3: NCVS RI Instrument
Notes
3-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will know about finding production interview discrepancies and
errors.
Unit outline
What is a Discrepancy?.......................................................................................................... 4-2
Applicable RI Discrepancies ................................................................................................. 4-2
NCVS Reinterview Discrepancy Codes ................................................................................ 4-4
Unit 4 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 4-5
4-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
What is a Discrepancy?
A “discrepancy” is a difference detected between the reinterview and production interview. It
indicates that the information given in the production interview is not matching the information
you obtained from the reinterview respondent.
A discrepancy could also indicate that the production interviewer did not follow procedures. One
example is that a laptop was not used for a personal visit with the respondent.
Applicable RI Discrepancies
For NCVS RI, there are ten applicable/possible discrepancies. These discrepancies are described
in the “NCVS Reinterview Discrepancy Code” table on page 4-4.
There are ten defined discrepancies codes in the NCVS RI instrument, but the discrepancies are
not numbered sequentially in the table. The reason for this is that the codes are for all surveys,
but not all codes are used for all surveys.
If the reinterview finds any discrepancies, one or more of the discrepancy codes in the table will be
listed on the FALSIF screen, where the falsification determination is made in the RI instrument.
If the information the RI respondent gives matches the information given in the production
interview and the interviewer followed procedures, then the case will not have any discrepancies.
However, a case could generate more than one discrepancy code.
For NCVS RI, the instrument will automatically suspect falsification when discrepancy code
numbers 1, 5, and 10 appear on the FALSIF2 screen.
For discrepancy codes 2 and 6, the status of the production case was not correct. These
discrepancies usually appear together. The difference is for 6, the respondent indicated the error,
and for 2, you confirmed the status as incorrect.
For discrepancy 3, the status of the case was completed by observation in the original interview,
4-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
and it is discovered in reinterview that the original status is incorrect.
For discrepancy 7, there is some sort of error in the roster.
You will only receive discrepancy 11 when you indicate you reached a phone number not
connected to the respondent or the housing unit in the instrument.
For discrepancies 13 and 14, the responses in the middle of RI determine if the demographic
characteristics and the household and/or tenure were recorded correctly in the production
interview. An example for discrepancy 13 would be if all of a single person’s characteristics
were incorrect, then that may mean the person’s information was falsified.
You can suspect falsification when a case generates a discrepancy other than 1, 5, or 10, but that is
an exception.
4-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
NCVS Reinterview Discrepancy Codes
Discrepancy
Number
Description
*1
The reinterview respondent said no one contacted the household
regarding this survey.
2
You determined that the original status was incorrect.
3
The status of the case was completed by observation in the original
interview. You determined that the original status was incorrect.
*5
The interviewer classified interview/Type A unit as Type B/C.
6
The reinterview respondent indicated that the original status was
incorrect.
7
The household roster is incorrect.
*10
This case was done by a personal visit and the reinterview
respondent said the interviewer did not use a laptop.
11
The interviewer entered a bad telephone number for this case.
13
Demographic characteristic(s) was/were incorrectly recorded on
roster.
14
The household income and/or tenure was/were incorrectly recorded.
*At least one of these codes means “Yes” for suspected falsification.
4-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Unit 4: Knowledge Check
Provide the correct answers to the following statements and questions.
1. A ____________ is a difference detected between the reinterview and production
interview.
2. The “Big 3” discrepancy codes are 1, 5, and 10.
a.
☐
True
b.
☐
False
3. Falsification cannot be suspected when a case generates a discrepancy other than 1, 5, and
10.
a.
☐
True
b.
☐
False
4-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 4: Discrepancies and Finding Errors
Notes
4-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will have received information about data falsification and
the RI Outcome screen, the FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens, and using RI notes for suspected
falsification.
Unit outline
Confirming Case Type – RI_OUTCM screen .................................................................. 5-2
What is Data Falsification? .............................................................................................. 5-3
When to Suspect Falsification ............................................................................... 5-3
Guidance for Suspecting Falsification .................................................................. 5-4
FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens .............................................................................. 5-6
Required RI Notes ............................................................................................................ 5-8
Unit 5 Review Activity ..................................................................................................... 5-9
5-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Confirming Case Type
RI_OUTCM screen
The RI_OUTCM screen (below) is where you do your first step to determine if the case is
suspected of falsification. Look at the NCVS RI Case Types table on page 2-4.
For the RI_OUTCM screen, you will use the first two columns in this table to decide if the case
type is correct. You have to ask yourself two main questions – “Is the case a housing
unit?” and “Is the unit occupied?” – based on what happened in Reinterview. Answers to
both of these questions will tell you the status. If the status in RI matches the status listed on
the RI_OUTCM screen, then you can say that the case type is correct.
5-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
What is Data Falsification?
Discrepancies can be used to detect falsification. It does not, however, mean that there is
falsification. Data falsification occurs when the interviewer knowingly deviates from
interviewing procedures by:
• Making up some or all of the information;
• Intentionally not following established survey procedures;
• Deliberately miscoding the answer to a question to avoid follow-up questions;
• Intentionally misclassifying occupied units as Type B or C noninterviews; or
• Intentionally misreporting the household roster.
Falsification is not the result when the interviewer missed a household member or included a
household member by mistake. It also is not falsification when the interviewer mistakenly
misclassified a housing unit as vacant when in fact the housing unit is now temporary storage.
Just because there are errors in the case does not mean there is suspected falsification.
When Falsification is suspected
The “Guidance for Suspecting Falsification” table on page 5-4 details the conditions under
which falsification is suspected. The left column of the table shows the discrepancy numbers
and the combinations of numbers that are displayed on the FALSIF or FALSIF2 screens. The
right column shows the option you will select, depending on the discrepancy numbers.
5-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Guidance for Suspecting Falsification*
If the FALSIF or FALSIF 2 screen
displays discrepancy…
1
The reinterview respondent said no one
contacted this household regarding this
survey.
5
The interviewer classified
Interview/Type A unit as Type B/C.
Then…
Falsification is automatically suspected.
The FALSIF2 screen is displayed.
10 This case was done by a personal visit
and the reinterview respondent said the
interviewer did not use a laptop.
1 with any other discrepancy number
5 with any other discrepancy number
Falsification is automatically suspected.
The FALSIF2 screen is displayed.
10 with any other discrepancy number
2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14 (not 1, 5, or 10)
No Discrepancies*
* For complete Reinterviews.
Usually Select 2. No on FALSIF.
Always Select 2. No on FALSIF
See Unit 7 for how to handle noninterviews.
If any discrepancies 1, 5, or 10 appear alone or as a combination with any other discrepancy
numbers, falsification is automatically suspected, and the instrument will display the FALSIF2
screen.
If the FALSIF screen displays discrepancies 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, or any combination of these
numbers, you will usually select “2” on the FALSIF screen. The one exception is if you have
discrepancies 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, or some combination of these numbers on the FALSIF
screen and the respondent gives you some indication that the interviewer knowingly and
intentionally did not collect the correct data. In this case, you can select “1” on the FALSIF
screen, and provide full details in the case notes. Listening closely to the respondent will help
you determine if an interviewer’s error was intentional or a mistake. For example, you will
5-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
suspect falsification when the respondent or contact person leads you to believe the NCVS
interviewer did not conduct an interview with the household and possibly made up the data
entered during production. When suspecting falsification, the emphasis should be on
the intent of the interviewer.
If there are no discrepancies, you will always select “2” on the FALSIF screen.
5-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
The FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens
FALSIF screen
The FALSIF screen has very specific responses to the question, “Do you suspect
falsification?” Entering “1. Yes” on this screen means you do suspect falsification, and
entering “2. No” means you do not suspect falsification. There is also a third option for when
you are “Unable to determine” if falsification has occurred. When you enter “3,” it means
you are unsure if there is falsification because the respondent could not provide enough
information, or the reinterview is a noninterview.
Always take your time and correctly answer the FALSIF question as you complete the
reinterview. The FALSIF screen is one of the last few screens you will see in the reinterview
instrument, so it is easy to quickly enter 1’s and exit the instrument. Entering “Yes” for
suspected falsification when there is no valid reason is your error as a reinterviewer.
5-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
FALSIF2 screen
The FALSIF2 Screen appears when one of the Big 3 Discrepancies – 1, 5, or 10 is found in
Reinterview. Your only option is to suspect falsification.
5-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Required RI Notes
When a case is suspected of falsification, your notes are the first step in the investigation
process. Make your notes as clear and thorough as possible because what you include, or fail
to include, may be critical to resolving the situation. In addition, you are to use the RI notes to
document all call attempts and provide the ROs with detailed information concerning a case.
Required RI Notes contents when falsification is suspected
Your notes should indicate whom you spoke with when you conducted the reinterview.
Provide details about the case and why you suspect falsification. Listed below are the
required RI case notes contents when you suspect falsification:
1. Indicate whom you spoke with.
2. Detail the cause of concern with the case (what led to your suspicion about the case).
a. What
b. Where
c. When
d. How
3. Indicate who to follow up with, if different from whom you spoke with.
4. Note any special incidents with the case (ex: The interviewer scheduled a call back, but
never called or the interviewer asked a few questions and noted answers on a piece of
paper.).
5. Indicate falsification concerns (ex: The interviewer said the respondent did not have to
do the interview or no one ever came to respondent’s residence.)
5-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Unit 5 Review Activity
This activity is called “Neighbor Nudge.” For this activity, you will “nudge” your neighbor –
the person sitting to the left or right of you – and share with him or her two or more things that
you have learned about when to suspect data falsification and how to document it. If
necessary, please share with more than one person.
If needed, you can refer to your workbook for this activity.
5-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 5: Data Falsification
Notes
5-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will have obtained some hands-on practice with the NCVS
CATI reinterviews and instrument.
Unit outline
Reinterview Walk-throughs ................................................................................................... 6-2
Steps for Accessing a Case in WebCATI ................................................................... 6-3
Case ID 9 – Control Number 919114301 J27 01 100 .............................................. 6-4
Case ID 15 – Control Number 619544369 J27 01 100 ............................................ 6-6
Case ID 27– Control Number 609004169 J27 01 199 ............................................. 6-8
Case ID 30 – Control Number 609544469 J26 02 200 .......................................... 6-10
Case ID 37 – Control Number 919154201A J27 01B100 ....................................... 6-11
6-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Reinterview Walk-throughs
In this training unit, you will complete some reinterviews so that you will obtain hands-on
practice with the NCVS RI instrument.
You will complete reinterviews that cover various scenarios – those reinterviews with
discrepancy codes other than 1, 5, and 10, and some with suspected falsification reinterview
discrepancies 1, 5, and 10.
The titles in the “Screen” column are the names of the screens that you will see as you
proceed through the interviews. The “Selection/Action” column has the respondents’
answers and actions for the Interviewer.
You will play the role of the Reinterviewer and read aloud the interview questions that
appear on your computer screen. The presenter will play the respondent role and read aloud
the responses shown in the Response/Action column, and any keystrokes that are shown in
the Response/Action column.
The first reinterview is Case 9 on page 6-4.
Do not work ahead and stop the presenter if you are falling behind.
6-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Steps for accessing a Case in WebCATI
Click on the Start button at the lower-left corner of the screen.
1. Log on to WebCATI production.
2. Click on “1. Conduct an Interview.”
3. Click on the “Survey” drop down arrow, and select NCVS QCRI Trn (tctt for
Tucson) from the list, and then click “Select Survey.”
4. Under “Search for Specific Case,” enter your Case 1 equivalent into the Case ID:
field, and then click “Search.”
5. Be sure that you have selected Case 1, and click on the red “SELECT” in the Select
column.
6. Click on “2. Go to Dial” under the Navigation section of screen.
7. On the “Dial” screen, click on the radio button for the respondent’s phone number.
8. Click “3. Dial Selected Number” under the Navigation section of screen.
9. On the “Dial Outcome” screen, click “9. Start Interview” under the “Record Your
Dial Attempt” section of the screen.
6-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Case 9 – Complete case without discrepancies; household respondent and RE sample
person are different people; no suspected falsification
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes
RIRESP
Enter 1. Jane Voe
CONTACT_C
1. Yes
ORMODE
2. Telephone call only
POLITE
1. Yes
LENGTH_H
Enter 1
LENGTH_M
Enter 10
ROSTER_1
1. Yes
ROSTER_3
2. No
AGE_CHECK (LNO 1)
1. Yes
SEX_VER (LNO 1)
1. Yes
RACE_VER (LNO 1)
1. Yes
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 1)
1. Yes
MARITAL_VER (LNO 1)
1. Yes
AGE_CHECK (LNO 2)
1. Yes
SEX_VER (LNO 2)
1. Yes
RACE_VER (LNO 2)
1. Yes
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 2)
1. Yes
MARITAL_VER (LNO 2)
1. Yes
RI_HHINCOME
21. $35,000 - $39,999
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1. Yes
RI_SQTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQBREAKIN
2. No
6-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
2
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2. No
RI_THANKHR
1. Continue
RI_SPEAKTOSP
1. Yes, sample person is available.
RI_INTROSP
1. Continue
RI_QUESTYPESP
1. Continue
RI_SQATTCKWHERE
2. No
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2. No
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2. No
RI_SQSEXUAL
2. No
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
FALSIF
2. No
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
6-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Case 15 – Complete case with discrepancy (roster incorrect); however no suspected
falsification
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes
RIRESP
Enter 2. Megan Moe
CONTACT_C
1. Yes
ORMODE
1. Personal visit only
POLITE
1. Yes
LENGTH_H
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 40
LAPTOP
1. Yes
ROSTER_1
2. No
ROSTER_2
1. LN 1 Ted Moe
ROSTER_3
2. No
AGE_CHECK
1. Yes
SEX_VER
1. Yes
RACE_VER
1. Yes
ORIGIN_VER
1. Yes
MARITAL_VER
1. Yes
RI_HHINCOME
22. $40,000 – $49,990
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1. Yes
RI_SQTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQBREAKIN
2. No
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2. No
6-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2. No
RI_SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
2. No
RI_SQSEXUAL
2. No
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
FALSIF
2. No
DISCREP_NOTES
1. Continue
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
6-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Case 27 – Complete case with discrepancy (incorrect demographic data on roster);
Falsification suspected
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes
RIRESP
Enter 1
CONTACT_C
1. Yes
ORMODE
2. Telephone call only.
POLITE
1. Yes
LENGTH_H
Enter 0
LENGTH_M
Enter 10
ROSTER_1
1. Yes
ROSTER_3
2. No
AGE_CHECK
2. No
AGE_RANGE
6. 25-34 years old
SEX_VER
1. Yes
RACE_VER
2. No
RACE
3. American Indian or Alaskan Native
ORIGIN_VER
2. No
MARITAL_VER
2. No
MARITAL
3. Divorced
RI_HHINCOME
1. Yes
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1. Yes
RI_SQTHEFT
1. Yes
RI_SQTHEFTTIMES
1
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC
Enter “Purse stolen”
RI_SQBREAKIN
2. No
6-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Screen
Selection/Action
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2. No
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2. No
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2. No
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2. No
RI_SQSEXUAL
2. No
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2. No
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
FALSIF
1. Yes
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
6-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Case 30 – Complete case with discrepancy (household NOT contacted); Falsification
suspected
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
3. No; recording is turned off. Continue
with interview.
RIRESP
Enter 1
CONTACT_C
2. No
SOMEONE_ELSE
2. No
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
1. Yes
FALSIF2
1. Yes
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
6-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Case 37 – Reinterview noninterview; respondent cannot remember
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
1. Correct Person
INTRO_TC_CT
1. Yes
INTROB_RI_CT
1. Yes; continue with the interview.
RIRESP
Enter 1
CONTACT_C
Ctrl D
SOMEONE_ELSE
Ctrl D
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
RI_OUTCM
3. Reinterview Noninterview
NONINT
1. Type A Noninterview.
TYPEA
7. Respondent can’t remember.
FALSIF
3. Unable to determine
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
6-11
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 6: Walk-through Reinterviews
Notes
6-12
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will understand how to handle noninterviews in NCVS
Reinterview.
Unit outline
Type A Noninterviews ........................................................................................................... 7-2
Type B and C Noninterviews ................................................................................................ 7-2
Type D Noninterviews ........................................................................................................... 7-3
Example Noninterview Cases ................................................................................................ 7-4
Unit 7 Knowledge Check....................................................................................................... 7-6
7-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Noninterviews
Type A Noninterviews
You will get all the typical noninterviews in NCVS RI just like other surveys, such as Ring No
Answers, Refusals, Language Problems, etc. They are the “Type A” noninterviews. You reach
the housing unit and it has a person who can answer but you can’t get an interview. You will
handle these as normal either in WebCATI on the Dial Outcome Screen or in the Instrument Front.
The only noninterview you are probably not used to is the scenario we just covered where the
respondent cannot remember.
There is also one Type A Noninterview that results in a discrepancy. We haven’t talked about
Discrepancy 11 – the interviewer entered a bad telephone number for this case. You will get this
when you enter the instrument and you confirm that the person is unknown at that number and you
have reached the wrong address. You will still treat this as a noninterview though.
Type B and C Noninterviews
Type B and C Noninterviews have a slightly different definition in RI compared to a production
interview. You are looking at the status after the production interview. This is different from
when we confirm it should have been a Type B or C at the time of interview.
You will get a Type B or C Noninterview if you reach a respondent and they tell you the unit is no
longer an occupied housing unit like it was in production. For example, you call a respondent for
a household. They can’t answer any questions because they weren’t there at the time of the
interview but they tell you they moved out of the house AFTER the production interview. You
can mark this case as a Type B Noninterview - Vacant.
Type B and C Noninterviews can be suspected of Falsification. This is because we always allow
you to suspect falsification should you get any information that suggests it, BUT you will almost
always not have enough information in ANY of the noninterviews to suspect falsification.
7-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
You
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
will almost always select “3. Unable to Determine” no matter what you have on the FALSIF
screen.
Type B and C Noninterviews will be very rare in NCVS and even more rare in the Call Center
because you are calling just a couple days after the production interview and the change in status
will make it difficult to reach the respondent by phone.
Type D Noninterviews
Type D Noninterviews can only happen in RI and happen when one household moves out and
another household moves in. This doesn’t allow you to talk to the old respondent to review the
production interview. They are very rare in NCVS.
7-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Case 4 – Type A Noninterview
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
8. Other outcome OR problem
interviewing household
HELLO_PRB_RI_CT
1. Hard refusal.
FALSIF
2. No
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to continue.
7-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Case 10 – Type D Noninterview Review
Screen
Selection/Action
HELLO_TC_CT
4. Person unknown at this number
VERTELE_CT
1. Yes
ADDVER_CT
1. Yes
HHMEM_CT
1. Yes
PROX_UC_CT
1. Yes (Yes if respondent mentions just moving, No if Not)
LIVEHERE_CT
2. No
SOMEONE_ELSE
Ctrl D
THANK_YOU
1. Continue
STATUS_RI
2. Reinterview Noninterview
NONINT
4. Type D Noninterview
FALSIF
3. Unable to determine
READYWRAP
1. Continue
Show_Ctrl
1. Enter 1 to Continue
Exit to WebCATI.
7-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Unit 7: Knowledge Check
Provide the correct answers to the following.
1. “Respondent Can’t Remember” is what type of Noninterview?
____________________
2. Type B and C Noninterviews happen often in NCVS Reinterview.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
3. You will almost always select “Unable to Determine” on the FALSIF Screen for
Noninterviews.
a. ☐
True
b. ☐
False
7-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 7: Reinterview Noninterviews
Notes
7-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Objectives
At the conclusion of this unit, you will have obtained additional hands-on practice by
conducting paired-practice NCVS reinterviews.
Unit outline
Paired-Practice Reinterviews ................................................................................................. 8-2
Case ID 38 – Control Number 609004169 J27 02 199 ............................................ 8-3
Case ID 16 – Control Number 669004301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-5
Case ID 11 – Control Number 659004301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-7
Case ID 13 – Control Number 919234301 J27 01 100 ............................................ 8-8
8-1
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Paired-Practice Reinterviews
You will complete the following paired-practice interviews for this training unit. Each person
has a partner for the interviews. One person will play the respondent role and the other person
will play the interviewer role.
You should change roles so that both you and your partner have the opportunity to obtain more
practice with conducting the interview and using the NCVS CATI RI instrument.
8-2
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 38
Control Number:
609004169 J27 02 199
Caseid:
38
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
No Suspected Falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1(Yes)
RIRESP
Enter 1 (Jack Sprat)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
1 (Personal visit only)
POLITE
1 (Yes)
LENGTH_H
Enter 1 (hour)
LENGTH_M
Enter 25 (minutes)
LAPTOP
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_1
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
8-3
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Screen
Selection
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2 (No)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
2 (No)
RI_SQSEXUAL
2 (No)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
1 (Yes)
RI_SQCALLPOLICESPEC
“Someone ran over the mailbox”
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
2 (No)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF
2 (No)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-4
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 16
Control Number:
669004301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
16
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Discrepancy (Incorrect Household Roster), no suspected falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1 (Yes)
RIRESP
Enter 1 (Jane Voe)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
3 (Both)
POLITE
2 (No)
PO_NOTES
Enter “Hounded me”
LENGTH_H
Enter 1
LENGTH_M
Enter 0
LAPTOP
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_1
2 (No)
ROSTER_2
2 (Andrew Voe)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME
19 ($25,000 - $29,999)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
8-5
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Screen
Selection
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
1
RI_SQMVTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_THANKHR
1 (Continue)
RI_SPEAKTOSP
3 (No, sample person will not be available.)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_DESCRIPTSP
5 (You could NOT complete reinterview with
Andrew Voe because of a reason not listed
above. Specify in Reinterview notes.)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF
2 (No)
DISCREP_NOTES
1 (Continue)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-6
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 11
Control Number:
659004301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
11
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode: CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Noninterview, Type A – No falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
5 (No longer there)
HHMEM_CT
1 (Yes)
PROX_ C_CT
2 (No)
HELL_PRB_RI_CT
8 (No knowledgeable proxy available)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-7
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Case 13
Control Number:
919234301 J27 01 100
Caseid:
13
Original Outcome:
Completed interview
(201)
Mode:
CATI
Reinterview Scenario Description:
Discrepancy (No laptop used), suspected falsification
Screen
Selection
HELLO_TC_CT
1 (Correct person)
INTRO_TC_CT
1 (Yes)
INTROB_RI_CT
1 (Yes)
RIRESP
1 (Andy Voe)
CONTACT_C
1 (Yes)
ORMODE
1 (Personal Visit)
POLITE
1 (Yes)
LENGTH_H
0 hour
LENGTH_M
20 minutes
LAPTOP
2 (No)
ROSTER_1
1 (Yes)
ROSTER_3
2 (No)
AGE_CHECK (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
MARITAL_VER (LNO 1)
1 (Yes)
AGE_CHECK (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
SEX_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
RACE_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
ORIGIN_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
8-8
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
MARITAL_VER (LNO 2)
1 (Yes)
RI_HHINCOME
20 ($30,000 - $34,999)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
1 (Yes)
RI_SQTHEFT
2 (No)
RI_SQBREAKIN
2 (No)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
2
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
2 (No)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
2 (No)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF 2 (No)
RI_SQSEXUAL
2 (No)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
2 (No)
THANK_YOU
1 (Continue)
RI_OUTCM
1 (Yes)
FALSIF2
1 (Continue)
READYWRAP
1 (Continue)
Show_Ctrl
1 (Continue)
8-9
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Unit 8: Paired-Practice Reinterviews
Notes
8-10
NCVS CATI Reinterviewer Training Workbook
Form 11-172
April 2016
National Crime Victimization
Survey (NCVS)
CATI Quality Control Reinterview
SUPERVISOR’S MANUAL and SELF STUDY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
TOPIC 1: OVERVIEW OF NCVS CAPI REINTERVIEW (RI)
INTRODUCTION
This manual provides an overview of the NCVS reinterview
(RI) program and instructions for the operations associated with
it.
During NCVS interviewing, errors in responses may affect the
accuracy of the data collected. NCVS uses a second interview,
called a reinterview, to compare responses between the original
interview and the reinterview. The reinterview instrument will
mark the differences called discrepancies. Measuring these
differences helps to evaluate the accuracy of the original survey
results.
The Reinterview process helps deter field interviewers from
falsifying data and identifies when pre-established procedures
are not being followed correctly.
Reinterview is a two-step process for the CATI interviewers and
is different from other survey work. The reinterviewer will not
only conduct the survey, they will also indicate if the status of
the original interview was correct and review any discrepancies
to see if there is suspected falsification. See the NCVS QC
CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide (Form 11-170) and the
NCVS QC CATI Reinterview Workbook (Form 11-171) for
information about reinterview and the expectations for the
reinterviewer.
WORKLOAD
The contact center in Tucson will participate in NCVS
reinterview.
NCVS Reinterview will typically begin around the 2nd business
day of the month. Reinterview will typically run through the
middle of the following month. You will receive an official
schedule yearly with all key dates.
We expect to have approximately 500-600 cases a month for
NCVS RI. You will receive the workload on a flow basis.
1
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
Cases will recycle within 10 days of receipt if not sooner based
on parameters. We expect the recycle rate to be 20% - 30%.
You should instruct the interviewers to leave an answering
machine message every other day.
NOTE
No more than 15 contact attempts will be allowed!
2
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
TOPIC 2: DISCREPANCIES OR SUSPECTED FALSIFICATION
The goal of RI is to review the field interviewer’s work and
make sure they are following procedures.
It is the reinterviewers’ responsibility to contact the original
respondents and ask them questions about the original interview.
When the respondent provides an answer that is inconsistent
with the original interview, it indicates a discrepancy. Once the
reinterview is completed, the interviewer needs to decide two
things.
1. Is the outcome correct on the original interview?
2. Are the discrepancies justified to suspect falsification?
If they answer yes to the first question, they create an additional
discrepancy. If they answer yes to the second question, then the
case is suspected of falsification. If there is any discrepancy,
even if there is no suspected falsification, you will need to
review the case and make sure the interviewer keyed the case
correctly and that you agree with their coding. All cases with a
discrepancy are assigned a final code of 008 – Completed Hold
for Review.
Each case will have a unique outcome code to let you know its
status:
• Outcome 064 – Discrepancies but No Suspected
Falsification on Complete Reinterview
• Outcome 065 – Discrepancies and Suspected
Falsification on Complete Reinterview
• Outcome 066 – Type B/Type C Reinterview (With or
Without Discrepancies) No suspected Falsification
• Outcome 067 – Type B/Type C Reinterview with
Suspected Falsification
Outcomes 066 and 067 should be rare for NCVS.
All of these cases will go to a new Case Discrepancy Review
Screen. You will need to go to this regularly and act on the
3
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
cases in a timely manner. We suggest that this screen is
reviewed at least daily. We also recommend you review cases
with another person until you feel familiar enough to make these
judgment calls comfortably. Two sets of eyes are always better
than one. All of the cases in this review must be acted upon
before closeout.
To access the screen:
1) Under the Administrative Task Bar, select 11. Case and
Phone Administration choice on the Main Screen.
2) Select 8. Discrepancy Cases on the Case and Phone
Administration Screen.
3) Select the Proper Survey ID, All Outcomes (or specify if
necessary), your Telephone Center, and Select Search.
4) A list of cases that currently meet that criteria will appear
much like when you are searching for a case. Click
Select to act on the case.
5) The Case Discrepancy Review Screen will appear. As
you can see below, the review screen is in a standard
WebCATI format with key information in the title bar at
the top and details available through selections on the
side.
4
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
From this screen, you will review each case and do the
following:
1) Determine if the case was keyed correctly and the
outcome is correct.
2) Determine if the case should be forwarded to the RO and
how.
3) If necessary, fill out an 11-163 (Automated Data
Falsification Follow-up and Quality Assurance form.
4) Submit the case with the proper settings.
1) Determine if the reinterview case was keyed correctly.
(Should this case be suspected of falsification?)
Keying errors, or “Miskeys” as they are called, are common
and can be the reason that the case came in as “Suspected
Falsification” when it actually is not. The Suspected
Falsification screen called “FALSIF” is at the end of the
reinterview. The interviewer needs to take time to review
and properly select the answer on this screen. It is a very
important data item. We have found that interviewers often
enter 1 in their haste to exit the case. Selecting 1 on this
case marks it as suspected falsification even if there are no
discrepancies. In general, you are reviewing all of the
information to determine if you think this case should be
suspected of falsification.
The following things are important to review:
• The RI Outcome and Outcome Subtype (RI
Disposition Code)
• The Production and the RI Notes
• The Trace File
The first indication that the case may have been miskeyed is
a lack of extensive notes. Interviewers are trained to take
good notes explaining why the case is suspected of
falsification or not whenever there is a discrepancy. If you
review the case notes and you do not see any explanation of
the discrepancies found and why it is suspected of
5
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
falsification, then this could be a sign of a possible miskey.
If the notes do not match the outcome set for RI, this is also
a sign of a possible miskey. The notes should also indicate
to whom the interviewer spoke. It is important to note if
they did not speak to the original respondent. A discrepancy
case should possibly be a noninterview if they did not talk to
the proper person. See the NCVS QC CATI Reinterviewer
Training Guide (Form 11-170) for the outline of notes to be
expected.
If you think there is a possible issue, review the trace file.
There are certain variables that will help you determine if it
is a miskey or proper outcome.
1) If the trace file has FALSIF2 on path, the case cannot
be a CATI miskey. A major discrepancy was found
during the interview.
2) If the trace file has FALSIF on path, the case could
be a CATI miskey. If FALSIF = 1 then one of the
key variables should be answered in a way to create a
discrepancy. Below is a list of the questions that can
result in a discrepancy and the way they need to be
answered for that to happen. See the NCVS QC
CATI Reinterviewer Training Guide (Form 11-170)
to review the instrument.
Complete Production Interview:
• CONTACT_C – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• LAPTOP – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• ROSTER_1 – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• ROSTER_3 – (1. Yes results in Discrepancy)
• AGE_CHECK – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• SEX_VER – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• RACE_VER – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• ORIGIN_VER – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
6
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
• MARITAL_VER – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• RI_HHINCOME_VER – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• RI_HHTENURE_VER – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• RI_OUTCM – (2. No results in a discrepancy.
This is decided by the reinterviewer. Make
sure it coincides with the notes provided. This
would come from talking with the
respondent).
Noninterview Production Interview:
• CONTACT_N – (2. No results in
Discrepancy)
• LAPTOP – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• STATUS – (2. No results in Discrepancy)
• RI_OUTCM – (2. No results in a discrepancy.
This is decided by the reinterviewer. Make
sure it coincides with the answer in Status)
Otherwise if you see FALSIF = 2 and many of the key
variables above have the opposite answer, then the
Reinterviewer neglected to mark the case “Suspected
falsification.”
After you finish your review, you should enter a note
explaining what you reviewed and whether you determined
if it is falsification or not.
2) Should the case be forwarded to the RO and how?
The Case Discrepancy Review Screen is where you indicate
if the case should be sent to a RO supervisor and how the
case is flagged for them to review.
7
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
In general, if a case is an outcome 064 or 066, the case
should be sent to the RO for further review so they can
provide feedback to the FR who performed the case.
If the case is an outcome 065 or 067, then the case should be
sent to the RO for them to start the investigation on the FR
who is suspected of falsification.
This is only true if you have reviewed the case and found
NO miskey.
Below are all the different scenarios you can have on the Case
Discrepancy Review Screen. Follow the proper instructions for
the one matching the case you are reviewing.
• Outcome = 064 or 066 and Case is Not a Miskey
Mark No to Falsification and Yes to Require Further Review
• Outcome = 064 or 066 and Case is Miskey and should
have been suspected of falsification
Mark Yes to Falsification and Yes to Require Further
Review. Start the 11-163 automated form and fill in the
Form ID under the Tracking #.
• Outcome = 065 or 067 - If the case has an outcome of 065
or 067 (miskey or not), then you must select Yes to
Falsification. Every case that is marked as suspected
falsification needs to have an 11-163 completed for
documentation, so all cases must be forwarded to RO. You
will fill out the 11-163 differently based on if it was a
miskey or not.
Mark Yes to Falsification and Yes to Require Further
Review. Start the 11-163 automated form and fill in the
Form ID under the Tracking #.
See the diagram Workflow for Review of Discrepancy Cases
on page 9 showing the steps and actions to be taken in the
review process.
8
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
Workflow for Review of Discrepancy Cases
9
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
3) Fill out an 11-163
The 11-163 is a way to track all steps taken when a field
interviewer is first suspected of falsification through
reinterview. The form will be initiated by you and
completed in the RO.
If the case has an outcome 065 or 067 or you determined it
should have been suspected of falsification, then an 11-163
must be initiated. Before leaving the Case Discrepancy
Review screen, you will complete Section 1 of the 11-163
using the information on the screen in WebCATI. See the
11-163 User Guide for step-by-step instructions. Once
Section 1 is done, go back to WebCATI and enter the form
number on the screen under the tracking number before you
can take action on the case.
If the Outcome is 065 or 067 and the case is a miskey
(NOT Suspected Falsification), you will still start an
automated 11-163, however, at the end of Section 1 you will
mark the case as a miskey. This will stop the case from
being forwarded for an investigation. It is very important to
properly mark the miskey and stop the investigation if the
error is on the part of the reinterviewer.
10
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
TOPIC 3: SELF STUDY - EXAMPLE TRACE FILES FOR SUSPECTED
FALSIFICATION
The following are some examples of different kinds of cases you will review. The scenario
is provided along with an example of notes entered by the Reinterviewer and an example of a
Trace File. Key variables are highlighted to show where discrepancies are keyed. At the
end of the example is the action you should take. No data in this section is real and no Title
13 or PII information is included.
Example 1:
Scenario – The Reinterview outcome is 065. The original interview was a Noninterview
Type B – Temporarily occupied by person with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE)
Notes – Talked with Respondent. Said interviewer called him on the phone and he’s been
living here for 10 years.
Trace File "2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","Enter Form:1","Key:00000018"
"2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","Metafile name:C:\temp\TMO_BUILDS\NCVS RI CATI
TRAINING\e-inst\inst.bmi"
"2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","Metafile timestamp:Tuesday, February 02, 2016 11:29:42 AM"
"2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","WinUserName:nicke007"
"2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","DictionaryVersionInfo:0.0.0.0"
"2/4/2016 9:13:14 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TN_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:22 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:22 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TN_CT"
"2/4/2016 9:13:22 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TN_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:13:23 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TN_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:24 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:25 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TN_CT"
"2/4/2016 9:13:25 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TN_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:13:25 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:26 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:26 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT"
11
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:13:26 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:13:26 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_N","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:33 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:33 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_N"
"2/4/2016 9:13:33 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_N","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:13:33 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:37 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:39 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE"
"2/4/2016 9:13:39 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:13:39 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:40 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:40 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.POLITE"
"2/4/2016 9:13:40 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:13:41 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.STATUS","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:43 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]" – 2 on STATUS means the status(outcome) was
confirmed to be wrong by the respondent.
"2/4/2016 9:13:44 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.STATUS"
"2/4/2016 9:13:44 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.STATUS","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:13:44 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.STAT_PROB2","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:13:46 AM","(KEY:)[SHFT]Rep[BACK]spondent has been living here for 10
years.[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:13:59 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.STAT_PROB2"
"2/4/2016 9:13:59 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.STAT_PROB2","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:Respondent has been living here for 10 years."
"2/4/2016 9:13:59 AM","Enter Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:14:01 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:14:01 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.THANK_YOU"
"2/4/2016 9:14:01 AM","Leave Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:02 AM","Enter Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:14:03 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:14:04 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM"
"2/4/2016 9:14:04 AM","Leave Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:14:04 AM","Enter Field:BACK.MISC_B","Status:Normal","Value:"
12
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:14:05 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]" – The combination of RI_OUTCOM and the
answer to MISC_B tells you that the reinterviewer believes the status was wrong (2. No)
and that it should have been a Interview or Type A (1)
"2/4/2016 9:14:06 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.MISC_B"
"2/4/2016 9:14:06 AM","Leave Field:BACK.MISC_B","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:06 AM","Enter Field:BACK.FALSIF2","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:14:07 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]" – WHEN FALSIF 2 is on path. The only
answer is 1. Cannot be CATI Miskey and is definitely Suspected Falsification.
"2/4/2016 9:14:08 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.FALSIF2"
"2/4/2016 9:14:08 AM","Leave Field:BACK.FALSIF2","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:08 AM","Enter Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:14:09 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:14:09 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.READYWRAP"
"2/4/2016 9:14:09 AM","Leave Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:09 AM","Enter Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:14:10 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:14:11 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl"
"2/4/2016 9:14:11 AM","Leave Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:11 AM","Leave
Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Exit","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:14:11 AM","Leave Form:1","Key:00000018"
Result – Based on good notes and FALSIF2 being on path, this case is not a miskey and is
suspected of falsification. Start an 11-163. Mark “Yes” to Falsification and “Yes” to
Require Further Review. Fill in the Form ID under the Tracking #.
Example 2:
Scenario – Production Case was a complete interview. The Reinterview Outcome is 065.
Notes – Talked to Respondent, Said interviewer called but interview was really short and
only asked if she contacted the police in the past 6 months. Almost all demo characteristics
were incorrect. I suspect Falsification based on interviewer purposely made up the
information.
13
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
Trace File "2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","Enter Form:1","Key:00000027"
"2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","Metafile name:C:\temp\TMO_BUILDS\NCVS RI CATI
TRAINING\e-inst\inst.bmi"
"2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","Metafile timestamp:Tuesday, February 02, 2016 11:29:42 AM"
"2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","WinUserName:nicke007"
"2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","DictionaryVersionInfo:0.0.0.0"
"2/4/2016 9:32:15 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:18 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:18 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT"
"2/4/2016 9:32:18 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:18 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:20 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:21 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT"
"2/4/2016 9:32:21 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:21 AM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:22 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:22 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT"
"2/4/2016 9:32:22 AM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:22 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:23 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:24 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP"
"2/4/2016 9:32:24 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:24 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:25 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:25 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C"
"2/4/2016 9:32:26 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:26 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:27 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:28 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE"
"2/4/2016 9:32:28 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:28 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Status:Normal","Value:"
14
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:32:28 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:29 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.POLITE"
"2/4/2016 9:32:29 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:29 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:29 AM","(KEY:)0[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:30 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H"
"2/4/2016 9:32:30 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:0"
"2/4/2016 9:32:30 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:30 AM","(KEY:)10[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:31 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M"
"2/4/2016 9:32:31 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:10"
"2/4/2016 9:32:31 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:35 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:36 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:36 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:36 AM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:37 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:38 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3"
"2/4/2016 9:32:38 AM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:38 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:41 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]" – 2 means respondent indicated age was wrong.
"2/4/2016 9:32:42 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK"
"2/4/2016 9:32:42 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:42 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_RANGE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:44 AM","(KEY:)6[ENTR]" – Selected the category containing respondents
correct age.
"2/4/2016 9:32:45 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_RANGE"
"2/4/2016 9:32:45 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_RANGE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:6"
15
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:32:45 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:46 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:46 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER"
"2/4/2016 9:32:46 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:46 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:47 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]" – 2 means respondent indicated race was
wrong.
"2/4/2016 9:32:48 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER"
"2/4/2016 9:32:48 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:48 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE[1]","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:49 AM","(KEY:)3[ENTR]" – Respondent provided correct race.
"2/4/2016 9:32:49 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE[1]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:49 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE[1]","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:3"
"2/4/2016 9:32:49 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:51 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]" – 2 means respondent indicated Hispanic origin
was wrong.
"2/4/2016 9:32:51 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER"
"2/4/2016 9:32:51 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:51 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER","Status:Normal","Value:
"
"2/4/2016 9:32:52 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]" 2 means respondent indicated marital status
was wrong.
"2/4/2016 9:32:53 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER"
16
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:32:53 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:32:53 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:53 AM","(KEY:)3[ENTR]" - Respondent provided correct marital status.
"2/4/2016 9:32:54 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL"
"2/4/2016 9:32:54 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:3"
"2/4/2016 9:32:54 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:55 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:56 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER"
"2/4/2016 9:32:56 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:56 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:32:56 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:32:57 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER"
"2/4/2016 9:32:57 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:32:57 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:10 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:10 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT"
"2/4/2016 9:33:10 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:10 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTTIMES","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:11 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:12 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTTIMES"
"2/4/2016 9:33:12 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTTIMES","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:12 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTSPEC","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:13 AM","(KEY:)purse stolen[ENTR]"
17
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:33:17 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTSPEC"
"2/4/2016 9:33:17 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTSPEC","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:purse stolen"
"2/4/2016 9:33:17 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:19 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:19 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN"
"2/4/2016 9:33:19 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:20 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:20 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT"
"2/4/2016 9:33:21 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:22 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:22 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:23 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE"
"2/4/2016 9:33:23 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:23 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:23 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:24 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW"
"2/4/2016 9:33:24 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:24 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF","Status:Normal","Value:"
18
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:33:24 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:25 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF"
"2/4/2016 9:33:25 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:25 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:25 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:26 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL"
"2/4/2016 9:33:26 AM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:26 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:27 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:27 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME"
"2/4/2016 9:33:27 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:27 AM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:28 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:28 AM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME"
"2/4/2016 9:33:28 AM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/4/2016 9:33:28 AM","Enter Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:29 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:29 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.THANK_YOU"
"2/4/2016 9:33:29 AM","Leave Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:29 AM","Enter Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:31 AM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:32 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM"
"2/4/2016 9:33:32 AM","Leave Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2" - The reinterviewer selected No because they believe the
original status was wrong.
"2/4/2016 9:33:32 AM","Enter Field:BACK.FALSIF","Status:Normal","Value:"
19
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/4/2016 9:33:36 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]" – The reinterviewer selected Yes to suspected
Falsification.
"2/4/2016 9:33:41 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.FALSIF"
"2/4/2016 9:33:41 AM","Leave Field:BACK.FALSIF","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:41 AM","Enter Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:43 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:43 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.READYWRAP"
"2/4/2016 9:33:43 AM","Leave Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:43 AM","Enter Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/4/2016 9:33:45 AM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/4/2016 9:33:45 AM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl"
"2/4/2016 9:33:45 AM","Leave Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:45 AM","Leave
Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Exit","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/4/2016 9:33:45 AM","Leave Form:1","Key:00000027"
Result – Based on good notes and the respondent correcting almost all of the demographic
characteristics that shows suspected falsification, you can confirm the outcome and suspect
falsification. Start an 11-163. Mark “Yes” to Falsification and “Yes” to Require Further
Review. Fill in the Form ID under the Tracking #.
Example 3:
Scenario - This case was a complete interview in production. The reinterview outcome is a
065.
Notes - No Issues. Complete
Trace File "2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","Enter Form:1","Key:00000028"
"2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","Metafile name:C:\temp\TMO_BUILDS\NCVS RI CATI
TRAINING\e-inst\inst.bmi"
"2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","Metafile timestamp:Tuesday, February 02, 2016 11:29:42 AM"
"2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","WinUserName:nicke007"
20
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","DictionaryVersionInfo:0.0.0.0"
"2/2/2016 3:49:14 PM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:12 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:12 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT"
"2/2/2016 3:50:12 PM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.HELLO_TC_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:13 PM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:15 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:15 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT"
"2/2/2016 3:50:15 PM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTRO_TC_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:16 PM","Enter
Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:16 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:16 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT"
"2/2/2016 3:50:16 PM","Leave Field:CATIFRONT.INTROB_RI_CT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:17 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:18 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:19 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP"
"2/2/2016 3:50:19 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.RIRESP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:19 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:26 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:26 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C"
"2/2/2016 3:50:26 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.CONTACT_C","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:27 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:28 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:29 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE"
"2/2/2016 3:50:29 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ORMODE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:30 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:30 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:31 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.POLITE"
"2/2/2016 3:50:31 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.POLITE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:31 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
21
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_H","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","(KEY:)0"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M","Status:Normal","Value:0"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","(KEY:)[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M"
"2/2/2016 3:50:32 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.LENGTH_M","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:0"
"2/2/2016 3:50:33 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.LAPTOP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:33 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:33 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.LAPTOP"
"2/2/2016 3:50:33 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.LAPTOP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:33 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:34 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:35 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:35 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_1","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:35 PM","Enter Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:36 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:36 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3"
"2/2/2016 3:50:37 PM","Leave Field:MIDDLE.ROSTER_3","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:37 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:37 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:37 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK"
"2/2/2016 3:50:37 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].AGE_CHECK","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:38 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:38 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:38 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:38 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].SEX_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
22
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:50:38 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].RACE_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:39 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].ORIGIN_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:40 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER","Status:Normal","Value:
"
"2/2/2016 3:50:40 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:40 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:40 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.Ri_Demo_Ver.Person3[1].MARITAL_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:40 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:41 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:42 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:42 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHINCOME_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:42 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:42 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:43 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER"
"2/2/2016 3:50:43 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_HHTENURE_VER","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:43 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT","Status:Normal","Value:"
23
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:50:44 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:44 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT"
"2/2/2016 3:50:44 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:45 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:45 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:45 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN"
"2/2/2016 3:50:45 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQBREAKIN","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:46 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:46 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:46 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES"
"2/2/2016 3:50:46 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:47 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:47 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:47 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT"
"2/2/2016 3:50:47 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQMVTHEFT","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:47 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:48 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:48 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE"
"2/2/2016 3:50:48 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKWHERE","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:48 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:49 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:49 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW"
"2/2/2016 3:50:49 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQATTACKHOW","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:49 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF","Status:Normal","Value:"
24
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:50:49 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:50 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF"
"2/2/2016 3:50:50 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:50 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:50 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:51 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL"
"2/2/2016 3:50:51 PM","Leave Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQSEXUAL","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:51 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:51 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","Enter
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","(KEY:)2[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","Action:Store Field
Data","Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME"
"2/2/2016 3:50:52 PM","Leave
Field:SurveySpecific.RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:2"
"2/2/2016 3:50:53 PM","Enter Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:53 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:54 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.THANK_YOU"
"2/2/2016 3:50:54 PM","Leave Field:BACK.THANK_YOU","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:54 PM","Enter Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:56 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:50:57 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM"
"2/2/2016 3:50:57 PM","Leave Field:BACK.RI_OUTCM","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:50:58 PM","Enter Field:BACK.FALSIF","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:50:59 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:51:00 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.FALSIF"
25
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
"2/2/2016 3:51:00 PM","Leave Field:BACK.FALSIF","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:51:00 PM","Enter Field:BACK.NO_DISCREP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:51:05 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:51:05 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.NO_DISCREP"
"2/2/2016 3:51:05 PM","Leave Field:BACK.NO_DISCREP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1" – This is the screen that verifies they want to Suspect
Falsification even though there are NO discrepancies.
"2/2/2016 3:51:05 PM","Enter Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:51:06 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:51:07 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:BACK.READYWRAP"
"2/2/2016 3:51:07 PM","Leave Field:BACK.READYWRAP","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:51:07 PM","Enter Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Status:Normal","Value:"
"2/2/2016 3:51:08 PM","(KEY:)1[ENTR]"
"2/2/2016 3:51:13 PM","Action:Store Field Data","Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl"
"2/2/2016 3:51:13 PM","Leave Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Next
Field","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:51:14 PM","Leave
Field:bSplashScreens.Show_Ctrl","Cause:Exit","Status:Normal","Value:1"
"2/2/2016 3:51:14 PM","Leave Form:1","Key:00000028"
Result – None of the key variables have answers that create discrepancies, so there are no
discrepancies for this case. This case should not be marked as suspected falsification. Add
notes on the screen to explain the miskey. Remember, even though this is a miskey a 11-163
must exist for every case with an outcome of 065 or 067 (Suspected of Falsification) for
documentation purposes. Start a 11-163 but indicate the case is a CATI Miskey. Mark
“Yes” to Falsification (Indicates there is a 11-163 to be reviewed) and “Yes” to Require
Further Review. Fill in the Form ID under the Tracking #.
26
NCVS CATI Reinterview Supervisor’s Manual and Self Study
01/2016
Field Division
Current Surveys
Reinterviewer’s Self-Study
This document does not contain any Title 13 data, Title 15 data, or Personally Identifiable Information (PII). All
data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. Consistent with Field Division Policy, any
names referenced in practice interviews or other exercises are not meant to refer any actual persons, especially any
current or former Census Bureau employees.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Table of Contents
Self-Study Instructions
Section I.
Lesson 1.
Lesson 2.
Lesson 3.
Lesson 4.
Lesson 5.
General Current Survey Reinterview Information
Purpose and Types of Reinterview .........................................1-1
Reinterview Sample Selection ...............................................2-1
Conducting Reinterview .......................................................3-1
Feedback and Follow-up .......................................................4-1
Section I Final Review Exercise .............................................5-1
Section II.
Lesson 6.
Lesson 7.
Lesson 8.
Lesson 9.
Lesson 10.
Lesson 11.
Survey Specific Reinterview Information
Consumer Expenditure Diary Survey......................................6-1
Consumer Expenditure Quarterly Survey ................................7-1
Current Population Survey ....................................................8-1
National Health Interview Survey ..........................................9-1
Lesson 10 is in a separate file
National Crime Victimization Survey .....................................10-1
Survey of Income and Program Participation ...........................11-1
Appendix I. Reinterview Outcome Codes .................................................A-1-1
Appendix II.CATI Abbreviations .............................................................A-2-1
Appendices are in a separate file
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Self-Study Instructions
Purpose of this
Self-Study
You have been selected to conduct reinterview for Field
Division’s current surveys. This self-study will provide you with
background information about the reinterview program, an
overview of the reinterview instrument, and information on your
responsibilities as you conduct reinterview.
How to Complete
this Self-Study
This self-study is divided into two sections. The first section
(Section I) includes 5 lessons that should be completed by
everyone. The information included in this section is generic and
applies to all surveys.
The second section (Section II) is divided into survey specific
lessons. Your supervisor will instruct you on which lessons to
complete. Only complete the lessons you are assigned.
How to Charge
Your Time
You are allowed 2 hours to complete Section I. Charge that time
to Administration-Program Division Overhead, code 0251000,
task code 528 The time allotted for Section II will vary depending
upon which survey(s) you are being trained. Information on what
project code to charge for Section II will be identified in the
survey specific lesson.
Materials Needed
To complete this self-study, you only need your laptop and this
self-study.
Final Review Exercises
Both sections include a final review exercise. Upon completion of
both sections, you will contact your supervisor and go over the
answers to the Section I and II final review exercises.
Problems or Questions
If you have problems or questions that require immediate
attention, please contact your supervisor. Utilize the “notes”
pages provided throughout the self-study to assist you in
organizing your thoughts or concerns.
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Section I
General Current
Survey Information
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Notes
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Lesson 1. Purpose and Types of Reinterview
Objectives
Upon completing this lesson, you will be able to:
• Identify the primary goal of reinterviews
• Identify the CATI facility’s involvement in reinterview
• List responsibilities of a reinterviewer
• Define recycled cases
Why Conduct
Reinterview?
The US Census Bureau and our survey sponsors are committed
to collecting quality data and providing accurate and reliable
statistics about our country. Although most interviewers conduct
interviews properly and effectively, some interviewers do not
follow appropriate survey procedures and may even falsify data.
To prevent this from happening, a verification process called a
reinterview is conducted. The primary goals of the Survey
Quality Control (QC) Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing
(CAPI) reinterview are to ensure procedures are followed and to
detect and deter interviewer data falsification. We do this by
identifying those interviewers who we suspect:
Centralized Reinterview
falsified interview data,
misclassified eligible household units as noninterviews to avoid
interviewing them, or
intentionally did not follow the established interview
procedures with regards to not using a laptop for a personal
visit interview and collecting household roster information
identify and correct interviewing errors.
In an effort to create independence in our QC process, reinterview
is centralized and conducted, for the most part, out of the Census
Bureau’s Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI)
facilities. If reinterview cannot be conducted by CATI, for
example, if there was no telephone number or the respondent
could not be reached by telephone, reinterview cases will be
assigned to the Regional Office (RO) for field staff to conduct
reinterview.
1-1
Reinterview Self-Study
Your Responsibility
(01/2016)
Your responsibility as a reinterviewer is to verify that the
interviewer, which could include Field Representatives (FRs),
Field Supervisors (FS), or other personnel who collect survey
data, is conducting interviews properly by following survey
procedures. You will ask all questions exactly as worded on the
screens, and it is important to note that you will not re-ask all of
the original survey questions. For original complete interviews
and sufficient partials, the reinterview instrument will provide
you with appropriate probes to see if:
the household was contacted,
the interviewer was polite and professional,
the original interview was completed.
For cases that were originally classified as noninterviews, the
reinterview instrument will provide you with the appropriate
probes to determine if the original noninterview classification
was correct.
Possible Reinterview
Methods & Recycled
Cases
Reinterviews can by conducted by telephone (CATI) or in person
(CAPI). The method depends on the circumstances of each case.
Reinterview is conducted primarily out of the Telephone Centers.
However, if there is no phone number for a case, it is immediately
assigned to the field to be completed by CAPI.
Sometimes the telephone center is unable to conduct reinterview,
and those cases may be assigned to the field after the attempted
CATI. These cases are called recycled cases.
The following are the methods used for recycled cases and cases
competed by CATI:
Scenarios for Recycled Cases
If…
Then…
The Reinterview case goes to
The case is complete and will
CATI and is completed in
be removed from assignments
CATI and there are no
in ROSCO.
discrepancies…
The Reinterview case goes to
The case will go to
CATI and is completed in
Reinterview Supervisory
CATI and there are
Review, under
discrepancies or the case is
‘Noninterviews/Discrepancies’
marked as suspected of
or ‘Suspected Falsification.
falsification…
Please note that the FS conducting the interview should not
be handling a case originally interviewed by a direct
subordinate.
1-2
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Observed Cases
Cases that have been observed should not fall into reinterview.
Observed cases must be flagged in Case Management when the
observation is done, so that they do not come into sample for
reinterview.
Eligible Respondent and
Callbacks
For QC reinterview, the preferred reinterview respondent is the
person who responded to the majority of the original
interview, as indicated by the original FR/FS. For complete
original interviews, if the reinterview respondent is
unavailable when conducting reinterview by telephone, make
an appointment to call the respondent back at another time.
If the respondent is unavailable after several attempts to call back,
proxies are acceptable. For the majority of our current surveys, the
proxy respondent must be a household member 15 years of age or
older. It is helpful to talk to a household member who was
interviewed (or present) during the original interview, and
knowledgeable about the household members.
For Type B and C original noninterviews, the reinterview
respondent is the Type B or C contact person. If the contact
person is unavailable, proxies are acceptable. The proxy
respondent must be 15 years of age or older and knowledgeable
about the status of the sample unit. A callback is necessary if a
proxy cannot be reached.
Personal Visit
If you cannot conduct a reinterview by phone, the unit is within
50 miles, AND you have supervisory permission to conduct a
personal visit reinterview, you may conduct reinterview via
personal visit.
When a reinterview case does not have a telephone number or the
number listed is not valid, use resources available to obtain a
valid telephone number. If no telephone number is available, and
the address is within 50 miles, gain supervisory permission and
go in person to complete the reinterview.
Timing
Conduct QC reinterviews as soon as possible once
assignments are certified and HQ has loaded the reinterview
cases.
QC reinterview cases are generally sent to your laptop two to three
days after the original case is completed and transmitted.
Complete QC reinterview cases as soon as possible.
1-3
Reinterview Self-Study
Lesson Summary
(01/2016)
This lesson has provided you with some general information
about the reinterview process, such as:
•
The purpose of reinterview is to ensure interviewing
procedures are followed and to detect data falsification.
•
Reinterview cases are first attempted by CATI in the
telephone centers, unless there was no telephone number in
the original case.
•
Cases will be recycled from CATI to CAPI, and assigned
to FRs/FSs and SSFs, when applicable, if the reinterview
case cannot be interviewed in CATI.
•
Observed cases should not fall into reinterview.
•
For original completed interviews, it is preferred that you
contact the original respondent. However, if after multiple
attempts, you may conduct reinterview with a proxy
respondent.
•
For original Type B and C noninterviews, you will conduct
reinterview with the original Type B/C contact person.
•
If possible, attempt to conduct reinterview by telephone.
Personal visits can be made if the telephone contact is
unsuccessful AND the address is within 50 miles AND you
have supervisory approval.
•
Complete your reinterview cases as soon as possible.
1-4
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Lesson 2. Reinterview Sample Selection
Objectives
Eligible Cases
During this lesson you will be able to:
•
Identify how the QC random sample is selected, and what types
of cases are either eligible or ineligible
•
State how and why cases are selected for supplemental
reinterview
•
Identify where to locate your reinterview assignment
The QC reinterview sample includes:
•
completed interviews,
•
partial interviews,
•
Type B noninterviews,
•
most Type C noninterviews
Note that Type B and C noninterviews with and without available
telephone numbers can be included in the sample.
Ineligible Cases
Original CAPI cases not eligible for QC reinterview:
•
Observed cases
•
Certain Type C noninterviews
•
Cases previously reinterviewed
•
Original Type A noninterviews
Supplemental cases are either active or inactive. Active cases are part
Active and Inactive
Supplemental Reinterview of the centralized reinterview workload, meaning they are attempted
in CATI. Inactive cases are assigned to field staff to be conducted in
CAPI.
2-1
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Supplemental Reinterview The SSO (Survey Statistician Office) may add any FR/FS with an
original assignment to supplemental QC reinterview prior to the
release of original interviewing assignments. The SSO may place an
FR/FS in supplemental reinterview if:
Selecting Supplemental
Cases Prior to Releasing
Assignments
•
the interviewer is suspected of falsification,
•
the interviewer has had trouble classifying noninterviews
correctly,
•
the interviewer has problems with other aspects of the interview
procedures,
•
the interviewer was hired after the QC reinterview sample was
selected, or
•
the FS or Survey Statistician Field (SSF) recommends the
original FR/FS for supplemental reinterview.
The SSO can assign an interviewer to supplemental reinterview before
assignments are released for the current interview period. HQ will then
select the cases for the supplemental reinterview.
If a need arises, inactive cases can be selected for supplemental
Selecting Supplemental
Cases During an Interview reinterview during the current interview period. For these cases, HQ
will make original cases that are not part of the regular or
Period
supplemental samples for the current period QC CAPI inactive
supplemental reinterview cases. The SSO can activate these inactive
cases by assigning them to a reinterviewer.
Receiving Your
Reinterview Assignment
You receive your reinterview cases when you make your transmission.
Confidentiality &
Reinterview
It is imperative that all reinterviewers understand the
importance of keeping confidential the names of FRs and
cases selected for reinterview.
Reinterview is compromised if the interviewer has advance
knowledge that any of his/her cases will be reinterviewed.
Information gained from reinterview should not be shared with other
interviewers.
2-2
Reinterview Self-Study
Lesson Summary
(01/2016)
This lesson has provided you with information about the
reinterview sample, such as:
•
The QC reinterview sample is comprised of a combination
of original complete interviews, partials, and some Type B
and C noninterviews.
•
Observed, reassigned, and previously reinterviewed cases
are NOT eligible for reinterview. Additionally, Type A
noninterviews and some Type C noninterviews are not
eligible.
•
An SSO can add an FS/FR to supplemental reinterview
under certain circumstances.
•
You will receive your reinterview assignment following a
transmission.
•
It is imperative that all reinterviewers understand the
importance of keeping confidential the names of
interviewers and cases selected for reinterview.
2-3
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Notes
2-4
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Lesson 3. Conducting Reinterview
Objectives
During this lesson you will be able to:
• Access your reinterview cases and check for your assignment
• Identify the interviewer verification questions you will ask
when the original case was completed
• Identify the types of questions you ask when the original case
was a noninterview
• Understand how to deal with noninterviews for reinterview
Location of Reinterview
Software
CAPI reinterview is treated as a separate survey option for all
current surveys. It is not part of the regular survey Case
Management system, but is a stand-alone survey within your Survey
Selection dialogue box. Reinterviewers must have the appropriate
survey reinterview software loaded on their laptop before they will
be able to receive their reinterview cases.
Checking for your
Reinterview Assignment
Until the first reinterview case appears in your reinterview Case
Management, your laptop will not indicate whether you will
receive a reinterview assignment. After each transmission, check
reinterview Case Management to see if you received any
reinterview cases.
As mentioned earlier, if the reinterview case goes to CATI, but
is not completed in CATI, then the case is recycled The case
will appear on your laptop, and you should see a recycling
symbol on the Assignment Tab in Case Management.
CATI will recycle cases to be completed by you under
the following circumstances:
• Contact made but not with the respondent or a
knowledgeable person
• Respondent requests a personal visit
• Bad number and/or maximum call attempts have been
reached with no contact.
Check your email daily to see if the SSO or SSF has sent a message
alerting you to a reinterview assignment.
Reinterview Case
Management
Reinterview Case Management screens and functions are almost
identical to the survey Case Management screens and functions.
Information that appears on the reinterview Case Management
screens will come from the original case.
3-1
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Reinterview Respondent
Name
The Original Data Tab displays the reinterview respondent name
for reinterview for original cases that were complete or partial
interviews. This name will be the reference person who responded
to the majority of the original interview as indicated by the original
interviewer. For original Type B or C noninterviews, the
reinterview respondent is the contact person listed on the upper
half of the Contacts Tab.
Reinterview Codes
The laptop displays the reinterview Outcome and Action codes on
the Assignment Tab in the details pane. A full listing of the
reinterview codes is displayed in Case Management on the F1 Help
screen as well as in Appendix 1 of this self-study.
3-2
Reinterview Self-Study
Reinterview Instrument
(01/2016)
The reinterview instrument has two paths, depending on whether the
reinterview is conducted by telephone or personal visit. Within each
of these two paths, the instrument also has different paths based on
whether it treats the original case as a completed regular occupied
interview, partial interview, or a Type B/C noninterview.
The survey specific portion of the reinterview will not re-ask the
original survey content questions. Instead, it will ask several
general questions to determine if the original survey was
completed properly and to detect any falsification.
Screen Standards
Screen standards are the same in original instruments and
reinterview instruments:
•
Words in bold black font signify statements or questions that
are to be read aloud.
•
Reinterviewer instructions are in blue font and enclosed on
each side by blue diamonds (♦).
3-3
Reinterview Self-Study
Introductory Screens
(01/2016)
Different paths lead to different introductory screens. However, all
introductory screens are identified by the words:
Personal Visit:
Hello. I'm ... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Telephone:
Hello. This is... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
For many reinterviewers, the text shown on these screens has
been effective in persuading respondents or contact persons to
cooperate in reinterview. Please use your best judgment in
addressing the respondent/contact person during the reinterview
introduction.
Reinterview Questions
for Completed Original
Interviews
Original interviews that were complete interviews or sufficient
partials will be asked questions from the following areas:
•
interview/procedure verification,
•
household roster verification, and
•
content verification.
3-4
Reinterview Self-Study
Interview Verification
(01/2016)
You will ask respondents the Interview Verification questions
below:
Screen CONTACT_C:
Did an interviewer contact you on or about (original
interview date) and ask questions about your household
and the members who make up your household for the
(current survey name)?
1. Yes
2. No
Screen ORMODE:
Did the interviewer conduct the interview in
person or over the telephone?
1. Personal visit only
2. Telephone call only
3. Both - Interviewer visited and called
Screen POLITE:
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
1. Yes
2. No
Screens LENGTH_H and LENGTH_M:
About how long did the interview last?
Hours
Minutes
Screen LAPTOP:
Did the interviewer use a laptop computer?
1. Yes
2. No
Household Roster Display
For every member of a household, the roster displays some of
the demographic information collected during the original
interview. Some of the information may vary slightly from
survey to survey. However, for most surveys you will see, at
minimum:
•
•
•
•
•
Line number
Name
Relationship
Age
Sex
3-5
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Content Reinterview
Questions
As mentioned before, the reinterview instrument does not re-ask
all of the survey questions. Each survey will include content
questions to help ascertain whether the original outcome is
correct. Survey specific content questions will vary; they are
covered in the survey-specific lesson in Section II of this selfstudy.
However, it is important to note that regardless of the survey,
the reinterview questions should be read exactly as worded.
“Don’t Know” and
“Refused” Response
Choices
In reinterview, “don’t know” responses are allowed in many
of the content questions, but not all of them. The table below
lists the screens within the screens in the instrument that will
NOT accept “don’t know.” The screens listed below are the
same across surveys; content verification screens that allow
“don’t know” responses will be covered in survey specific
lessons.
Reinterview Questions That WILL NOT ALLOW
“Don’t Know Responses
Screen
CONTACT
_C
CONTACT
N
LAPTOP
LENGTH_
H
ORMODE
POLITE
SOMEONE
_ ELSE
Question
Did an interviewer contact you on or about (fill
with interview date) and ask questions about your
household’s economic situation?
Did an interviewer visit or call regarding
(fill with sample unit address)?
Did the interviewer use a laptop computer?
Don’t
Know
About how long did the interview last?
Did the interviewer visit in person or call on the
telephone?
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
Could the interviewer have spoken to another
person at (fill with sample unit address)?
3-6
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
QC Reinterview Questions For original Type B and C Noninterviews, you will also ask some
Interview Verification Questions. These questions will vary
for Type B and Type C
depending upon whether the original noninterview was made
Original Noninterviews
through speaking with a contact person or knowledgeable source,
or if was made by observation. Take a look at the Interview
Verification Questions you will ask if the original noninterview
includes Contact Person information.
Type B’s and C’s With Contact Person
Screen CONTACT_N:
Did an interviewer visit or call regarding (fill with
sample unit address)?
1. Yes
2. No
Screen STATUS:
Our records show that on (original interview date)
(sample unit address) was (original Type B/C description).
Is this information correct?
1. Yes
2. No
Screen STAT_PROBE:
Original Outcome: (Original outcome)
Original Interview Date: (Original interview date)
What was the status of (sample unit address) on or about
(original interview date)?
♦ Enter reported status.
♦ Explain any discrepancy between reported status and
original outcome.
3-7
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
QC Reinterview Questions Without Contact Person Information
for Type B and Type C
Original Noninterviews,
There are no special questions for original Type B and Type C
(cont’d)
noninterview cases which have no contact person information.
Rather, the reinterview instrument directs you to the
VERBYOBS screen, which instructs you to use any available
resource to verify the noninterview status reported by the
interviewer. The verification method and outcome should be
recorded in the reinterview case level notes. The VERBYOBS
screen is shown below:
The interviewer determined the original outcome by
observation.
♦ Please use any available resource to check that:
(sample unit address)
was (original outcome) on (original interview date).
1. Original outcome was correct.
2. Original outcome was incorrect.
3. Reinterview Noninterview.
4. Quit – Attempt later.
3-8
Reinterview Self-Study
Reinterview
Noninterviews
(01/2016)
It should be rare to classify cases as noninterviews during
reinterview. Make a reinterview case a reinterview noninterview
only if you cannot complete it after several attempts. For original
Type B and C noninterviews, a case is a reinterview noninterview
only if you cannot verify the original noninterview status.
The original interview’s outcome does not affect the outcome of
the reinterview case. It is possible that the original interview was
complete, the but reinterview is a noninterview, and visa versa.
Remember, for a complete reinterview of an original
noninterview case, you must verify whether the original
noninterview status reported by the interviewer is correct or
incorrect. For a reinterview noninterview, you must enter the
noninterview type that describes why you are not able to
complete the reinterview case.
If you classify a reinterview case a noninterview, the reinterview
instrument directs you to select the noninterview type . The
question “WHICH OUTCOME DESCRIBES THIS
REINTERVIEW CASE?” in the NONINT screen pertains to the
reinterview noninterview type and not the original noninterview
status. Take a look at the example of this screen on the next
page.
Screen NONINT:
Which outcome best describes this reinterview case?
1. Type A Noninterview.
2. Type B Noninterview.
3. Type C Noninterview.
4. Type D Noninterview – Entire household moved since
the original interview.
3-9
Reinterview Self-Study
RO/HQ Discretion Cases
(01/2016)
You may make a reinterview case a “RO discretion” case only
if the SSO approves or requests it. The RO discretion reinterview
outcome is only for certain types of QC reinterviews that cannot be
completed (i.e. hard to interview original case, more than 50 miles
from nearest reinterviewer and no phone number, observed during
original interview, personal visit needed but not authorized, etc.).
However, an RO discretion case is classified as a Type A
noninterview in reinterview. Therefore, use this option only if
the SSO approves or asks you to make a case an RO discretion
case.
For reinterviews that cannot be completed because of Case
Management/CAPI control problems or sample adjustment, the
SSO will contact HQ for approval to use the code or HQ will
instruct you to use this code for specific cases. In both situations,
HQ will instruct the FS to make the case an HQ discretion case.
To do this, choose “5 - RO/HQ Discretion - Type A (Contact
Supervisor)” from the METHOD screen in the reinterview
instrument (see below).
Choose one of the following options to continue:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Telephone Reinterview
Personal Visit Reinterview
Quit - Attempt later
Reinterview Noninterview
RO/HQ Discretion - Type A (Contact Supervisor)
The next screen, RO_DISC, instructs you to contact your
supervisor before choosing one of the listed RO/HQ discretion
options.
Reinterview Notes
Enter details that further explain the reinterview case in the
reinterview notes. To view, edit, or enter reinterview case level
notes, press CTRL-F7. To view the original case level notes press
SHIFT-F12.
You can view the original interview notes, CATI notes (see
Appendix II for a list of commonly used abbreviations) enter
reinterview notes, or view or edit existing reinterview notes at
any time in the reinterview instrument. The reinterview Case
Management notes can be viewed on the original data tab and on
the reinterview case level notes tab.
3-10
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Instrument Function Keys The function key settings for the reinterview instrument are the
same across survey instruments and are described below.
“F” Keys
F1
Item specific help
F4
Jump menu
F7
Enter item specific notes
F8
Exit the reference screen and go back to reinterview
F10 Exit – Skip to the END of the reinterview
F11 Calculator
F12 Copy
The “Shift-F” Keys
Shift-F1
Display the household roster
*Shift-F2
Display the Survey Frequently Asked
Questions
*Shift-F3
Display the Reinterview FAQs (RIREASON
Screen)
Shift-F7
View remarks / items notes (ready only)
Shift-F8
Display Follow-on contact person information (
Shift-F10
Display functions keys
Shift-F11
Display standard case level note abbreviations
Shift-F12
Display original CAPI case level notes
*Note that the reinterview instrument displays FAQs specific to
reinterview as well as the FAQs for the original survey. These are
accessed through two different Shift-Function keys.
The “Ctrl” Keys
Ctrl-D
Don’t know (D)
Ctrl-F7
Access reinterview case level notes (read
only)
Ctrl-H
Show info
Ctrl-K
Display function key descriptions
Ctrl-M
Show “Don’t Knows: and “Refusals”
Ctrl-R
Refuse (R)
Special Purpose Keys
Esc
Cancel
Home
Moves to beginning of form
End
Moves to first unanswered field on path
Page Up
Moves backward one page/screen
Page Down Moves forward one page/screen
Up Arrow
Move upward or backward one field
Down Arrow Moves downward or forward one field
Left Arrow
Moves to previous field
Right Arrow Moves to next field
3-11
Reinterview Self-Study
Instrument Function
Keys, (cont’d)
(01/2016)
F10 Function Key
F10 allows you to exit a case at any time during the reinterview.
Use F10 if you must end the reinterview because either you or
the respondent can no longer continue at that time or the
respondent refuses to continue.
F10 brings you to the FIN screen, which in turn leads to the
APPT screen. At the APPT screen, you can either schedule a
date and time to continue the reinterview, or you can enter “1” if
you do not intend to follow up.
• If you enter a date and time, the instrument sets the outcome
to 202, which allows you to re-access the case later
• If you enter “1”, the instrument leads you to the RI_OUTCM
screen, where you can make the case a reinterview
noninterview.
SHIFT-F1 Function Key
Shift-F1 is for reference only, and displays the original interview
household composition. Persons are not added or deleted from
this screen based on responses to ROSTER_2 or ROSTER_4.
3-12
Reinterview Self-Study
Summary
(01/2016)
This lesson has provided you with some general information you
need to know to access your reinterview cases and work with your
assignments to conduct reinterview, such as:
•
Reinterview is treated as a separate survey within case
management.
•
If a reinterview case is a CATI recycle, you will see a
recycling symbol in the assignment tab of Case
Management.
•
Reinterview Case Management screens and functions are
almost identical to regular survey Case Management.
•
Reinterview instrument screens are similar to those in
regular surveys, where bold, black text is read aloud and
FR instructions appear in blue text.
•
There are a variety of function keys within the reinterview
instrument that provide some information about the
original case.
•
Reinterview questions are asked from three different
verification areas: interview and procedure, , household
roster, and survey content.
•
You will ask reinterview questions of the contact person for
original Type B and C cases.
•
You can view notes from the original case, CATI notes (for
recycled cases) as well as add your own notes.
In the survey specific lesson(s) of this self-study, you will have
hands-on practice working with your reinterview cases.
3-13
Reinterview Self-Study
Notes
3-14
(01/2016)
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Lesson 4. Feedback and Follow-Up
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Identify what constitutes falsification.
• Recognize the difference between falsification and failure to follow
procedures.
• Understand the procedures you will follow when the instrument
detects falsification.
After Reinterview
Sometimes things are discovered during reinterview that require feedback
to the original FR and/or follow-up action. You will communicate
feedback to the SSO/SSF. Only communicate feedback to the FR/FS
when you have been given approval to do so. to do so.
Falsification
Data falsification occurs if the interviewer knowingly deviates from
current interviewing procedures to avoid interviewing or properly
interviewing a respondent. This includes, but is not limited to:
making up some or all information,
deliberately miscoding the answer to a question,
misclassifying occupied units as Type B or C noninterviews,
or
accepting proxy information from an ineligible person.
Do not be afraid to suspect falsification. It is better to suspect
falsification, investigate it, and clear it, than to leave any issues
unresolved.
Failure to Follow
Procedures
Failure to follow survey procedures is not the same as data falsification.
Examples of failure to follow survey procedures are not asking
questions as worded or not using a laptop for personal visits. In some
instances, excessive failure to follow survey procedures can lead to
data falsification.
For example, an interviewer decides not to use a laptop to conduct an
interview, but asks questions s/he assumes would come on path in the
instrument, records them on paper, and keys them in later. While
keying, the interviewer gets to a question that was not asked to the
respondent. In order to move forward through the survey instrument,
the interviewer enters in answers. Since these answers did not come
from the respondent, data falsification has occurred.
4-1
Reinterview Self-Study
Noninterview
Misclassification
(01/2016)
Noninterview misclassification is a failure to follow survey
procedures. If you verify during reinterview that an original case was
incorrectly classified as a Type B or C noninterview, then
misclassification has occurred.
Misclassification occurs when an interviewer incorrectly determines
the status of a sample household unit and records it as a
noninterview. The sample household unit was either recorded as the
wrong type of noninterview or a noninterview when an interview
should have been conducted. An example of noninterview
misclassification is when the interviewer records a unit as vacant
when the unit is occupied but the household members are simply not
home. If this unit was properly classified, additional contact could
have been made, resulting in a complete interview.
You can determine if a noninterview has been misclassified in three
ways:
your personal observation by visiting the sample unit
information from the contact person
talking to the residents of the sample unit
Depending on the type of noninterview, you will see the MISC_B or
MISC_C screen. Screen MISC_B:
Which of the following options describes the
misclassification of this original Type B case?
1. Should have been an Interview or Type A.
2. Should have been another Type B.
3. Should have been a Type C.
Screen MISC_C:
Which of the following options describes the
misclassification of this original Type C case?
1. Should have been an Interview or Type A.
2. Should have been a Type B.
3. Should have been another Type C.
Misclassification may suggest that the interviewer needs more
training in classifying noninterviews. In addition, intentionally
misclassifying noninterviews to avoid interviewing is a type of data
falsification.
4-2
Reinterview Self-Study
Discrepancies Between the
Original Interview and
Reinterview
(01/2016)
.
During the course of the reinterview, the instrument checks for certain
discrepancies between your entries and those reported in the original
interview.
If the reinterview instrument detects any discrepancies, the
FALSIF or FALSIF2 screen displays “Your reinterview
indicates the following discrepancies:” and a list of the detected
discrepancies.
If there are no detected discrepancies, the FALSIF screen will
display “Your reinterview did not indicate any discrepancies.”
The reinterview instrument checks for the following discrepancies.
This listing of discrepancies or statement that there are no detected
discrepancies should aid you in determining whether or not you
should suspect falsification.
1 – The reinterview respondent said no one contacted this
household regarding the survey. The instrument
automatically suspects falsification for this discrepancy.
2 – The reinterviewer determined that the original status was
incorrect.
3 – The status of the case was completed by observation in
the original interview. The reinterviewer determined that
the original status was incorrect.
4 – The case was a Type A in the original interview. The
reinterviewer determined that the original status was
incorrect.
5 – The interviewer classified this unit as a Type B or Type
C noninterview, and the reinterviewer determined that it
should have been an interview or Type A noninterview.
The instrument automatically suspects falsification for
this discrepancy.
6 – The reinterview respondent indicated that the original
status was incorrect.
7 – The household roster was incorrect.
8 – Not all survey questions were asked in the interview.
4-3
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
9 – The interviewer conducted a telephone interview only
instead of a personal visit interview, as required.
Discrepancies Between the
Original Interview and
Reinterview, (cont’d)
10 – This case was done by personal visit and the
reinterview respondent said the interviewer did not use a
laptop. The instrument automatically suspects
falsification for this discrepancy.
11 – The interviewer entered a bad telephone number for
this case.
13 – Demographic characteristics were incorrectly recorded
on roster.
14 – The household income and/or tenure were incorrectly
recorded.
FALSIF2 Screen
For discrepancies 1, 5, and 10, the CAPI RI instrument will display
the FALSIF2 screen rather than the FALSIF screen. The main
difference between the FALSIF and FALSIF2 screens is that you are
making a falsification determination on the FALSIF screen whereas
on the FALSIF2 screen falsification is automatically suspected.
Screen FALSIF2:
Your reinterview indicates the following discrepancies:
10 – This case was done by personal visit and the
reinterview respondent said the interviewer did not use a
laptop.
◆
Falsification is suspected for this case. An 11-163 is
required. Please notify your supervisor.
1. Continue
The FALSIF2 screen comes on path if the reinterview instrument
finds any of the following discrepancies:
(1) The reinterview respondent said no one contacted this
household regarding this survey
(5) The interviewer classified this unit as a Type B or Type C
noninterview, and the reinterviewer determined that it should
have been an interview or Type A noninterview
(10) This case was done by personal visit, and the reinterview
respondent said the interviewer did not use a laptop
4-4
Reinterview Self-Study
FALSIF Screen
(01/2016)
The FALSIF screen comes on path when discrepancies other than 1,
5 and 10 are detected. Take a look at the example below when an
discrepancies 7 and 8 are detected:
Your reinterview indicates the following discrepancies:
7 – The household roster was incorrect.
8 – Not all survey questions were asked in the interview.
◆
Do you suspect falsification?
1.
2.
3.
3
Reinterviewer
Requirements for
Suspecting Falsification
Ye s
No
Unable to Determine
Unable to Determine
The Field Division at Headquarters REQUIRES that reinterviewers
select ‘Yes’ on the FALSIF screen when the interviewer conducts an
interview at the wrong address.
Interviewing at a wrong address could be indicative of falsification or
a procedural error. Interviewing at an incorrect sample unit is a
serious enough error that the case should be investigated and
documented on the Form 11-163 through an investigation process.
What to do if you Suspect
Falsification
Whenever you, or the instrument, suspects an FR/FS of falsifying
data or deliberately not following the interview procedures, contact
your supervisor immediately. Do NOT contact the interviewer
before speaking to your supervisor.
If you suspect falsification and need additional information about
the original interview, you may request original interview responses
from your SSF/SSO These original interview responses are
contained in trace files. The interviewer can be placed in
supplemental reinterview or the supervisor can activate inactive
supplemental reinterview cases.
Form 11-163
Form 11-163, Field Representative Data Falsification Follow-up
and Quality Assurance Form, must be filled out every time an
interviewer is suspected of falsifying data, even if the RO clears your
suspicions. The SSO will investigate the interviewer’s assignment
and complete a Form 11-163. The SSO may require your assistance
in investigating cases and completing the form.
4-5
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Discrepancies Detected
but Falsification Not
Suspected
If discrepancies are detected, but you DO NOT suspect falsification
you may need to follow up with the SSO to provide additional
information about the situation.
Minor Errors
If there are minor discrepancies that do not lead you to suspect major
procedural problems or possible falsification, call your supervisor
and discuss the discrepancies with him/her. The SSO should then
call and discuss them with the interviewer.
Serious Errors
If the discrepancies are indications of serious errors that lead you to
suspect major procedural misunderstandings or possible falsification,
the SSO should be the one to discuss the reinterview with the
interviewer. In this case, you should neither call the interviewer
regarding the reinterview nor mention to the interviewer that he/she
has been in reinterview.
It is possible that the SSO may select additional reinterview cases
cases or place the interviewer in supplemental reinterview for other
surveys on which the interviewer works to resolve any questions
about the quality of the interviewer’s work.
The SSO, in consultation with his/her coordinator, may elect to
retrain an interviewer whose reinterview indicates there are serious
problems with the survey concepts, procedures, or interviews. This
training may be done by a phone discussion, by special needs
observation, or by having the interviewer attend all or part of initial
training again.
4-6
Reinterview Self-Study
Summary
(01/2016)
This lesson has provided you with much of the information you will
need after you complete your reinterview cases, such as:
•
Data falsification occurs if the interviewer knowingly deviates
from current interviewing procedures to avoid interviewing or
properly interviewing a respondent.
•
Failure to follow survey procedures is not the same as data
falsification.
•
Noninterview misclassification is a failure to follow survey
procedures and occurs when an interviewer incorrectly
determines the status of a sample household unit and records it
as a noninterview.
•
When discrepancies are discovered, the instrument will display
either the FALSIF screen or the FALSIF2 screen. FALSIF
allows you to make the determination if falsification is
suspected. FALSIF2 appears when falsification is
automatically suspected.
•
Do not contact the original FR/FS regardless of whether
falsification is suspected.
•
Form 11-163 Field Representative Data Falsification Follow-up
and Quality Assurance Form, must be filled out every time an
interviewer is suspected of falsifying data.
•
Sometimes you will discover discrepancies between the original
interview and the reinterview, but falsification has not occurred.
4-7
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Notes
4-8
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Lesson 5. Section I Final Review Exercise
1.
A ______________ case is originally designated to be completed by CATI but cannot and is
sent to the field for reinterview.
2.
For a completed case, your first choice for the QC reinterview respondent is always the person
who completed the majority of the original interview.
⎕
3.
True
⎕
False
True
⎕
False
During reinterview, you will re-ask the original survey questions.
⎕
6.
False
As a reinterviewer, it is crucial that you ask questions EXACTLY as worded.
⎕
5.
⎕
For QC reinterview for a Type B or Type C noninterview, any knowledgeable person about the
unit would be a sufficient respondent.
⎕
4.
True
True
⎕
False
All reinterview cases, including active and inactive supplemental reinterview cases, that are not
eligible for CATI will be activated when you
___________________________________________________________________________
7.
CAPI reinterview is treated as a separate survey option for all current surveys.
⎕
8.
True
⎕
False
The primary goal of reinterview is to allow us to determine if proper interviewing procedures
are being followed in the field.
⎕
True
⎕
5-1
False
Reinterview Self-Study
9.
(01/2016)
Falsification includes, but is not limited to: (Mark all that apply)
⎕ making up some or all information,
⎕ deliberately miscoding the answer to a question to avoid follow-up questions,
⎕ misclassifying occupied units as Type B or C noninterviews, or
⎕ accepting proxy information from an ineligible person.
10.
Failure to follow procedures includes, but is not limited to: (Mark all that apply)
⎕ interviewing without using a laptop and keying the answers later, after the interview,
⎕ not asking questions as worded,
⎕ conducting an interview via telephone when it was designated as personal visit
⎕ misclassifying occupied units as Type B or C noninterviews.
11.
If you suspect falsification, contact the FR/FS directly and question them.
⎕
12.
True
⎕
False
What form must be completed if you suspect falsification upon completing reinterview?
______________
5-2
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Section II
Survey Specific
Information
Lesson(s) are on paper or in separate file(s)
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Notes
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Lesson 10. Reinterview for the National Crime Victimization Survey
Introduction
How to Charge
Your Time
Section I of this self-study provided you with information about
conducting reinterview that is the same across all current
surveys. This lesson will focus on reinterview for NCVS. You
will learn about:
The NCVS content questions that are asked in the
reinterview instrument
The outcome codes you can expect to see in the NCVS
reinterview instrument
Unique situations applicable to NCVS reinterview
You are allowed 1 hour to complete this lesson. Charge that
time to National Crime Victimization Survey, project number
7523013, task code 528.
If you have questions about how to charge time for completing
this self-study, contact your supervisor.
Response Error Analysis
In addition to the purposes of conducting reinterview outlined
in Section I, Lesson 1, the NCVS reinterview instrument
includes questions for a response error (RE) analysis. The RE
analysis for the NCVS includes re-asking some crime
victimization questions in order to analyze the consistency of
responses. The RE questions are asked of the household
respondent and of a randomly chosen RE sample person only
for complete original interviews.
Eligible Respondents and
Proxies
The NCVS reinterview respondent is the person who
responded in the original interview. For complete original
interviews in reinterview, there will be a household respondent
and an RE sample person (possibly the same person).
If the household respondent is unavailable, a proxy is allowed
to complete the reinterview. The proxy respondent must be a
household member that is 18 years of age or older. Proxies
are allowed ONLY for the RE sample person if the proxy
respondent answered the questions for the RE sample person
during the original NCVS interview.
For cases treated as Type B and C original noninterviews,
proxies are acceptable if the contact person is unavailable.
The proxy respondent must be 18 years of age or older and
knowledgeable about the status of the sample unit.
10-1
Reinterview
Self-Study
NCVS Content
Questions
(04/2016)
The survey content questions you will ask for NCVS reinterview
come from the following areas:
Demographic characteristics verification
Verification of household income and tenure
Household crime screeners
Person crime screeners
Demographic Characteristic Verification
You will ask the household respondent or the household
respondent proxy questions about the demographic
characteristics of household members. The screens are
described below:
AGE_CHECK asks if the age reported for a household member
was reported correctly.
AGE_RANGE asks for the age range for a household member
if the age was not reported or was not reported correctly.
SEX_VER asks if the sex reported for a household member was
reported correctly.
SEX asks for the sex of a household member if the sex was not
reported.
RACE_VER asks if the race reported for a household member
was reported correctly.
RACE asks for the race of a household member if the race was
not reported or was not reported correctly.
RACE_SPECIFY collects the race of a household
member if “some other race” was the response to
RI_RACE.
ORIGIN_VER asks if the Hispanic origin reported for a
household member was reported correctly.
ORIGIN asks for the Hispanic origin of a household
member if the Hispanic origin was not reported.
MARITAL_VER asks if the marital status reported for a
household member was reported correctly.
10-2
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
MARITAL asks for the marital status of a household
member if the marital status was not reported or was not
reported correctly.
Verification of Household Income and Tenure
Questions will be asked to verify and/or collect information
about the household income and household tenure (own or
rent). These screens are described below:
RI_HHINCOME_VER asks if the household income was
reported correctly.
RI_HHINCOME asks for the household income if the
household income was not reported or was not reported
correctly.
RI_HHTENURE_VER asks if the tenure (whether the
household owns or rents) was reported correctly.
RI_HHTENURE asks for the tenure if the tenure was not
reported or was not reported correctly.
Household Crime Screeners
You will re-ask the household respondent questions about
thefts, break-ins, and vehicular thefts. If a proxy is answering
for the household respondent, then these questions are skipped.
These screens are described below:
RI_SQTHEFT asks if anything was stolen during the reference
period.
RI_SQBREAKIN asks if anyone broke in, or attempted to break
in, to the household during the reference period.
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES asks for the total number of
vehicles owned by any member of the household during the
reference period.
RI_SQMVTHEFT asks if any vehicle, or part of any vehicle,
was stolen or used without permission during the reference
period.
Person Crime Screeners
You will ask the RE sample person about crimes affecting
him/her. If the reinterview is being completed by a proxy, then
the questions listed on the screens below will only come on path
10-3
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
if the reinterview is being completed by the RE sample person.
Otherwise, these questions will be skipped.
RI_SQATTACKWHERE asks if, other than any incidents
previously mentioned, the RE sample person was attacked,
threatened, or had anything stolen during the reference period.
RI_SQATTACKHOW asks if the RE sample person was
attacked, threatened, or had anything stolen in any list of ways.
RI_SQATTACKKNOWNOFF asks if the RE sample person
was attacked, threatened, or had anything stolen by someone
he/she knows.
RI_SQSEXUAL asks if the RE sample person was forced or
coerced into unwanted sexual activity.
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME asks if the RE sample person
reported any incidents not previously mentioned in reinterview
that he/she thought was a crime and happened to him/her during
the reference period.
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME asks if the RE sample
person did NOT report any incidents that he/she thought was a
crime and happened to him/her during the reference period.
NOTE: The household respondent and the RE sample person
may be the same person; you will not select either of them. The
NCVS RI instrument automatically fills the names of the
household respondent and RE sample person when appropriate.
What if the RE Sample Person is Unavailable?
If the RE sample person is not available, the reinterview
instrument will NOT allow a proxy to answer questions for the
RE sample person. The RI_SPEAKTOSP screen will guide you
through what to do when the RE sample person is unavailable.
If the reinterview respondent indicates that the RE sample
person will be available before closeout, select option 2:
“Sample person not available now. Call or come back later.”
The instrument will then prompt you to schedule a time to
complete the reinterview with the RE sample person. When you
go to complete the reinterview with the RE sample person at the
scheduled time, the HELLO_SP screen will come on path. This
screen directs you to ask for the RE sample person, and contains
10-4
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
options for if he/she is unavailable. After entering a value on
this screen, press the END key to go to the next unanswered
question.
If the RE sample person will not be available prior to closeout,
select option 3: “No, sample person will not be available.” The
instrument will then prompt you to thank the respondent via the
THANK_YOU screen, and indicate the appropriate reason you
were unable to interview the RE sample person on the
RI_DESCRIPTSP screen. After entering a value on
RI_DESCRIPTSP, you will continue through the instrument to
determine the reinterview outcome and falsification assessment
for the case.
Please note that the case will still be considered a complete
reinterview, even if you were unable to reach the RE sample
person.
10-5
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Instructions for Accessing NCVS Reinterview Training Case Management
Step 1
At the Desktop, click twice on the Mobile Case Management icon.
Step 2
At the Warning screen, select OK.
Step 3
Click on the purple “Training/Manuals” tab on the far right.
Step 4
Click on the “LCM Training” link, found in the “Training” box toward the upper
left. (This opens up the Training Case Management screen and immediately
following that, the Survey Selection Dialog screen.)
Step 5
At the Survey Selection Dialog screen, use your mouse or touch pad to select Reint
NCVS (Windows) from the surveys listed. Then click OK. This brings you to the
Training Case Management screen.
Step 6
Reint NCVS QC is selected. Press F5 Install to install your Reint NCVS cases.
(If you see a pop-up screen asking if you want to un-install first, select “Yes.”)
Step 7
Wait a few moments while the classroom training cases are installed. A statement
will pop up stating that the installation of training cases was successful. Then click
OK.
Step 8
Access your Training Case Management by pressing the F8 CM icon. (If you see a
message asking you to import case information, click on “Cancel.”)
NOTE:
It is not necessary to install your training cases each time you log on; however, you
must install them the first time you log on for this training session. DO NOT
INSTALL/REINSTALL CASES ONCE YOU HAVE BEGUN CLASSROOM
TRAINING.
Once the training cases are installed, you may go directly to the Case List screen after logging on.
To access the training cases only, omit steps 6 and 7.
10-6
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Below are examples of some scenarios that you may encounter while conducting reinterview.
Scenario #1
For this first example, the original outcome was a complete interview. The household respondent
and the RE sample are different people.
Highlight the Control Number: 919074369 J27 01 100 (address 104 Ocean View Lane, Any
Town, AR) and press F2. At the address confirmation screen, select OK.
START
The reinterview date, time, and case status, as well as the
original date, FR, outcome, respondent name, phone number,
and address, will be displayed on the screen.
(Enter 1, Continue)
HHCOMP
This screen shows the roster, including names, relationship to
household respondent, age, sex, race, and household
membership status of each person. You can access this screen
by pressing Shift-F1 at any time during the reinterview. You
can also see this roster screen by clicking on the “Roster” tab.
(Enter 1)
METHOD
On this screen, you choose the method of reinterview, quit in
order to attempt at a later time, make the case a reinterview
noninterview, or make the case an RO or HQ discretion case.
You MUST have permission from the RO in order to choose
option 5.
(Enter 1, Telephone Reinterview.)
DIAL
This screen instructs you to dial the household’s telephone
number, which is displayed in the screen along with the name
of the household respondent and the sample unit’s address.
(Enter 1, Someone answers.)
HELLO_TC
FR:
R:
Hello. I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I speak to Megan Moe?
This is she.
(Enter 1, This is correct person, or correct person called to
the phone.)
10-7
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
INTRO_TC
FR:
Thank you for helping us recently with the National
Crime Victimization Survey.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make sure
that our interviewers are following correct procedures.
We expect this to take about 15 minutes. It may be
somewhat shorter or longer depending on your
circumstances.
R:
Is your address: 104 Ocean View Lane, Any Town,
AR 99997?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RIRESP
We know we are speaking with Megan Moe, who is line
number 2.
(Enter 2)
CONTACT_C
FR:
R:
Did an interviewer contact you or someone in your
household on or about Tuesday, November 17th, 2015
and ask questions about crime incidents that happened
during the last six months, that is between May 16,
2015, and November 16, 2015?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ORMODE
FR:
R:
Did the interviewer conduct the interview in person or
over the telephone?
In person.
(Enter 1, Personal visit only)
POLITE
FR:
R:
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
LENGTH_H, LENGTH_M
FR:
R:
About how long did the interview last?
It lasted about an hour and a half.
(Enter 1 for LENGTH_H and 30 for LENGTH_M.)
LAPTOP
This screen is only accessed if the respondent answered
that the interview was either by Personal visit only or
Both – Interviewer visited and called.
10-8
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
FR:
R:
Did the interviewer use a laptop computer?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ROSTER_1
FR:
R:
Our records indicate that Ted Moe and Megan Moe
were living or staying at: 104 Ocean View Lane, Any
Town, AR 99997, on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.
Is this correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ROSTER_3
FR:
R:
Have I missed any household member who was living
here on Tuesday, November 17, 2015?
No.
(Enter 2)
AGE_CHECK
This screen is accessed for each household member whose
age was given during the initial interview.
FR:
R:
I have Ted Moe listed as 76 years old.
Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, age IS correct.)
SEX_VER
FR:
R:
I have Ted Moe listed as male. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, sex IS correct.)
RACE_VER
FR:
R:
I have Ted Moe’s race listed as Asian. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, race IS correct)
ORIGIN_VER
FR:
R:
I have Ted Moe listed as not being Spanish, Hispanic,
or Latino. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, Hispanic origin IS correct.)
10-9
Reinterview
Self-Study
MARITAL_VER
(04/2016)
FR:
R:
I have Ted Moe’s marital status listed as married. Is
that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, marital status IS correct.)
Second person from original household roster:
AGE_CHECK
FR:
R:
I have you listed as 76 years old. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Mark 1, Yes, age IS correct.)
SEX_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as female. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, sex IS correct.)
RACE_VER
FR:
R:
I have your race listed as white. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, race IS correct.)
ORIGIN_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as being Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, Hispanic origin IS correct.)
MARITAL_VER
FR:
R:
I have your marital status listed as married. Is that
correct?
Yes it is.
(Enter 1, Yes, Marital status IS correct.)
RI_HHINCOME
This screen is accessed if the household income was not
recorded during the original interview. If the household
income had been recorded during the original interview,
then RI_HHINCOME_VER (to verify the income) would
have been asked.
FR:
Which of the following categories represents the
TOTAL combined income of all members of this
HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This
includes money from jobs, net income from business,
farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social
Security payments, and any other money income
received by members of this HOUSEHOLD who are
14 years of age or older.
10-10
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Read the income categories as displayed on the screen
and select the category according to the respondent’s
answer.
R:
About $36,000.
(Enter 21, for $35,000 - $39,999.)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
FR:
R:
I have that your living quarters are rented for cash. Is
that correct
Yes, we rent.
(Enter 1, Yes, tenure IS correct.)
RI_SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers. As I go
through them, tell me if any of these happened to you
in the last 6 months, that is, between May 16, 2015
and November 16, 2015.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
R:
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, book Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone Bicycle or sports equipment Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
tools Things outside your home such as a garden hose
or lawn furniture Things belonging to children in the household Things from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
-Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQBREAKIN
FR:
Has anyone -- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing past
someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or
entering through an open door or window?
-- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a
garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
10-11
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
R:
-- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
R:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any other member of that household during the last 6
months, that is between May 16, 2015 and November
16, 2015? Include those you no longer own.
We have one vehicle.
(Enter 1.)
RI_SQMVTHEFT
This question is only accessed if the household respondent
says that they have at least one motor vehicle.
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015 and November 16, 2015, were any of the
vehicles -- Stolen or used without permission?
-- Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
-- Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
No.
(Enter 2)
Note: At this point of the reinterview, we are done with the interviewing the household
respondent, Megan Moe, and are ready to interview the RE sample person. The instrument has
automatically selected Ted Moe as the sample person.
RI_THANKHR
FR:
Thank you for your cooperation. I now have a few
more questions I would like to ask Ted Moe.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
RI_SPEAKTOSP
FR:
R:
May I speak to Ted Moe?
Hold on. I’ll get him.
(Enter 1, Yes, sample person is available.)
10-12
Reinterview
Self-Study
RI_INTROSP
(04/2016)
FR:
R:
We’re doing a short quality control check to make
sure that our interviewer followed the correct
procedure when he/she recently interviewed you for
the National Crime Victimization Survey.
I’ve already completed part of this interview with
Megan Moe and would like to finish this interview by
asking you a few questions.
Sure.
(Enter 1)
RI_QUESTYPESP
FR:
R:
The questions I will ask you will be about the crime
incidents that occurred to between May 16, 2015 and
November 16, 2015.
Okay, but I don’t have anything to report.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
R:
Between May 16, 2015 and November 16, 2015, were
you attacked or threatened OR did you have
something stolen from you -- At home including the porch or yard -- At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
home -- At work or school -- In places such as a storage shed or laundry room,
a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport -- While riding in any vehicle -- On the street or in a parking lot -- At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic
area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or huntingOR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
FR:
Has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways -- (Exclude telephone threats) -- With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife -- With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stick -- By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle -- Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
10-13
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
R:
-- Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual
attack -- Any face to face threats –
OR
-- Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at
all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a
crime.
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Did you have something stolen
from you or were you attacked or threatened by-----
R:
Someone at work or school A neighbor or friend A relative or family member Any other person you have met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_ SQSEXUAL
FR:
R:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Have you been
forced or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual
activity by -- Someone you didn't know before -- A casual acquaintance OR
-- Someone you know well?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015 and November 16, 2015, did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you
thought was a crime?
No.
(Enter 2)
10-14
Reinterview
Self-Study
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
(04/2016)
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015 and November 16, 2015, did anything which
you thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did
NOT call the police?
No.
(Enter 2)
THANK_YOU
Thank you for your cooperation. You’ve been very helpful.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
RI_OUTCM
This question gives the original outcome for the case and
asks if it was correct.
(Enter 1, Yes.)
FALSIF
This question asks if you suspect falsification of the entire
interview. It lists discrepancies found during reinterview:
Your reinterview did not indicate any discrepancies.
Do you suspect falsification?
(Enter 2, No.)
READYWRAP
This screen tells you that the case is ready to be wrapped up.
When you enter 1, the instrument will leave the case.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
WRAP_UP
This screen tells you the outcome code of the case, as well as
the action code and the RI disposition code. When you enter
1, the instrument will leave the case.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
The Case-Level Notes Editor will pop up for one last
chance to enter notes. Enter “Original outcome is correct
and no discrepancies. No suspected falsification.” Click
F10 to close the notes window.
10-15
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Scenario #2
For this example, the original outcome was a noninterview. Take a look at how the reinterview
instrument path will look when the previous outcome was a noninterview and the reinterviewer
discovers the case was not classified correctly during the original interview.
Highlight the Control Number: 02609272J28000802 (address 103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town,
AZ) and press F2. At the address confirmation screen, select OK.
START
The reinterview date, time, and case status, as well as the
original date, time, outcome, address, and phone number,
will be displayed on the screen. This is a new reinterview
case.
(Enter 1, Continue)
START_1A
This screen gives contact person information: Name, Title,
Phone, and Address.
(Enter 1 to continue)
METHOD
(Enter 1, Telephone Reinterview.)
DIAL
(Enter 1, Someone answers.)
HELLO_TN
FR:
R:
Hello. I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census
Bureau. May I speak to Ana McCool?
Speaking.
(Enter 1, This is correct person, or correct person called
to the phone.)
INTRO_TN
FR:
R:
Thank you for recently helping us verify the status of:
103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ 99997.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make
sure that our interviewers are following correct
procedures. We expect this to take about 15 minutes.
It be somewhat shorter or longer depending on your
circumstances.
Ok.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
CONTACT_N
FR:
R:
Did an interviewer visit or call regarding:
103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ 99997
Yes.
10-16
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
(Enter 1)
ORMODE
FR:
R:
Did the interviewer visit in person or call on the
telephone?
They called.
(Enter 2, Telephone call only.)
POLITE
FR:
R:
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
No.
(Enter 2)
PO_NOTES
FR:
R:
How was the interviewer not polite and/or
professional?
They were really curt.
(Enter “They were really curt” into the Polite Notes box.)
STATUS
FR:
R:
Our records show that on Wednesday, November 18,
2015, 103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ 99997 was
vacant. Is this information correct?
No, it isn’t.
(Enter 2)
STAT_PROB2
This question is only asked if the respondent indicates
that the original outcome was not correct.
FR:
R:
What was the status of 103 Riverside Blvd, Any
Town, AZ 99997 on or about Wednesday, November
18, 2015?
It has been occupied continuously for the past 2 years.
(Enter “Continuously occupied for past 2 years” and
Press Enter.)
THANK_YOU
FR:
Thank you for your cooperation. You’ve been very
helpful.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
RI_OUTCM
This screen asks if the original outcome was correct.
(Enter 2, No.)
10-17
Reinterview
Self-Study
MISC_B
(04/2016)
This screen appears only if the original outcome was a TYPE
B case, but you said on the RI_OUTCM screen that the
original outcome was incorrect.
Which of the following options describes the
misclassification of this original Type B case?
(Enter 1, Should have been an Interview or Type A.)
FALSIF2
After listing all discrepancies, this screen indicates
falsification is suspected.
Your reinterview indicates the following discrepancies:
2- The Reinterviewer determined that the original status, 226
– Vacant, regular, was incorrect.
5- The interviewer classified this unit as Type B or Type C
Noninterview and you determined that is should have been an
Interview or Type A.
6- The reinterview respondent indicated that the original
status, 226 – Vacant, regular was incorrect.
Falsification is suspected. Be sure to enter all proper notes
explaining the situation.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
READYWRAP
This screen tells you that the case is completed and ready to
be transmitted. After exiting, the case will be removed from
your case list.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
WRAP_UP
This screen tells you that the case outcome and RI
disposition code.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
The Case-Level Notes Editor will pop up for one last
chance to enter notes. Enter “Spoke with original Type B
contact person Ana McCool. She indicated unit has been
continuously occupied for past 2 years. Prev outcome
incorrect.” Click F10 to close the notes window. This will
wrap up the case.
10-18
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Scenario #3
For this example, the original outcome was a complete interview.
Highlight Control Number: 02609272J28000101 (address 103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ)
and press F2. At the address confirmation screen, select OK.
START
The reinterview date, time, and case status, as well as the
original date, time, outcome, address, and phone number,
will be displayed on the screen. This is a new reinterview
case.
(Enter 1, Continue)
HHCOMP
This screen shows the roster, including names, relationship to
household respondent, age, sex, race, and household
membership status of each person. You can access this
screen by Shift-F1 at any time during the reinterview. You
can also see this roster screen by clicking on the “Roster”
tab.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
METHOD
On this screen you choose the method of reinterview, quit in
order to attempt at a later time, make the case a reinterview
noninterview, or make the case an RO or HQ discretion case.
You MUST have permission from the RO in order to choose
option 5.
(Enter 1, Telephone Reinterview.)
DIAL
This screen instructs you to dial the household’s telephone
number, which is displayed in the screen along with the name
of the household respondent and the sample unit’s address.
(Enter 1, Someone answers.)
HELLO_TC
FR:
R:
Hello. I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census
Bureau. May I speak to John Doe?
This is John.
(Enter 1, This is correct person, or correct person called
to the phone.
INTRO_TC
FR:
Thank you for helping us recently with the National
Crime Victimization Survey.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make
10-19
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
sure that our interviewers are following correct
procedures. We expect this to take about 15 minutes.
It may be somewhat shorter or longer depending on
your circumstances.
R:
Is your address: 103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ
99997?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RIRESP
We know we are speaking with John Doe.
(Enter 1)
CONTACT_C
FR:
R:
Did an interviewer contact you on someone in your
household on or about Tuesday, November 17, 2015,
and ask questions about crime incidents that happened
during the last six months, that is between May 16,
2015, and November 16, 2015?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ORMODE
FR:
R:
Did the interviewer conduct the interview in person or
over the telephone?
Someone called me.
(Enter 2, Telephone call only)
POLITE
FR:
R:
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
LENGTH_H, LENGTH_M
FR:
R:
About how long did the interview last?
It lasted about 30 minutes.
(Enter 0 for LENGTH_H and 30 for LENGTH_M.)
ROSTER_1
FR:
R:
Our records indicate that John Doe was living or
staying at 103 Riverside Blvd, Any Town, AZ 99997
on Tuesday, November 17, 2015. Is this correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ROSTER_3
FR:
Have I missed any household member who was living
here on Tuesday, November 17, 2015?
10-20
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
R:
No.
(Enter 2)
AGE_CHECK
FR:
R:
I have you listed as 38 years old. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, age IS correct.)
SEX_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as male. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, sex IS correct.)
RACE_VER
FR:
R:
I your race listed as white. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, race IS correct.)
ORIGIN_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as not being Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, Hispanic origin IS correct.)
MARITAL_VER
FR:
R:
I have your marital status listed as married. Is that
correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes marital status IS correct.)
RI_HHINCOME
FR:
Which of the following categories represents the
TOTAL combined income of all members of this
HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This
includes money from jobs, net income from business,
farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social
Security payments, and any other money income
received by members of this HOUSEHOLD who are
14 years of age or older.
Read the income categories as displayed on the screen
and select the category according to the respondent’s
answers.
R:
$18,000.
(Enter 17, for $17,500 - $19,999)
10-21
Reinterview
Self-Study
RI_HHTENURE_VER
(04/2016)
FR:
R:
I have that your living quarters are owned or being
bought by you or someone in your household. Is that
correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, tenure IS correct.)
RI_SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers. As I go
through them, tell me if any of these happened to you
in the last 6 months, that is, between May 16, 2015,
and November 16, 2015.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
R:
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, book Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone Bicycle or sports equipment Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
tools Things outside your home such as a garden hose
or lawn furniture Things belonging to children in the household Things from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
-Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RI_SQTHEFTTIMES
FR:
R:
How many times?
Once.
(Enter 1.)
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC
FR:
R:
What happened?
Someone broke into my car while I was sleeping and
stole my GPS & some CDs.
You are to briefly describe the incident in
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC. Remember, when writing a
description of what happened refer to the respondent and
any other household member by his or her line number
(for example L1, L2) and NOT by their name. If you click
on the “Roster” tab, you will see the names of those
persons living or staying in the household and their
10-22
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
corresponding line number.
You will see that John Doe’s line number is 1. Now enter
click on the “GenRI” tab on the toolbar to go back to
RI_SQTHEFTSPEC. DO NOT enter 1 to continue as
doing so will take you to the next unanswered screen
question.
Now enter the following summary:
L1 stated that someone broke into their car while sleeping
and stole the GPS as well as some CDs.
(Press Enter to continue)
RI_SQBREAKIN
FR:
Has anyone -
R:
-- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing past
someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or
entering through an open door or window?
-- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a
garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
-- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
R:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any other member of that household during the last 6
months, that is between May 16, 2015, and November
16, 2015? Include those you no longer own.
Just one.
(Enter 1.)
RI_SQMVTHEFT
FR:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015, and November 16, 2015, were any of the
vehicles -- Stolen or used without permission?
-- Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
-- Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
10-23
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
R:
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQATTACKWHERE
FR:
R:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, between
May 16, 2015 and November 16, 2015, were you
attacked or threatened OR did you have something
stolen from you -- At home including the porch or yard -- At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's
home -- At work or school -- In places such as a storage shed or laundry room,
a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport -- While riding in any vehicle -- On the street or in a parking lot -- At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic
area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or huntingOR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to
steal anything belonging to you from any of these
places?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQATTACKHOW
FR:
R:
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has
anyone attacked or threatened you in any of these
ways -- (Exclude telephone threats) -- With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife -- With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan,
scissors, or stick -- By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle -- Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
-- Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual
attack -- Any face to face threats –
OR
-- Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at
all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a
crime.
No.
(Enter 2)
10-24
Reinterview
Self-Study
RI_SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
(04/2016)
FR:
People often don't think of incidents committed by
someone they know. Other than any incidents already
mentioned did you have something stolen from you or
were you attacked or threatened by-----
R:
Someone at work or school A neighbor or friend A relative or family member Any other person you have met or known?
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_ SQSEXUAL
FR:
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts
are often difficult to talk about. Other than any
incidents already mentioned, have you been forced or
coerced to engage in unwanted sexual activity by -- Someone you didn't know before -- A casual acquaintance OR
-- Someone you know well?
R:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015 and November 16, 2015, did you call the police
to report something that happened to YOU which you
thought was a crime?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RI_SQCALLPOLICECRIME- FR:
R:
SPEC
What happened?
The police came to take a report on the damage to my
car from the break-in. I needed some documentation
to give to the insurance company.
Enter the details in the “Call police specify” box:
L1 called the police to file a report about the car break-in
and to get documentation for their insurance company.
10-25
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
(Press Enter to continue)
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
FR:
R:
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something
stolen or an attempt made to steal something that
belonged to you or another household member?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RI_SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
FR:
R:
How many times?
Just the once.
(Enter 1)
RI_SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 16,
2015 and November 16, 2015, did anything which
you thought was a crime happen to YOU, but you did
NOT call the police?
Not that I can recall.
(Enter 2)
THANK_YOU
FR:
Thank you for your cooperation. You’ve been very
helpful.
RI_OUTCM
This screen asks if the original outcome was correct.
(Enter 1)
FALSIF
After listing all discrepancies, this screen asks if you suspect
falsification.
Your reinterview did not indicate any discrepancies.
Do you suspect falsification?
(Enter 2, No.)
READYWRAP
WRAP_UP
This screen tells you that the case is ready to be wrapped up.
When you enter 1, the instrument will leave the case.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
This screen tells you that the outcome code of the case, as
well as the action code and RI disposition code. When you
enter 1, the instrument will leave the case.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
10-26
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
The Case-Level Notes Editor will pop up for one last
chance to enter notes. Enter “Original outcome is correct
and no discrepancies. No suspected falsification.” Click
F10 to close the notes window.
10-27
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Scenario #4
This example is a complete NCVS interview of a two-person household where one person has
moved out.
Highlight Control Number: 919244301 J27 02 100 (address 106 Robin St, Any Town, CO)
and press F2. At the address confirmation screen, select OK.
START
The reinterview date, time, and case status, as well as the
original date, time, outcome, address, and phone number,
will be displayed on the screen. This is a new reinterview
case.
(Enter 1, Continue)
HHCOMP
This screen shows the roster, including names, relationship to
household respondent, age, sex, race, and household
membership status of each person. You can access this
screen by Shift-F1 at any time during the reinterview. You
can also see this roster screen by clicking on the ROs tab.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
METHOD
On this screen you choose the method of reinterview, quit in
order to attempt at a later time, make the case a reinterview
noninterview, or make the case an RO or HQ discretion case.
You MUST have permission from the RO in order to choose
option 5.
(Enter 1, Telephone Reinterview.)
DIAL
This screen instructs you to dial the household’s telephone
number, which is displayed in the screen along with the name
of the household respondent and the sample unit’s address.
(Enter 1, Someone answers.)
HELLO_TC
FR:
R:
Hello. I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census
Bureau. May I speak to Jim Voe?
Yes, this is Jim.
(Enter 1, This is correct person, or correct person called
to the phone.
INTRO_TC
FR:
Thank you for helping us recently with the National
Crime Victimization Survey.
We’re doing a short quality control check to make
sure that our interviewers are following correct
10-28
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
procedures. We expect this to take about 15 minutes.
It may be somewhat shorter or longer depending on
your circumstances.
R:
Is your address: 106 Robin St, Any Town, CO
99997?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
RIRESP
FR:
R:
With whom am I speaking?
Jim
(Enter 1, the line number of the respondent.)
CONTACT_C
FR:
R:
Did an interviewer contact you on someone in your
household on or about Wednesday, November 18,
2015, and ask questions about crime incidents that
happened during the last six months, that is between
May 17, 2015, and November 17, 2015?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
ORMODE
FR:
R:
Did the interviewer conduct the interview in person or
over the telephone?
On the telephone.
(Enter 2, Telephone call only)
POLITE
FR:
R:
Was the interviewer polite and professional?
Yes.
(Enter 1)
LENGTH_H, LENGTH_M
FR:
R:
About how long did the interview last?
About 45 minutes.
(Enter 0 for LENGTH_H and 45 for LENGTH_M.)
ROSTER_1
FR:
R:
Our records indicate that Jim Voe and Andrew Voe
were living or staying at 106 Robin Street, Any
Town, CO 99997 on Wednesday, November 18,
2015. Is this correct?
No, Andrew was no longer living here at that time.
(Enter 2)
10-29
Reinterview
Self-Study
ROSTER_2
(04/2016)
This screen appears to enter the line number of the household
member(s) who wasn’t/weren’t living at the household
during the initial interview.
(Enter 2, the line number for Andrew Voe, and Press
Enter.)
ROSTER_3
FR:
R:
Have I missed any household member who was living
here on Wednesday, November 18, 2015?
No.
(Enter 2)
AGE_CHECK
FR:
R:
I have you listed as 33 years old. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, yes, age IS correct.)
SEX_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as male. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, sex IS correct.)
RACE_VER
FR:
R:
I your race listed as Asian. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, race IS correct.)
ORIGIN_VER
FR:
R:
I have you listed as not being Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino. Is that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, Hispanic origin IS correct.)
MARITAL_VER
FR:
R:
I have your marital status listed as never married. Is
that correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes marital status IS correct.)
RI_HHINCOME
FR:
Which of the following categories represents the
TOTAL combined income of all members of this
HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This
includes money from jobs, net income from business,
farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social
Security payments, and any other money income
received by members of this HOUSEHOLD who are
14 years of age or older.
10-30
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
Read the income categories as displayed on the screen
and select the category according to the respondent’s
answers.
R:
$26,000.
(Enter 19, for $25,000 - $29,999)
RI_HHTENURE_VER
FR:
R:
I have that your living quarters are owned or being
bought by you or someone in your household. Is that
correct?
Yes.
(Enter 1, Yes, tenure IS correct.)
RI_SQTHEFT
FR:
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an
idea of the kinds of crimes this study covers. As I go
through them, tell me if any of these happened to you
in the last 6 months, that is, between May 17, 2015,
and November 17, 2015.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as --------
R:
Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet,
purse, briefcase, book Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone Bicycle or sports equipment Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or
tools Things outside your home such as a garden hose
or lawn furniture Things belonging to children in the household Things from a vehicle, such as a package,
groceries, camera, or CDs –
OR
-Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything
belonging to you?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQBREAKIN
FR:
Has anyone -- Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your
home by forcing a door or a window, pushing past
someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or
entering through an open door or window?
-- Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a
garage, shed, or storage room?
10-31
Reinterview
Self-Study
(04/2016)
R:
OR
-- Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or
motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_SQTOTALVEHICLES
FR:
R:
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any other member of that household during the last 6
months, that is between May 17, 2015, and November
17, 2015? Include those you no longer own.
I have one vehicle.
(Enter 1.)
RI_SQMVTHEFT
FR:
R:
During the last 6 months, that is between May 17,
2015, and November 17, 2015, were any of the
vehicles -- Stolen or used without permission?
-- Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car
stereo, hubcap or battery?
-- Did anyone steal any gas from them?
OR
-- Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or
parts attached to them?
No.
(Enter 2)
RI_THANKHR
FR:
Thank you for your cooperation. I now have a few
more questions I would like to ask Andrew Voe.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
RI_SPEAKTOSP
FR:
R:
May I speak to Andrew Voe?
He doesn’t live here anymore.
(Enter 3, No, sample person will not available.)
THANK_YOU
FR:
Thank you for your cooperation. You’ve been very
helpful.
10-32
Reinterview
Self-Study
RI_DESCRIPTSP
(04/2016)
This screen is accessed if you are unable you speak to the
RE sample person. The instrument will automatically prefill sample person’s name.
Which of the following best describes what happened in
reinterview with Andrew Voe?
(Enter 5, You could NOT complete reinterview with
Andrew Voe because of a reason not listed above. Specify
in the Reinterview Notes.)
RI_OUTCM
This screen asks if the original outcome was correct.
(Enter 1)
FALSIF2
After listing all discrepancies, this screen asks if you
suspect falsification.
Your reinterview indicated the following discrepancies:
7- The household roster was incorrect.
Do you suspect falsification?
(Enter 3, Unable to determine.)
READYWRAP
This screen tells you that the case is completed and ready for
to be transmitted.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
WRAP_UP
This screen tells you that the case outcome and RI
disposition code.
(Enter 1 to continue.)
The Case-Level Notes Editor will pop up for one last
chance to enter notes. Enter “Household roster incorrect.
Respondent stated L2 was not living in the household at
the time of the original interview.” Click F10 to close the
notes window. This will wrap up the case.
10-33
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Appendix I. Reinterview Outcome and Action Codes
Reinterview
Outcome
Codes
The outcome codes listed are generic among all CAPI reinterviews. Many
of the reinterview outcome codes correspond to their equivalent in the
original interview. However, some do not. There are some original
interview outcome codes that are not listed as possible reinterview
outcome codes because they are not realistic outcomes for reinterview.
There are some reinterview outcome codes that are not original interview
outcome codes. All cases except outcome 200, 202, and 201 go to
Reinterview Supervisory Review.
Reinterview Outcome Codes
Disposition
N/A
N/A
001
Outcome
200
202
201
Action
00
01
10
Description
New case, not started
Accessed instrument, no interview or insufficient
Original interview or noninterview verified as correct
Type As
003
013
014
015
033
034
035
036
037
214
214
216
217
218
213
218
215
219
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
Unable to complete, bad telephone number
Unable to locate
No one home
Temporarily absent
Refused
Language problem
Respondent can't remember
Insufficient partial
Other Type A
226
227
230
231
234
228
224
225
233
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
Vacant, regular or seasonal
Vacant, storage of household furniture
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied tent or trailer site
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible
Unfit, to be demolished
Entire HH under age limit
Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
Other Type B
Type Bs
017
019
020
021
022
023
038
039
041
A-1-1
Reinterview Self-Study
Disposition
(01/2016)
Description
Out
Action
240
241
243
245
250
251
248
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Converted to permanent business or storage
Condemned
Deceased
Moved out of country
Other Type C
360
51
HH replaced by new HH since original interview
043
301
11
044
301
11
046
048
058
301
301
301
11
11
11
004
301
11
005
301
11
006
301
11
007
301
11
009
010
301
301
11
11
011
301
11
012
016
028
301
301
301
11
11
11
Type Cs
024
025
026
027
030
031
042
Type Ds
032
Misclassified Cases
Originally classified as a B, should have
been an Interview or Type A
Originally classified as a C, should have
been an Interview or Type A
Originally classified as a B, should have been a C
Originally classified as a C, should have been a B
Other misclassification - specify in the notes
Discrepancy Cases
Discrepancy - laptop not used
Discrepancy - not all questions asked in
original interview
Discrepancy – use of proxy in original
self response is required
Discrepancy – use of ineligible proxy in
original when proxy is allowed
Discrepancy – incorrect household roster
Discrepancy – CU determination incorrect
Discrepancy – telephone interview when personal
visit required
Other discrepancy – no suspected falsification
Discrepancy – incorrect demographic data on roster
Discrepancy – incorrect income and/or tenure data
A-1-2
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Disposition Outcome
Action
Description
RO/HQ Discretion
029
312
21
052
311
21
053
312
21
054
312
21
055
312
21
056
312
21
HQ discretion - permanent (sample adjustment)
RO discretion - permanent (hard to interview
original case)
RO discretion - temporary (more than 50 miles
from nearest reinterviewer and no phone
RO discretion - temporary (observed during the
original interview)
RO discretion - temporary (personal visit
needed, but not authorized)
HQ discretion - temporary (case management,
ROSCO problems)
RO discretion - temporary (other)
057
312
21
Suspected Falsification
All cases with disposition codes greater than 060 are suspected of falsification (SF)
060
301
11
Suspected falsification of case turned in as an interview
214
214
216
217
218
213
215
219
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
Unable to complete, bad telephone number
Unable to locate
No one home
Temporarily absent
Refused
Language problem
Insufficient partial
Other Type A
226
227
230
231
234
228
224
225
233
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
Vacant, regular or seasonal
Vacant, storage of household furniture
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied tent or trailer site
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible
Unfit, to be demolished
Entire HH under age limit
Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
Other Type B
240
241
243
245
250
251
248
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Converted to permanent business or storage
Condemned
Deceased
Moved out of country
Other Type C
Type As
105
067
068
069
086
087
089
090
Type Bs
071
073
074
075
076
077
091
092
094
Type Cs
078
079
080
081
083
084
095
A-1-3
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Disposition Outcome
Action
Description
Type Ds
085
360
51
HH replaced by new HH since original interview
Misclassified Cases
096
301
11
097
301
11
099
101
103
301
301
301
11
11
11
061
062
063
301
301
301
11
11
11
064
301
11
065
066
110
111
301
301
301
301
11
11
11
11
112
117
118
302
301
301
11
11
11
Originally classified as a B, should have been an
Interview or Type A
Originally classified as a C, should have been an
Interview or Type A
Originally classified as a B, should have been a C
Originally classified as a C, should have been a B
Other misclassification - specify in the notes
Discrepancy Cases
Discrepancy - incorrect household roster
Discrepancy - not all questions asked in interview
Discrepancy – use of proxy in original when self response
is required
Discrepancy – use of ineligible proxy in original when
proxy is allowed
Wrong unit/person visited originally
Other discrepancy - suspected falsification
Discrepancy - CU determination incorrect
Discrepancy - telephone interview when personal visit
required
Discrepancy – laptop not used
Discrepancy – incorrect demographic data on roster
Discrpeancy – incorrect income and/or tenure data
A-1-4
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Appendix II. CATI Abbreviations
These abbreviations are used by CATI interviewers in the telephone centers. For recycled reinterview
cases, it may be helpful to refer to these abbreviations when reviewing case notes.
Abbreviation
Meaning
Cnty
County
Co
Company
Cont
Continue
Coop
Cooperate
Corp
Corporation
CP
Contact Person
CST
Central Standard Time
Ct
Court
Ctr
Center
Cty
City
DA
Directory Assistance
Dau
Daughter
OBA
Doing Business As
Dept
Department
Disc
Disconnected
Dr
Drive
Dsc Add
Descriptive Address
Dup
Duplicate
Own
Down
E
East
EDT
Eastern Daylight Time
EM
Exact Match
EST
-·
F
F/U
Eastern Standard Time
FAX
Fax Machine
Female
Followup
A-2-1
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Abbreviation
Meaning
Fnd
Find, Found
FR
Field Representative
Fri
Friday
Frm
From, Form
Frnt
Front
Ft
Foot, Feet
Fwd
Forward
GCB
Guess Call Back
Grp
Group, Group Home
HCB
Hard Call Back
HH
Household
HhM
Household Member
HgUp
Hang Up
HST
Hawaiian Standard Time
HU
Housing Unit
Hwy
Highway
HX
History
ID
Identification
lmmd
Immediate
Inc
Incorporated
Incl
Include
lncm
Income
Info
Information
lnsd
Inside
Int
Interview, Interviewer
LLC
Limited Liability Company
LN
Lane
A-2-2
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Abbreviation
Meaning
Ln#
Line Number
Lng Prb
Language Problem
Lptp
Laptop Computer
Lrg
Large
LS
Listing Sheet
Lt
Left
Ltd
Limited
Ltr
Letter
Lv
Leave
M
Male
Mbr
Member
MDT
Mountain Daylight Time
Mfg
Manufacturing
Mgr
Manager
Mi
Mile, Miles
ML
Message Left
Mo
Month
Mon
Monday
Msg
Message Left
Msd Appt
Missed Appointment
MST
Mountain Standard Time
MU
Multiply Units, Multi Units
MUC
Multi Unit Cases
Mvd
Move, Moved
N
North
NA
Not Available, Not Applicable
NE
Northeast
A-2-3
Reinterview Self-Study
(01/2016)
Abbreviation
Meaning
NIS
Not In Service
NOH
No One Home
No Int -(A, B, C, D)
Non Interview Type A, Type B, Type C, Type D
Nrby
Nearby
NW
Northwest
Nx
Next
Org
Organization
OSP
Original Sample Person
0th
Other
OtSd
Outside
Per
Person
Prt Int
Partial Interview
PDT
Pacific Daylight Time
Ph
Phone
Ph#
Phone Number
Pk
Park
Pkwy
Parkway
Pl
Place
PM
Afternoon, Evening
Pmgr
Property Manager
POB
Place of Business
POBx
Post Office Box
POE
Place of Employment
Pos
Possible
Prev
Previous
Prop
Property
Prvd
Provide
A-2-4
Reinterview Self-Study
Abbreviation
(01/2016)
Meaning
PST
Pacific Standard Time
Pub Lib
Public Library
PV
Personal Visit
Pxy
Proxy
Ost
Question
Qstnr
Questionnaire
RD
Road, Rural Delivery
Recd
Received
Ref
Refuse, Refused
Ref Per
Reference Person
Req
Request
RH
Rooming House
Rlct
Reluctant
Rm
Room, Roommate
RNA
Ring No Answer
RR
Rural Route
RRD
Rural Route Delivery
Resp
Respondent
Rt
Right
Rte
Route
s
Sat
South
SCB
Soft Call Back
Scrn
Screen (computer)
Sd
Said
SE
Southeast
SFR
Senior Field Representative
Sgnl
Signal
S L
Sheet #, Line #
Sm
Small
Saturday
A-2-5
Reinterview Self-Study
Abbreviation
(01/2016)
Meaning
SP
Sample Person
Sp/w
Spoke with
SS
Spanish Speaking
SSN
Social Security Number
St
Street
Stat
Status
Ste
Suite
Sun
Sunday
Sup
Supervisor
Svc
Service
SW
Southwest
TA
Temporarily Absent
TxAs
Tax Assessor
Ter
Terrace
Thur
Thursday
Tlk
Talk
Tlkd
Talked
Tom
Tomorrow
Tpke
Turnpike
Tr
Trail
Trlr
Trailer
Trlr Prk
Trailer Park
Trnsm
Transmission, Transmitted
Trsfr
Transfer
Tue
Tuesday
UTL
Unable To Locate
A-2-6
Reinterview Self-Study
Abbreviation
(01/2016)
Meaning
Vac
Vacant
Vst
Visit
Vstd
Visited
A-2-7
NCVS-550
(1/2018)
National Crime
Victimization Survey
Interviewing Manual
for Field Representatives
This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable Information.
All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. Consistent with Field
Division policy, any names referenced in practice interviews or other exercises are not meant
to refer to any actual businesses, schools, group quarters, or persons, especially any current or
former Census Bureau employees.
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Summary of Changes
Summary of Changes Since 8/2017 Version
Version Section Description of Change
1/2018
A2
Updates to legal citations. The U.S. Office of the Law Revision made an
editorial reclassification to the United States Code (U.S.C.) that caused the
legal citations that refer to Title 42 U.S.C. to change. Nothing has changed in
the way NCVS data is treated or handled. This change is only to the number of
the law.
The authority for BJS to collect NCVS was Title 42 U.S.C., Section 3732, which
changed to Title 34 U.S.C., Section 10132.
Confidentiality of NCVS data was protected by
42 U.S.C., Section 3789g, which changed to 34 U.S.C., Section 10231, and
42 U.S.C., Section 3735, which changed to 34 U.S.C., Section 10134.
NOTE: The date on the header of each chapter reflects the last time that chapter was updated.
Summary of Changes
i
Table of Contents
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Table of Contents
PART A
The National Crime Victimization Survey and You
Chapter
1
Title
Page
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey ...............A1-1
Topic
1 Purpose and Sponsor .........................................................A1-2
2 Historical Overview ..............................................................A1-5
3 Sample Design ....................................................................A1-7
4 Data Products and Their Uses.............................................A1-9
2
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview........A2-1
Topic
1 NCVS Authorization and Introduction ..................................A2-2
2 Confidentiality ......................................................................A2-6
3 Eligible Respondents ...........................................................A2-9
4 Maintaining Respondent Rapport ........................................A2-18
5 Answering Respondents' Questions ....................................A2-23
6 General Interviewing Techniques ........................................A2-32
7 Closing the Interview and “Thank You” Letters ....................A2-46
3
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures ...............A3-1
Topic
1 Basic Survey Procedures ....................................................A3-2
2 Monthly Tasks .....................................................................A3-6
3 Daily Tasks..........................................................................A3-8
4 Specific Household Procedures...........................................A3-10
4
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards .................................A4-1
Topic
1
Interviewing ......................................................................A4-2
2
Group Quarters ................................................................A4-6
3
Performance Standards ....................................................A4-7
4
Field Evaluations - Observation and Reinterview ..............A4-11
Table of Contents
ii
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Chapter
5
Table of Contents
Title
Page
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews ..........................................A5-1
Topic
1
2
3
4
5
6
Identifying the Method of Interview ...................................A5-2
Qualifications for Using the Personal Visit Method............A5-3
Qualifications for Using the Telephone Method ................A5-8
Instructions for Conducting Telephone Interviews.............A5-10
Telephone Interviewing Skills ...........................................A5-17
Noninterviews .................................................................................A6-1
Topic
1
2
3
4
5
7
Overview of Noninterview Types and Procedures.............A6-2
Type A Noninterview Categories ......................................A6-9
Type B Noninterview Categories ......................................A6-16
Type C Noninterview Categories ......................................A6-21
Type Z Noninterview Persons ...........................................A6-25
Interviewing Materials .....................................................................A7-1
Topic
1
2
3
Description of Materials ....................................................A7-2
Materials Kept from Month to Month .................................A7-5
Materials Supplied Monthly ...............................................A7-6
Table of Contents
iii
Table of Contents
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
PART B
The National Crime Victimization Survey CAPI Instrument
Chapter
1
Title
Page
Overview of the NCVS Instrument ..................................................B1-1
Topic
1 Introduction .........................................................................B1-2
2 Screen Layout .....................................................................B1-5
3 Selection of Questions and Screen Content ........................B1-8
4 Methods of Making Entries ..................................................B1-12
5 Navigation and Using Function Keys ...................................B1-16
6 Partial Interviews and Callbacks ..........................................B1-20
7 CAPI Outcome Codes .........................................................B1-24
8 How to Use the Tool Bar .....................................................B1-26
2
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument ............................................B2-1
Topic
1 Introduction .........................................................................B2-2
2 Screen Layout and Instructions for START_CP...................B2-3
3 CAPI Personal Visit Interview for Household Respondent and
Individual Respondent(s) (Screen Layout and Instructions for
START_CP through INTRO_REC_CP) ...............................B2-5
4 CAPI Telephone Interview for Household Respondent and
Individual Respondent(s) (Screen Layout and Instructions for
START_CP through INTRO_REC_CP) ...............................B2-18
5 Selecting a New Household or Individual Respondent during CAPI
Personal Visit and Telephone Interviews (Screen Layout and
Instructions for NEWHHR_CP, HELLO_ALT2_CP,
HELP_OTH_CP, ALTERNATE1_CP, TOOLATE_CP, and
NEXTPERSON) ..................................................................B2-31
6 Completing Self Response and Proxy Interviews and Coding Initial
Refusals (Screen Layout and Instructions for INTERVIEWSTATUS
through INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT) ...........................B2-38
7 Verifying Sample Address, Primary Telephone Number and Mailing
Address (Screen Layout and Instructions for GETLETTER_CP
through NEWMAILGQDESCRIPTION_CP) ........................B2-51
8 Housing Unit Characteristics (Screen Layout and Instructions
for TENURE through RESTRICTEDACCESS) ....................B2-60
9 Household Roster Demographic Characteristics (Screen Layout
and Instructions for HHROSTER_FNAME through
ANY_OTHERCHNG)...........................................................B2-78
Table of Contents
iv
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Chapter
3
Table of Contents
Title
Page
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument: Introduction
And Screening Items.......................................................................B3-1
Topic
1 Introduction .........................................................................B3-2
2 Screening Questions ...........................................................B3-3
3 Screener Section Closing Screens ......................................B3-30
4 Socio-Demographic Questions ............................................B3-32
5 Informing the Household Respondent, Household Income,
Other Languages, End Screens, and Choosing the Next
Respondent to Interview ......................................................B3-59
4
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument: Incident Report Items.......B4-1
Topic
1 Screen Layout and Instructions for Items
INCIDENTINTRO Through HAPPEN ..................................B4-2
2 Screen Layout and Instructions for Items ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
Through ANYTHINGFURTHER ..........................................B4-128
3 Screen Layout and Instructions for Items DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
Through SUMMARY ...........................................................B4-230
5
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument: Additional Incidents,
Unduplication, and Help Screens ....................................................B5-1
Topic
1 Screen Layout and Instructions for the Additional
Incidents Items ....................................................................B5-2
2 Screen Layout and Instructions for the
Unduplication Items .............................................................B5-7
3 Help Screens and Abbreviations .........................................B5-11
6
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument.............................................B6-1
Topic
1 Introduction .........................................................................B6-2
2 Screen Layout and Instructions ..........................................B6-3
Table of Contents
v
Table of Contents
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
PART C
Survey Concepts
Chapter
1
Title
Page
Basic NCVS Concepts ....................................................................C1-1
Topic
1 Overview of Chapter 1 .........................................................C1-2
2 Reference Period ................................................................C1-3
3 Household Membership.......................................................C1-5
4 Reference Person ...............................................................C1-11
5 Household and Individual Respondents ..............................C1-14
6 Proxy Interview ....................................................................C1-18
7 Unduplicating/Bounding Interviews ......................................C1-24
8 Out-of-Scope Incident..........................................................C1-28
9 Overview of NCVS Process .................................................C1-29
10 Replacement Households ...................................................C1-32
2
Screening for Crimes ......................................................................C2-1
Topic
1 Overview of Chapter 2 .........................................................C2-2
2 Crimes Measured by the NCVS ...........................................C2-3
3 Threats ................................................................................C2-7
4 Recognizable/Unrecognizable Businesses ..........................C2-9
5 Ownership of Motor Vehicles ...............................................C2-16
6 Months/Years Living at Address ..........................................C2-18
7 Frequency of Household Moves ..........................................C2-21
3
Reporting Crime Incidents ...............................................................C3-1
Topic
1 Overview of Chapter 3 .........................................................C3-2
2 Series of Crimes ..................................................................C3-3
3 Right to Legally Enter Home/Lodging ..................................C3-7
4 Restricted Areas/Areas Open to the Public..........................C3-10
5 Illegal Entry (With or Without Force) ....................................C3-12
6 Presence During an Incident ...............................................C3-16
7 Weapons .............................................................................C3-22
8 Rape/Unwanted Sexual Contact..........................................C3-29
Table of Contents
vi
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Chapter
3
Table of Contents
Title
Reporting Crime Incidents (Continued)
Page
Topic
9 Theft/Attempted Theft of Cash/Property ..............................C3-36
10 Value of Stolen Property/Methods Used
to Determine Value ..............................................................C3-44
11 Property Ownership .............................................................C3-47
12 Recovered Money and/or Property ......................................C3-51
13 Medical Care .......................................................................C3-55
14 Medical Expenses ...............................................................C3-57
15 Race of Offenders ...............................................................C3-59
16 Other Victimized Household Members ................................C3-62
17 Damage to Property During an Incident ...............................C3-65
18 Job/Business at Time of the Incident ...................................C3-70
19 Major Activity During Week of the Incident ..........................C3-71
20 Incident Occurred at Work Site ............................................C3-74
21 Incidents Involving a Police Officer ......................................C3-76
22 Writing Summary Reports ...................................................C3-78
23 Type of Industry and Occupation .........................................C3-85
Part D
NCVS Case Management and Contact History Instrument
Chapter
1
Title
Page
Case Management..........................................................................D1-1
Topic
1
Getting Into Case Management .........................................D1-2
2
Transmissions....................................................................D1-14
2
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI) ........................D2-1
Topic
1 Overview of the pCHI ..........................................................D2-2
2 The pCHI and Case Management .......................................D2-4
3 The pCHI and Households Without a Roster .......................D2-13
4 The pCHI and Households With a Roster ............................D2-28
5 How to Code the pCHI in Specific Situations .......................D2-46
Table of Contents
vii
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 1
Chapter 1
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Purpose and Sponsor
A1-2
2 Historical Overview
A1-5
3 Sample Design
A1-7
4 Data Products and Their Uses
A1-9
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-1
Part A, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Purpose and Sponsor
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of the National Crime Victimization
Survey (NCVS) is to get (from respondents who are 12
years of age and older) an accurate and up-to-date
measure of the amount and kinds of crime committed during
a specific six-month reference period. The NCVS also
collects detailed information about specific incidents of
criminal victimization that the respondent reports for the
six-month reference period.
Secondary Purpose
The NCVS also serves as a vehicle for obtaining
supplemental data on crime and the criminal justice system,
including:
Attitudes toward crime and police officers;
Incidents of identity theft; and
Crime incidents in our schools.
This supplemental information is collected periodically,
along with the standard NCVS data.
Importance of NCVS
The NCVS serves a variety of roles and is the only ongoing
national program that can provide information not only on
how much crime occurs and who is victimized by that crime,
but also tell us about the impact crime has on victims. The
NCVS measures crimes both reported and not reported to
police. NCVS data are important because:
Since its inception in 1972, the NCVS has provided
much of the information we now know about crime and
its impact on victims. The only other ongoing system
measuring the extent of crime in the United States is the
FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, or UCR, which
only measures crimes reported to police.
Survey estimates are important because they are
national in scope and based on interviews with a large
number of people about their experiences with crime
victimization. Because crime is relatively rare, a large
sample is necessary to get reliable estimates.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Survey Sponsor
Part A, Chapter 1
The survey provides information that can be, and has
been, used to support and develop programs to address
crime and its impact on victims. For example, the
survey’s estimates on violence against women and
intimate partner violence were key elements in raising
awareness of these crimes, which ultimately led to the
passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994.
The survey provides a platform for research into the
nature of crimes and its causes and consequences.
Survey public use data files, stripped of all identifying
information, are archived and used by researchers to
explore a variety of issues.
The NCVS is sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Statistics
(BJS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. At
this time, it is the largest ongoing statistical survey
sponsored by the BJS.
The BJS is responsible for collecting, analyzing, publishing,
and disseminating statistical information on crime, its
perpetrators and victims, and the operation of justice
systems at all levels of government. The BJS is also
responsible for providing timely and accurate data about
crime and the administration of justice to the President,
Congress, other government officials, and the general
public. Respondents can send questions and comments
about the NCVS by E-mail to: askbjs@usdoj.gov.
Respondents can also write or call the following office to
obtain the most recent reports from the NCVS data:
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
1-800-851-3420 or for TTY service for the hearing
impaired 1-301-240-6310.
Respondents can also access the NCJRS and the BJS
Internet sites at: www.ncjrs.gov for the NCJRS and
www.bjs.gov for the BJS.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-3
Part A, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
To provide timely and reliable statistics on crime and its
impact on society, the BJS contracts with the U.S. Bureau of
the Census to conduct the NCVS, which is the main source
of information for measuring crime and assessing its impact.
NCVS vs. Police Reports
Most estimates on the amount and nature of crime are
derived from police reports. However, evidence has proven
that a significant number of crimes are never reported to the
police. Victims have cited some of the following reasons for
failing to inform the police about crimes:
Victim felt that nothing could be done.
Victim thought that the crime incident was not important
enough to report to the police.
Victim decided that the incident was too private or
personal.
Victim felt that the police would not want to be bothered
with the incident.
Police departments often lack the personnel or technical
resources necessary to record and publish the kind of
detailed data from crime victims that are required for
comprehensive criminal justice planning, evaluation, or
analysis. The Census Bureau has both the personnel and
the technical resources to conduct and supply reliable and
detailed statistics on victims of crimes reported to the police
as well as those not reported to police. Your work as an
NCVS field representative (FR) will allow us to succeed in
providing the BJS with the type of crime victimization data
that police reports cannot.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 1
Topic 2. Historical Overview
How the NCVS Began
Between January 1971 and July 1972, the Census Bureau
conducted the first nationwide victimization survey as a
supplement to the already established Quarterly Household
Survey (QHS). During that period, only minor changes were
made to the survey questions in an effort to improve data
quality.
In July 1972, the National Crime Survey (NCS), as it was
called before 1991, became a separate national sample
survey as a pioneering effort. The first sponsor of the NCS
was the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
(LEAA). This survey began when the LEAA received a
mandate set forth by Section 515b of Public Law 93-83 to
collect, evaluate, publish, and disseminate information on
the progress of law enforcement within the United States.
The NCS was intended to complement the crime
information that the FBI reports annually to law enforcement
agencies in the Uniform Crime Reports. The NCS is
designed to provide a detailed picture of crime incidents,
regardless of whether or not they were reported to the
police. This survey also provides a picture of crime victims
and crime trends as seen from the victim's perspective.
In December 1979, the NCS was transferred to the Bureau
of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. During that
same year, the first major attempt was made to improve the
quality and utility of the NCS data.
Improving Accuracy and
Usefulness
In the mid-1970s, the National Academy of Sciences
evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of the NCS.
Although the NCS was effective in measuring crime, they
did pinpoint certain aspects of the survey that could be
improved. During 1979 to 1985, a group of experts in
criminology, survey design, and statistics conducted a
detailed study and testing of the NCS. Their findings
resulted in a survey redesign that would:
Increase reporting of crime victimization, and
Provide additional details on individual crime incidents.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-5
Part A, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The recommended changes were phased in as part of a
two-stage process--near-term and long-term. The
"near-term" changes were not substantial enough to affect
the comparability of the crime rates for previous years, and
these changes were implemented in July 1986. On the other
hand, the long-term changes have had a substantial impact
on the NCS crime rates. These long-term changes were
phased in gradually starting in 1989, and were fully
implemented by July 1993.
To achieve the redesign objectives, the following
improvements were made between 1986 and 1993:
Better "short cue" screening questions were added to
stimulate respondent recall of incidents.
More thorough descriptions of crime incidents were
added as an effort to help all respondents interpret NCS
concepts correctly.
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) was
introduced to improve data collection for selected
sample areas. (However, CATI interviewing was
discontinued effective July 2007.)
Specific questions about rape and sexual assaults were
added to improve measures of these crimes.
Screening questions were reworded and added to get a
better measure of domestic violence.
As part of all the redesign changes, BJS decided in late
1991 to rename the NCS to its current name, the National
Crime Victimization Survey.
In July 2006, the NCVS converted to a fully CAPI automated
environment. Other changes have been made to the NCVS
questions over the years to maintain the relevancy of the
survey. For example, new socio-demographic questions
were added in July 2016 including questions on citizenship,
sexual orientation, and gender identity among others.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 1
Topic 3. Sample Design
NCVS Sample Population
and Size
Any noninstitutionalized person who is 12 years of age or
older and lives in the United States is eligible for the NCVS.
Every 6 months, over 100,000 housing units and other living
quarters, such as college dormitories and religious group
dwellings, are designated for sample.
Persons who are not included in the scope of this survey
include:
Primary Sampling Units
Crew members of merchant vessels,
Armed Forces personnel living in military barracks, and;
Institutionalized persons, such as correctional facility
inmates.
The households to be interviewed for the NCVS are
selected by scientific sampling methods from specific
sampling areas across the United States. We refer to these
sampling areas as Primary Sampling Units (PSUs).
Formation of PSUs begins with listing counties and
independent cities in the target area. For the NCVS, the
target area is the entire country. The counties are either
grouped with one or more contiguous counties to form
PSUs or are PSUs all by themselves. The groupings are
based on certain characteristics such as total land area,
current and projected population counts, large metropolitan
areas, and potential natural barriers such as rivers and
mountains. The resulting county groupings are called PSUs.
Sample Unit Selection
Each stratification PSU is made up of two different sampling
frames—Unit and Group Quarters (GQ). Sample units from
each of these sampling frames are selected for the NCVS.
For the Unit and GQ frames, sample addresses are
obtained from decennial census files.
Interviewing Pattern
NCVS uses a rotating sample. The sample consists of
seven groups for each month of enumeration. Each of these
groups stays in the sample for an initial interview and six
subsequent interviews; these six subsequent interviews are
each 6 months apart.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-7
Part A, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
During the course of a 6-month period, a full sample of
seven rotation groups will be interviewed (one-seventh each
month). One rotation group enters the sample for its first
interview each month. Therefore, during one interview
month, you may have sample housing units who are getting
their first, second, third, forth, fifth, sixth, and/or seventh
NCVS interview.
Most NCVS interviews are conducted during the first 2
weeks of each month. When a household falls in sample for
the first time, the initial interview with a sample household or
at least with the household respondent is always conducted
by personal visit and used to establish a time frame to avoid
duplication of crimes during subsequent interviews.
Whenever possible, subsequent NCVS interviews are
conducted by telephone.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 1
Topic 4. Data Products and Their Uses
Types of NCVS Data
Products
All data that we collect for the NCVS are tabulated in the form
of statistical summaries. No individuals who participate in this
survey can be identified from the statistical totals that are
released to the public.
Once we provide these statistical summaries to the sponsor,
the BJS, a special analysis group analyzes the data and
produce several types of publications on an annual basis.
Some of the past publications released from this survey
include:
Criminal Victimization in the United States
Changes in Criminal Victimization
Violent Victimization of College Students
The BJS routinely distributes copies of their publications to:
State and regional planning agencies,
Colleges and universities,
Commercial and industrial groups,
Citizen groups,
Professional associations,
Federal, state, city, and local police,
Courts and correctional agencies, and
Legislative bodies.
The BJS also makes selected crime victimization data
available through the Internet at the following site:
www.bjs.gov.
After the survey results have been modified to protect the
confidentiality of our respondents, NCVS public use data files
are released to the Inter-University Consortium for Political
and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan.
The ICPSR uses a grant awarded by the BJS to release the
NCVS data in a format that makes them more accessible to
the public, criminal justice practitioners, and researchers.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-9
Part A, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Who Uses the NCVS Data
and Why
Users of the NCVS data cover a wide audience of groups and
persons who are all concerned about crime and crime
prevention. These users include:
Researchers at academic, government, private, and
nonprofit research institutions;
Community groups and government agencies;
Law enforcement agencies; and
Print and broadcast media.
Researchers use the NCVS data to prepare reports, policy
recommendations, scholarly publications, testimony before
Congress, and documentation for use in courts.
Researchers also use the NCVS information to investigate:
Why certain persons are victimized more than others,
The characteristics of attempted versus actual
victimizations,
The reasons why persons do not report crime incidents to
the police, and
Victimization among juveniles, domestic violence,
gun-related crimes, multiple victimizations, and so forth.
Community groups and government agencies use the
data to develop neighborhood watch and victim assistance
and compensation programs.
The NCVS produces several facts relevant to projecting costs
of victim compensation programs. After reviewing specific
NCVS facts, it was revealed that some eligibility restrictions
for existing compensation programs were not entirely relevant
to the types of people most likely to be victimized. This was
determined by examining data on age, employment status,
and family income of victims of personal crimes, together with
findings about victim/offender relationships in these crimes.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 1
Law enforcement agencies use the NCVS findings for
training purposes, and the findings can be seen in crime
prevention public service announcements and in crime
documentaries.
Law enforcement agencies in various cities also use NCVS
data to increase:
Citizen cooperation with officials in deterring and
detecting crime,
Special police strike forces to combat those crimes which
the survey indicates as being most prevalent, and
Street and park lighting programs in those areas with the
highest reported crime rates.
Print and broadcast media regularly cite NCVS findings
when reporting on a host of crime-related topics.
Some other reasons why data users want NCVS data:
Planning for public education programs, police patrol
strategies, and new communities and housing projects.
This type of planning requires knowledge of the
characteristics of victimized persons and households, as
well as when and where victimizations occur.
Conducting feasibility studies and planning programs for
the restitution and compensation to victims of crime.
These studies and programs require information on the
nature and extent of injury and loss that results from
criminal victimization.
Assessing the need for property identification programs.
These programs require information on the amount of
property recovered after burglaries and thefts.
Understanding more about the nature and extent of
biases in police data on known offenses. These studies
require knowledge of levels of nonreporting to the police,
together with information on kinds of victimization that are
disproportionately not reported to the police.
An Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
A1-11
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 NCVS Authorization and
Introduction
A2-2
2 Confidentiality
A2-6
3 Eligible Respondents
A2-9
4 Maintaining Respondent Rapport
A2-18
5 Answering Respondents' Questions
A2-23
6 General Interviewing Techniques
A2-32
7 Closing the Interview and
"Thank You" Letters
A2-46
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-1
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Topic 1. NCVS Authorization and Introduction
NCVS Authorization
Currently, the BJS is authorized to collect statistics on
victimizations through Title 34, United States Code, Section
10132 of the Justice Systems Improvement Act of 1979.
Although this law authorizes the BJS to collect victimization
information, it does not make respondent participation
mandatory.
The Census Bureau is authorized to collect this data under
Title 13, United States Code, Section 8. Title 13 Section 9
also requires that all information collected from respondents
be kept confidential, so that individual respondents or
households cannot be identified from the survey results.
(See Topic 2 of this chapter for more details about
confidentiality.)
Why We Use Introductory
Letters
The NCVS uses two different introductory letters to comply
with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974. This Privacy
Act requires that all Federal agencies provide specific facts
to anyone from whom they plan to collect personal
information. These facts include:
The legal authority for collecting the information;
The principal purposes for collecting the information;
The various uses for the data after it is collected; and
The mandatory or voluntary nature of the survey and
penalties, if any, for not providing information.
One introductory letter, the NCVS-572(L), is mailed to a
household just before it comes into sample for the first
enumeration period. The other introductory letter, the NCVS573(L), is mailed before each subsequent enumeration
period.
In addition to complying with the Privacy Act of 1974, both
letters prepare the household for your visit or telephone call
and provide the household with your regional office contact
information.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
How To Use Introductory
Letters
Part A, Chapter 2
The National Processing Center is responsible for mailing
out introductory letters to sample households for the current
interview period. Your assignment materials will also
include copies of both introductory letters in case you need
to hand them out during personal visit interviews.
Since the first interview with a household respondent must
be conducted in person, ask the household respondent, at
the end of your introduction, whether or not he/she received
the NCVS introductory letter. (This is done automatically in
the instrument at GETLETTER_CP.) If the household
respondent states that he/she did not receive it or doesn't
recall seeing it, hand the respondent a copy of the NCVS572(L). As you hand the letter to the respondent, say
something similar to: “I would like you to have this letter
which introduces this survey and the purpose of my visit.”
Allow the respondent time to read the letter before
beginning the interview.
In most cases, when conducting an NCVS interview by
telephone, it is not necessary to mention the introductory
letter. However, there are a few instances when you would
need to ask about the introductory letter or provide the
Privacy Act information to households. These exceptions
include households that were Type A noninterviews during
the first enumeration period, and cases where you discover
a replacement household.
You will find the Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act
Information (which appears in your Information Card
Booklet (NCVS-554)) useful, even when the respondent has
received our letter and still has questions about the survey's
purpose, any penalties for not participating in the survey, or
the importance of each sample household's participation.
For example, you may say:
"The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the National
Crime Victimization Survey for the Bureau of Justice
Statistics of the United States Department of Justice.
The survey's purpose is to provide information on the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-3
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
kinds and amount of crime committed against
households and individuals throughout the country.
Your responses will be used for statistical research.
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect
your information. The Census Bureau is not permitted
to publicly release your responses in a way that could
identify you.
This survey is authorized by Title 34, Section 10132, of
the United States Code.
Participation in this survey is voluntary and there are
no penalties for refusing to answer any questions.
However, your cooperation is extremely important to
help ensure the completeness and accuracy of this
much needed information."
Introducing Yourself and
the Survey
After making contact with a household, you must introduce
yourself. When conducting a personal visit of households
that are in sample for the first time, if you are not sure if the
person who greets you at the door is at least 18 years of
age, mention to the respondent that you need to talk to
someone who is at least 18 and knowledgeable about the
household and ask whether or not that would be the
respondent. When conducting telephone interviews with
households previously in sample, ask to speak with the
household respondent from the last interview. The NCVS
CAPI instrument provides this information for you to read at
the appropriate NCVS screens.
For cases entering the sample, or "time-in-sample 1" cases,
the first screen that appears is Item GEN_INTRO_CP,
where you identify yourself, hand the respondent an
introductory letter, and select a household respondent. You
then proceed through CAPI_INTRO_B (“Is respondent
ready to complete the interview?”), GETLETTER_CP
(which introduces the survey further and asks if the
household received the introductory letter; see below), and
VERADD_CP (for address verification; also see below).
For all other cases (second through seventh interviews,
which are interviewed by phone), once someone answers
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
the telephone, introduce yourself and who you represent at
the HELLO_1_CP screen which reads:
“Hello. This is (your name) from the U.S. Census
Bureau. May I please speak with (name of last
household respondent)?” After you have determined an
eligible household respondent, explain the purpose of your
contact and verify that you contacted the correct sample
address by reading the text from the GETLETTER_CP
screen:
“Hello. I’m (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
I’m calling concerning the National Crime Victimization
Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting a survey
here and throughout the nation to determine how often
people are victims of crime. We contacted your
household for this survey several months ago. Did you
receive our introductory letter in the mail?”
The instrument then prompts you to verify the household
address at VERADD_CP:
“I have your address listed as (read the sample address
from the screen). Is that your exact address?”
Verifying that you have contacted the correct address is
very important, particularly when conducting telephone
interviews, since some households continue to use the
same telephone number after moving to a new address.
(Refer to Part A, Chapter 2, page A2-31 if a respondent
says you should not be calling because their
household is listed on the national “Do Not Call”
registry.)
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-5
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Topic 2. Confidentiality
How We Define
Confidentiality
By law (Titles 13 and 34 of the United States Code), the
Census Bureau can only use survey information for
statistical research and is NOT permitted to publically
release survey responses in a way that could identify the
respondent or their household.
As an FR, you should NEVER make survey information
available to anyone except sworn Census Bureau
employees who have a work related need to know the
information. Do not permit any unauthorized persons,
even members of your own family, to see the
information that you collect.
Confidentiality and Your
Job
While working as an FR, avoid mentioning or providing
anyone (other than sworn Census Bureau employees with
a work related need to know) with any survey materials
that may link a household or person with a specific survey.
Never reveal any information collected during an interview
to an unauthorized person or allow unauthorized persons
to listen to or overhear an interview.
No One Home
When conducting personal visit interviews, if you find that
no one is home at a sample address, be very careful how
you inquire about the best time to reach someone there. If
you ask a neighbor, apartment manager, or someone else
living nearby, DO NOT mention the survey name or
attempt to describe the survey.
Here's an example of what to say:
"Hello, I am (your name) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Here is my identification (Show ID.). I need to interview
the household at (sample address), but no one is at
home now. Do you know when I might find someone at
home?"
Nonhousehold
Member Proxy
Respondent
In the few cases where it is acceptable for you to allow a
nonhousehold member as a proxy respondent, you
cannot give the proxy respondent any information
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
provided by household members in earlier interviews/
enumeration periods. This includes information on
household composition, marital status, education,
income, and any other responses.
Using an Interpreter
There may be instances when you need the assistance of
an interpreter. Perhaps the respondent speaks a language
that you don't understand or he/she is unable to speak at
all. Only use an interpreter that the respondent is willing to
accept. If the respondent objects to a particular interpreter
or you can't locate an interpreter, call your supervisor for
help in finding an acceptable interpreter.
Telephone Interviews
When conducting an interview over the telephone, do not
permit unauthorized persons, such as your family
members or neighbors, to listen to an interview.
Personal Visit
Interviews and
Interviewing in Private
For the NCVS, interview respondents in private, out of the
hearing of others whenever possible. In a survey like the
NCVS, which can cover some sensitive topics, if a
respondent is interviewed in front of other people, they
may not be fully truthful about their victimization
experiences. This can happen when interviews are
conducted in the presence of others – whether they are
household members, family, or friends. In general, you get
more accurate, complete information when you interview in
private.
You may say something to the respondent like: “Research
has shown that we get better data when we interview in
private. We would also like to ensure confidentiality for
each household member. Is there some place we can talk
away from others?”
Try to arrange private interviews, out of hearing distance of
any other person, for the NCVS. If household members sit
down together for the interview, tell them that you wish to
interview separately to ensure the confidentiality of each
respondent’s answers, and to ensure that we get the most
complete and quality data. ONLY continue to interview with
others present if the respondents refuse to be interviewed
privately or a private interview is not possible (for example,
in a small space such as a studio apartment). Even in front
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-7
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
of others, you must still conduct each interview at a
conversational pace, and ask each respondent all the
screen questions in their entirety.
Reassuring Respondents
Some respondents may feel uneasy about providing the
requested information. Here are some facts that you can
give respondents concerned about confidentiality:
Before any NCVS data are released, all personal
information is removed. By law, the Census Bureau is
not permitted to publicly release survey responses in a
way that could identify the respondent or their
household.
The Census Bureau takes its confidentiality promise to
respondents very seriously. A Census Bureau
employee can be fined up to $250,000 and/or
imprisoned for up to 5 years if found guilty of an
unauthorized disclosure of individual information
provided to the Census Bureau.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Topic 3. Eligible Respondents
Types of NCVS
Respondents
There are three types of respondents for the NCVS:
Household respondents,
Individual respondents, and
Proxy respondents.
For the NCVS, certain sets of questions within the
instrument require different respondents. There are
specific questions in the NCVS instrument that relate to the
household and are asked only once during each
enumeration period. We refer to the respondent for these
questions as the "household respondent."
All other questions for the NCVS are considered "selfresponse" questions. In other words, each household
member who is 12 years of age or older is expected to
answer for himself/herself. We refer to these respondents
as "individual respondents."
As a last resort and only under specific conditions, we will
allow another person to answer questions for a household
member. We refer to this person as a "proxy
respondent." In most cases, a proxy respondent will be
another household member. Strict rules are in place for
when to accept a proxy interview, since a proxy
respondent is more likely not to report a crime incident and
less likely to know the full details concerning reported
incidents.
Interpreters and
Signers
"Interpreters" are acceptable for respondents who cannot
read or speak English, and "Signers" are acceptable for
respondents who are deaf. However, interpreters and
signers are not considered "proxy respondents," because
they are not responding for the household member.
Interpreters are translating the NCVS questions into the
respondent's language and then translating the
respondent's answers into English for you. Signers are
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-9
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
using sign language to relay the NCVS questions to the
respondent, the respondent uses sign language to answer
the questions, and then the signer tells you the
respondent's answers. Whenever you have the assistance
of an interpreter or a signer, note that fact in any interview
notes that you complete for the respondent.
Rules for Household
Respondents
Your goal for selecting a household respondent is to find
the most knowledgeable household member who is at
least 18 years of age. By most knowledgeable, we mean
the household member who is most likely to give accurate
answers to the household questions. Most often the
household respondent will be the reference person (one of
the persons who owns or rents the home). (See Part C,
Chapter 1, for more details about reference persons
and household respondents.)
First Person to
Interview
You must select and interview the household respondent
before interviewing any other household members,
regardless of whether you interview by personal visit or
telephone.
For a first enumeration period household, ask to speak
with one of the persons who owns or rents the home, as
soon as you have introduced yourself and verified that you
are at the correct address.
For a second through seventh enumeration period
household, the NCVS CAPI instrument automatically
prompts you to ask to speak with the person who was the
household respondent during the previous enumeration
period, as soon as you have introduced yourself and
verified that you have contacted the correct address. If that
person is not available, you can ask to speak to the
reference person, another household member who
owns/rents the home, or a household member who is at
least 18 years of age and knowledgeable about the
household.
Whenever you want to see the household roster for a
sample case, press the “Shift” and “F1” keys
simultaneously and the roster screen will appear, showing
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
the names of all household members. You can also access
the roster by clicking on the “HH Roster” tab at the top of
the pane.
Exceptions to the Age
Requirement
There are only two instances when a household
respondent can be under 18 years of age.
When the household's reference person (one of the
person's who owns or rents the home) or the spouse of
the reference person is 17 years of age, you can select
either person as the household respondent. Because
they are MARRIED, either person qualifies as a
household respondent, even though one person is 17
years of age.
When you have a household in which ALL household
members are 17 years of age, select the most
knowledgeable household member as the household
respondent. However, if the household has at least one
17-year-old household member and the remaining
members are under 17 years of age, select the 17year-old household member as the household
respondent.
NOTE: If you encounter a household in which ALL
household members are under 17 years of age,
contact your supervisor who will discuss this
situation with HQ staff and let you know how to
handle the case.
Changing Household
Respondents
If it becomes obvious that you are interviewing a
household member who is unable to answer the household
questions, you must:
Find a more knowledgeable household respondent, or
Arrange to return to or call the household back when a
more knowledgeable respondent is available.
If you have to change household respondents, click on the
“New HHR” tab at the top left of the NCVS interview
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-11
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
screen. The screen that appears, Item NEW_HHR allows
you to select a different household respondent. At
NEW_HHR, select the line number of the new household
respondent; then continue with the interview.
Rules for Individual
Respondents
After you are done interviewing the household respondent,
then you can interview each of the remaining household
members who are 12 years of age and older. We want
self-responses from each of these household members.
This may require you to make callbacks, so that you can
talk directly to each household member. For “first time in
sample” cases, you can call back other household
members, provided that the household respondent’s
interview was conducted in person.
Rules for Proxy
Respondents
To be eligible as a proxy respondent, a household member
must be:
At least 18 years of age,
Knowledgeable about the household member for whom
he/she is responding, and
A completed NCVS interview himself/herself before
providing a proxy interview.
The only time a proxy respondent can be under 18 years
of age is when the reference person or the spouse of the
reference person is under 18 or all household members
are under 18 years of age.
All proxy interviews are reviewed to determine whether
NCVS procedures were followed correctly. If not, some of
these cases could be made Type A noninterview
households. For this reason, it is very important that you
follow proper procedures for proxy interviews.
When to Accept a Proxy
Interview
One of the following circumstances must exist before you
can accept a proxy interview:
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
A parent does not want you to interview his/her 12- or
13-year-old child. In this case, any knowledgeable
household member who is at least 18 years of age can
be the proxy respondent for the child.
A household member who is 12 years of age or older is
temporarily absent and will not be back to the address
until after the interview closeout date. In this case,
make sure that the person is still a household member.
Check Page 5 of the Information Card Booklet (NCVS554) if you need help determining household
membership. If the absent person is still considered a
household member, you can accept a proxy interview.
If a household member who is at least 12 years of age
is considered physically and/or mentally incapacitated,
you can accept a proxy interview. To qualify as
physically and/or mentally incapacitated, the household
member must have health and/or mental illness
problems that are continuous throughout the entire
interview period and these problems make it
impossible for the person to be interviewed.
The following problems DO NOT qualify as health or
mental illness problems:
Colds or the flu,
Drunkenness or drugs, or
Emotional problems that might be aggravated due
to some NCVS questions, such as those dealing
with sexual assaults.
When Not to Accept a
Proxy Interview
Under the following circumstances, DO NOT accept a
proxy interview:
You are unable to reach a household member at the
sample address, despite repeated attempts throughout
the interview period. For example, a high school
student who goes to school, works part time, and is
involved in several sports activities.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-13
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
In a two-person household, one of the members tells
you that she can’t take the time to answer your
questions. Instead, she wants her husband to answer
all the NCVS questions for both of them.
A household member refuses to let you interview
someone in the household who is over 13 years of age,
such as a 14-year-old son or daughter or a 90-year-old
parent.
A respondent does not understand English and you are
unable to find an acceptable interpreter, including
another household member.
If you encounter any of these situations, you must classify
the individual respondent as a Type Z Noninterview.
Remember that you can never classify a household
respondent as a Type Z Noninterview. If none of the
household members qualify as a household respondent,
then you must classify the entire household as a Type A
noninterview.
Proxy Respondents
Who Are Not
Household Members
Before you can accept a nonhousehold member as a
proxy respondent, all of the following conditions must
apply:
All household members cannot be interviewed due to
health problems or mental incompetence.
During the entire reference period, all household
members have been unable to leave home unless they
were accompanied by a caretaker who is a
nonhousehold member.
Proxy interviews are provided by the nonhousehold
member caretaker for ALL eligible household
members, including the household respondent's
interview.
The nonhousehold member caretaker must be at least
18 years of age.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
During the entire reference period, the nonhousehold
member caretaker had responsibility for the care of
each eligible household member.
The only time you are allowed to take a proxy interview for
a household respondent is when all of the conditions for a
nonhousehold member proxy respondent have been met
and the nonhousehold member is the proxy respondent for
the household respondent and all remaining eligible
household members. Otherwise, one of the eligible
household members must serve as the proxy respondent.
When Not to Use a
Nonhousehold Member
If any of the household members, who require proxy
interviews, have not been under the care of the
nonhousehold member for more than a few days during
the reference period, do not accept a proxy interview from
the nonhousehold member.
Here are a few examples of when NOT to accept a
nonhousehold member caretaker as a proxy respondent:
A nonhousehold member goes on a 2-week vacation
and is not with the household member during those 2
weeks.
The household member is in a hospital or a nursing
home or visiting with relatives for one or more months.
During that time, the nonhousehold member caretaker
is not staying with the household member.
If you are not sure whether to accept a nonhousehold
member caretaker as a proxy respondent, always check
with your supervisor before conducting the proxy interview.
Protecting the Rights of
Household Members
Make sure that a nonhousehold member caretaker is an
acceptable proxy respondent before conducting a proxy
interview. If you allow an unacceptable nonhousehold
member to be a proxy respondent, you run the risk of:
Violating the sample household's right to confidentiality,
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-15
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Violating the sample household's right to choose
whether or not to participate in the survey, and
Interviewing a proxy respondent who is not
knowledgeable enough to provide complete and
accurate information.
When accepting a nonhousehold member caretaker as a
proxy respondent, remember not to provide him/her with
any information that the household member(s) provided
during previous interviews. This includes information on
household composition, marital status, education, income,
and so on, as well as any other information previously
given by household member(s).
Procedures for Conducting
Proxy Interviews
There are specific items in the NCVS instrument that are off
path or reworded automatically when conducting a proxy
interview.
The instrument will not ask the following questions during a
proxy interview:
Sexual orientation questions (ORIENTATION_MALE or
ORIENTATION_FEMALE), nor
Gender identity questions (GENID_BIRTH,
GENID_DESCRIBE, and GENID_CONFIRM).
The instrument items that are reworded for proxy interviews
are as follows:
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY- The answer
categories show the name of the person for whom the
proxy interview is being taken, NOT the proxy
respondent.
SEEOFFENDER through POLICE INFORMED - As
appropriate, the word “you” is replaced with either the
name of the person for whom the proxy interview is
being taken or the applicable pronoun for the proxy
person.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
POLICEFINDOUT through ANYTHINGFURTHER - For
these questions, we want the proxy respondent to
answer for himself/herself, not for the person for whom
the proxy interview is being taken. The NCVS
instrument automatically words these questions so that
they make sense when you ask them of a proxy
respondent.
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME through
TELLPOLICEHATECRIME - As appropriate, the word
“you” is replaced with either the name of the person for
whom the proxy interview is being taken or the
applicable pronoun for the proxy person.
Only accept a proxy interview as a last resort. Also, only
accept a proxy respondent who is able to answer questions
about the household member accurately and completely.
Rules for Interpreters and
Signers
Before using an interpreter or a signer, make sure that the
person is acceptable to the respondent. The interpreter or
signer can be a family member, a neighbor of the
respondent, an official interpreter or signer, or even you, if
you speak the person's language or can sign well enough.
If you have difficulty finding a suitable interpreter or signer,
contact your supervisor. NEVER accept a proxy respondent
when you cannot locate a suitable interpreter. However, you
can use a proxy respondent for a deaf respondent, when a
suitable signer is not available.
If you complete a crime report for a respondent who
required the assistance of an interpreter or signer, note in
the case level notes that an interpreter or signer was used.
Whenever you use an interpreter who is not a household
member, complete a Form 1415, Contract for Interpreter
Services. Details for completing this form are contained in
the Administrative Handbook, Form 11-55.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-17
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Topic 4. Maintaining Respondent Rapport
Starting Off on the Right
Foot
As soon as the respondent answers the door or the
telephone, start building a harmonious relationship with
him/her. Maintaining this rapport throughout the interview
will ensure that you collect full and valid information.
As you introduce yourself and the survey, create a
comfortable atmosphere by showing sincere
understanding and interest in the respondent. If the
respondent feels comfortable, he/she will be more willing
to provide honest and full responses.
Keys to a Successful
Introduction
Creating a Good
Impression
The following key points will help you deliver a successful
introduction:
For personal visit interviews, always have the NCVS
introductory letter handy to give any respondent who
did not receive it in the mail.
Be enthusiastic and friendly. Remember that a smile
helps you open many doors.
Be prepared for any type of responses or questions
from respondents. By knowing the survey, you will be
able to handle any questions.
Knowing the NCVS well is a major key to creating a good
impression with respondents. Pay attention and play an
active role during your training sessions and make sure
that you complete all self-studies. Also, make sure to read
this manual, NCVS-550, and refer to it whenever you have
questions about the NCVS procedures.
Before you start interviewing for the NCVS, make sure that
you understand:
The purpose of the survey;
How the survey results are used;
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Being Professional,
Friendly, and Sincere
Part A, Chapter 2
The types of questions asked in the interview; and
How to answer respondent questions.
One of your greatest assets in creating a good impression
is to conduct interviews in a professional, friendly, and
sincere manner. Always keep in mind that you are a
representative of the United States Government. This role
requires you to take a professional approach towards your
work.
Interviewing in a professional manner does not mean that
you cannot smile or be friendly. However, showing too
much friendliness or concern about a respondent's
personal matters can cause a respondent to hold back
information or provide biased information.
Listening carefully and showing a sincere interest in what
each respondent tells you will make your interviewing
easier and more enjoyable.
Staying Neutral and
Objective
During an interview, it is important to develop an objective,
non-threatening, non-judgmental atmosphere. Don't let the
respondent see any signs of approval or disapproval after
he/she gives you information.
Be careful not to give your personal opinion either by your
words, facial expressions, or the tone of your voice. Since
some of your respondents will be victims of crime and will
be telling you personal or sensitive information about the
crime incident, you must be careful not to show any
surprise, disapproval, or sympathy. Any of these
expressions could cause the respondent to give untrue
answers or withhold information.
Staying neutral and creating an objective atmosphere
during an interview is not easy. It comes with experience.
Practice using neutral expressions and gestures, such as
"Uh-huh," "I've got that," "Yes, I see," or simply a nod of
your head. These signs will tell the respondent that you are
listening, without leading, influencing, or biasing the
information that you receive during an interview.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-19
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Here are some reasons for not showing your reactions to
what a respondent says:
Believing in Yourself
and the NCVS
Guidelines for Gaining
Cooperation From
Respondents
Your actions, as well as your words, can help or hinder
an interview.
If you frown or shake your head, the respondent will
sense your disapproval just as clearly as if you put it
into words.
If a respondent thinks that you favor one answer more
than another, this could influence how the person
answers the question.
Before you make contact with a respondent, believe that:
You "have what it takes" to get a good NCVS interview.
The data you collect for the NCVS is important.
Each respondent is going to participate in the NCVS.
Be Positive - Approach each household expecting to
obtain an interview.
Introduce Yourself Properly - Always deliver your
introduction and be sure to include the following:
Your full name, first and last
Who you are representing (the U.S. Census Bureau,)
Show your identification badge when conducting
personal visit interviews,
Explain the nature of the survey, and
Ask whether the household received our introductory
letter.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
How Long Will This Take? - When respondents ask how
long the interview will take, give them an honest answer as
to its length. The NCVS interview takes, on average, about
25 minutes to complete for each household member, but
this can vary depending on the person's experiences
during the reference period. If the respondent is reluctant,
offer to start the interview and, if he/she does not have
time to finish, you can return later or call back to complete
the interview.
Know Your Survey - The better you know the survey on
which you are working, the more successful you will be.
Know the purposes of the survey and be prepared to
answer any questions about its importance. This will be
your best defense against respondent objections.
Appearance - When conducting personal visit interviews,
dress in a professional manner. The initial impression you
make can be the deciding point between whether or not
the respondent participates. Dress for the neighborhood in
which you are working. Do not overdress. A businesslike
appearance is essential.
Use Survey Aids - For personal interviews, be ready to
show respondents the appropriate survey "fact sheet,"
brochures, or local newspaper/magazine articles that make
use of the NCVS facts. This will help the respondent
understand the importance of his/her participation.
Be Flexible - Be available to complete the interview at the
respondent's convenience. Offer to contact the respondent
at a different time if the respondent cannot do the interview
when you contact him/her. Leave your name and
telephone number when you find that no one is home. Be
persistent, but do not be pushy.
It's Voluntary - A few respondents may choose not to
participate because the survey is voluntary and there are
no penalties for not participating. If this happens, explain
that the overall quality of our data could be affected when
sample persons refuse to participate. Persuade the
respondent into letting you start the interview, and explain
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-21
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
that they may choose not to answer any questions they
find objectionable.
Leave the Door Open - Always maintain a pleasant and
businesslike manner, no matter how hostile the respondent
may be. This will facilitate any future contacts.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Topic 5. Answering Respondents' Questions
Importance of Answering
Respondent Questions
Keep a good, positive attitude about the NCVS, and be
prepared to answer almost any type of respondent
question with conviction and accuracy. The Census
Bureau prides itself on having a qualified staff of FRs who
consistently receive high marks for gaining respondent
cooperation. This is impressive, considering that in recent
years the general public has become frustrated with all
forms of government. We attribute this success to the good
attitude and preparedness of our FRs.
Even though we provide sample households with basic
information about the NCVS in the introductory letter, some
respondents may still have questions to ask either before
the start of the interview or at different points during the
interview.
Types of Respondent
Questions
Item Specific Questions
The questions that respondents may ask can be divided
into two main categories:
Item specific questions and
General survey questions.
A respondent may ask you:
Why a particular question is needed,
What a particular word or phrase from a question
means, or
Who needs the information.
This manual has the information you need to answer any
such questions that respondents may ask. We do not
expect you to memorize all of the information provided in
this manual, but you do need to know where to look within
the manual for specific types of information. Refer to Part
B, Chapter 1 The National Crime Victimization Survey
Instrument, to help you answer respondents’ questions
about why we ask certain questions and who uses the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-23
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
information from specific questions. Use Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS Survey Concepts, when you need to find the
meanings of specific words or phrases as used in the
NCVS questions.
General Survey Questions
Most of the time, respondents will ask general survey
questions at the very start of the interview. Although we
cannot predict every question that a respondent may ask,
we have compiled a list of commonly asked general survey
questions with some suggested responses to help you.
A condensed list of some of the most commonly asked
questions are shown:
On the back side of both NCVS introductory letters,
AND
FAQ (General Help) Screen
In the front of your Information Card Booklet, NCVS554.
Some respondents may want to know more about the
survey before they will let you interview them. The NCVS
instrument provides answers to commonly asked questions
together with suggested answers. The answers provided
for these typical questions and comments can be useful to
you whenever a respondent starts asking questions. To
view the FAQ/general help screen, press the "Shift" and
"F2" keys simultaneously, or click on the “FAQs” tab at the
top of the information pane.
After accessing the FAQs screen, you will see a menu with
selections. Entering the appropriate menu selection will
route you to one of the following reference screens.
(Read words in all capital letters only to yourself, NOT
to respondents):
Confirm call/survey
To verify that I am calling from the Census Bureau, you
may call our toll free number:
provide your regional office number.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
When you call, please provide your name and the following
identification number: (case ID number)
READ IF NECESSARY:
To verify that the toll free number is legitimate, you may
call Directory Assistance on: 1-800-555-1212.
Wasting taxpayers’
money
The survey tells us about the amount and nature of crime
as well as crime trends and crimes not reported to the
police. It can help save taxpayer money when new
programs are developed by focusing on the people who
are most likely to be victims of crime and making crime
prevention and control programs more effective.
Why don't you ask the
policeabout crimes?
Less than half of all crimes are reported to police. The
survey is the only way we have to find out about these
crimes. We also get the details about the characteristics of
the crimes and the effects of the crime on the victim. The
survey provides much more detailed information than we
get from the police on both reported and unreported crime.
Who uses this
information?
What good is it?
The survey is widely used by policy makers at all levels of
government, crime prevention groups, people who help
crime victims, researchers in many fields, the media, as
well as others. It has sometimes been used by the
Supreme Court in making decisions. The survey informs
our users in a neutral, unbiased way to help them make
public policy.
Why so many questions
when I told you “No
crimes”?
We have studied asking fewer questions, but have found
that people sometimes don’t think of a crime until a specific
question reminds them about it. We need to ask all
respondents the same questions to guarantee the quality
of the data.
No crimes here, so go
ask somebody else.
Your participation is important whether or not you report a
crime. We cannot accurately find out the percentage of
people who experience crime, unless we get information
from both victims and non-victims.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-25
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Survey doesn't seem to
be working, crimes still
occur.
It may not be possible to eliminate all crime, although we
want to reduce it as much as possible. The survey is also
used to develop and improve programs for assisting those
who have become crime victims.
How many times will I
be contacted?
You will probably be contacted a total of seven times over
three years. We hope that you will not become a victim of
crime during that time, but we need to keep asking the
questions to find people who do become victims. Research
has shown that by contacting the same households a
number of times we get the most accurate information.
How can I get
information regarding
BJS/NCVS?
You can find detailed results from the survey at the BJS
website at: www.bjs.gov
Many newspapers and television stations write about the
survey results when reports come out so you may see
something there too.
OMB NOTICE statement for
respondents with a serious
grievance
OMB No. 1121-0111: Approval Expires: mm/dd/yyyy
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your
information. The Census Bureau is not permitted to
publicly release your responses in a way that could identify
you. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of
Justice Statistics of the United States Department of
Justice under the authority of law (Title 13, United States
Code, Section 8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is
authorized to collect this survey information by law (Title
34, United States Code, Section 10132). Federal law
protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential
(Title 13, United States Code, Section 9 and Title 34,
United States Code, Sections 10231 and 10134). Per the
Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your
data are protected from cybersecurity risks through
screening of the systems that transmit your data.
This collection has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). The eight-digit OMB
approval number that appears on your survey letter
confirms this approval. If this number were not displayed
we could not conduct this survey.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Send comments regarding any aspect of this survey to the
Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
Why does the NCVS ask
about sexual orientation
and gender identity?
Research has shown that sexual orientation and gender
identity are correlated with crime victimization. These
questions are included in the NCVS to better understated
the relationship between these characteristics and
experiences with criminal victimization. Additionally,
discrimination against persons because of their sexual
orientation and gender identity is prohibited by federal hate
crime statutes and the 2013 reauthorized Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA). Since the NCVS includes measures
of hate crime and the provision of victim services, the
inclusion of these items in the NCVS will allow researchers
to better address policy-relevant questions about
victimization and victim services.
WHAT IS MEANT BY “SEXUAL ORIENTATION?”
The direction of one’s romantic or sexual attraction to
members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes.
WHAT IS MEANT BY “GENDER IDENTITY?”
A person’s internal sense of gender, that is, being male,
female, or a blend of both.
NCVS At a Glance
In addition to being listed above, a shorter list of general
survey questions and suggested answers is shown on your
NCVS Job Aid, NCVS At a Glance (NCVS-550.1). This
short job aid can also help you answer questions from
respondents. The first few pages provide information about
the survey's purpose, its sponsor, data users and uses,
length of interview, and participation requirements, along
with answers to frequently asked questions. The last few
pages contain reference information to help you with
NCVS key concepts and definitions.
Information on the first few pages is worded so that you
can read the information directly to a respondent as
needed. The last pages on key concepts and definitions
are written for you to read to yourself as needed.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-27
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
General Survey Questions and Answers
What is this survey all
about?
The National Crime Victimization Survey is conducted to
collect information on the kinds and amount of crime in the
United States.
From a sample of households throughout the United
States, we interview all household members who are at
least 12 years of age.
What information do you
get from this survey?
This survey collects information on the types and amount
of crimes committed, the characteristics of victims, and the
characteristics of offenders who have committed violent
crimes. The following types of information are also
collected for reported crimes:
When and where crimes occur,
Economic loss to the victim,
Extent of injuries suffered by the victim,
Whether the victim knew the offender or whether they
were strangers,
Whether the offender used a weapon, and
Whether the police was were notified.
Why can't you get this
information from police
records?
Based on information received in previous survey years,
we have found that over half of all crimes go unreported to
the police. Since this survey includes crimes that are both
reported and unreported, data users can get a more
complete picture of crime in the United States from this
survey.
What kind of results are
released from this survey?
Our sponsor, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS),
releases results periodically from the National Crime
Victimization Survey, together with reports on specific
topics. By law, the BJS and the Census Bureau can only
use your responses for statistical research; they are not
permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
could identify you. BJS publishes statistical summaries of
the data.
Do you have any statistics
from this survey that I can
see?
For personal visit interviews-Yes. You can have this Fact Sheet, which contains
statistical graphs, charts, and figures from the National
Crime Victimization Survey. (Hand the respondent a copy
of Form NCVS-110.)
For telephone interviews-Yes. I can mail you a copy of a recent Fact Sheet showing
statistical graphs, charts, and figures from the National
Crime Victimization Survey. (Mail respondent a copy of
Form NCVS-110.)
Why, was I selected for this
survey?
Actually, we selected your address, not you personally. We
scientifically selected a sample of addresses across the
country to represent the entire population. If your
household should move away while your address is still in
the survey, we would interview the new family that moves
into the home.
I am pretty busy. How long
will this interview really
take?
We expect the interview to take about 25 minutes. Your
interview may be somewhat shorter or longer depending
on your circumstances. If you have any comments on this
survey or any recommendations for reducing its length, I
can give you an address to use.
(When asked, here is the address:)
Chief, Victimization and Statistics Branch
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Washington, DC 20531
I thought that your agency
just takes a Census every
10 years. What else does
your agency do?
Besides the decennial census, which we conduct every ten
years, we collect many different kinds of
information through other censuses and surveys. These
surveys provide current information on such
topics as housing, crime, unemployment rates, health,
manufacturing, and education.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-29
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
How many times will I be
interviewed?
You will probably be contacted a total of seven times over
three years. We hope that you will not become a victim of
crime during that time, but we need to continue asking the
questions to find people who do become victims. Research
has shown that by contacting the same households a
number of times, we are able to obtain the most accurate
information.
Is this survey authorized
by law?
Yes. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of
Justice Statistics of the U. S. Department of Justice under
the authority of law (Title 13, United States Code, Section
8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized to collect
this survey information by law (Title 34, United States
Code, Section 10132).
Do I have to participate?
Participation is voluntary and there are no penalties for not
participating. However, it is very important that we have
your cooperation in this survey to ensure the validity and
accuracy of the survey results.
Why can't you just mail me
a questionnaire?
The survey design and the nature of the questions require
a trained person to record the information. This method of
interview is the least expensive way to obtain this
information.
How can I know for sure
that you are who you say
you are?
Besides my identification badge, I can give you a
telephone number to call so you can verify with my
supervisor that I work for the U.S. Census Bureau.
How can this survey help
to fight crime?
The results of this survey show a variety of information
about crime victims, offenders, types of crimes being
committed, and types of places where these crimes occur.
All of this information is put to good use by law
enforcement agencies, community groups, and
government agencies throughout the country to lower the
incidence of crime.
Why do you need to
interview me when I don't
have any crimes to report?
We are interested in getting information from both victims
and nonvictims. By examining the differences between
victims and nonvictims, we can try to determine why
certain individuals become victims, while others do not.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Why waste my tax dollars
on a silly survey?
Why are you calling me
since my phone number is
listed on the “Do Not Call”
registry?
Part A, Chapter 2
We are always concerned about survey costs; however,
the National Crime Victimization Survey is the ONLY
source of information on crimes not reported to police.
Legislators and planners use this data to make informed
decisions on numerous crime-related programs. This data
is also used to:
estimate the cost of victim compensation programs;
determine the types of programs needed for elderly
crime victims; and
measure the effects that police behavior and the
criminal justice system have on crime levels.
The “Do Not Call” registry was initiated for the sole
purpose of restricting telemarketing calls and does not limit
a call made for the sole purpose of conducting a survey.
Therefore, telephone calls from the Census Bureau for
survey data collection are NOT restricted by this registry.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-31
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Topic 6. General Interviewing Techniques
Applying General
Interviewing Techniques
In addition to creating a good impression and answering
respondent questions, we want all FRs to use the same
interviewing techniques. By following uniform techniques,
we can ensure that the final survey results are more
complete and accurate.
Pacing the Interview
Remember the following key point about pacing the NCVS
interview -- DO NOT RUSH to complete an interview under
any circumstances. Maintain a calm, unhurried manner
and ask the questions in an objective and deliberate way.
This will not only relax the respondent, but also help to
keep the respondent's attention.
When respondents sense that you are rushing through an
interview, they may withhold information thinking that it
would take too long to explain the crime incident. On the
other hand, do not let respondents waste too much time
talking about unrelated information. Try to tactfully steer
respondents back to the interview without making them
feel as if you are hurrying to finish.
An average NCVS interview will take about 25 minutes to
complete. However, the actual time required to interview all
eligible members of a sample household will vary
depending on the household's composition and crime
experiences during the reference period.
Always assume that each respondent has time to be
interviewed when you contact him/her. If the respondent
tries to rush you through the interview or tries to cut you
off, arrange to continue the interview at a more convenient
time for the respondent. Whenever possible, make every
attempt to complete at least the household respondent's
interview during your first contact for the interview period.
This will make any callbacks for remaining household
members easier.
When conducting interviews, speak as clearly and
distinctly as possible. Avoid talking too fast or too slow.
Talking too fast may give the impression that you think the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
questions are either unimportant or sensitive in nature. By
speaking in a confident voice and at a moderate pace,
respondents are more likely to stay relaxed and
responsive.
Asking Questions as
Worded
When asking NCVS questions, avoid changing the words
or omitting parts of questions. Even if the change seems
insignificant to you, it could change the way the
respondent interprets the question. We want each
respondent to interpret the NCVS questions the same way,
so the answers that we receive are comparable throughout
the entire sample.
For example:
Item BUSINESS -Does anyone in this household operate a business
from this address?
Item BUSINESS after an FR omits words -Does anyone in this household operate a business?
By rewording this question, you may get a different
response than an FR who reads the question as it appears
in the instrument. By leaving out "from this address,"
respondents could misinterpret the true intent of this
question.
Words in Black Bold
Type
When looking at item questions and answers in the NCVS
instrument, any words shown in bold type are meant for
you to read to the respondent.
Words in Blue Type
Words shown in blue text are instructions for you and are
NOT to be read to the respondent.
Words in Grey Type
Words shown in grey type are often repeats of introductory
phrases that have already been read in previous
questions. Use only if necessary.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-33
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Phrases in Parentheses
Some of the questions contain a phrase in parentheses,
such as the question in CONTACTAUTHORITIES.
Item CONTACTAUTHORITIES -Have you (or someone in your household) had contact
with any other authorities about this incident (such as
a prosecutor, court, or juvenile officer?)
When you see a phrase in parentheses, decide whether
the text must be read to the respondent if further
clarification is needed.
Reading the Entire
Question
Most of the questions you ask to screen for crime incidents
have at least three subcategories and some have as many
as eight subcategories. This type of question may prompt
some respondents to give you an answer before you finish
reading each subcategory. We prefer that you finish
reading each subcategory before the respondent gives an
answer. Even if you are interrupted, read each and every
subcategory in its entirety.
The following technique may help you get through all the
subcategories of a screen question before getting a
respondent's answer:
1
After reading each subcategory, only pause long
enough to let the respondent know that you are about
to start reading a new subcategory. If you pause too
long, the respondent may feel that you are waiting for
an answer.
2
After reading all subcategories for a question, pause
long enough to allow the respondent to reply. If the
respondent doesn't give you an answer, then read the
question, "Did any incidents of this type happen to
you?"
3
If you get a "Yes" response, enter precode (1). Then
ask the respondent "How many times?" and enter the
number of times that the incident occurred. Then ask
the respondent, "What happened?" Based on the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
answer you receive, enter a brief description of each
reported crime incident in the space on the screen.
4
If you get a "No" response, enter precode (2). Then
continue with the next appropriate screen question.
If this technique doesn't work and a respondent either
interrupts you in the middle of reading a subcategory or
before you finish reading all the subcategories for a
question, follow these steps:
Respondent answers in the middle of reading a
subcategory-1
Stop and thank the respondent, but explain that there
is more to the question which he/she needs to hear
before giving an answer.
2
Reread the unfinished subcategory again from the
beginning.
If the respondent gives you a "No" answer after you
finish reading the entire subcategory, tell the
respondent that you need to finish reading all the
subcategories for the question.
If the respondent gives you a "Yes" answer before you
have read all subcategories, then follow the next set of
instructions.
Respondent answers "Yes" before you have read all
subcategories-1
Enter precode (1) at that screen.
2
When the “number of times” screen appears for a
specific screen question, ask the respondent "How
many times?" and enter the number of times that the
incident occurred. Then ask, "What happened?" Based
on the answer you receive, enter a brief description of
the crime incident in the space provided on the
“number of times” screen and press the "Enter" key.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-35
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
3
Next, press the “Up” arrow until you return to the
original screen question. After returning to this screen,
start by saying, "Other than any incidents already
reported..." and finish reading the remaining
subcategories for the screen question.
4
If the respondent mentions any additional crime
incidents, press the "Enter" key and you will see the
“Number of times” screen again. Correct the "Number
of times" entry and add a brief description of the
additional incident(s) mentioned.
By using these techniques, there is less chance of missing
any crime incidents, which occurred during the reference
period.
Marking All Answers That
Apply
There are several questions in the NCVS instrument that
are designed to get multiple answers. Here's an example:
Item OTHWORSE - How did they make the situation
worse? Probe: Any other way?
This item has six answer categories:
Led to injury or greater injury to respondent
Caused greater loss of property or damage to property
Other people got hurt (worse)
Offender got away
Made offender angrier, more aggressive, etc.
Other - Specify
To ensure that we get all answers that apply to this
question, you must continue asking, "Any other way?" until
the respondent answers, "No."
Asking Questions in the
Right Order
Always interview the household respondent first. Once
you have completed the household respondent's interview,
interview the remaining household members one at a
time. In most households, each individual respondent will
answer the questions for himself/ herself. Do not attempt to
interview more than one household member at the same
time.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Once you start to interview a household member, ask the
questions as instructed on each questionnaire. A great
deal of planning and forethought has gone into designing
the NCVS, so you can get the best results from each
interview. Remember:
Carefully follow all FR instructions in the instrument.
Ask questions as they are worded without adding or
deleting words or phrases.
Do not skip a question when a respondent has already
given you the answer. In most cases, ask the question
as worded without adding or deleting words or phrases.
Verifying a respondent's previously given answer
without reading the question is only permissible for
items that have an "Ask or Verify" instruction. If you do
not see an "Ask or Verify" instruction, always ask the
question as worded in the instrument.
Do not assume that you know the answer without
asking or verifying a question.
Listening to the
Respondent
As an FR, your listening skills are of utmost importance.
Listen carefully to what each respondent has to say and
continue listening until the respondent is done giving
his/her answer. By improving your listening skills, you can
increase your chances for recording complete and
accurate information.
Here are some listening "Do's and Don'ts":
Do's:
Repeat the question as worded in a clear and distinct
voice when the respondent appears to have
misunderstood the question.
Repeat the respondent's answer when it's necessary to
check your understanding of what the respondent said.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-37
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Then pause in hopes that the respondent will expand
and clarify his/her answer.
When a respondent mentions a crime incident, make
sure to fully capture each reported incident, even if the
respondent makes light of the situation or says that it
was not "serious."
Some screens have an FR instruction: “Ask or verify:” If the
respondent has already given you the answer to that
question, you may verify the answer rather than asking the
full question. Using active listening techniques like this
one; let the respondent know you are paying attention to
what they say and can help you build rapport.
Don'ts:
Do not tune out what a respondent says when you start
recording an answer. You may need the information to
either clarify the answer or change the way you
interpret the answer.
Do not interrupt respondents before they are finished,
even if they hesitate while giving their answer. Be
patient and allow respondents sufficient time to recall
the facts.
Also, remember that some respondents may say, "I
don't know," when they really mean, "Let me think
about it." When you experience this situation, allow the
respondent time to finish his/her statement before
repeating the question or probing in some other way.
Stay neutral and avoid showing shock or disapproval
while a respondent is answering questions.
Using Appropriate
Gestures
Your gestures, both verbal and non-verbal, need to convey
to respondents that you are conscientious, concerned, and
courteous. Poor use of gestures can portray a lack of
interest, an indifferent attitude, or even disdain.
As you speak, be mindful of the inflection of your voice, its
tone, and its volume. Also, be aware of what your eye
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
contact, use of hands and arms, and facial expressions
might be saying to a respondent.
Probing When Necessary
Probing is a technique whereby you casually get the
respondent to provide an answer that meets the question's
objective. Probing is a necessary interviewing technique
because some respondents:
May not hear the question correctly because of poor
hearing or background noise;
May not understand the meaning of a word or phrase
used in the question;
May give you an answer that is too general; or
May say, "I don't know," because they are trying to:
-- Avoid the subject of the question,
-- Buy some time before giving an answer, or
-- Avoid saying that they did not understand the
question.
Probing can be done with all NCVS questions as needed
except for the sexual orientation questions
(ORIENTATION_MALE and ORIENTATION_FEMALE)
and the gender identity questions (GENID_BIRTH,
GENID_DESCRIBE, and GENID_CONFIRM). You may
repeat these questions and provide definitions of terms as
needed, but do not probe on these questions.
Understanding the
Intent of the NCVS
Questions
Before you can decide whether or not to probe, you need
to understand the intent of each question. By
understanding a question's purpose, you can better decide
when to probe and which probing technique to use.
Here is an example of what can happen when you do not
understand a question's objective:
Item LOCATION_GENERAL reads:
Did this incident happen...
In your home or lodging?
Near your home or lodging?
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-39
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
At, in, or near a friend's/relative's/neighbor's
home?
At a commercial place?
In a parking lot or garage?
etc.
Respondent Answers:
In the parking garage of a shopping mall.
Bad Probe:
Would that be a commercial or noncommercial parking
garage?
Good Probe:
Were you charged a fee to park in the garage?
If you do not ask the right probing question, you will not get
an accurate answer. By using a bad probe, the FR is
either:
Probing Techniques
Assuming that the respondent knows what we mean by
the terms "commercial or noncommercial" or
Failing to understand that we want to differentiate
between parking lots/garages charging a fee and those
allowing free parking.
Don't assume that a respondent's answer is always
correct. When you get an answer that does not make
sense to you, decide which probing technique will work
best in the situation.
Choosing the best probing technique will help you to
casually persuade the respondent to expand and/or clarify
an answer.
Here are some standard probing techniques:
Brief Assenting Comments - Use a comment like,
"Yes, I see," when you want to stimulate the
respondent to talk further. This will also show that you
are giving attention to the respondent's answer.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
Here's an example:
Item SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME reads:
During the last 6 months, other than any incidents
already mentioned, did anything which you thought
was a crime happen to YOU, but you did NOT
report to the police?
Respondent Answers:
Yes, I saw a prowler.
Brief Assenting Comment:
Yes, I see. Can you tell me more?
An Expectant Pause - During a personal visit
interview, use an expectant pause together with an
inquiring look to convey to the respondent that you
expect him/her to give you more information.
Repeating the Question - Repeat the question when
the respondent does not understand or misinterprets
the question, seems unable to make up his/her mind,
or strays from the subject.
For example:
Item MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME reads:
Was this the only time any of these offenders
committed a crime against you or your household
or made threats against you or your household?
Respondent Answers:
No, one of the offenders was arrested 2 years ago
for a bank robbery.
Repeating the Question:
Was this the only time any of these offenders
committed a crime against you or your household
or made threats against you or your household?
Repeating the Respondent's Reply - Repeat the
respondent's reply exactly as the respondent gives it to
you, when you need to clarify the answer and prompt
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-41
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
the respondent to expand his/her answer. Never
interject your own ideas when repeating the
respondent's reply.
For example:
Item MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL reads:
How well did you know the offender(s) - by sight
only, casual acquaintance or well known?
Respondent Answers:
She's just one of the girls on the block.
Repeating Respondent's Answer:
She's just one of the girls on the block? So did you
know the offender by sight only, casual
acquaintance or well known?
Respondent Answers:
I don't even know her name. I just see her around,
so I guess sight only.
Neutral Questions and a Neutral Tone of Voice Use neutral questions when you need to get a fuller,
clearer response. Always use a neutral tone of voice so
you don't sound demanding and upset the respondent.
Here is an example:
Item PERMISSIONGIVEN reads:
Had permission to use the (car/motor vehicle) ever
been given to the offender(s)?
Respondent Answers:
Well, I said maybe he could use it when it wasn't so
new.
Neutral Probe:
Did the offender have permission to use the
car/motor vehicle?
Sometimes a respondent may still misunderstand a
question's meaning or give you an unintended response. If
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
this happens, you can read a question's answer categories
to the respondent as a "last resort."
If you use this technique, do not bias the respondent's
answer by only reading a few of the answer categories. By
reading all answer categories for a question, you will help
the respondent understand the type of answers the
particular question is attempting to get.
Staying Neutral
Be careful not to ask leading questions and not to make
the respondent feel insulted. A "leading" question is one
that could influence a respondent's answer or
unnecessarily prolong the interview.
Do not assume that you know what the answer should be,
and then lead the respondent to that answer. Keep your
probing questions as neutral as possible, so the
respondent can think objectively about the question and
give an accurate answer.
General Screening
Guidelines
The screening portion of the NCVS interview is very
important. This portion of the NCVS instrument is designed
to give each respondent every opportunity to remember
any crime incidents that occurred during the 6-month
reference period. The BJS and the Census Bureau have
specific reasons for the wording of each question and the
sequencing of each group of questions.
While conducting the screen interview, do not jeopardize
the interview by entering “Don’t know” or “Refused”
answers without asking the questions in the instrument.
Asking Applicable
Questions
During each enumeration period, ask the household
respondent and all remaining household members ALL
applicable screen questions. Since respondents can easily
forget many crime incidents, it is essential to ask all
applicable questions each time the sample household is
assigned for interview. This is the only way we can ensure
that we collect complete and accurate information.
Handling Difficult
Respondents
Some respondents may not want to go through the screen
questions for various reasons, and may say:
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-43
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Let's save some time. I can tell you up front that I
haven't been a victim of crime since the last time I
talked to you.
OR
You don't need to read all those examples of stolen
items, because nothing was stolen from me or anyone
else in this household.
When you need to convince a respondent to complete the
entire screen interview, try the following techniques:
"To guarantee that I don't miss any crime incidents, I'm
required to ask each question and allow you time to
make sure that you haven't forgotten anything. Some
crime incidents are easily forgotten. By asking these
screen questions, you may remember something that
you've put out of your mind."
"Even if you haven't been a victim of crime during the
last 6 months, we are also interested in any other
changes in your life, such as marital status, household
income, and job changes. These characteristics also
play a part in examining criminal victimizations in the
United States. I'm required to ask these questions each
time your household is assigned for interview.
Otherwise, we can't get a complete and up-to-date
picture of both crime victims and nonvictims for
comparative purposes."
(Only use this technique when a supplement is
attached to the NCVS interview.)
"For this interview, our sponsor has added a few new
questions for a specific study they are authorized to
undertake. The information we collect from these new
questions, along with the original questions, is
essential to our sponsor and to the completion of this
study."
NEVER tell the respondent that you do not remember what
you were told during the last interview or that all the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
information he/she provided during the last interview has
gone to Washington.
General Guidelines for
Recording Answers
After listening carefully to a respondent's answer, take
great care to record the answer accurately. By recording
accurate answers and incident descriptions, you can help
guarantee that the information you collect is understood
clearly by editors who may need to process your
completed work.
Correcting Answers
If you need to change an answer, you can backspace over
the incorrect entry and enter the correct one.
"Refused" or "Don't
Know" Entries
Most items in the NCVS instrument will allow you to enter a
"Refused" or "Don't know" answer. However, some
screens may not display these answer categories as
options.
If a respondent flatly refuses to answer a particular
question despite your persuasive efforts, enter “Ctrl + R" in
the answer space. Make every effort to avoid these entries,
because too many "Refused" answers:
For a household respondent, could cause the sample
address to be classified as a noninterview case, and
For an individual respondent, could cause the
household member to be classified as a noninterview
person.
If a respondent does not know the answer for a specific
question, try to probe for an accurate answer. When
probing isn't possible or successful, enter the appropriate
precode for “Don’t know,” or enter Ctrl + D in the answer
space.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-45
Part A, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Topic 7. Closing the Interview and "Thank You" Letters
Leaving on Good Terms
Since you or someone else from the Census Bureau may
need to contact a sample household again, always leave
the household with a good feeling towards you and the
Census Bureau. By ending every interview with a friendly
and polite "Thank You," you are paving the way for future
contacts.
Tell respondents that we appreciate the time that they
gave for the interview, and that they may be contacted
again for this survey. Be sensitive, concerned, and
courteous throughout the interview.
By closing the interview properly, you are nurturing a
positive image of our agency, and improving chances for
successful follow-up contacts during reinterview or other
surveys.
Using "Thank You" Letters
We have two different "Thank You" letters for your use -the NCVS-593(L) and the NCVS-594(L). Each letter has a
specific purpose, and we do not intend for you to hand or
mail a "Thank You" letter after every NCVS interview. Both
of these "Thank You" letters are printed in English and
Spanish.
These letters not only thank the household for their
cooperation, but also relay to them how important this
survey is. Depending on the circumstances, you can either
hand or mail the appropriate letter to the household. If you
mail the "Thank You" letter, make sure that you use the
"mailing address" you see in Case Management.
Whether or not you give the household a "Thank You"
letter, always remember to thank them yourself at the end
of the interview.
First Through Sixth
Enumeration Period
For first through sixth enumeration period households, use
the NCVS-593(L) "Thank You" letter whenever you feel
that the household shows any signs that they may refuse
to be interviewed again. For example, a household
member may become annoyed at the length of the
interview or at the number of times you have contacted the
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (1/2018)
Part A, Chapter 2
household. In these situations, a "Thank You" letter does
not guarantee cooperation, but it may help to leave a
positive impression and make it easier to gain their
cooperation for future interviews.
Seventh Enumeration
Period
At the end of the seventh enumeration period interview,
always make sure to either hand or mail the respondent a
NCVS-594(L), "Thank You" letter.
Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey Interview
A2-47
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Basic Survey Procedures
A3-2
2 Monthly Tasks
A3-6
3 Daily Tasks
A3-8
4 Specific Household Procedures
A3-10
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-1
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Basic Survey Procedures
Length of Time in Sample
Each address selected as a sample unit for the NCVS is
usually interviewed seven times. These interviews are
conducted once every 6 months over a 3-year period. This
allows us to compile a continuous record of the sample
household's experiences at a reasonable cost and with the
least amount of inconvenience to the household.
Enumeration Periods
We refer to each time a sample household's address is
assigned for interview as an "enumeration period." Since we
interview or attempt to interview each sample household
seven times, there are seven "enumeration periods" for
each sample address.
When you access a sample case on your computer, the
instrument screen that identifies the case's enumeration
period is the START_CP screen. The enumeration period is
also displayed on the “HH Roster” tab on the upper left hand
side of the screen.
Reference Periods
For the NCVS, the reference period covers the 6-month
time period prior to the interview date. When conducting
interviews, we are interested only in crime incidents that
occurred during a household member's specific 6-month
reference period.
Even though the NCVS instrument inserts the appropriate
reference period start date, you must understand how a
household member's reference period is determined.
For the first enumeration period, each household
member's reference period will start on the first day of the
month 6 months prior to the interview date, and end on the
day prior to the interview date.
For example: If a household respondent's first enumeration
period interview is conducted on July 3, 2017, then the
current reference period for the household respondent is
January 1, 2017 through July 2, 2017.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
If the remaining household members were interviewed for
the first enumeration period on July 5, 2017, then the
current reference period for each of these household
members is January 1, 2017 through July 4, 2017.
For a first enumeration period household, all household
members have the same reference period start date, but
each household member's end date may vary based on the
member's current interview date.
After the first enumeration period, reference periods for all
remaining enumeration periods will start on the date of
the household member's last interview and end on the day
prior to the member's current interview date. Unlike the first
enumeration period, each household member could have a
different reference period start date for the second through
seventh enumeration period based on the member's last
interview date.
The following two terms are often used to describe this type
of reference period:
Period-to-period recounting or
Floating reference period.
By using this type of a reference period, we can compile a
continuous record of the household's experiences for the
three years that they are in sample.
While interviewing, it is important to keep reminding the
respondent of the starting and ending dates for the
reference period. If a respondent seems to have difficulty
keeping track of the reference period dates, try adding the
actual dates after reading "in the last 6 months." This will
help the respondent to stay focused on the correct time
frame for the interview.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-3
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Incidents Outside of
Reference Period
Only complete the incident report screens of the NCVS
instrument when a reported incident occurred during the
reference period for the current interview. The introductory
screens of the instrument’s incident report section provide
questions to make sure that a reported incident did occur
during the household member’s reference period. If you
discover that the incident is outside of the reference period,
the instrument progresses to OSINCNOTNEEDED, which
tells you that the incident is outside the reference period. No
further information about that incident is collected.
Incidents Occurring on
the Day of the Interview
If a respondent reports an incident that occurred on the
same day that you are interviewing him/her, complete the
incident report section of the instrument as usual, even
though it is outside the reference period. Incidents will be
reviewed during post-data collection processing and
categorized as either being “in scope” or “out of scope.”
Incidents collected during the interview will be used for
comparison during unduplication in the next enumeration
period. Summarize the details of this incident on the NOTES
screen at the end of the current NCVS interview as a
reminder for the next enumeration period interview.
Interview Scheme
All households in the NCVS sample are divided into panels
and rotations. For 2010 design sample cases, there are two
rotations. A rotation is introduced semiannually for the new
sample. Sample units for most sample-rotations will be
interviewed once every 6 months.
Each rotation is further divided into six panels or months.
Thus one-sixth of a rotation will be interviewed each month
during a 6-month period.
This interviewing scheme enables us to spread out the
interviewing work fairly evenly throughout the year, so we
can maintain a regular staff of FRs with routine monthly
NCVS assignments.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Interview Period
Part A, Chapter 3
An interview period is the time that you are allowed to
complete all of the NCVS interviews assigned to you for an
interview month. Typically, your interview period begins on
the first day of the month. Complete your assignment as
quickly as possible once the interview period begins. Your
supervisor will give you the interview closeout date for each
interview month. This is the date by which all NCVS cases
assigned to you for the month must be completed and
transmitted.
The majority of the NCVS cases in each assignment will
require telephone interviews, but some will require personal
visits. Always try to complete all of your telephone
interviews:
Before conducting your personal visit interviews; and
Within the first few days of the interview period.
This procedure allows you to detect any replacement
households or other situations from your telephone
interviews that could require personal visit interviews
before you plan your personal visit work schedule.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-5
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 2. Monthly Tasks
Monthly Instructions
About one week prior to the start of the interview month,
your regional office will send you a memorandum with
specific instructions for the upcoming interview month.
When you receive your monthly memorandum, read the
entire memorandum very carefully and contact your
supervisor if you have any questions about the information
provided.
Preparing to Interview
When you receive the monthly memorandum each month,
you also receive:
Your interviewing assignment for the month (through
case management; see Part D, Chapter 1 of this manual
for details),
Any supplies you may need.
Checking New
Assignments
As soon as you receive your monthly package of interview
materials, check the items listed on the Transmittal Form
11-35 that accompanies these materials. If anything listed
on the transmittal is missing from your package, call your
supervisor immediately.
Organizing Your Work
Schedule
As you organize your assignment for the interview month,
consider the geographic distribution of your cases:
Step
1.
Always conduct your telephone interviews FIRST.
2.
Try to conduct your personal visit with first
enumeration period households next. This will allow
sufficient time should you encounter unexpected
problems with these cases. For first enumeration
period households, you must conduct the household
respondent's interview IN PERSON. However, if the
remaining household members are not available at the
time of your visit, it is acceptable to interview these
household members by telephone once you have
completed the household respondent's interview in
person.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
NOTE: Regardless of the enumeration period, the
household respondent always must be the
FIRST household member interviewed and
he/she must be at least 18 years of age and
knowledgeable about the household. For
example, the reference person or one of the
other household members who owns or
rents the home. (See page A2-11 for
exceptions to the age requirement.)
3.
Completing Your
Assignment
Conduct any remaining personal visit interviews in a
logical sequence so that you keep to a minimum any
backtracking or return trips.
Always attempt to complete your interviewing assignment
as early in the interview month as possible. Transmit your
completed work on a flow basis as frequently as possible.
Your supervisor will provide you with a final transmittal date
or closeout date for each interview month.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-7
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Daily Tasks
Planning Your Daily
Schedule
Assembling Your Materials
Conducting Telephone
Interviews and Callbacks
Plan your daily schedule so that you get the maximum
amount of interviewing work accomplished during your
workday. Keep the following points in mind as you plan:
Geographic location of assigned addresses,
Any previously made appointments, and
Interview time preferences (accessible by using the
Control + T function for an individual case)
When conducting personal interviews, make sure that you
have everything you might need to carry you through your
entire interviewing schedule for the day. Take current
versions of the following items with you:
Your laptop and NCVS Function Keys template
NCVS-554, Field Representative's Information Card
Booklet factsheet
Copies of both introductory letters, NCVS-572(L) and
NCVS-573(L), and the Factsheet brochure, NCVS-110
Copies of thank-you letters, NCVS-593(L) and
NCVS-594(L)
Since the primary purpose of conducting NCVS interviews
by telephone is to reduce travel costs and save money,
AVOID traveling to assigned cases that can be completed
by telephone interviews. Make every effort to obtain the
telephone number when making a personal visit so the
household can be contacted by phone in the future.
Typically, interviews for second through seventh
enumeration period households are conducted by
telephone. Always check to see when the household prefers
to be contacted.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Conducting Personal Visit
Interviews
Part A, Chapter 3
In addition to the first enumeration period households, other
sample households may require personal visit interviews
because they:
Do not have a telephone on which they can be
contacted,
Refuse to give their telephone number,
Tell us that a telephone interview is not acceptable, or
Are replacement households.
Sending "Thank You"
Letters
As needed, mail "Thank You" letters to respondents using
the mailing address from the case in the instrument. (See
Part A, Chapter 2, Topic 7, for more details about
sending "Thank You" letters.)
Transmitting Completed
Work
Transmit your completed work on a flow basis, daily when
possible.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-9
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. Specific Household Procedures
Starting With the
Household Respondent
Once you have introduced yourself, ask to speak with:
The previous household respondent, or
One of the persons who owns or rents the home,
A household member who is at least 18 years of age
and knowledgeable about the household.
Remember to show your identification card for each
personal visit interview. When you know that you are
speaking to a household member at the sample address,
then you can introduce the survey.
For cases being interviewed for the first time, a personal
visit with the household respondent is required. (Other
individual respondents in the household may be interviewed
by telephone if necessary.) For these cases, the instrument
prompts you at the GEN_INTRO_CP screen to give the
household an introductory letter and continue the interview
to verify the address and start building the household roster.
For all other cases, at the HELLO_1_CP screen, the
instrument prompts you to ask to speak with the household
member who was the household respondent for the
previous enumeration period. If that household member is
not available, you are instructed to identify another eligible
household respondent at the HELLO_ALT2_CP screen.
The HELLO_ALT2_CP screen shows only those
household members who qualify as a possible household
respondent.
ALWAYS complete the household respondent's interview
before interviewing any remaining eligible household
members (household members who are 12 years of age
and older). Without a completed interview from an eligible
household respondent, the sample household will classify
as a Type A noninterview. We prefer that the household
respondent be one of the household members who owns or
rents the home or his/her spouse. If that is not possible, a
household member who is at least 18 years of age and
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
knowledgeable about household matters can qualify as a
household respondent.
Once you are speaking to an eligible household respondent,
you will introduce the survey, explain the purpose of your
telephone call, and verify that you have reached the correct
sample address at the VERADD_CP screen.
Verifying That You Have
Reached the Correct
Address
One of the most important purposes of the VERADD_CP
screen is to verify that you have reached the correct sample
address. Before you see the VERADD_CP screen, you will
already know that you have reached the same household
that was interviewed at the sample address during the
previous enumeration period (except for those households
that are in sample for the first time). However, it is possible
that you may have reached a different address if the
household moved and kept the same telephone number.
Make sure that you enter the correct precode at
VERADD_CP, so that you follow the correct path and
collect the necessary information for the situation.
VERADD_CP has the following four precodes/answer
categories:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
SAME address
MOVED (NOT same address)
Haven't moved, but address has changed
Incorrect address previously recorded
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent verifies that the
household still lives at the address shown on the
VERADD_CP screen and there are no changes/corrections
to the sample address.
Enter Precode (2) when the respondent tells you that the
household has moved from the sample address and is
currently residing at a different address.
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent tells you that the
household still resides at the sample address shown on the
screen, but some part of the address has changed since the
last enumeration period. For example, a county may have
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-11
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
changed house numbers and/or street names to aid in
dispatching emergency medical services. After entering
Precode (3), you will see the NEWADD screens
(NEWADDHNO_CP, NEWADDSTRNAME_CP, and so on)
where you can correct the address for the sample unit.
Enter Precode (4) when the respondent tells you that the
household still resides at the sample address shown on the
screen, but some part of the address is not appearing
correctly on the VERADD_CP screen. After making sure
that the household has not moved out of the sample
address and that the sample address has not changed
since the last enumeration period, enter Precode (4) and
correct the address for the sample unit at the NEWADD
screens as discussed in the paragraph above.
Replacement
Households
At HHNUM_VR_CP, the instrument asks, “Is this a
replacement household?” A replacement household
happens when there are NO members of the original
household interviewed during the previous enumeration
period living at this address. If this occurs, answer Precode
(1), “Yes.” Item CK_REPLACE_CP appears; “A
replacement household means that there are no members
of the original household living at this address. Are you sure
this is a replacement household?” Enter Precode (1), “Yes.”
A pop-up then appears: “This is the last screen before the
roster and all incoming data is deleted and must be
re-entered. You are about to start a new case, and this
action cannot be undone without the case being restarted.”
Click “Suppress” if you are sure it is a replacement
household; otherwise, click “Cancel.” The instrument then
continues with GET_LETTER_CP. You then enter a roster
and household data for the replacement household and
interview as usual.
Control Card
Information
The next set of instrument screens contain questions that
you ask of the household respondent. This information is
used to obtain or update information about the household
and to ensure that we are aware of any household
composition changes.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
NOTE that a maximum of 30 household members may be
entered in the household roster. If you have a household
larger than 30 members, Items ROS2BIGOVER30 and
ROS2BIGHOWMANY ask the number of household
members over 30, but do not collect any information for
them.
Screening for Crime
Incidents
Starting with the TIMEATADDRESS screen, the next set of
screens in the NCVS instrument presents questions for you
to ask of the household respondent. This set of questions
start by asking about the household respondent's mobility
(TIMEATADDRESS) and then whether or not anyone in the
household operates a business from the sample address
(BUSINESS).
Starting with the introduction on the SQTHEFT screen, the
next set of questions is designed to determine whether the
household respondent or the sample household has
experienced any crime incidents during the 6-month
reference period. The screen questions that you ask the
household respondent involve thefts, break-ins, illegal
entries, motor vehicle thefts, attacks, attempted attacks,
verbal threats of harm, and unwanted sexual acts (sexual
assault, rape, and attempted rape). We are interested in
both attempted incidents and actual incidents.
If the household respondent answers "Yes" to any of these
screen questions, you must:
Indicate the number of times the incident happened and
Enter a brief description of what happened during the
incident. (100 character limit)
After you are done asking all screen questions of the
household respondent, you see the INC_REPORTS screen
which shows you how many incidents were reported by the
household respondent. If no incidents were reported by the
household respondent, then you see the NO_CRIMES
screen.
NOTE that a maximum of 30 incidents may be reported in
the NCVS instrument.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-13
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Reporting Crime
Incidents
If the household respondent reported one or more crime
incidents, then you proceed through the incident report
screens for each reported incident that occurred during the
6-month reference period. The incident report screens start
with the INCIDENTINTRO screen. These screens are
designed to gather detailed information, such as:
1.
Where the incident took place.
2.
Whether or not the respondent or other household
members were present during the incident.
3.
How the incident happened.
4.
Any injuries that the respondent or other household
members may have experienced during the incident.
5.
Information about the offender(s).
6.
Details about the respondent’s employer and job
when the incident occurred while the respondent
was working or on duty.
7.
Whether or not the police were notified and reasons
for reporting or not reporting the incident to the
police.
8.
What the respondent was doing when the incident
happened.
Writing a Summary
Report
After completing all the incident report screens, you see a
SUMMARY screen. (Note that the SUMMARY screen has a
limit of 300 characters.) Use the SUMMARY screen to enter
a concise and accurate summary of the crime incident,
including all pertinent facts (who, what, where, when, and
how). More instructions for writing summary reports are
included in Parts B and C of this manual.
Adding Additional
Incidents
Once you have collected information on the incident report
screens for all incidents reported by the household
respondent, the INCIDENTTOADD screen appears, which
is used to ensure that we collect information for all NCVS
crimes which took place during the reference period.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
This screen allows you to:
Enter Precode (1) to add another crime incident that the
household respondent may have mentioned while
answering the incident report questions.
Enter Precode (2) to indicate that no additional incidents
need reporting.
Avoiding Duplicate
Reports
Starting with the INTRO_UNDUP screen, you see a set of
screens to be used to get your assessment about whether
each reported incident is unique and is not a duplicate of
another incident reported by the respondent or household in
the current and previous enumeration periods. Do not
discuss incidents with the respondent. After checking a
crime incident against incidents already reported in the
current enumeration period, the NCVS instrument also
allows you to check the incident against up to four incidents
reported in a previous enumeration period.
Socio-Demographic
Questions
Once you have completed the incident report section of the
instrument for all reported crime incidents, the instrument
continues with the individual socio-demographic questions.
If the household respondent did not report any crime
incidents, the instrument continues with the
socio-demographic questions.
Interviewing Individual
Respondents
You must complete the household respondent's interview
before you can interview any other eligible household
members. When you finish interviewing the household
respondent, complete any remaining eligible household
member's interviews one at a time.
During your initial contact with a sample household, always
try to complete as many interviews with individual
respondents as possible. Try to keep household callbacks
for individual respondents to a minimum.
Your initial contact with a first enumeration period
household must be in person. However, after interviewing
the household respondent in person, any individual
respondents in the household who are unavailable during
your initial contact can be interviewed later by telephone.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-15
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When interviewing the next eligible respondent,
re-introduce yourself using the text on the
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT screen. The text on this
screen also allows you to explain who you represent, which
survey you are conducting, and why you are calling the
household.
Unlike the household respondent's interview, the interviews
for the remaining household members who are eligible for
the NCVS does not include any questions pertaining to
general information about the household. Those questions
are asked only of the household respondent.
Screening for Crime
Incidents
Some of the questions relating to the entire sample
household are asked only of the household respondent and
will not appear as you ask screen questions of individual
respondents in the household. With the exception of the
following types of questions, the remaining questions in the
screening portion of the instrument will remain the same for
individual respondents in the sample household.
Screening questions NOT asked of individual
respondents determine-
Whether the household operates a business from the
sample address (BUSINESS).
Whether the household has experienced any break-ins
or illegal entries (either actual or attempted)
(SQBREAKIN).
How many vehicles are owned by the sample household
(SQTOTALVEHICLES).
Whether any of the household's vehicles were stolen or
someone attempted to steal any of them
(SQMVTHEFT).
After you finish asking all screen questions of an individual
respondent, either NO_CRIMES or INC_REPORTS
appears, displaying the number of incidents reported by the
respondent.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
Reporting Crime
Incidents
If the individual respondent reported one or more crime
incidents, you proceed through the incident report screens
for each reported incident that occurred during the 6-month
reference period. The incident report items start with
INCIDENTINTRO and are designed to gather the same
information as described earlier in this chapter for the
household respondent.
Writing a Summary
Report
After completing all the incident report screens, you see a
SUMMARY screen. Use this screen to enter a concise and
accurate summary of the crime incident, including all
pertinent facts (who, what, where, when, and how). More
instructions for writing summary reports are included in
Parts B and C of this manual.
Adding Additional
Incidents
Once you have completed the incident report screens for all
incidents reported by the individual respondent,
INC_TO_ADD appears. This screen allows you to:
Avoiding Duplicate
Reports
Enter Precode (1) to add another crime incident that the
individual respondent may have mentioned while
answering the incident report questions.
Enter Precode (2) to indicate that no additional incidents
need reporting.
Starting with the INTRO_UNDUP screen, you will see a set
of screens that you will use to make sure each reported
incident is unique and is not a duplicate of another incident
already reported for the respondent or the sample
household in the current and previous enumeration periods.
Do not discuss incidents with the respondent.
For example, a sample household member may report a
household crime that has already been reported by the
household respondent in the current interview or the
household member may report a crime incident that
occurred and was reported in a previous enumeration
period. After checking a crime incident against incidents
already reported in the current enumeration period, the
NCVS instrument also allows you to check the incident
against up to four incidents reported in a previous
enumeration period.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-17
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Socio-demographic
Questions
Callback, Thank You, and
Notes Screens
Once you have completed the incident report section of the
instrument for all reported crime incidents, then the
instrument continues with the socio-demographic
questions. If the respondent did not report any crime
incidents, the instrument continues with the
socio-demographic questions.
In the back portion of the NCVS instrument, you have
access to a set of screens that enables you to identify the
day and time that is best to re-contact the household and
interview members who are currently unavailable but still
need to be interviewed.
A variety of "Thank you" screens are also available to satisfy
each type of interview situation. The instrument is
programmed so that the appropriate "Thank you" screen
appears automatically when you are ending an interview
with a respondent.
NOTES Screen
Before exiting the case, you always see the CASE NOTES
screen. This screen is designed so that you can:
Review "old" notes already entered about the case.
Enter any notes about the case that you feel would help
the next interviewer who contacts the sample
household.
Press F10 to end your notes and exit.
If the case does not require any notes, press F10 to exit the
CASE NOTES screen. This indicates that you are done
reviewing and/or entering notes.
F7 Notes
You can also enter a note relating to a specific instrument
item/screen. We call this the "F7 Notes" option. You can
add an "F7 Note" to include more details for an answer or to
explain an unusual situation relating to a specific instrument
item/screen. After pressing the "F7" function key, you can:
Review any previously entered "F7 Notes." After
reviewing previous notes, press the ESC key to exit the
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 3
“F7 Notes” option.
Enter a note that relates to the case as a whole.
F7 notes are not carried forward to the next enumeration
period.
Refused After Starting
Interview
If you are interviewing the household respondent and
he/she refuses to continue with the interview and does not
want to set up an appointment to be interviewed later, press
the "F10" function key, which takes you to
REFCBBREAK_CP.
REFCBBREAK_CP asks, “Did this interview end because
of a refusal, a callback was needed, or a breakoff
occurred?” Enter (1) for a refusal, (2) for a callback, or (3) for
a breakoff. (2), “Callback,” takes you to the APPT item when
interviewing the household respondent, which says, “I
would like to schedule a date and time to complete the
interview. What date and time would be best?” For refusals
or breakoffs, you exit the instrument.
Finally, CASE NOTES appears. Use this screen to enter
any notes about the case. Be as specific as possible, such
as “L1 mistrusts all government workers, but L2 may be
willing to cooperate as the household respondent.”
There are a handful of screens in the instrument on which
you should NEVER hit F10. These screens have blue
instruction text warning you DO NOT F10 OUT OF THIS
SCREEN. If you F10 from these screens, you will not
have a completed interview from the respondent and
doing so may cause the instrument to loop or glitch in
some way. If you need to exit the interview and are at one
of the screens instructing you to NOT F10, make the
appropriate entry on the screen and F10 at the next
appropriate screen.
Individual Respondent
Refusals
When there is more than one eligible respondent, the
refusal of one individual respondent does not end NCVS
interviews in the sample household. Continue to interview
other eligible household members.
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-19
Part A, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Refused at the
INTROFORNEW
RESPONDENT Screen
The INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT screen is where you
re-introduce yourself to the new respondent, introduce the
survey and state the purpose of your telephone call. If the
individual respondent refuses to be interviewed at this
screen, back up to NEXTPERSON.
At NEXTPERSON, either identify the next household
member to be interviewed or enter Precode (31),
“Respondent refused for someone else” to code the
respondent as a refusal.
Refused After Starting
Interview
If you are interviewing an individual respondent and he/she
refuses to continue and does not want to set up an
appointment to be interviewed later, press the "F10"
function key. These screens appear to exit the instrument:
REFCBREAK_CP
PERSAPPT
VERIFY
General National Crime Victimization Survey Procedures
A3-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Interviewing
A4-2
2 Group Quarters
A4-6
3 Performance Standards
A4-7
4 Field Evaluations - Observation
and Reinterview
A4-11
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-1
Part A, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Interviewing
Overview
As a Field Representative for the NCVS, you are assigned
work in one or more of the NCVS sample areas or Primary
Sampling Units (PSUs). PSUs are often the same as a
county or county equivalent. Most of your duties are the
same for each interview month.
Interviewing Assignments
Each interview month, you receive the addresses of sample
cases where you will conduct interviews. Generally, each
sample address is in the NCVS for seven interviews – one
interview every six months, over the course of 3 years.
Personal Visit
Interviews
Interview cases in sample for the first time with a personal
visit. The personal visit allows you to meet the household
members face-to-face, so you can introduce yourself, show
your Census ID, and gain their cooperation. At the end of
the first interview, you will ask for household phone
number(s) and arrange to call the household members for
future interviews.
Telephone Interviews
If household members have agreed to telephone interviews,
conduct interviews by telephone after the first interview.
Finding Sample Addresses
Most addresses in the sample are city-style with a house
number and street name. In some rural areas with few
city-style addresses, the sample addresses are a location
description. For example, “House on right ½ mile from the
intersection of Oak Ln and Rte 27.”
Most addresses will have a map spot with longitude and
latitude geo-coordinates. Use Census maps and/or
navigation devices to help you find sample addresses.
If you are unable to locate the sample address, contact your
Regional Office immediately for review.
Best Times for Interviewing
– Evenings and Weekends
Interviewing at sample addresses is not a regular 9 to 5 job
when most people are working. Often, you can find people
at home in the evenings and on weekends.
Sometimes you will have to try to contact them at various
times of day and on different days of the week.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
pCHI and Returning pCHI
pCHI stands for “Personal Contact History Instrument”.
pCHI appears when you close a case or partially complete
case. pCHI prompts you to record data about your contact
attempts and the strategies you are using to contact
household members.
Returning pCHI is pCHI contact data collected six months
ago by the FR(s) who were interviewing household
members at this sample address. This may be useful for
contacting household members at this address during the
current month.
See Part D, Chapter 2 of this manual for more pCHI details.
FR Bulletin, Memos,
Self-Studies, CBTs, and
Refresher Training
Monthly FR Bulletins contain an FR calendar, current and
upcoming FR activity information, a review of procedures for
recent problems, and routine survey activity reminders. FR
Memorandum (Memos) communicate changes to policies
and procedures.
Self-Studies and CBTs (computer-based-training) are used
for training on Supplements – additional questions asked for
a variety of topics. For example – the School Crime
Supplement (SCS), the Identity Theft Supplement (ITS),
and the Police Public Contact Supplement (PPCS).
Refresher Training is used for training experienced NCVS
FRs on procedural changes, new survey questions, etc.
These memos, self-studies, CBTs and Refresher Training
are provided to help you do a better and more efficient job.
Getting a Good Start,
Identifying Challenging
Cases Early
Arrange your work schedule so you can complete most of
your cases early in the interview period. If you delay
interviewing until later in the interview period, you run the
risk of not completing your assignment by the closeout date.
Most sample households require more than one contact to
complete interviews for all eligible household members.
Also, identifying challenging cases early in the interview
period will provide you more time to implement field
strategies and complete cases before closeout.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-3
Part A, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Planning Your Travel Route
Plan an efficient travel route to move from one sample
address to another using the least amount of time and
mileage. Use your navigation device, if necessary.
Introducing Yourself – The
Respondents’ First
Impression
The NCVS survey is voluntary. Your job is to convince
household members to participate by answering the NCVS
questions. Make a good first impression with them.
Memorize your introduction. This will help you to introduce
yourself in a confident, business-like, polite and friendly
way.
“Good evening, I’m (state your name) from the U.S Census
Bureau. Here is my Census ID (show Census ID).”
Always conduct your interviews with discretion and
courtesy; both are important in gaining a respondent's
confidence and continued cooperation.
Keeping Callbacks to a
Minimum
Plan your personal visits during the most productive hours
of the day and days of the week, so you can find household
members at home. Evening hours and weekends are
usually the most productive interviewing times in areas
where many household members work outside the home.
To minimize the number of trips to sample addresses, make
personal visit callbacks in areas where you still have some
initial visits, to save a trip. Also, if no one is at home, find out
the best time to contact the household from a neighbor,
apartment manager, etc., before you leave the sample area.
DO NOT mention the survey name to neighbors or
other non-household members.
Conducting Efficient
Interviews
Some pointers for conducting efficient interviews:
Know what is in the NCVS instrument.
Understand how to enter answers in the NCVS
instrument.
Know possible answer categories for NCVS questions.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
Answer respondents' questions clearly and concisely.
To help, review the introductory letters, the job aid,
NCVS At a Glance (NCVS-500.1), the NCVS
Factsheet (NCVS-110), and this manual (NCVS-550).
Understanding NCVS
Concepts
Throughout the screening and incident reporting sections of
the NCVS instrument, there are several concepts you need
to understand before you can excel at interviewing for the
NCVS. (See Part C of this manual for detailed
information about NCVS concepts.)
Entering Accurate
Information
Throughout the NCVS instrument, enter precodes or typed
descriptions at each screen to indicate answers or to
proceed to the next screen. Make accurate entries so you
can follow the correct paths through the NCVS instrument.
Keeping Accurate Records
Accurate administrative records are important for both you
and your supervisor. Each workday record:
The time you spent on NCVS work,
The miles you traveled for NCVS interviewing.
Strive for the highest possible degree of accuracy and
efficiency. To help you meet and maintain this goal, the
Census Bureau has developed performance standards by
which your supervisor can rate your performance. (See
Topic 3 of this chapter for more details about
performance standards.)
11-55, Administrative
Handbook
For more general information about your job, refer to Form
11-55, Chapter 1 of the Administrative Handbook for
Intermittent and Part-Time Schedule A Employees.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-5
Part A, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 2. Group Quarters
Overview
As a Field Representative for the NCVS, you will be
assigned to work in one of the NCVS sample areas or
Primary Sampling Units (PSUs). You will spend the most
time interviewing.
Listing Assignments
During your first month on the job, you do not do any TOI
listing. You begin learning the listing and coverage
procedures during your second month on the job.
Unit – from the 2000 Census Master Address File
GQ – Group Quarters in Unit frame blocks or GQs found
while listing Area segments.
Most NCVS cases are in unit segments.
For Single Unit Addresses: No listing is necessary and
you do not receive listing sheets for these addresses.
For Multi-Unit Addresses: For multi-unit addresses,
locate the unit designation for the current NCVS sample and
conduct the interview.
Group Quarters (GQ)
A Group Quarters is a type of living quarters where the
residents share common facilities or receive authorized
care or custody. There are three types of GQs –
Institutional, Noninstitutional, and military barracks. Only
noninstitutional GQ units are eligible for interview. By
definition, a GQ is not a housing unit.
A GQ segment is made up of one or more GQs that were
identified in the 2010 census blocks originally screened for
unit segments.
.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
Topic 3. Performance Standards
Overview
The success of the NCVS is dependent on accurate and
complete information. We count on you, our Field
Representatives, to help us succeed in this effort.
We depend on you to complete NCVS accurately and
efficiently so NCVS can stay on schedule and within budget.
Performance Ratings
Strive for a high level of quality and productivity with NCVS
work. New Field Representatives are not expected to begin
with an "outstanding" performance rating. You are expected
to improve as you gain more NCVS experience.
To help you meet and maintain high performance
standards, we have established measures for various
elements of your job. Your supervisor will evaluate your
performance on a continuing basis and keeps monthly
records on your level of performance. In addition, your
supervisor will rate your performance with a rating of Level 1
through 5 Level (1 is lowest, 5 is highest), twice a year.
Production Standards
Completing your assignment within the specified interview
period is not only important from a cost standpoint, but is
also essential for meeting processing deadlines. With the
exception of holidays, always begin your assignment on the
first working day of the month.
Try to complete all interviews assigned for an interview
month as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that a case you
are working on is “partial” interview until you have
interviewed all eligible household members. For “Partial”
households (where some eligible “Type Z” persons have not
been interviewed), if it is:
Still possible to interview the Type Z persons, hold the
partial case until you get the missing interviews.
Not possible to interview the Type Z persons, send the
case in as a partial interview.
Schedule your work so that your assignment is completed
before the closeout date for the interview month.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-7
Part A, Chapter 4
Quality Interviews
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The quality of your work is just as important as your
productivity. Incomplete or inaccurate work is not
acceptable.
This manual provides procedures for conducting NCVS
interviews efficiently and accurately. If you have special
situations or problems that are not covered in this manual,
contact your supervisor immediately.
Response Rates
The Response Rate calculation is:
(Interviews + Partials) / (Interviews + Partials + Type As)
Type B and Type C cases are not in the Response Rate.
Your monthly response rate is one of the Data Quality
Indicators that is in your performance plans.
Maintaining a high response rate helps to ensure that the
NCVS sample data represents the entire U.S. population.
Type A Rates
The Type A Response rate calculation is:
(Type As) / (Interviews + Partials + Type As)
Type B and Type C cases are not in the Type A Rate.
When you cannot interview ANY household members
(including the household respondent) for a sample case,
code the case as a Type A noninterview. Type A
noninterview reasons include:
No one home,
Temporarily absent through the entire interview period,
Refused
Keep Type A noninterviews to a minimum.
Type Z Rates
Type Zs are eligible household members (age 12 and older)
who did not complete the screener questions. The Type Z
Response Rate comes from the calculation:
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
Type Zs / Eligible Persons in HH
When you cannot interview all eligible household members
for a sample case, code the persons not interviewed as
Type Zs. Type Zs can bias survey results if the Type Z
persons have very different victimization experiences than
those who are interviewed.
Type Z noninterview reasons include persons who are:
Minimizing Type As and
Type Zs
Best strategies for minimizing Type As and Type Zs:
Performance Standards or
Data Quality Indicators
(DQIs)
Never available,
Refused, parent or other person refused for respondent.
Refused, person refused for themselves
Physically and/or mentally unable to answer and no
proxy respondent is available, and
Temporarily absent and no proxy respondent is
available
Review pCHI data from current and previous month.
Get phone numbers for potential Type Z persons.
Discuss strategies with Field Supervisor
Improve your salesmanship skills to gain cooperation
Contact respondents when they are available
Several other data performance standards are used to
evaluate your performance. These standards are referred to
as “Data Quality Indicators” or DQIs. DQIs may include:
Quick screener times
Quick crime incident report times
Household response rates
Overnight interviews
Quality/completeness of crime incident report
Late starts (after the 15th of the month)
Completeness of NCVS screener
Completeness of personal Contact History Instrument
(pCHI) records
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-9
Part A, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Your supervisors will explain the data quality indicators
(DQIs) that are in your performance plan. The DQIs may
change from year to year.
Data collected from NCVS interviews ends up in several
report systems - ROSCO, CARMN, Giant Panda and UTS.
Reports
ROSCO Reports
Updated every time
completed work is
checked in
The Regional Office Survey Control or ROSCO Reports are
used to monitor current survey work. RO staff use ROSCO
to make assignments and monitor the completion of work at
the FR, FS, RSM and RO level.
CARMN Reports
Updated once a day in the
morning
RO management staff can generate individual performance
reports from the Cost and Response Management Network
(CARMN). These reports include:
The Monthly Data Quality Feedback report that shows
data quality indicators (DQIs) from the current month,
the previous month and from six months ago (the last
time this month’s cases were in sample)
The 11-39, FR Performance Summary Report, shows
DQI data for the current rating year in a separate row for
each month and a cumulative row for year to date.
CARMN Reports combine data from ROSCO, WebFred and
other payroll systems.
GIANT PANDA Reports
Updated once a week
Giant Panda Reports are RO summary reports that contain
data quality indicator (DQI) information used by RO staff to
monitor survey performance. Giant Panda reports have a
drill-down feature that displays DQI data at the FR level.
Giant Panda data comes from the NCVS interviews.
UTS Reports
Update once a day at
midnight
The Unified Tracking System is a data warehouse that
provides a view of Census data over time, across surveys,
and from different data capture sources at one time; all of
the data in one place to view, analyze, and make more
efficient and effective decisions. UTS reports help RO staff
to monitor survey performance at a variety of levels.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 4
Topic 4. Field Evaluations--Observation and Reinterview
Observations
Your Field Supervisor (FS) will periodically observe you
interviewing.
The first two on-the-job or induction observations provide
post-classroom training during actual work situations on
interviewing techniques and NCVS concepts. Both of these
observations are conducted within your first two months on
the job.
All other observations are to evaluate and improve your
on-the-job performance. Normally, you are observed at
least once a year for a minimum of six hours. This is the
average length of time required for reviewing your general
performance and rectifying specific performance problems.
Observations provide an opportunity to get individual
assistance with any problems and to improve your
performance measures.
Before your observation, the observer makes the final
arrangements and gives you any pre-observation
instructions. These instructions may vary, depending on the
purpose of the observation.
For a Low Response
Rate
If one of the purposes for the observation is to help you
improve a low response rate, you may be instructed to:
Delay interviewing households where you suspect that
you might experience problems; and
Keep interviewing materials for problem households
that you have already contacted.
This allows the observer to work with you on these cases
and help you improve your techniques for gaining the
cooperation of sample households.
For a High Number of
Minutes per Case
If one of the purposes for the observation is to help you use
work time more efficiently, be prepared to discuss how you:
Plan your itinerary,
Use the Census maps or your navigation device to
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-11
Part A, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For Conducting
Screeners or Crime
Incident Reports
Too Fast
If one of the purposes of the observation is to help you slow
down your pace for conducting screeners or the Crime
Incident Report section of the interview, you may be
instructed to:
Reinterview
locate assigned addresses,
Use the telephone, and
Decide when to contact assigned households.
Save a few cases that will potentially may require
screeners and/or crime incident reports.
Practice at home on slowing down the pace of asking
the screener and/or crime incident report questions.
Reinterview is a method we use to independently evaluate
your on-the-job performance. At least once a year, your
supervisor or his/her representative recontacts a portion of
your assignment for the interview month. You will not know
when your work assignment is in reinterview.
The reinterviewer verifies that:
A Census FR recently interviewed the correct eligible
household respondents,
The household screens were completed or updated
properly, ie. the household roster, demographic
characteristics, and household income and tenure
The interviewer was polite and professional,
Some screener questions are re-asked in reinterview to
analyze the consistency of the responses and all
answers recorded,
Any noninterviews were classified accurately, and
If this original interview was by personal visit, and if the
FR collected the data on a laptop.
Once the reinterview is completed, the reinterviewer
contacts you so you can review the results together. During
this review, errors are discussed and the appropriate
concepts and procedures are reviewed. The extent and type
of errors may require a "special needs" observation and/or
retraining.
Your Job Duties and Performance Standards
A4-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Identifying the Method of Interview
A5-2
2 Qualifications for Using the Personal
Visit Method
A5-3
3 Qualifications for Using the
Telephone Method
A5-8
4 Instructions for Conducting
Telephone Interviews
A5-10
5 Telephone Interviewing Skills
A5-17
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-1
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Identifying the Method of Interview
Checking Case
Management
Each interview month, some of your interviews are
designated as personal visit interviews and some
designated as telephone interviews. “P” indicates “personal
visit” and “T” for “telephone” interviews in the “P/T” column
in the “details” portion of the case management display. For
more detail about the information found in laptop case
management, refer to the NCVS-521 self-study.
Also review your notes for each case using the “Notes”
function in case management for more information about a
respondent’s preferred interviewing method.
Notify your supervisor immediately if you have any
questions about whether or not the sample addresses in
your assignment must be interviewed by personal visit or by
telephone.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
Topic 2. Qualifications for Using the Personal Visit Method
Overview
Since telephone interviews are more cost effective, most of
your NCVS interviews will be by telephone. The following
qualifications must exist before you can conduct an NCVS
interview in person:
The sample household is assigned for a first enumeration
period interview.
First Enumeration Period
Households
The sample household has not been interviewed in any
previous enumeration period (sample address was a
Type A or B noninterview previously or a replacement
household now lives at the sample address).
The sample household does not have a telephone on
which they can be reached.
The sample household does not want to be interviewed
by telephone.
The sample household has a privacy detector that
requires the caller to enter a personal identification
number (PIN).
For the first enumeration period, a sample household is
always scheduled for a personal visit interview. When using
the personal visit method, try to complete interviews for the
household respondent and all other eligible household
members during your initial visit. If the household
respondent refuses to do the interview in person, you can
take a telephone interview for the initial visit. However, try to
avoid this situation whenever possible.
Only the household respondent's interview must be done in
person for a first enumeration period interview. Any other
eligible household members who are not available during
your initial visit can be interviewed by telephone.
Checking the Case
Data in Laptop Case
Management
By reviewing the various tabs in laptop case management
for a sample address, you can tell whether a sample
address needs to be interviewed by personal visit. For a first
enumeration period household, most of the data, such as
the roster items will be blank.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-3
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Household Not Interviewed
in Previous Enumeration
Periods
Regardless of the enumeration period, your first contact
with a sample household must be in person. After the first
enumeration period for a sample address, a sample
household may not have been interviewed because:
The sample household was classified as either a Type A
or a Type B noninterview in all previous enumeration
periods.
The sample household is not the same household as
was interviewed in the previous enumeration period.
The new household at the sample address is referred to
as a "replacement" household.
If you discover that a replacement household is now living at
the sample address, you must interview the household
respondent in person, along with any remaining household
members who are eligible for interview and available at the
time of your visit. Any callbacks for individual respondents
may be done by telephone.
Checking the Case
Data in Laptop Case
Management
No Telephone Available
Checking the Case
Data in Laptop Case
Management
Look at the “History” tab in laptop case management, to tell
whether or not the sample household was a noninterview in
the previous enumeration period. If a sample household has
been a noninterview in all of the previous enumeration
periods, then use the personal visit method for the current
interview period.
If you find that a sample household does not have a
telephone, you must conduct the interview in person. To
conduct a telephone interview, the sample household must
have a telephone at home or elsewhere on which all eligible
household members can be contacted.
Look at the “Assignment” tab in laptop case management to
verify that the household has a telephone on which all
eligible household members can be interviewed and that at
least one telephone number is listed. The telephone number
and type can be edited in laptop case management, which
lists up to three telephone numbers for the household.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Telephone Interview Not
Acceptable
Part A, Chapter 5
If a sample household does not want to be interviewed by
telephone, then you must conduct personal visit interviews
for the household.
Checking the Case
Data in Laptop Case
Management
Laptop case management does not specifically display
whether a respondent requested not to be contacted by
telephone, although the presence of the letter “P” in the
“P/T” column could be the result of such a request. You can
look at the “Notes” tab to see if any information was
recorded regarding contacting the household. Within the
instrument, this information can be found at the VERIFY
screen in the back of the instrument.
Special Situations
Requiring Personal Visit
Interviews
Some special situations can require cases that would
normally be interviewed by telephone to have personal visit
interviews. These situations include:
Entire Sample
Household Refuses a
Telephone Interview
In some cases, you may encounter a sample household
in which all household members refuse to be
interviewed by telephone. Instead of classifying the
household as a Type A noninterview, you must attempt
to conduct these interviews in person.
Household Member
Unable to Complete a
Telephone Interview
In a single-person sample household, the household
member is either too hard-of-hearing or is mentally
and/or physically unable to complete the interview by
telephone. Attempt to conduct the interview in person
and explain the reason for the personal visit in the case
level notes.
Incorrect Telephone
Number
If you discover that the telephone number listed on the
laptop case management or the instrument is incorrect,
verify that you have reached the sample address. If you
have not reached the sample address, try to get the
correct telephone number from directory assistance,
etc. If you cannot get a good telephone number for the
sample address, then you must make a personal visit
and explain the reason for that personal visit in the case
level notes.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-5
Part A, Chapter 5
No One Answers
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you have tried several times to reach a sample
household by telephone and have been unsuccessful,
you must:
Verify the accuracy of the telephone number either in
a local telephone directory or with directory
assistance.
Telephone the contact person if one is listed in the
“Contacts” tab. If you can reach this contact person,
try to find out why you have been unable to reach the
sample household by telephone.
As a last resort, make a personal visit to the sample
address and explain briefly the reason for the personal
visit in the case level notes.
You Get a Recorded
Message
If you get a recorded message saying that the phone
number has been changed, call the new number (if
given) and make sure that you have reached the sample
address before starting the interview(s). Enter the new
telephone number in the appropriate screen in the
instrument or in the case level notes, along with the
appropriate “phone type code.” You can also record the
new number in the “Assignment” tab in laptop case
management.
If the recorded message says that the number is
disconnected or has changed and a new number is not
provided, try to find a new number from a local directory
or directory assistance.
As a last resort, visit the sample address and explain
briefly the reason for personal visit in case level notes.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Privacy Detectors
Part A, Chapter 5
Privacy detectors are devices that respondents may
have on their telephones requiring incoming callers to
identify themselves either through speaking their name
or providing a PIN before the call rings through to the
respondent. If you encounter a privacy detector which
allows you to identify yourself, as well as the purpose of
your call (to conduct a survey for the Census Bureau),
you may do so. However, if this method does not result
in telephone contact with the respondent or if you
encounter privacy detectors which require a PIN and no
other telephone contact with the respondent is possible,
you must conduct the interview by personal visit.
During the personal visit, you may ask the household
respondent if it is acceptable to contact the household
by telephone for future interviews (that is, if the current
interview is not the final interview for the household). If
future telephone interviews are acceptable, find out
what instructions are necessary to ensure that future
calls will not be blocked by the privacy detector. Write
any such instructions clearly in the case level notes.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-7
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Qualifications for Using the Telephone Method
Overview
You conduct most of your assigned interviews for second
through seventh enumeration period households by
telephone. The following qualifications must exist before
you can conduct an NCVS interview by telephone:
The sample household was assigned for a personal visit
interview in a previous enumeration period and at least
the household respondent was interviewed in person in
a previous enumeration period. Refer to the
“History” tab for this information.
The sample household must have a telephone on which
all eligible household members can be interviewed.
Refer to the “Assignment” tab in laptop case
management for this information.
The sample household must be willing to be interviewed
by telephone. Refer to the “Notes” tab or the “P/T”
column in laptop case management or the VERIFY
screen in the instrument for this information.
Once a sample household is assigned for a telephone
interview and there is no special situation requiring a
personal visit, then interview all eligible household
members by telephone for the current and all future
enumeration periods.
Household's First Time in
Sample
As covered in Topic 2 of this chapter, only the household
respondent's interview must be completed in person when a
household first enters the NCVS sample (regardless of the
enumeration period). Once the household respondent's
interview is completed in person, any callbacks for other
household members should be conducted by telephone.
This helps us lower interviewing costs.
Type Z Noninterviews
If a sample household is designated for a telephone
interview and an eligible respondent, other than the
household respondent, refuses to be interviewed, classify
the respondent as a Type Z noninterview.
Do not make a personal visit in an attempt to convert a
refusal for an individual respondent. (See Part A, Chapter
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
6, for instructions on classifying a respondent as a
Type Z noninterview.)
Type A Noninterviews
Require a Personal Visit
If either the household respondent or the entire household
refuses to be interviewed during a telephone interview, then
you are required to make a personal visit to conduct the
interviews.
Never classify a sample household as a Type A
noninterview following a telephone interview. You must
attempt to convert the refusal in person before
classifying a household as a Type A noninterview.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-9
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. Instructions for Conducting Telephone Interviews
Timing of Interviews
Once the interviewing month begins, get started on
reviewing your assignments. Start with telephone
interviews. It is possible that you will discover cases marked
as telephone interviews that require you to make a personal
visit (as covered in Topic 2 of this chapter). By working
through your telephone interview work first, you can
minimize the number of trips to an area and help us save
money by reducing travel costs.
Because of these possible personal visits, it is extremely
important that you attempt to complete all telephone
interviews in the first few days of the interview period.
As you plan your itinerary for your personal visit cases,
make sure to include any telephone interview cases that
now require personal visits. Try to make the least number of
trips as possible into an area to complete your assignment.
Whenever you discover a case that was scheduled for a
telephone interview and now requires a personal visit
interview, briefly explain the reason for the personal visit in
the case level notes.
Starting the Interview
When you are ready to start a telephone interview, look at
the information in case management. By reviewing these
items, you will be prepared for situations where:
The telephone number provided rings somewhere other
than the sample household's residence. Look at the
“Notes” tab to see if notes were entered with this
information.
The telephone number might be for a pager, cell phone,
FAX machine, etc. The code beside the phone number
in the “Assignment” tab provides this information.
You are unable to contact the household on the first
telephone number listed in the “Assignment” tab, but a
second telephone number is also entered in the same
tab.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
The sample household does not want to be interviewed
by telephone. The “Notes” tab in laptop case
management or the VERIFY screen at the back of the
instrument may have this information.
The sample household indicated the best time to call or
visit them and/or when they do not wish to be contacted.
Press “Ctrl” + “T” in the instrument or use the “Interview
Time Preference” tab in case management to get this
information.
The sample household indicated that they do not want
to be contacted on a Sunday. Press “Ctrl” + “T” in the
instrument or use the “Interview Time Preference” tab in
laptop case management to get this information.
The sample household indicated in the “Assignment”
tab that someone in the household needs his/her
interview conducted in Spanish.
By reviewing these items before dialing the telephone
number, you will be more likely to reach the household and
less likely to bother them at an inconvenient or unwanted
time. You also will be better able to start the interview in a
confident and prepared manner.
Ask for Previous
Household
Respondent
After dialing the telephone number listed in the
“Assignment” tab or at the DIAL_CP screen in the
instrument, start by identifying yourself and asking to speak
to the household respondent from the previous enumeration
period. This person is listed in the “Assignment” column in
laptop case management. The instrument is also set up to
ask for the household respondent from the previous
enumeration. If that person is not available, then make sure
that you have reached the correct sample address.
Once you know that you have reached the correct sample
address and are speaking to a household member, you can
continue with your introduction. You don't want to describe
the NCVS to someone who is not a sample household
member.
Then ask to speak with a household member who is at least
18 years of age and knowledgeable about the household,
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-11
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
preferably one of the owners or renters of the home. This
person will be your household respondent for the current
interview.
A Typical Introduction
The following introduction appears in the instrument at
GEN_INTRO_CP and HELLO_1_CP.
"Hello, I'm (your name) from the United States Census
Bureau." (After reaching a sample household member,
continue with...) "I’m calling concerning the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is
conducting a survey here and throughout the Nation to
determine how often people are victims of crimes. We
last contacted this address six months ago. I would like
to talk to someone in the household who is at least 18
years of age and knowledgeable about this household.
Would that be you?"
Explaining the Purpose
of the NCVS
Some respondents may want to ask some questions about
the NCVS before agreeing to answer the survey questions.
Be prepared to answer their questions briefly and
accurately.
The following sources provide answers to some commonly
asked questions from respondents:
Information Card Booklet, NCVS-554,
NCVS At a Glance, NCVS-550.1 Job Aid,
The FAQ tab in the NCVS instrument, and
Part A, Chapter 2, Topic 5, of this manual, NCVS-550.
Mentioning the
Introductory Letter
For both personal visits and telephone interviews, the
instrument prompts you to verify whether the respondent
received the introductory letter. Have a copy of the letter
with you in case a respondent has a question about it. If you
conduct the interview in person, hand him/her a copy of the
introductory letter if they did not get it in the mail.
Identifying Yourself
Unlike a personal visit interview, you cannot show any
formal identification to a respondent over the telephone. If
you identify yourself, your agency, the survey, and your
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
purpose for calling, most respondents will believe you and
agree to be interviewed. For those respondents who doubt
what you tell them, suggest that they call your regional
office's (1-800) number (if available) or call collect to confirm
who you are and why you are calling them.
Explaining the Purpose
of a Telephone
Interview
Some respondents may want to know why you are calling
them instead of coming to their home for the interview. If this
happens, just explain that telephone interviews help us to
reduce our survey expenses. Therefore, as a cost saving
measure, we attempt to conduct most interviews by
telephone if the household has indicated to us in a previous
interview that a telephone interview is acceptable.
Explaining Our
Exemption From the
“Do Not Call” Registry
The “Do Not Call” registry does not limit a call made for the
sole purpose of conducting a survey. Therefore, calls from
the Census Bureau for survey data collection are not
restricted by this registry.
Verifying the Accuracy of
Your Contact
For the NCVS we are following the sample address and not
a specific household. If a household moves out of a sample
address between enumeration periods, you no longer
interview that household. Instead, you interview the current
residents at the sample address.
If you call the telephone number and reach the same
household from the previous enumeration period, don't
assume that you have reached the sample address. It is
possible that the household could be using the same
telephone number at their new address.
Always verify that the household is still living at the address
listed in the VERADD_CP screen. If you are given an
address that doesn't identify an exact unit or is slightly
different from the address displayed in VERADD_CP, ask
the respondent if the household has moved since their last
interview.
If the household has moved out of the sample address and
continues to use the same telephone number, use the
procedures for coding movers in Part B, Chapter 2, Topic 7.
Thank the respondent for their cooperation and explain that
you do not need to interview his/her household, since they
no longer live at the sample address for this survey.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-13
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Any time you discover that a new or replacement household
is currently living at the sample address, you are required to
collect the demographic information for the new
respondents and conduct the interviews with the
replacement household by personal visit for the current
enumeration period, when a new household has moved into
the sample address. However, if the sample address is
vacant because no new respondents have moved in, the
original case will not be coded as a replacement; rather, it
will be coded as a Type B noninterview.
Selecting a Household
Respondent
Once you are sure that you have reached the sample
address and the same household from the previous
enumeration period, you need to speak to the household
member who will be the "household respondent." Because
of the type of information this person needs to provide both
for the Roster Demographics Section and the Basic Screen
Questionnaire, you need to select a household member
who is at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable about
the household.
Listed below is the order of preference for selecting a
household respondent:
Using the Information Card
Booklet (NCVS-554) and
the F1 Key
First
Ask for the household respondent from the
previous enumeration period.
Second
Ask for one of the persons who owns or rents the
home.
Third
Ask for a household member who is at least 18
years of age and knowledgeable about the
household.
Questions that display the icon of an open book in the upper
left corner (for example, EDUCATIONATTAIN,
SP_ORIGIN, RACE, and HOUSEHOLDINCOME) instruct
you to show a flashcard to the respondent for personal visit
interviews. When several answer categories are listed for
an item, it is much easier for a respondent to read the
flashcard and select the correct answer. You may also
press F1 to read the answer categories for all of the
questions listed below during a telephone interview.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
Item
EDUCATIONATTAIN,
Educational
Attainment
If you are conducting a telephone interview for a third, fifth,
or seventh enumeration household or during an even
numbered enumeration where there are any NEW
household members, ask item EDUCATIONATTAIN and
enter the appropriate precode. More information about this
item can be found in Part B, Chapter 2, Topic 9.
Item SP_ORIGIN,
HISPANIC Origin
Since your telephone interview cases will be sample
addresses that have been interviewed in a previous
enumeration period, you will only ask Item SP_ORIGIN for
NEW household members that you add for the current
enumeration period.
If the respondent hesitates to answer once you have asked
the question in SP_ORIGIN, then turn to the categories in
your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) and ask the
respondent if the added person's ethnic origin is one of the
following origins...(then read the origins listed).
Item RACE, Race
For your telephone interviews, only ask the race question
for any NEW household members for the current
enumeration period. If the respondent does not give you the
NEW household member’s race(s) after you ask the
question for RACE, then read the race categories listed.
Item HOUSEHOLD
INCOME, Household
Income
If you are conducting a telephone interview for a third, fifth,
or seventh enumeration period household, you must update
Item HOUSEHOLDINCOME with the household
respondent. Follow these steps:
Step 1 -
Ask the question in Item HOUSEHOLDINCOME, "What
was the total combined income of all members of this
household during the past 12 months?"
Step 2 -
If necessary, explain to the respondent that you need to
identify the broad income range that best fits the total
combined income during the past 12 months for all
household members who are 14 years of age or older.
Exclude the income of any household member who left the
household and is not a household member at the time of the
interview. If the respondent seems confused about which
household member's income to include, read the list of
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-15
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
current household members who are over 14 years of age
by clicking on the HHRoster tab in the instrument.
Step 3 -
If the respondent gives too broad an income range, probe
by reading the answer categories from the question that are
within the broad range.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 5
Topic 5. Telephone Interviewing Skills
Overview
Every interviewing situation is unique. Do not allow a difficult
interview or a sharp refusal to shake your confidence or
affect subsequent interviews. Begin each interview as if it
were your first interview of the workday. Keep a
businesslike attitude and a positive frame of mind at all
times.
Successful telephone communication is dependent on how
the respondent perceives you based on your vocal
expression. Your language usage, grammar, voice quality,
rate of speech, and enunciation are all key elements in
creating a favorable impression over the telephone.
General Rules
When you conduct a telephone interview, be professional.
You can accomplish this if you are easy to understand and
always try to sound confident, polite, and businesslike.
Listed below are some general rules that can help you to
promote a professional image.
Clarity
Avoid talking to respondents with anything in your mouth -mints, gum, etc. Speak directly into the mouthpiece and
guard against placing the mouthpiece at chin level. Instead
of raising your voice when a respondent is having difficulty
hearing or understanding you, first make sure that you are
holding the mouthpiece between your nose and your lower
lip. This improves the quality of the transmission and allows
you to speak in your normal tone of voice.
Enunciation
Pronounce your words carefully; never mumble. This is
important because the English language is full of similar
sounds, such as the letters "T" and "D," and "P," "B," and
"V." Careful enunciation saves you from repeating and
helps avoid misunderstandings.
Courtesy
Courtesy is important during a telephone interview. When a
respondent tries your patience, remain calm and do not
allow him/her to hear any impatience or frustration in your
voice. Never take anything a respondent says personally.
Avoid letting your emotions push you into saying anything
that may upset or excite a respondent.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-17
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Also, as a courtesy to the respondent, explain why you are
pausing between questions. The respondent may be more
patient and willing to wait if he/she knows that you are
pausing to enter pertinent facts about an incident. Your job
is to conduct complete and accurate interviews in a
"professional" manner.
Rate of Speech
Find a rate of speech that is comfortable for you and the
majority of your respondents. The average rate of speech is
120 words per minute. If you speak too rapidly, your words
tend to run together, and if you speak too slowly, the
respondent may still have difficulty understanding what you
say.
Pitch and Inflection
Speak in a moderate pitch and avoid talking in a monotone
voice. When reading questions, it is especially helpful to use
a rising inflection towards the end of a question. If you put a
"smile" in your voice and avoid sounding like a robot, you
are more likely to keep your respondent's interest.
Use a Brief
Introduction
Avoid using lengthy introductions. Be brief and to the point
and begin interviewing as soon as possible.
Start Fresh
Do not let your emotions from a "tough" interview or a
refusal carryover into the next interview. Each respondent
deserves a fresh start and the best that you have to give
them. Do not allow "tough" interviews and refusals to shake
your confidence.
No Rushing
Do not rush respondents or make them feel that they are
taking too long to answer your questions. We want
respondents to relax and take their time, so they can
remember all the pertinent facts about an incident. If
respondents feel like you are rushing them, they may
purposely leave out information.
Ending the Interview
As you finish interviewing each eligible respondent in a
sample household, thank him/her and ask to speak to the
next respondent. When the time comes to end the
telephone call, always let the respondent hang up first. This
technique gives the respondent a feeling of control over the
situation.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Listening Skills
Part A, Chapter 5
It takes much more than just asking questions to be a good
interviewer. Listening attentively to your respondent is just
as important for conducting a successful interview. Listed
below are some listening techniques which all interviewers
need to practice:
Limit your own talking so that the respondent has ample
time to explain incidents. Remember that it is very
difficult to talk and listen well at the same time.
When you do not understand something said or you feel
that you may have missed a point, always try to get a
clear understanding of the situation. Sometimes
repeating what the respondent said in your own words
may help to straighten out the misunderstanding.
Telephone interviews may require more probing than
personal visit interviews.
Try not to interrupt a respondent before he/she is
finished replying. A long pause does not always mean
that the respondent is done answering your question.
Never rush a respondent when he/she needs more time
to recall specific facts.
Shut out distractions while conducting interviews.
Concentrate on focusing your mind on what each
respondent is telling you.
The occasional use of interjections like "Yes" or "I see"
reassures the respondent that you are paying attention
to what he/she is saying. Be especially careful to use
neutral comments that will not bias the interview in any
way. Avoid saying things like "That's good" or "That's
too bad."
Listen attentively and objectively. Do not allow a
respondent's words to irritate you or a respondent's
harsh manner to distract you from your professional
manner.
Avoid jumping to conclusions or assuming that a
respondent will say something before they finish
explaining the incident. Be patient and let the
respondent finish his/her thought. Do not lead the
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-19
Part A, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
respondent and possibly bias the interview.
Telephone Techniques
Every interviewing situation is unique. It is important that
you adapt to each new respondent. Do not let your reactions
to one interview carry over and affect the next interview.
Here are some techniques you can follow to help in
conducting your telephone interviews:
Select a good working space
Choose a quiet place where you can conduct your
telephone interviews without distractions and in privacy.
Make sure that you have adequate space and light.
Be prepared
Before you begin a telephone interview, make sure that
you have all the materials you need within your arm’s
reach. Make sure that you have adequate supplies of
paper, pens, pencils, and forms, together with this
manual and any job aids. If you need to leave the
telephone for some unexpected reason, always excuse
yourself politely and never let the respondent wait more
than a minute. If your telephone has a "call waiting"
feature, disable the "call waiting" feature before you
start any telephone interviews.
Learn from mistakes
Whenever possible, try to evaluate your performance for
each interview. See if you can improve your technique in
any area of the interview process. Try to improve your
technique with each new interview and do not continue
making the same mistakes over and over.
Learn from successes
When you feel an interview went well, think about why.
Perhaps your telephone manner made a difference
because you were able to maintain your confidence and
project a pleasant, businesslike attitude. Concentrate on
the positive aspects of a successful interview and
continue to improve your technique.
Personal Visit vs. Telephone Interviews
A5-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Noninterviews
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Overview of Noninterview Types
and Procedures
A6-2
2 Type A Noninterview Categories
A6-9
3 Type B Noninterview Categories
A6-16
4 Type C Noninterview Categories
A6-21
5 Type Z Noninterview Persons
A6-25
Noninterviews
A6-1
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Overview of Noninterview Types and Procedures
Noninterview Cases
Noninterview Categories
When you are assigned an NCVS case and cannot get a
completed interview, you must classify the case into one of
three noninterview categories: Type A, Type B, or Type C.
A sample address is classified as a noninterview if:
The living quarters is occupied but you are unable to get
any completed interviews.
The living quarters is occupied by persons who are not
eligible respondents for the NCVS.
The living quarters is vacant.
The living quarters is not eligible for sample because it is
no longer used as a residence, it no longer exists, or it
does not qualify based on the current listing and
coverage rules.
Qualifications for each of the three noninterview categories,
Type A, B, and C, are as follows:
Type A
Some sample households consist of persons who are
eligible for interview, but none of these persons can be
interviewed for a specific reason. These cases will classify
as Type A noninterviews. Type A noninterview reasons for
the NCVS are:
Language problems
No one home
Temporarily absent
Refused
Other occupied (Use this Type A reason for occupied
sample units that you cannot reach due to impassable
roads; for sample households that you cannot interview
due to serious illness or death in the household; or for
sample units that you are unable to locate.)
Noninterviews
A6-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Type B
A sample address could be vacant or occupied entirely by
persons who have a usual residence elsewhere. Although
these cases are not eligible for interview during the current
interview period, they could become eligible at a later time.
These cases will classify as Type B noninterviews. Type B
noninterview reasons for the NCVS are:
Vacant - regular
Vacant - storage of household furniture
Temporarily occupied by persons with usual residence
elsewhere (URE)
Unfit or to be demolished
Under construction, not ready
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
Permit granted, construction not started
Other (Only use this Type B reason if none of the other
Type B reasons are appropriate for the situation.)
Type C
Some situations can require that a sample address be
permanently removed from the NCVS sample. These cases
will classify as Type C noninterviews. Type C noninterview
reasons for the NCVS are:
Unused line of listing sheet
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Outside segment
Converted to permanent business or storage
Merged
Condemned
Unit does not exist or is out of scope
Unlocatable sample address
Permit abandoned or other (Only use the Type C
“Other” reason when none of the specific Type C
reasons are appropriate for the situation.)
Noninterviews
A6-3
Part A, Chapter 6
Type Z Noninterviews
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Classify an eligible household member as a Type Z
noninterview when you are unable to interview an eligible
household member and the household member is not the
household respondent.
Unlike Type A, B, and C noninterviews, a Type Z
noninterview relates to an eligible household member (other
than the household respondent) and does not relate to the
entire sample household. Another difference is that a
personal visit is not required before classifying a person as
a Type Z noninterview.
However, if you are unable to interview the household
respondent, the entire sample household is a Type A
noninterview because:
You must interview the household respondent before
interviewing anyone else in the household.
AND
You cannot classify a household respondent as a Type
Z noninterview person.
Minimizing Noninterviews
It is important to keep both Type A and Type Z
noninterviews to a minimum, so that:
Your response rate does not suffer and
The sample data you collect is truly representative of the
entire U.S. population.
Individuals who are difficult to find at home or who resist
being interviewed may have different victimization
experiences than persons who are readily available for
interviews. Therefore, failure to get interviews from all
eligible household members could introduce serious bias
into the survey results.
Procedures for Type A, B,
and C Noninterviews
If you have a case that is a Type A, B, or C noninterview,
select Precode (4), “Noninterview,” at Item START_CP.
Descriptions and instructions for each noninterview type are
outlined below, starting at Item NONTYP.
Noninterviews
A6-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Type A Noninterview
Procedures
Part A, Chapter 6
At Item NONTYP, select Precode (1), “Type A.” Item
TYPEA appears; there are six options:
1. Language problems [outcome code 213]
2. No one home [outcome code 216]
3. Temporarily absent - Specify [outcome code 217]
4. Refused [outcome code 218]
5. Other occupied - Specify [outcome code 219]
If you select precodes (1) (2) or (4), Item TYPEA_CK
appears, which asks, “Are you sure this is a Type A
noninterview?” If you are sure, enter Precode (1), “Yes.” If
not, enter Precode (2), “No.”
If you select Precode (3) in TYPEA, “Temporarily absent Specify,” Item TYPEA_SPEC3 appears and says, “Enter
the date this household is expected to return.” Enter the
date of the household’s expected return. Then TYPEA_CK
appears (see paragraph above.)
If you select Precode (5), Item TYPEA_SPEC5 appears,
which says, “Enter the description for Other - Occupied.”
Then TYPEA_CK appears (see above).
Proceed with Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT_AB, which
asks you to “Please select one box that describes the type
of housing unit” from twelve options:
1. House, apartment, flat
2. HU in nontransient hotel, motel, etc.
3. HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
4. HU in rooming house
5. Mobile home or trailer with no permanent room added
6. Mobile home or trailer with one or more permanent
rooms attached
7. HU not specified above - Describe
8. Quarters not HU in rooming or boarding house
9. Unit not permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
10. Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
11. Student quarters in college dormitory
12. Other unit not specified above - Describe
Items BCNAME, BCTITL, and BCNUM appear (when
Precode 3 is selected in TYPEA), which ask for the contact
person’s name, title, and telephone number. (A contact
Noninterviews
A6-5
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
person is someone who is knowledgeable about the
household - a neighbor, mail carrier, postal carrier, etc.)
Select an answer and proceed with Item THANKYOU_CP,
which ends the interview.
Type B Noninterviews
At Item NONTYP, select Precode (2), “Type B.” Item
TYPEB appears; there are nine options:
1. Vacant - regular [outcome code 226]
2. Vacant - storage of household furniture
[outcome code 227]
3. Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
[outcome code 225]
4. Unfit or to be demolished [outcome code 228]
5. Under construction, not ready [outcome code 229]
6. Converted to temporary business or storage
[outcome code 230]
7. Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
[outcome code 231]
8. Permit granted, construction not started
[outcome code 232]
9. Other - Specify [outcome code 233]
If you select any of Precodes (1) through (8), Item
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT_AB appears, then Items
BCNAME, BCTITL, and BCNUM appear, which ask for the
contact person’s name, title, and telephone number. (A
contact person is someone who is knowledgeable about the
household - a neighbor, mail carrier, postal carrier, etc.) If
the determination of a Type B was made by observation,
enter “None” in the contact information fields, and enter
Precode (2), “Yes” at BCOBS.
If you select Precode (9), “Other - Specify,”
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT_AB appears,
thenTYPEB_SPEC9, “Enter the description of the Other
Type B reason.” Then Item BCNAME appears (see
paragraph above).
Proceed with Item THANKYOU_CP, which ends the
interview.
Noninterviews
A6-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Type C Noninterviews
Part A, Chapter 6
At Item NONTYP, select Precode (3), “Type C.” Item
TYPEC appears; there are eleven options:
1. Unused line of listing sheet [outcome code 247]
2. Demolished [outcome code 240]
3. House or trailer moved [outcome code 241] (Note that
this code is for a case where the actual trailer or
house has moved and not just its occupants)
4. Outside segment [outcome code 242]
5. Converted to permanent business or storage
[outcome code 243]
6. Merged [outcome code 244]
7. Condemned [outcome code 245]
8. Unit does not exist or is out of scope [outcome code 259]
9. Unlocatable address [outcome code 258]
10. Permit abandoned [outcome code 248]
11. Other – Specify [outcome code 248]
If you select any of Precodes (1) through (10),
TYPEC_WARN appears, then Items BCNAME, BCTITL,
and BCNUM appear, which ask for the contact person’s
name, title, and telephone number. (A contact person is
someone who is knowledgeable about the household - a
neighbor, mail carrier, postal carrier, etc.) If the
determination of a Type B was made by observation, enter
“None” in the contact information fields, and enter Precode
(2), “Yes” at BCOBS.
If you select Precode (11), Item TYPEC_SPEC appears,
which says, “Enter the description of the other Type C
reason.” Enter the description. Then Item TYPEC_WARN
appears: “You have made this case a Type C - OtherSpecify.” If this is correct, enter Precode (1) to proceed. If
you have made an error classifying the case, use the up
arrows to go back to previous items and change your
responses, after entering (1) to continue. Item BCNAME
appears, which is described in the previous paragraph.
Proceed with Item THANKYOU _CP, which ends the
interview.
Noninterviews
A6-7
Part A, Chapter 6
Procedures for Type Z
Noninterviews
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
A Type Z noninterview indicates that you completed
interviews with at least the household respondent but were
unable to complete an interview with one or more eligible
members.
If the household contains any members who have not been
interviewed, either because they refused, had a partial
interview, were never available despite repeated attempts
to interview them, they were temporarily absent and no
proxy was available, you must specify the Type Z
noninterview reason for every noninterview person in the
household before you can transmit the case.
This process can only be done at the time you are ready to
transmit the case, so it is important that you identify any
eligible household members as noninterviews early in the
interview period, and annotate the reason(s) in the CAPI
notes so you do not forget them when you are ready to
transmit the case later.
Designating household
members as Type Z
noninterviews
Enter the case; click on the household roster (HH Roster)
tab on the toolbar to check interview status of eligible
household members. Designate a Type Z noninterview
reason for all those whose interview status is “Need self,”
“Need proxy,” “Partial int,” or “Refused.” Proceed as follows:
Click on the “Main” tab to go to the START_CP screen and
enter Precode (5), “Ready to transmit case - no more
followup.(Type Z’s)” A pop-up screen appears that says,
“Are you ready to transmit this case?.” Click “Suppress.”
The TYPEZ screen appears: “No survey data were
collected for (NAME). Enter the reason that best describes
why (NAME)’s survey date were not collected.” There are
six options:
1. Never available
2. Parent Refused
3. Resp. Refused
4. Physically/Mentally Unable
5. TA - No proxy available
6. Other
Enter the applicable reason, then exit the case. Note that
the case is automatically removed from the main Case List.
Noninterviews
A6-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Topic 2. Type A Noninterview Categories
Overview
Since Type A noninterviews mean the loss of valuable
information, keep Type A noninterviews to a minimum. If we
fail to get NCVS data from sample households, the data we
do collect may not be representative of the U.S. population.
It is not always possible to avoid Type A noninterviews, but
there are ways to keep them at a minimum. These include:
Establishing good relations with your respondents,
Contacting sample households when they are most
likely to be at home, and
Conducting the interview in a positive and professional
manner.
The following reasons can cause a sample unit to be
classified as a Type A noninterview:
The sample household cannot be interviewed during the
interview period because of language problems.
After making repeated contacts during the interview
period, you are never able to reach anyone at home.
All members of the sample household are temporarily
away from home during the entire interview period.
The sample household refuses to allow any interviews.
An occupied sample unit cannot be interviewed due to
impassable roads.
The sample household cannot be interviewed during the
interview period because of a serious illness or a death
in the family.
You are not able to locate the sample unit.
Before you classify a telephone interview case as a Type
A noninterview, you must attempt to make contact in person
and interview the household. Also, make sure that you call
Noninterviews
A6-9
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
your Regional Office before sending in a Type A
noninterview.
Procedures for “Language
Problems” - Precode (1),
(Outcome 213)
Before you can classify a sample household as “Language
Problems,” you must make attempts to find an interpreter
who is acceptable to the household respondent. The
interpreter can be a family member, a neighbor of the
respondent, an official interpreter, or even you, if you speak
the person’s language. If you have difficulty finding a
suitable interpreter, contact your supervisor before
classifying the case as a Type A Precode (1). Only use
Type A Precode (1) as a last resort.
Procedures for "No One
Home" - Precode (2),
(Outcome 216)
Before you can classify a sample household as "No One
Home," you must make several attempts to contact the
household and verify that they are only gone for a short
while and plan to return during the interview period. If the
household is away from home and isn't expected to return
before your closeout date, use Type A Precode (3),
Temporarily Absent, instead of using Type A Precode (2).
For personal visit interviews:
If no one is home at the time of your first visit for the
interview period, check with neighbors or anyone else who
may know when the household is expected to return home.
Remember, do not mention the survey name when making
any inquiries. Listed below is a suggested way of making
inquiries:
"Hello, I am (your name) from the United States Census
Bureau. Here is my identification (show ID). I am trying
to contact someone at (sample address), but no one is
at home. Do you know when it is likely that someone
would be there?"
Follow the procedures shown below when you discover that
the household is expected to return home sometime within
the interview period:
Fill out a Request for Appointment (Form 11-38 or
11-38A) indicating when you plan to return. For
identification purposes, enter the case's control number
and your name and telephone number on the form.
Noninterviews
A6-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Use the back of the instrument (when in the instrument)
or the case level notes to enter the callback date and
time for your return visit.
Note:
Another alternative is to leave your business card
at the sample address with a preprinted peel-off
sticker attached to it saying:
IMPORTANT
Please call me at the number on the attached card.
I am required to contact an adult household
member and I am obligated to return until contact
has been made.
(Enter your name)
U.S. Census Bureau Field Representative
Procedures for
"Temporarily Absent" Precode (3), (Outcome 217)
If it is not practical to use a Request for Appointment
form, try to determine the best time to contact the
household and make a return visit then.
If all these efforts fail, then classify the case as a Type A
Code 216, No one home, as described in Topic 1 of this
chapter.
For personal visit interviews:
When you make your first visit to a sample address for an
interview month and find that no one is home, try to
determine from neighbors or anyone else who may know
how long the household may be gone.
Before classifying a case as a Type A Precode (3),
Temporarily Absent, all of the following conditions must
exist:
All household members are temporarily away and not
expected to return home until the current closeout date
has passed. They might be on vacation, a business trip,
caring for sick relatives, or some other similar reason.
All of the household's personal belongings are still
in the sample unit. In other words, the sample
household has not moved their personal belongings to
another location. This is especially important if you see
a "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign on the property.
Noninterviews
A6-11
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The sample unit is not a summer cottage or a unit
used only for vacation purposes. In other words, the
sample unit is the primary residence for the sample
household.
Once you determine that the case qualifies as a Type A
Precode (3), Temporarily Absent, take the following actions:
Procedures for "Refused" Precode (4), (Outcome 218)
After entering Precode (3), enter the date when the
sample household is expected to return to the sample
address in TYPEA_SPEC3.
Use the BC_CONTACT screens to enter the name, title,
contact type code, address, telephone number, and
telephone type code for the person who provided the
information about the household.
If there is any possibility that the household will return
before your closeout date, attempt to interview the
household prior to your closeout date when feasible, do
not code the household as a Type A yet.
When you know that the household definitely will not
return before either closeout dates, complete the rest of
the noninterview section according to the instructions in
Topic 2 of this chapter. Make sure that you enter the
"Return date" when filling Item TYPEA_SPEC3.
Although our response rates are high, you may occasionally
experience households who refuse to be interviewed. When
you encounter such households, impress upon them that
the information they can provide is valuable and the survey
results will benefit their household and their community.
Make every reasonable effort to obtain cooperation from
each sample household assigned to you.
Despite all your efforts, a sample household may still refuse
to answer the survey questions or may insist that an
interview is not necessary since their household had no
changes or crimes to report for the past 6 months. You are
still required to complete and/or update the appropriate
items in the control card section and to complete the
NCVS-1 interviews with a household respondent and all
Noninterviews
A6-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
remaining eligible household members, even if no crimes
occurred.
When you are unable to change the way a household feels
about participating in the NCVS and they just refuse to
cooperate, follow these procedures:
For personal visit interviews:
Your supervisor may instruct you to notify her/him by
telephone and explain the refusal situation. If your
supervisor will be in the sample area on other business,
she/he could visit the refusal household and try to
change their minds.
When all efforts to convert a refusal are unsuccessful,
complete the noninterview section as described in Topic
2 of this chapter, below.
As soon as your Regional Office becomes aware of a
refusal household, they will mail a letter to the household
requesting their cooperation and letting them know that you
will contact them again. The office will also send you a copy
of this letter.
If your Regional Office notifies you that a refusal household
is considered a "confirmed" refusal, you will no longer
attempt to interview the refusal household. For future
enumeration periods, verify with neighbors or other
knowledgeable sources whether or not the same household
is still living in the sample unit.
If the confirmed refusal household is still living at the sample
unit:
Enter Type A Precode (4) in Item TYPEA.
Complete the Noninterview section as described in
Topic 2 of this chapter, below.
In the Case Level Notes, enter "Confirmed refusal
household - Do not attempt to interview household."
If you discover that a new household has moved into the
Noninterviews
A6-13
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
sample unit, visit and interview the new or "replacement"
household as specified in this manual on Pages C1-32 and
C1-33.
Group Quarters (GQ)
Refusals
Some of your NCVS assignments may include sample units
within GQs, such as hotels, college dormitories, homeless
shelters, and so forth. If either the manager or owner of a
group quarters refuses to allow you to interview persons
residing in sample GQ units, notify your supervisor
immediately. Based on the situation, your supervisor will
provide you with specific instructions.
Procedures for "Other
Occupied" - Precode (5),
(Outcome 219)
Most Type A noninterviews fall under one of the reasons
already mentioned: Language problems, No one home,
Temporarily absent, and Refused. However, you could
encounter other situations that force you to classify an
eligible and occupied sample unit as a Type A noninterview.
For example, the following situations could justify classifying
a case as a Type A noninterview, Other occupied:
A family member died very recently.
The sample household has been quarantined.
The sample household lives in a gated and/or guarded
community and you cannot gain access to the sample
address. Notify your supervisor immediately and he/she
will provide you with specific instructions.
A storm or other natural disaster prevents you from
getting to sample addresses in your assignment. In
recent years, weather-related interviewing problems,
such as floods, mud slides, earthquakes, fires, and
heavy snow, have become more prevalent. If you
encounter these problems, try to identify which sample
addresses are occupied and which sample addresses
are vacant.
For previously interviewed households:
Determine occupancy based on the unit's status during
the last enumeration period, unless a knowledgeable
person tells you otherwise.
Noninterviews
A6-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
For first time households:
If a sample unit is assigned to you for the first
enumeration period, try to discover the occupancy
status from neighbors, local merchants, postal workers,
county recorder of deeds, or other local government
officials. Never mention the survey name when talking
to persons who are not household members at the
sample address.
More than two of the household respondent’s screen
questions are left unanswered because the household
respondent refused to answer them and you are unable
to interview another eligible household member as the
household respondent.
Noninterviews
A6-15
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Type B Noninterview Categories
Overview
Type B noninterviews include cases which you cannot
interview during a specific interview period because they
are either:
Unoccupied or
Temporarily occupied by persons who are ineligible for
interview because they have a usual residence
elsewhere (URE).
Any case that you classify as a Type B noninterview could
become eligible for interview in a later enumeration period.
A sample unit may be classified as a Type B noninterview
for any of the following reasons:
Vacant, regular
Vacant, storage of household furniture
Temporarily occupied by persons with a usual residence
elsewhere (URE)
Unfit or to be demolished
Under construction, not ready
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied site for a mobile home, trailer, or tent
Permit granted, construction not started
Other Type B
Procedures for "Vacant,
Regular" - Precode (1)
(Outcome 226)
The majority of unoccupied units that you discover will
classify as "Vacant, regular." If you discover that a sample
address is unoccupied and the following conditions exist,
you can classify the unit as a Type B noninterview, Vacant,
regular:
The unit is vacant and the occupants have permanently
left the unit.
Noninterviews
A6-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
The unit is for sale or rent.
The unit is being held off the sales market.
The unit is seasonally closed (e.g., a vacation home).
A dilapidated unit that is still considered a living
quarters, such as a housing unit that is very run down, in
need of many repairs, and still occupied as a living
quarters. Do not include unoccupied units that are
condemned, unfit for human habitation, awaiting
demolition or being demolished.
A vacant living quarters such as a mobile home, tent, or
a similar structure.
A GQ unit that may be vacant in transient quarters.
Special Situations
You may discover a vacant sample unit that is in the
process of being converted to make more units or merged to
make fewer units. Classify the unoccupied units created
by the conversion or merger as Type B, Precode (1),
Vacant, regular, if:
The conversion or merger has progressed to the stage
where you can identify the converted or merged units as
they will be when completed, or
A responsible person can tell you how the units will be
when completed.
Otherwise, classify the original sample unit as a Type B,
Precode (1), Vacant, regular.
The same procedures used for conversions and mergers
also apply to sample units that are undergoing repairs or
alterations.
Procedures for "Vacant,
Storage of Household
Furniture" - Precode (2),
(Outcome 227)
Only use Type B, Precode (2) when an unoccupied sample
unit is used solely for the storage of excess furniture. This is
not the same as a vacant unit that is fully furnished and
awaiting a potential renter or owner. For a vacant, furnished
unit that is waiting to be rented or sold, use Type B, Precode
(1), Vacant, regular.
Noninterviews
A6-17
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Procedures for
"Temporarily Occupied by
Persons With a URE" Precode (3), (Outcome 225)
If an entire household is staying at a sample unit temporarily
(e.g., on vacation) and the household has a usual residence
elsewhere (URE), they are not eligible household members;
do not interview them. If you discover this situation, classify
the unit as a Type B, Precode (3), Temporarily occupied by
persons with a URE.
Procedures for "Unfit or to
be Demolished" - Precode
(4), (Outcome 228)
Consider an unoccupied sample unit as unfit for human
habitation if the unit is no longer protected from the
elements because the roof, walls, windows, or doors are
either damaged or missing. This may have been caused by
vandalism, fire, or deterioration from neglect and age.
If you see the following conditions, the likely classification
for the unit is Type B, Precode 4, Unfit or to be demolished:
Windows are broken
Doors are either missing or swinging open
Parts of the roof or walls are missing or destroyed
leaving holes in the unit's structure
Part of the structure has been blown or washed away
Part of the structure has collapsed or is missing.
Do not use Type B, Precode 4, for the following two
situations:
When doors and windows are boarded up to keep them
from becoming destroyed by vandalism or bad weather.
When doors and windows are not intended to be used in
a structure, such as in some rural sections of the
country.
Also, use the "Unfit or to be demolished" reason for vacant
sample units that you can verify as being scheduled for
demolition. You must see positive evidence, such as a
demolition sign, notice, or mark on the sample unit or on the
building that houses the sample unit.
Noninterviews
A6-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Procedures for "Under
Construction, Not Ready" Precode (5), (Outcome 229)
Part A, Chapter 6
Type B, Precode (5) is intended for sample units that are in
the process of being newly constructed and are not yet
ready for occupancy because the following items have not
been installed:
Exterior windows and doors and
Usable floors.
Once the newly constructed sample unit is ready for
occupancy, but is still vacant, classify it as Type B Precode
(1), Vacant, regular.
Procedures for "Converted
to Temporary Business or
Storage" - Precode (6),
(Outcome 230)
Use Type B, Precode (6) when a sample unit that is
intended as a living quarters is used instead for the
temporary storage of commercial or business supplies,
machinery or other products related to a business. If you
can determine that the storage of these business supplies is
permanent, then classify the sample unit as Type C
Precode (5), Converted to permanent business or storage,
not Type B Precode 6.
Do not use "Converted to temporary business or storage," if
you discover that the vacant unit is intended for the storage
of business supplies in the future, but not at the time of your
visit.
There is a separate Type B noninterview reason for a
sample unit that is vacant and used solely to store
household furniture. Do not use "Converted to temporary
business or storage" when it is household furniture that is
being stored in the vacant unit.
Procedures for
"Unoccupied Site for
Mobile Home, Trailer, or
Tent” - Precode (7),
(Outcome 231)
Although mobile homes, trailers, tents, boats, cars, buses,
caves, and so forth are not located within a typical building
structure, they can still be considered housing units if they
meet our housing unit definition. If the sample unit is listed
by its site identification rather than an address, and you find
that the site is vacant, classify the sample unit as Type B,
Precode (7), Unoccupied site for a mobile home, trailer, or
tent.
Noninterviews
A6-19
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Procedures for "Permit
Granted, Construction Not
Started" - Precode (8),
(Outcome 232)
There may be instances when you are assigned a sample
unit and discover that the construction permit has been
issued, but construction has not yet started. When this
occurs, classify the sample unit as Type B, Precode (8),
Permit granted, construction not started.
Procedures for "Type B,
Other" - Precode (9),
(Outcome 233)
Most Type B noninterviews will fall under one of the specific
reasons already mentioned. If you discover a rare situation
that is not covered in any of the specific Type B
noninterview reasons, use Type B, Precode (9), Other.
Then, at Item TYPEB_SPEC9, enter a description of the
reason you are coding this case as a Type B.
Noninterviews
A6-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Topic 4. Type C Noninterview Categories
Overview
Type C noninterviews are sample units that are ineligible for
the NCVS sample and need to be removed permanently
from the sample. Many Type C noninterviews occur
because of changes that happen between the time a unit is
listed and the time the unit is assigned for interview. Type C
noninterview reasons include:
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Outside segment
Converted to permanent business or storage
Merged
Condemned
Unit does not exist or is out of scope
Unlocatable sample address
Permit abandoned
Type C, Other
Noninterviews
A6-21
Part A, Chapter 6
Procedures for
"Demolished" - Precode
(2), (Outcome 240)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
You could be assigned a sample unit and then discover that
it no longer exists because it was demolished or is in the
process of being demolished. If this happens, classify the
case as Type C, Precode (2), Demolished.
When an unoccupied unit is scheduled to be demolished,
but demolition work has not yet begun, do not classify the
unit as Type C, Precode (2). When demolition work has not
yet begun, classify the unit as Type B, Precode (4), Unfit or
to be demolished.
Procedures for "House or
Trailer Moved" - Precode
(3) (Outcome 241)
It is possible that a sample unit could have been moved
from its site after it was listed. This is more likely to happen
when the unit is a mobile home or trailer, but it could also be
a house. If this happens and the unit is listed by its street
address, not its site identification, classify the unit as Type
C, Precode (3), House or trailer moved.
Procedures for "Outside
Segment" - Precode (4),
(Outcome 242)
Use Type C, Precode (4) when the original listing for an
area segment is incorrect and, at the time of interview, you
discover that the unit is physically located outside of the
area segment boundaries.
Procedures for "Converted
to Permanent Business or
Storage" - Precode (5),
(Outcome 243)
Use Type C when a sample unit has been converted
permanently from living quarters to storage space for a
business. The unit may be used to store such items as farm
products, machinery, lumber, business supplies, and so on.
Procedures for "Merged" Precode (6), (Outcome 244)
Merged units occur when two or more apartment units or
two single family homes combine to form one new unit.
Based on the situation and segment type, instructions can
vary for when to classify a sample unit as Type C, Precode
(6), Merged. Detailed instructions for merged units are
provided in Appendix B.
Procedures for
"Condemned" - Precode
(7), (Outcome 245)
Before you can use Type C, Precode (7), the sample unit
must be unoccupied and there must be positive evidence
that the unit is condemned, such as a sign, notice, or mark
on the unit or on the building that houses the unit.
Do not use Type C, Precode (7), Condemned, if:
You see a "condemned" sign, but the unit is occupied. If
the occupants qualify as eligible household members,
try to conduct interviews at the sample unit and ignore
Noninterviews
A6-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
the "condemned" sign.
The sample unit is vacant, but you can't find any positive
evidence that the unit is "condemned." If the unit is
vacant and unfit for human habitation, classify it as Type
B, Precode (4), Unfit or to be demolished.
Be careful not to classify a sample unit as a Type C
noninterview when it should be a Type B noninterview. This
type of mistake can remove a unit permanently from the
survey's sample.
Procedures for “Type C,
Unit does not exist or is out
of scope - Precode (8),
(Outcome 259)
Use Type C, Precode (8) in cases where you cannot locate
the sample address because the address information is not
sufficient to locate the sample unit. This precode can only
be used for 2010 sample design cases. If you try to assign
this code to a non-2010 sample design case,
TYPEC259_CK appears: “This outcome code is not valid
for this case, it can only be assigned to 2010 sample design
cases. Return to the TYPEC screen and select the
appropriate non-interview, or press F10 to exit and consult
your manual or with your supervisor for assistance.”
Procedures for “Type C,
Unlocatable Address” –
Precode (9),
(Outcome 258)
Use Type C, Precode (9) for cases when you locate the
sample address but cannot determine which sample unit to
interview. If you try and use this precode for a case with
sufficient address information in Case Management,
TYPEC258_CK appears: “This outcome code can only be
used for cases with minimal to no address information.
Based on the address information in Case Management,this
case does not meet the criteria required to use this outcome
code. If you are unable to locate the sample address for this
case, return to TYPEA and selection Precode (6), “Other,
occupied”. Type “Unable to locate” in the specify screen, or
press F10 and contact your supervisor for assistance.”
Procedures for "Permit
Abandoned" - Precode (10)
(Outcome 248)
At times, you may find from the builder or the permit office
that the builder abandoned the building permit and never
built the structure for a sample unit. If this happens and the
permit will never be used, classify the case as Type C,
Precode (10), Permit abandoned.
Procedures for "Type C,
Other" - Precode (11),
Most Type C noninterviews fall under one of the specific
reasons already mentioned. If you discover a rare situation
Noninterviews
A6-23
Part A, Chapter 6
(Outcome 248)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
that is not covered in any of the Type C noninterview
reasons already mentioned, use Type C, Precode (11), and
enter the “Other” reason in Item TYPEC_SPEC. An
example of a “Type C, Other” reason is “Basic street
address (BSA) identifies an institutional (or military) GQ.”
Noninterviews
A6-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Topic 5. Type Z Noninterview Persons
What Is a Type Z
Noninterview?
Classify an eligible household member as a Type Z
noninterview when you are unable to interview an eligible
household member and the household member is not the
household respondent.
Unlike Type A, B, and C noninterviews, a Type Z
noninterview relates to an eligible household member (other
than the household respondent) and does not relate to the
entire sample household. Another difference is that a
personal visit is not required prior to classifying a person as
a Type Z noninterview.
However, if you are unable interview the household
respondent, the entire sample household classifies as a
Type A noninterview because:
You must interview the household respondent before
interviewing anyone else in the household.
AND
You cannot classify a household respondent as a Type
Z noninterview person.
Minimizing Type Z
Noninterviews
It is important to keep both Type A and Type Z
noninterviews to a minimum, so that:
Your response rate does not suffer; and
The sample data you collect is truly representative of the
entire U.S. population.
Individuals who are difficult to find at home or who resist
being interviewed may have different victimization
experiences than persons who are readily available for
interviews. Therefore, failure to get interviews from all
eligible household members could introduce a serious bias
into the survey results.
Noninterviews
A6-25
Part A, Chapter 6
Situations Causing Type Z
Noninterviews
Never Available
(Precode 1)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
There are several reasons why you might be unable to
interview one or more eligible household members in a
sample unit. Some situations will be beyond your control,
while other situations can be overcome by improving your
salesmanship and contacting households when you are
most likely to reach household members.
You may find that an individual respondent within a sample
household is never available when you contact the
household. If all of the following conditions are true, then
you can use Type Z, Precode (1) for an individual
respondent:
You made repeated attempts to reach the individual
respondent.
You are sure that the individual respondent is not
temporarily absent. If the respondent is temporarily
absent, try to get a proxy interview following the proxy
interview procedures provided in Part C, Chapter 1, of
this manual.
You have a completed interview with the household
respondent.
Parent Refused
(Precode 2)
Use Precode (2), Refused, any time another person refuses
to allow an interview with an eligible household member,
such as a household member refusing to let you interview
his/her elderly parent or 14-year-old child.
Respondent Refused
(Precode 3)
Even after you try to persuade a respondent to comply with
our survey, some individual respondents will still refuse to
be interviewed. You cannot take a proxy interview for an
eligible respondent who refuses to be interviewed.
When an individual respondent refuses to be interviewed,
use Type Z Precode (3).
Also, use Type Z Precode (3) for an acceptable proxy
respondent refuses to give an interview for an eligible
respondent who is unable to respond for himself/herself due
to a physical and/or mental problem or due to being
temporarily absent from the sample address.
Noninterviews
A6-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 6
Physically/Mentally
Unable to Answer and
No Proxy Available
(Precode 4)
You are allowed to take proxy interviews for individual
respondents who are physically and/or mentally unable to
be interviewed during the entire interview period.
"Physically/mentally unable to answer" means that the
household member must have health and/or mental illness
problems that are continuous throughout the entire
interview period. If you are unable to find an eligible proxy
respondent for this person, classify the household member
as a Type Z noninterview and use Type Z, Precode (4).
Temporarily Absent and
No Proxy Available
(Precode 5)
If an individual respondent is temporarily away from home
and not expected to return before your closeout date, you
can take a proxy interview. If you cannot find an eligible
proxy respondent for this person, classify the household
member as a Type Z noninterview and use Type Z,
Precode (5).
Other Type Z Situations
(Precode 6)
Use Precode (6) when you are unable to interview an
eligible respondent (other than the household respondent)
and the situation does not fit Type Z Precodes (1) through
(5). Here are some examples:
Household member cannot speak English/no
acceptable interpreter-Another situation you may encounter is a household
member who cannot speak English and an acceptable
interpreter is not available. If this occurs, classify the person
as a Type Z noninterview and use Type Z, Precode (6). Do
not take a proxy interview in this situation.
No acceptable proxy respondent available for a 12- or
13-year-old child-If a 12- or 13-year-old household member is not allowed to
answer for himself/herself and no acceptable proxy
respondent is available, classify the child as a Type Z
noninterview and use Type Z, Precode (6).
Noninterviews
A6-27
Part A, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NOTES
Noninterviews
A6-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Interviewing Materials
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Description of Materials
A7-2
2 Materials Kept Month to Month
A7-5
3 Materials Supplied Monthly
A7-6
Interviewing Materials
A7-1
Part A, Chapter 7
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Description of Materials
Titles and Form Numbers
Listed below are the titles and form numbers of the forms
that you use specifically for NCVS:
Field Representative's Information Card Booklet,
NCVS-554
NCVS At a Glance, NCVS-550.1
NCVS Fact Sheet, NCVS-110
NCVS Introductory Letters, NCVS-572(L) and
NCVS-573(L)
NCVS Thank You Letters, NCVS-593(L) and
NCVS-594(L)
There are other materials you use in the course of your
work, but those materials are generic, such as appointment
slips.
Field Representative's
Information Card Booklet,
NCVS-554
The Information Card Booklet contains flashcard pages for
you to show respondents at in person interviews and pages
with quick reference information for you. By using the
flashcard pages during a personal visit interview, you can
allow respondents to read all the categories before selecting
the appropriate answer.
The Information Card Booklet contains information on the
following:
Explanation of the NCVS which satisfies the Privacy
Act and Paperwork Reduction Act
Answers to frequently asked respondent questions
Information about NCVS data uses and users
Guidelines on when to fill the CAPI case level notes
Guidelines and table to help determine who to
include as a household member
Flashcards for in person interviewing
NCVS definition for the term “rape”
NCVS definition for the term “presence”
Information about classifying Type Z noninterviews.
Information about proxy interviews
Quick reference guide of important NCVS definitions
and concepts.
Guide to help you complete the Summary section of
the instrument
Interviewing Materials
A7-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 7
Information on coding thefts and attempted thefts
List of standard abbreviations to use when writing
summary reports
Instructions for conducting NCVS interviews in
Spanish
List of function keys for case management and the
NCVS CAPI instrument
NCVS At a Glance,
NCVS-550.1
The NCVS At a Glance is a short guide that provides
information about the survey's purpose, its sponsor, data
users and uses, length of interview, and participation
requirements, along with answers to the most common
frequently asked questions. It also contains reference
information to help you with NCVS key concepts and
definitions.
NCVS Fact Sheet,
NCVS-110
The NCVS Fact Sheet (NCVS-110) brochure is available in
both English and Spanish; it provides summarized results
from the most recent NCVS findings. You can hand the
respondent an NCVS Fact Sheet when:
The respondent requests the type of information
provided in this brochure.
You feel that the brochure may encourage a respondent
to cooperate.
NCVS Introductory Letters,
NCVS-572(L) and
NCVS-573(L)
Before you visit a sample household, the National
Processing Center (NPC) will mail the household an
introductory letter which briefly describes the NCVS and lets
them know to expect your visit or telephone call. The
NCVS-572(L) letter is sent to each first enumeration period
household and the NCVS-573(L) letter is sent to each
second through seventh enumeration period household.
At the GETLETTER_CP screen, you ask the household
respondent if they received an introductory letter sent to the
sample household. (This is sent by the NPC.) If the
respondent answers “No,” or they aren’t sure if they
received the letter, hand the respondent a copy of the
appropriate letter and a copy of the NCVS Fact Sheet
(NCVS-110) when conducting the interview in person.
The introductory letters are also available in Spanish,
Interviewing Materials
A7-3
Part A, Chapter 7
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, and
Vietnamese. Contact your regional office if you need copies
of the letters in these languages.
NCVS Thank You Letters,
NCVS-593(L) and
NCVS-594(L)
There are two different preprinted "Thank You" letters for
you to use as appropriate. The NCVS-593(L) letter is written
to help leave a positive impression with a reluctant
respondent and possibly help you to gain his/her
cooperation during the next enumeration period. After
interviewing a household, mail the NCVS-593(L) "Thank
You" letter to the household if they showed any signs of
refusing in the future.
The NCVS-594(L) letter is written as a "Thank You"
letter for you to mail to sample households who have
completed their interviews for the seventh enumeration
period.
Both of these "Thank You" letters are also available in
Spanish.
Letters in Spanish,
Chinese, Korean, and
Vietnamese
The RO supplies you automatically with "Introductory" and
"Thank You" letters printed in English. If you know that your
assignment area includes households that speak Spanish,
Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, or Vietnamese,
request letters in the required languages (Spanish,
Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese). While the NCVS letters
are available in English, as well as all four of these foreign
languages, the NCVS questions are only available in
English and Spanish.
Valid OMB Control Number
and Expiration Date
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control
number 1121-0111 is required to conduct the NCVS, along
with the current approval expiration date. Use the FAQ tab
in the instrument to access this control number and
expiration date. The OMB number and expiration date also
appear on the Introductory Letters (NCVS-572(L) and
NCVS-573(L)).
Interviewing Materials
A7-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part A, Chapter 7
Topic 2. Materials Kept Month to Month
Materials Needed Each
Interview Month
Your regional office provides you with the following supplies
used monthly:
Copies of both "Introductory" letters, NCVS-572(L) and
NCVS-573(L)
Copies of both "Thank You" letters, NCVS-593(L) and
NCVS-594(L)
Copies of "Request for Appointment" slips, Forms 11-38
and 11-38A
Field Representative's Information Card Booklet,
NCVS-554
Copies of the NCVS Fact Sheet, NCVS-110
Notify your regional office whenever you start to run low on
any of these supplies.
Interviewing Materials
A7-5
Part A, Chapter 7
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Materials Supplied Monthly
Assignment Materials for
an Interview Month
Importance of the Monthly
FR Bulletin
Before the start of each interview month, your regional office
sends you:
A detailed bulletin which discusses important current
topics and reminders; and
Any materials and instructions you may need for your
listing and interviewing work. Call your supervisor
immediately if any instructions are unclear to you.
Read all NCVS monthly bulletin carefully so you can
conduct your work accurately for each interview month.
Every month the bulletin covers current monthly topics, as
well as any special reminders. Contact your regional office if
any part of the bulletin is unclear to you.
Interviewing Materials
A7-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1
Introduction
B1-2
2
Screen Layout
B1-5
3
Selection of Questions and Screen Content
B1-8
4
Methods of Making Entries
B1-12
5
Navigation and Using Function Keys
B1-16
6
Partial Interviews and Callbacks
B1-20
7
CAPI Outcome Codes
B1-24
8
How to Use the Tool Bar
B1-26
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-1
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Introduction
Learning About the NCVS
Instrument
The NCVS instrument is divided into three sections known
as the front, middle, and back.
The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
For new sample cases:
Provide the address for an initial personal visit interview.
For continuing cases:
If available, provide the telephone number to dial and the
introduction to read to the person who answers your
telephone call.
If telephone information has not already been collected,
provides you with screens to collect it.
For both new and continuing cases:
Identify possible interviewing problems.
Verify that you have reached the correct address and
household.
Verify that you are speaking to an eligible household
respondent and, if necessary, to select another eligible
household respondent.
Provide you with general reference information to
answer respondent questions.
Provide you with the appropriate screens to collect,
update or verify information from the sample
household’s demographic information - names, ages,
ethnicity, race, sex, education, and marital status of
household members, and so on.
The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is discussed
further in Part B, Chapter 2, of this manual.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
Determine whether any of the eligible household
members (12 years of age or older) at the sample
address were victimized by crime during each
household member’s 6-month reference period. These
questions are referred to as the screening items.
The screen items cover a wide variety of situations and
are designed to provide the respondent with concrete
examples of the types of crimes that are typically
reported for the NCVS and could be overlooked by
respondents. These screen items ensure that we collect
ALL incidents of crime that occurred during each sample
household member’s 6-month reference period.
Collect a variety of information about each reported
incidence of crime that occurred during a sample
household member’s 6-month reference period. It is
important to record accurate and complete information
about each crime, so that we have a clear picture of
what happened during the incident. These questions are
referred to as the incident report items.
Add any additional incidents that may have been
discovered while completing the incident report items for
the current incident.
Check the current incident against any previously
reported incidents to avoid reporting duplicate incidents.
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument is discussed
further in Part B, Chapters 3, 4, and 5, of this manual.
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
Make appointments to call back a sample household so
you or another interviewer can interview sample
household members who are unavailable or who cannot
complete their interview.
Thank each sample household member for his/her time
and participation in the NCVS.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-3
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter any final notes about the case which you or
another FR may need for future contacts.
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument is discussed
further in Part B, Chapter 6, of this manual.
In addition to this introduction, Chapter 1 also provides you
with an overview of how:
The NCVS instrument selects the correct questions for
each interview.
A typical NCVS screen is formatted.
To make entries on the NCVS screens during an
interview.
To use the function keys during an interview.
Chapter 1 also provides general instructions for starting the
NCVS interview, setting callback interviews, resuming a
partially completed interview, and recovering from program
errors.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Topic 2. Screen Layout
The initial FR training for NCVS provides an in-depth look
at features that you need to be familiar with in the CAPI
instrument. This chapter of the manual highlights those
specific to the NCVS instrument.
Components of a
Screen
Most screens in the NCVS instrument (see example in
Figure A on page B1-27 of this chapter) are divided into
two basic parts:
The Information (Info) Pane, in the upper half of your
computer screen, which includes the tool bar and
question text with the possible answer categories (if
any); and
The Form Pane, in the lower half of the computer
screen. It includes:
Information Pane
The tool bar
Question text in black letters
FR instruction in blue letters (if any). A blue
diamond identifies the FR instruction
The Information (or Info) Pane (see Figure A on Page
B1-27) is located on the top half of the screen.
The Info Pane (see Figure A on Page B1-27) also
includes the list of possible answer categories (if any)
around the middle portion of the screen.
Figure B on Page B1-28 illustrates an Info Pane with
question text in black letters and an FR instruction.
Each option on the list of answer categories has a
pre-determined numeric code or “precode” to distinguish it
from the others. The precode is what you must enter in the
Form Pane (described below) to record the respondent’s
answers.
There are questions that have a long list of possible
answers, and that allow the respondent to report more
than one answer. Each time you enter a precode in the
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-5
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Form Pane for those types of questions, you will see the
corresponding text in the answer categories highlighted in
blue. The blue highlighting is intended to help you
distinguish the answers already reported from those not
yet selected.
Form Pane
The Form Pane (see Figure A on Page B1-27) is the
bottom half of the screen, where you make your entries.
The Form Pane provides a summary list of the data items
to be collected, and can give you a sense of where you
are in the interview, and of how much ground you must
cover to complete a given section.
In the NCVS instrument, you will sometimes find that a
single Form Pane will cover a whole section, in which
case the Form Pane will give you a complete list of all the
data items you will collect in that section. More often than
not, however, you will find that more than one Form Pane
is needed to cover a section, especially when the section
has a question with a lengthy answer list.
The Form Pane can appear in one of two basic formats:
In column format; or
In table format
In the NCVS instrument, the column format (see Figure B
on Page B1-28) is used whenever the table format is not
appropriate. In the column format, the instrument will drive
you to navigate from top to bottom for each column that
appears in the Form Pane.
The table format is used when there is sufficient space on
the screen to allow FRs to collect - on a row-by-row basis
- the same set of details for any item listed in the leftmost
column. In the table format (see Figure C on Page
B1-29), the instrument will drive you to navigate from left
to right. Each time you enter an item in the leftmost
column the instrument drives you down the same row,
from left to right, to collect more details about that item.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Two-Level Screen
Interaction
Part B, Chapter 1
In the NCVS instrument, each item displayed in the Info
Pane is reflected only as an item label in the Form Pane,
thus allowing space on the bottom half to trace all of the
entries you make in a section. The Info Pane changes as
you move item by item. By contrast, the Form Pane
remains stationary until you either reach the end of the
Form Pane or exit the Form Pane. As you enter the
answers in the Form Pane, the layout of the Form Pane
does not change. Only the contents of the Form Pane
change as the instrument fills in your entries next to the
appropriate item labels.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-7
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Selection of Questions and Screen Content
Selection of Questions
The first interview with the sample household must be made
in person. Once the initial personal visit interview is
conducted, data that you collect about the household and its
members is retained. Based on the household information,
along with the information that you enter during subsequent
NCVS interviews, the instrument determines which
questions to display and how to word these questions
during an interview.
The NCVS instrument also fills the appropriate proper
names, pronouns, verbs, and reference dates into the text
of the NCVS questions. In some cases, a household
member’s answers from a previous interview are pre-filled
on the screen. The following screen shows an example of
the household member’s age, birth date, marital status,
military service, education, Hispanic origin, and race as
reported during the previous enumeration period:
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Screen Content
NCVS Question
Part B, Chapter 1
A typical NCVS instrument screen contains:
The NCVS question appears in the Info Pane. Most
NCVS instrument screens also include answer
categories, along with precodes to enter for each
answer category.
Specific instructions to you appear on the screen in
blue text, preceded with a diamond symbol. See
Figure B for an example.
CASEID
In the bottom left corner of the form pane, you will see
the case identification number or CASEID, an 8-digit
number used to identify NCVS cases. Each sample
address selected for an NCVS interview is assigned a
unique CASEID.
Item or Screen Name
Next to the CASEID, you will see the Item or Screen
Name, which, in most cases, identifies the NCVS
question shown on the screen. However, not all
screens display an NCVS question. Some screens
provide information for you to read to a respondent or
information for you to read to yourself.
Time, date, and
respondent
information
Next to the item name, time, date, and the name of the
person to whom you are talking, and the name of the
person you are talking about appear.
Screens Without
Questions
Some screens in the NCVS instrument provide
information solely for your benefit and do not provide
any question for you to ask of a respondent. The
START_CP screen shown on the next page is an
example of this type of NCVS screen.
This screen contains text that appears in blue. This
indicates that you are only to read the information to
yourself.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-9
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
There are also NCVS screens that only display statements
to be read to a respondent, such as INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
shown below. Note that the text is in bold black print.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-11
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. Methods of Making Entries
Types of Entries
Single Entry Questions
Each screen in the NCVS instrument requires you to make
some type of entry to proceed to the next screen. These
entries could be in the form of:
Precodes - Examples include: (1) for “Yes,” or
“Continue,” (2) for “No,” or (3) for “Don’t know.”
Numerical - Examples include: (1-31) for “Days of the
month,” (1 - 999,999) for “Total amount,” or (1-96) for
“Number of years.”
Text or Write In - Examples include: “Jacket stolen
from unlocked car” to describe a crime incident in the
crime screening section or a more lengthy write-in entry
for a crime incident summary report.
Most NCVS items only allow you to enter one precode to
answer a question. Items START_CP, TENURE, and
AGECHECK shown in Figures A, B, and C, respectively,
are examples of single entry questions.
Single entry questions display answer categories preceded
by circles or “radio buttons,” which fill with a black dot when
an answer is selected. The instrument does not allow more
than one “button” to be filled.
Multiple Entry Questions
Some NCVS items allow you to enter more than one
precode to answer a question. We refer to these questions
as “multiple entry” questions. They always include an
instruction to you, such as “ENTER ALL THAT APPLY,
SEPARATE WITH COMMAS.”
Multiple entry questions display answer categories
preceded by squares; as you enter each precode, a check
mark appears next to the corresponding answer category.
By entering the same precode a second time, you can
deselect the answer category and the disappears. You
can also backspace over your entry to deselect. You can
also type in the entry numbers, making sure to separate
them with commas. Precodes may be entered in any order.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
When you are done entering precodes to answer the
question, press “Enter” to indicate that there are no more
entries. NOTREPORTEDPOLICE, shown below, is an
example of a “multiple entry” question.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-13
Part B, Chapter 1
Don’t Know or Refused
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Some NCVS screens display a numeric precode for “Don’t
know,” while other NCVS screens allow you to enter Ctrl + D
for “Don’t know,” even if it is not displayed on the screen.
We refer to this type of precode as a “blind” code.
If a respondent declines to answer a particular question, you
can enter Ctrl + R for “Refused.”
Always try to convince a respondent to answer a question or
at least get a respondent’s best estimate. Whenever
possible, avoid entering Ctrl + D or Ctrl + R during an
interview.
Invalid Entries
If you enter an invalid precode or press “ENTER” without
making an entry for a screen that requires it, the NCVS
instrument displays a pop-up error message. When you see
an “input invalid” message, click on the “OK” button or hit
the “Escape” key. Enter a valid response for the screen and
then press “ENTER” to proceed to the next screen. In the
case of multiple entry questions, you must enter one or
more valid responses for the screen, then press “Enter” to
indicate that there are no more responses.
Soft and Hard Edits
In order to detect inconsistencies in the data at the time of
data capture, several questions contain edit checks. The
edit checks examine the responses to individual items and
determine if the responses are consistent with the other
data entered. A message appears in a pop-up screen when
possible errors (inconsistencies) are detected in the survey.
The screen displays an error message and identifies the
questions that are inconsistent with one another.
There are two types of edit checks, soft edit checks and
hard edit checks. A soft edit check would be created for a 14
year old attending college (possible but not likely), for
example, and a hard edit would be created for a 4 year old
attending college (not possible). For soft edit checks, you
have the option of accepting the responses and therefore
the inconsistency (select the Suppress button) or resolving
the error by going back (select the GoTo button) to the items
in question and rechecking the responses. To go back and
correct a particular item, make sure that the item displayed
in the "Questions involved" column of the "Edit Check Error
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Message" is highlighted, then click the GoTo button, which
takes you to that question so you can correct it.
For hard edit checks, you must go back and resolve the
inconsistency. In many cases, inconsistencies occur
because of keying errors.
Ask or Verify Instruction
Selected screens in the NCVS instrument include an “ASK
OR VERIFY” instruction. If you see this instruction and the
respondent has already provided the answer to the question
during the course of the interview, you are allowed to verify
the answer with the respondent, instead of asking the
question on the screen. However, this is only allowed for
screens that have the “ASK OR VERIFY” instruction. If you
don’t see this instruction, you must always ask the question
exactly as it is worded on the screen.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-15
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 5. Navigation and Using Function Keys
Navigation
There are a number of different ways to navigate in the
NCVS instrument. You can navigate:
With the mouse or the keyboard;
From left to right;
From top to bottom;
Back and forth between sections;
Back and forth (across Form Panes) within a section;
and
Index tabs at top left of the Info Pane: Main, HHRoster,
NewHHR, FAQs, and F10.
Mouse or Keyboard
You can use only the keyboard, or only the mouse that is
embedded in your laptop (immediately below the keyboard),
or you can use both -- going back and forth between the two
-- to navigate through the instrument or to make data
entries. If you wish, you can also use an external mouse.
Arrow Keys
Use the arrow keys mostly when navigating sequentially,
from one item to the next. Use the Left and Right Arrows to
navigate horizontally, and use the Up and Down Arrows to
navigate vertically.
Page Up/Page Down Keys
Use the Page Up and Page Down keys when navigating
sequentially, from one Form Pane to the next. Note that you
cannot page down to the next Form Pane until you have
completed the Form Pane where your cursor is. Note also
that you may have to readjust your cursor when you page
down or page up to a Form Pane, because the instrument
always places you on the first item of the Form Pane.
Tabs
Tabs have two functions: you can use them as place
markers, and you can use them as a “jump” menu.
However, you can use them as a “jump” menu only when
you are using the mouse. To use tabs, position the cursor
over the tab you wish to use and left-click the mouse.
Tabs in the NCVS instrument:
Main - Use this tab to return to the interview after pressing
the “HH roster” or “FAQs” tab.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
HH Roster - Use this tab to show the household
composition.
New HHR - This tab allows you to select a new household
respondent if necessary.
FAQs - This tab takes you to the list of frequently asked
questions.
F10 - Use this tab if you need to end the interview because
of a refusal or breakoff, or if a callback must be scheduled.
Purpose of Function Keys
in the NCVS Instrument
Each function key or combination of keys will allow you to
perform specific tasks while working in the NCVS
instrument. The operation of each function key is described
in this topic and summarized on your computer template,
which is shown in Figure D.
F1 - Question Help
Press the F1 function key to show any help screens for the
current question, which are then displayed in a pop-up box.
Questions that have help screens are identified by “?[F1]”
displayed in the top left hand portion of the information
pane.
SHIFT F1 - Display
Household Roster
Press the SHIFT and F1 keys simultaneously to access the
household roster at the SHOWROSCP screen. You can
access the household roster at any time during an NCVS
interview to reference the information shown on this screen.
The SHOWROSCP screen does not allow you to make
changes to the household roster.
F2 - NOT AVAILABLE
The F2 function key is not used in the NCVS instrument.
SHIFT F2 - Frequently
Asked Questions
Press the SHIFT and F2 keys simultaneously to access the
help screens for nine frequently asked NCVS questions
from the FAQMain screen. These screens will help you
answer respondent’s questions.
F3 - NOT AVAILABLE
The F3 function key is not used in the NCVS instrument.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-17
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
F4 - Jump Menu
Press the F4 function key to access a “Jump” menu, which
allows you to jump back to a previously answered section of
the incident report items. Note that this function only works
in the incident report items, which are part of the middle
section of the NCVS instrument.
ALT F4 – Escape Help
Screen
Press the ALT and F4 keys simultaneously to escape from
help screens in the instrument.
SHIFT F5 - Spanish Version
Press the SHIFT and F5 keys simultaneously once you
have passed the START_CP screen, and a pop-up menu
appears. Select the “Spanish” option and the instrument
switches to the Spanish version of the NCVS instrument for
the current question and all subsequent questions. To
return to the English version, just press the SHIFT and F5
keys simultaneously again and select “English” from the
pop-up menu.
F6 - NOT AVAILABLE
The F6 function key is not used in the NCVS instrument.
F7 - Enter Notes
Press the F7 function key to enter notes for several screens
within the NCVS instrument. After pressing F7, a pop-up
“Notes” box appears. Enter the text of your note, then click
the “Save” button in the box to leave the F7 notes mode.
When F7 notes are entered for an instrument screen, a
paperclip icon appears next to the item name on the form
pane telling you that a “Note Exists.”
SHIFT F7 - View Notes
For any screen that indicates a “Note Exists,” press the
SHIFT and F7 keys simultaneously to view these notes and
to add any new notes by typing the text of your new note.
When you press SHIFT and F7, a pop-up notes box
appears. This box lets you view all notes to date; to add
more notes use the F7 function key.
If there are no F7 item notes for an item when you press
SHIFT and F7, a pop-up box appears that tells you there are
no notes for that item.
F8 - Return From Skip
Press the F8 function key, to return or skip back to the item
from which you pressed the F10 key, which skips to the end
of the interview. This may be useful if you press the F10 key
by mistake.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
SHIFT F9 - New HHR
Press the SHIFT and F9 keys simultaneously to change the
household respondent (HHR) before the household
respondent’s interview has been completed.
F10 - Skip to End
Press the F10 function key to skip over unanswered
questions when a respondent breaks off the interview
before you can complete it. After pressing the F10 function
key, the instrument goes to the back section, where you can
schedule a callback.
The instrument sets a person’s interview status to “partially
completed,” so that you can resume the interview for that
person later when the respondent is available.
Up Arrow - Back One Item
While in the middle section of the NCVS instrument, the Up
Arrow key allows you to move back one item.
Down Arrow - Forward One
Item
While in the middle section of the NCVS instrument, the
Down Arrow key moves forward one item.
Home - First Item
Press the Home key to move the cursor to the FIRST
screen in the current section.
End - Last Item
Press the End key to move the cursor to the next
unanswered question in the current section.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-19
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 6. Partial Interviews and Callbacks
Getting Started
The NCVS interviewing begins on the first day of every
month. It is important to complete as many interviews as
possible within the first few days of the interview period.
Introducing Yourself
Once you have contacted a sample household, it is critical
that you quickly establish a good rapport with the
respondent. Remember to not only be businesslike and
professional, but also try to sound friendly and relaxed.
Keep track of your pace throughout the interview, because
speaking either too quickly or too slowly can make the
respondent feel uncomfortable.
Exiting a Partial Interview
At times, you may have to exit the NCVS instrument, even
though the interview is only partially completed. For
example, this can happen when a respondent breaks off the
interview for personal reasons, whether the respondent
offers to continue the interview at another time, or if the next
eligible respondent is not available at that time.
If this happens, press the F10 function key or the F10 index
tab to exit the unfinished interview. If you are unable to exit
from the current screen, go forward or backward a screen or
two until the instrument allows the F10 function. Pressing
the F10 function key takes you to REFCBBREAK_CP, as
shown on the next page.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
To set up a callback, enter (2) at REFCBBREAK_CP. The
instrument goes to APPT, shown on the next page. Use
APPT to indicate the best time for the household
respondent to complete the interview (if the household has
indicated that they are willing to complete the interview at a
later time). The remaining callback screens are covered in
Part B, page B6-3.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-21
Part B, Chapter 1
Completing a Partial
Interview
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Before you call a sample household to complete a partial
interview, you may:
Review interviewer notes from the previous interview.
Identify which household member’s interview is
incomplete and at which item the interview will resume.
Identify which household members still need to be
interviewed.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Once you verify certain facts, the instrument continues with
the next unanswered question for the household member
whose interview is incomplete. After passing the
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP screen, press the “end” key to go to
the next unanswered question in the interview.
The instrument also allows you to review previously
answered questions from a household member’s partial
interview, if necessary, by using the up and down arrow
keys.
Recovering From Program
Errors
Occasionally, you may get stuck in a loop where the
instrument continues to cycle through only a few questions.
If the computer does not go to the next appropriate
question, check your answers on each screen carefully as
you step through the loop again. If you discover an incorrect
entry, correcting the entry may correct the loop problem.
If this happens in the incident report items, you can try using
the F4 function key to jump back to another part of the
incident report items and try to continue from that point. As a
last resort, notify your supervisor about the problem before
exiting the case, whenever possible.
Let the respondent know that you are experiencing
computer problems. If you cannot correct the problem in a
relatively short time, press the F10 function key and set a
callback for the case.
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-23
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 7. CAPI Outcome Codes
Outcome code
Description
200
New case – not yet started/checked in
201
Completed interview (no Type Z’s)
202
Accessed instrument, insufficient partial
203
Sufficient partial – no more follow-up needed
204
Sufficient partial – follow-up needed
213
Type A – Language problems
216
Type A – No one home
217
Type A – Temporarily absent
218
Type A – Refused
219
225
Type A – Other occupied
Type B – Temporarily occupied by persons with usual
residence elsewhere (URE)
226
Type B – Vacant – regular
227
Type B – Vacant – storage of furniture
228
Type B – Unfit or to be demolished
229
Type B – Under construction, not ready
230
Type B – Converted to temporary business or storage
231
Type B – Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
232
Type B – Permit granted, construction not started
233
Type B – Other
240
Type C – Demolished
241
Type C – House or trailer moved
242
Type C – Outside segment
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Outcome code
Description
243
Type C – Converted to permanent business or storage
244
Type C – Merged
245
Type C – Condemned
247
Type C – Unused line of listing sheet
248
Type C – Other
258
Type C – Unlocatable sample address
259
Type C – Unit does not exist or is out of scope
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-25
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 8. How to Use the Tool Bar
GENERAL
The NCVS Tool Bar has five main sections: Forms,
Answer, Navigate, Options, and Help. Use your mouse to
navigate the Tool Bar. The sections and their menus and
functions are listed below.
Forms - Includes
Save and Exit
functions
Browse Forms - Ctrl + B (not used in NCVS)
Save - Ctrl + S
Check (not used in NCVS)
Exit - F10
Answer - Shortcuts
for various answer
functions
Don’t Know - Ctrl + D
Refused - Ctrl + R
Change Respondent - Shift + F9
Item Notes/Remark - F7
Repeat - F12 (only used in roster section of NCVS)
Show Question Text - Ctrl + F3
Incident to Add - Ctrl + I
Navigate - shortcuts
for navigating
through the
instrument
Jump Menu - F4
Return - F8
Add’l Skip to Next Person/Sec - Ctrl +F9 (not used in NCVS)
Show Function Keys - Ctrl + K
Search Tag - Ctrl + F
Show notes/remarks - Shift + F7
Options miscellaneous
functions
Language - Shift + F5
Interview Time Preference - Ctrl + T
Case Level Notes - Ctrl + F7
Show Original Notes - Shift + F12
Mute (not used in NCVS)
Calculator - F11 - (shows calculator in pop-up window)
Calendar - Ctrl + F11
Help - shows
various help
functions
Question Help - F1 (only for questions with a help screen)
Show Function Keys - Shift + F10
Show HH - Shift + F1
Show Status (not used in NCVS)FAQ - Shift + F2
RI FAQ - (not used in NCVS)
Show Standard Abbreviations - Shift + F11
Report Error - Ctrl + E
Info - Ctrl + H - (Tells what version of Blaise software
you’re using)
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Information Pane and Form Pane
Information
(Info)
Pane
Form
Pane
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-27
FIGURE A
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Form Pane in Column Format
FIGURE B
FR instructions
Question
text
Answer
categories
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 1
Form Pane in Table Format
FIGURE C
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-29
Part B, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
FIGURE D
Function keys for NCVS:
F1
F2
F3
Question
Help
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
Item
Notes/
Remark
Return
Skip
Forward
Exit
Calculator
Copy Down
(Repeat)
Shift +
F6
Shift +
F7
Shift +
F8
Shift +
F9
Shift +
F10
Shift + F11
Shift + F12
Show
Notes/
Remark
s
Ctrl+F7
New
HHR
Show
Function
Keys
Show
Standard
Abbrev.
Show
Original
Notes (RI)
Ctrl+K
Ctrl+M
Ctrl+R
Ctrl+F11
Ctrl+T
Case
Level
Notes
Show
Function
Keys
Show
DK &
Refused
Refused
Calendar
Interview
Time
Preference
Jump
Menu
Shift +
F1
Shift +
F2
Shift + F3
Shift +
F4
Shift + F5
Show HH
FAQs
RI FAQs
END
HOME
Ctrl+F3
Ctrl+D
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+H
Next
Question
on Path
First
Question
on Path
Show
Question
Text
Don’t
Know
Search
Tag
Info
Language
Overview of the NCVS Instrument
B1-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1
Introduction
B2-2
2
Screen Layout and Instructions for START_CP
B2-3
3
CAPI Personal Visit Interview for Household
Respondent and Individual Respondent(s) (Screen
Layout and Instructions for START_CP through
INTRO_REC_CP)
B2-5
CAPI Telephone Interview for Household
Respondent and Individual Respondent(s) (Screen
Layout and Instructions for START_CP through
INTRO_REC_CP)
B2-18
Selecting a New Household or Individual
Respondent for CAPI Personal Visit and Telephone
Interview (Screen Layout and Instructions for
NEWHHR_CP, HELLO_ALT2_CP,
HELP_OTH_CP, ALTERNATE1_CP,
TOOLATE_CP, and NEXTPERSON.
B2-31
4
5
6
7
8
9
Completing Self Response and Proxy Interviews and
Coding Initial Refusals (Screen Layout and
Instructions for INTERVIEWSTATUS through
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT)
Verifying Sample Address, Primary Telephone
Number and Mailing Address (Screen Layout and
Instructions for GETLETTER_CP through
NEWMAILGQDESCRIPTION_CP)
B2-38
B2-51
Housing Unit Characteristics (Screen Layout and
Instructions for TENURE through
RESTRICTEDACCESS)
B2-60
Household Roster Demographic Characteristics
(Screen Layout and Instructions for
HHROSTER_FNAME through ANY_OTHERCHNG)
B2-78
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-1
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Introduction
Overview of the Front
Section
The Front Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
Give you case-level information to review before
attempting contact with the sample household;
Guide you through screens for making contact with a
household respondent or an individual respondent for
personal visit or telephone interviews, and record
possible interviewing problems;
Verify that you have reached the correct address and
household, and to code a case as a replacement
household when necessary;
Guide you through screens for selecting a new
household respondent or new individual respondent;
Update sample address, mailing address, and
telephone number information for the household with
the household respondent; and
Provide appropriate screens to update or verify
information from the sample household’s control card
section.
Topic 2 covers most of the NCVS screens that make up the
front section of the NCVS instrument. Some “Front Section”
screens display the instruction, “ASK OR VERIFY.” For
screens which include this instruction, you are allowed to
verify the answer with the respondent without asking the
question, provided the respondent already furnished the
information earlier in the interview. If you do not see this
instruction, you must ask the question exactly as worded on
the screen.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Topic 2. Screen Layout and Instructions for START_CP
CENSUS CATI/CAPI SYSTEM
National Crime Victimization Survey
Case status is: New Case
Date: July 2, 2017
Time: 9:53 am
Incoming/Continuing: Incoming
Interview Number: 01
Confirmed Refusal: No
1 Telephone interview
2 Personal visit interview (See notes)
3 Personal visit interview (Skip all notes and go to GEN_INTRO_CP)
4 Noninterview (Type A/B/C)
5 Ready to transmit case - no more followup (Type Z’s)
6 Quit: Do not attempt now
START_CP
START_CP
START_CP is the first NCVS instrument screen that you
see when you enter a case. As shown above, this screen
gives you the following information:
Survey title
Case status
Current date and time
Incoming/Continuing status
Interview Number (1 through 7) (also referred to in this
chapter as Time in Sample or TIS 1-7)
Confirmed Refusal Status (Yes or No)
After reviewing the information, choose the appropriate
Precode (1-6), then press ENTER to go to the next screen.
Precode (1)
For interviews you conduct by telephone, enter Precode (1).
Telephone interviews are discussed in more detail in Topic
4 of this chapter.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-3
Part B, Chapter 2
Precode (2)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For interviews you conduct by personal visit for which you
wish to view information available for the case, enter
Precode (2). Entering Precode (2) allows you to view:
The household roster (SHOW_CP_ROSTER), and
A reminder screen to view case level notes and the
interview time preference grid (Best Time to Call/no
Sunday information) (SHOW_INFO_CP)
Precode (3)
For interviews you conduct by personal visit and for which
you do not wish to view information available for the case,
enter Precode (3). This option is essentially the same as
selecting Precode (2) except that you bypass Items
SHOW_CP_ROSTER and SHOW_INFO_CP. Personal
Visit interviews are discussed in more detail in Topic 3 of
this chapter.
Precode (4)
To code a case as a noninterview (Type A/B/C), enter
Precode (4). These Noninterview outcomes are discussed
in more detail in Part A, Chapter 6.
Precode (5)
To code Type Z reasons for individual respondents in cases
that are a sufficient partial (that is, the interview is complete
for the household respondent) and for which you no longer
will make attempts to interview any remaining individual
respondent(s) in the sample household whose interview(s)
is/are not complete, enter Precode (5). Coding persons as
Type Z noninterviews is also discussed in more detail in
Part A, Chapter 6.
Precode (6)
Enter Precode (6) if you want to exit the case, for example, if
you do not want to attempt interviewing the case at this time.
After entering Precode (6) you will skip to the VERIFY
screen in the back of the instrument. The Back Section of
the instrument is discussed further in Part B, Chapter 6.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Topic 3. CAPI Personal Visit Interview for
Household Respondent and Individual Respondent(s)
(Screen Layout and Instructions for START_CP
through INTRO_REC_CP)
CENSUS CATI/CAPI SYSTEM
National Crime Victimization Survey
Case status is: New Case
Date: July 2, 2017
Time: 9:53 am
Incoming/Continuing: Incoming
Interview Number: 01
Confirmed Refusal: No
1 Telephone interview
2 Personal visit interview (See notes)
3 Personal visit interview (Skip all notes and go to GEN_INTRO_CP)
4 Noninterview (Type A/B/C)
5 Ready to transmit case - no more followup (Type Z’s)
6 Quit: Do not attempt now
START_CP
START_CP
The START_CP screen is the first NCVS instrument screen
that you see when you enter a case. As shown above, this
screen gives you the following information:
Survey title
Case status
Current date and time.
Incoming/Continuing status
Interview Number (1 through 7) (also referred to in this
chapter as Time in Sample or TIS 1-7)
Confirmed Refusal Status (Yes or No)
After reviewing the information, choose Precode (2) or (3) to
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-5
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
continue with a personal visit interview.
When you select Precode (2) at START_CP the instrument
continues with SHOW_CP_ROSTER.
Status of household composition
LN
NAME
REL
MEMBER
SEX AGE
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
Jane Moe
Ref Per
Wife
Daughtr
Member
Member
Member
M 43
F 43
F 14
1
STATUS
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
Enter 1 to Continue
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
SHOW_CP_ROSTER displays the household roster. The
roster includes anyone added to the roster during the time
the case has been in sample. Therefore, persons coded as
nonmembers are also shown at this screen. In addition to
the SHOW_CP_ROSTER screen, you can also view the
household roster at any place in the instrument by clicking
on the HHROSTER index tab at the top of the Info Pane or
by pressing the “Shift” + “F1” keys.
INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS INTERVIEW
Press Control + F7 to view case level notes
Press Control + T to view interview time preference
Language:
1 Enter 1 to Continue
SHOW_INFO_CP
SHOW_INFO_CP
The SHOW_INFO_CP screen gives you a chance to review
any notes entered for the case since the household first
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
came into sample, by pressing the “Ctrl” + “F7" keys
simultaneously. You can also check for any “Best Time to
Call or No Sunday Information” that was previously entered
in the Interview Time Preferences grid by pressing the “Ctrl”
+ “T” keys simultaneously. Last, this will display any
non-English languages the household may speak based on
entries in the instrument during a previous contact. From
SHOW_INFO_CP, continue with GEN_INTRO_CP when
attempting to contact the Household Respondent or
WHOTOCALL_CP when attempting to reach an Individual
Respondent once the case has reached the status of a
sufficient partial (that is, the interview is complete for the
household respondent).
For interviews you conduct by personal visit and for which
you do not wish to view information available for the case,
the instrument bypasses SHOW_CP_ROSTER and
SHOW_INFO_CP and continues with either
GEN_INTRO_CP (when attempting to contact the
Household Respondent) or WHOTOCALL_CP (when
attempting to reach an Individual Respondent).
Enter the line number of the person with whom you want to speak.
1 Ted Moe
3 Jane Moe
WHOTOCALL_CP
WHOTOCALL_CP
WHOTOCALL_CP appears when you are re-entering a
case where you have already completed the Household
Respondent’s interview. This screen is used to select a
person to contact in order to set up the fills in the question
text in GEN_INTRO_CP as well as other screens in the
Front Section of the instrument with the name of the next
person you are trying to reach.
This screen allows you to enter the line number for any
individual respondent whose interview you have not yet
completed. The instrument only displays those respondents
who have not completed their interview yet.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-7
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter the line number of the person you want to speak to
and then press the “Enter” key to proceed to
GEN_INTRO_CP.
? [F1]
Identify yourself - and show I.D.
Hello, I’m (YOUR NAME)...from the U.S. Census Bureau. Here is my identification.
If new household - give introductory letter and allow time to read
ASK FOR: Eligible respondent (a household member at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable
about the household)
Household address is:
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
1 Respondent available
2 Respondent not available
3 Unavailable through closeout
GEN_INTRO_CP
GEN_INTRO_CP
Item GEN_INTRO_CP gives you instructions for introducing
yourself and starting the personal visit interview. It also
displays information about who to ask for:
For incoming (TIS 1) households in which you have not
yet established a household respondent, this screen
displays: “ASK FOR:” Eligible respondent (a household
member at least 18 years of age and knowledgeable
about the household).
For incoming (TIS 1) households for which you have
established a household respondent but are making a
callback to complete their interview, or for continuing
cases in which you are interviewing the household
respondent, this screen displays the household
respondent’s name after the interviewer instruction:
“ASK TO SPEAK TO:”
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
For any (TIS 1-7) household in which you are
interviewing an individual respondent, the individual
respondent’s name displays after the interviewer
instruction that reads: “ASK TO SPEAK TO:” The name
of the individual respondent is filled based upon the line
number you enter in the WHOTOCALL_CP screen. The
WHOTOCALL_CP screen appears in the instrument
front only after you have completed the interview for the
household respondent.
The precodes you enter in GEN_INTRO_CP result in the
instrument progressing to different screens based on the
case’s Time in Sample (that is, whether it is incoming (TIS
1) or continuing (TIS 2-7), and whether you are interviewing
a household respondent on the first attempt, interviewing a
household respondent on a reentry into the case (for
example, to complete a partial interview with the household
respondent), or interviewing an individual respondent.
Precode (1)
Precode (2)
Entering Precode (1), “Respondent available” in
GEN_INTRO_CP takes you to:
CAPI_INTRO_B when you are interviewing a
household respondent whose interview has not been at
least partially completed. (All TIS)
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP when you are interviewing a
household respondent or an individual respondent
whose interview has been partially completed this
interview period. (All TIS)
INTRO_REC_CP when you are interviewing an
individual respondent whose interview has not been at
least partially completed. (All TIS)
If you enter Precode (2), “Respondent not available,” at
GEN_INTRO_CP the instrument goes to:
HHNUM_VR_CP for a continuing case when you are
interviewing a household respondent whose interview
has not been at least partially completed. (TIS 2-7).
NEWHHR_CP for a continuing case when you are
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-9
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
attempting to interview a household respondent whose
interview has been partially completed this interview
period. (TIS 1-7)
Precode (3)
VERIFY in the back of the instrument for an incoming
case when you are attempting to interview a household
respondent whose interview has not been at least
partially completed. (TIS 1)
ALTERNATE1_CP for a case when you are attempting
to interview an individual respondent who is not
available but there is at least one other individual
respondent in the household who still needs to be
interviewed. ALTERNATE1_CP allows you to select the
line number of the another person to attempt to
interview. (All TIS)
Entering Precode (3), “Respondent not available through
closeout,” in GEN_INTRO_CP progresses to:
VERIFY in the back of the instrument for an incoming
case when you are attempting to interview a household
respondent whose interview has not been at least
partially completed. (TIS 1)
GEN_INTRO_CP_CK when you are conducting an
interview with a TIS 2-7 case. GEN_INTRO_CP_CK is
used to determine whether a new household
respondent is needed or whether a proxy interview is
needed when attempting to reach an individual
respondent.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
(For household respondent):
Are you sure this person is unavailable through closeout? If so, you must select a new
household respondent.
(For individual respondent):
Are you sure this person is unavailable through closeout? If so, try to find a proxy
respondent for this person.
Questions involved
GEN_INTRO_CP: Introduction 1st time
Value
Unavailable through closeout
Suppress
GEN_INTRO_CP_CK
Close
Goto
GEN_INTRO_CP_CK displays FR instructions based on
the situation. When interviewing the Household Respondent
the instrument displays the first FR instruction in the screen
shot above and when interviewing an Individual
Respondent the instrument displays the second FR
instruction.
When the “Suppress” button is selected at this edit check,
the instrument progresses to screens to allow you to select
a new household respondent (Items HELLO_ALT2_CP or
HELP_OTH_CP) or allow you to select a proxy respondent
for an individual respondent (TOOLATE_CP). These
screens are discussed in more detail in Topic 5 of this
chapter.
When the “Close” or “Goto” buttons are selected, the
instrument returns to the GEN_INTRO_CP screen.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-11
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Is respondent ready to complete the interview?
1 Continue
2 Inconvenient time - callback needed
3 Reluctant respondent - hold for refusal follow-up
4 Other outcome -problem/select new household respondent
5 Wrong address (wrong case selected)
CAPI_INTRO_B
CAPI_INTRO_B
CAPI_INTRO_B checks to make sure the respondent is
ready to complete the interview.
The precodes you enter in the CAPI_INTRO_B screen
result in the instrument progressing to different screens
based on the case’s Time in Sample (that is, whether it is
incoming (TIS 1) or continuing (TIS 2-7).
Precode (1)
Precode (1), “Continue,” takes you to:
GETLETTER_CP for an incoming case where there has
not been at least a partial interview obtained with the
household respondent. GETLETTER_CP verifies
whether or not the household received the “Introductory”
or “Continuing Household” letter sent by your Regional
Office.
HHNUM_VR_CP which asks, “Is this a replacement
household?” for a continuing case in which you have not
completed at least a partial interview with the household
respondent.
A replacement household is one in which the
household interviewed in the previous enumeration
period has moved away from the sample address and
has been replaced by a new household.
Precodes (2) and (3)
Entering Precode (2), “Inconvenient time. Callback
needed.” or Precode (3) “Reluctant respondent - hold for
refusal followup”, takes you to:
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (4)
Part B, Chapter 2
VERIFY (then out of the instrument) for an incoming
case
HHNUM_VR_CP, which asks, “Is this a replacement
household?” for a continuing case in which you have not
completed at least a partial interview with the household
respondent.
Entering Precode (4), “Other outcome OR problem
interviewing respondent” takes you to:
HHNUM_VR_CP screen, for a continuing case.
HHRPICK_CK for an incoming case. HHRPICK_CK is
a hard error pop-up screen that displays the following
message:
Error. You indicated respondent was available to continue the interview or you are trying to
change a household respondent for an incoming case that does not yet have a household
respondent.
Questions involved
CAPI_INTRO_B: Ready for PV?
Value
Other outcome-problem/select new...
Suppress
HHRPICK_CK
Close
Goto
At this edit check, press the “Goto” button to return to
CAPI_INTRO_B and select another precode.
This edit check appears when you have selected Precode
(1), “Respondent available” in GEN_INTRO_CP, as well as
Precode (4), “Other outcome OR problem interviewing
respondent” in CAPI_INTRO_B; which are two inconsistent
answers. It also appears when you are trying to change a
household respondent in an incoming case when the
household respondent has not yet been selected. Selection
of the initial household respondent for an incoming case is
done at PICK1STHHRESP.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-13
Part B, Chapter 2
Precode (5)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Entering Precode (5), “Wrong address (wrong case
selected),” in CAPI_INTRO_B takes you to VERIFY (and
then out of the instrument) for an incoming or continuing
case.
Is this a replacement household?
If unsure, enter 2 (No)
1 Yes
2 No
HHNUM_VR_CP
HHNUM_VR_CP
This screen is displayed when entering a case, either for a
personal visit interview or telephone interview, where you
have not obtained at least a partial interview with the
household respondent.
If the household is a replacement household, indicate that
by entering Precode (1), “Yes.” The instrument goes to
CK_REPLACE_CP, which is the first of two items that must
be completed before setting up a replacement household.
If the household is not a replacement, enter Precode (2),
“No.” Then interview the household as usual.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
A replacement household means that there are NO members of the household interviewed
during the previous enumeration period living at this address.
Are you sure this is a replacement household?
1 Yes
2 No
CK_REPLACE_CP
CK_REPLACE_CP
CK_REPLACE_CP contains an interviewer instruction
asking you to verify that this household is indeed a
replacement household and meets the NCVS definition of a
replacement household. Enter Precode (1) “Yes” to code
this as a replacement household and continue, otherwise
enter Precode (2) “No”. After entering Precode (2), an edit
check pop-up tells you how to proceed.
Inconsistent answers were entered in HHNUM_VR_CP
and CK_REPLACE_CP.
Below select either “HHNUM_VR_CP: Replacement
household? “Yes” and press the “Goto” button to return
to the HHNUM_VR_CP screen to change the answer to
“No” to indicate this is not a replacement household OR
select “CK_REPLACE_CP:Verify replacement “No” and
press the “Goto” button to return to the CK_REPLACE_CP
screen to change the answer to “Yes” to verify this is a
replacement household.
Questions involved
HHNUM_VR_CP: Replacement household?
CK_REPLACE_CP: Verify replacement
Suppress
Close
Value
Yes
No
Goto
This edit check appears when you have coded that this is a
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-15
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
replacement household in HHNUM_VR_CP and then coded
that it is not a replacement household in
CK_REPLACE_CP. If you selected that this was a
replacement household in error, select the first row in the
“Questions Involved” column to return to the
HHNUM_VR_CP screen and change the answer to “No” to
code that this IS NOT a replacement household. Otherwise,
select the second row in the “Questions Involved” column to
return to the CK_REPLACE_CP screen and change the
answer to “Yes” to code that this IS a replacement
household.
NOTE: Only code a case as a replacement household after
you have confirmed new respondents have moved into the
sample address. If new respondents have not moved in yet,
then the current case should be coded as a Type B
Noninterview. Do not code a vacant sample address as a
replacement household since the original household has
not been replaced yet.
PARTIAL INTERVIEW FOR: Ted Moe
IF NECESSARY: Hello, this is (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We completed part of your interview for the National Crime Victimization Survey and
would like to finish it now.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP appears when you are interviewing
a household respondent or an individual respondent whose
interview has been partially completed this interview period.
(All TIS) This screen comes up after entering Precode (1) in
GEN_INTRO_CP or a valid line number in
ALTERNATE1_CP when calling back for a respondent with
a partial interview. Use this screen to reintroduce yourself
and the survey to the respondent before proceeding with the
respondent’s interview. After Entering (1) to continue, you
can press the “End” key to skip to the last unanswered
question in this respondent’s interview. For example, if you
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
stopped the interview with a respondent at
LOCATION_GENERAL in the incident report section during
your original contact, upon callback, enter Precode (1) in
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP and at the next screen that appears
press the “End” key to skip to LOCATION_GENERAL. This
saves you and the respondent valuable time by not having
to go through all of the screens the respondent answered
during the previous contact.
?[F1]
RECALLED RESPONDENT: Jane Moe
IF NECESSARY: Hello, this is (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We are talking with members of your household to obtain statistics on the kinds and amount of
crime committed against individuals 12 years of age or older.
We would like to complete your interview now.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTRO_REC_CP
INTRO_REC_CP
INTRO_REC_CP appears when you are interviewing an
individual respondent whose interview has not been at least
partially completed. (All TIS)
This screen comes up after entering Precode (1) in
GEN_INTRO_CP or a valid line number in
ALTERNATE1_CP when calling back for a respondent who
has not been interviewed yet. Use this screen to introduce
yourself and the survey to the respondent before
proceeding with the respondent’s interview. After Entering
(1) to continue, proceed to NEXTPERSON, which will be
prefilled with the respondent’s line number.
Press the “Enter” key to continue to INTERVIEWSTATUS to
begin the respondent’s interview.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-17
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. CAPI Telephone Interview for
Household Respondent and Individual Respondents
(Screen Layout and Instructions for
START_CP through INTRO_REC_CP)
CENSUS CATI/CAPI SYSTEM
National Crime Victimization Survey
Case status is: New Case
Date: July 3, 2017
Time: 10:06 am
Incoming/Continuing: Continuing
Interview Number: 02
Confirmed Refusal: No
1 Telephone interview
2 Personal visit interview (See notes)
3 Personal visit interview (Skip all notes and go to GEN_INTRO_CP)
4 Noninterview (Type A/B/C)
5 Ready to transmit case - no more followup (Type Z’s)
6 Quit: Do not attempt now
START_CP
START_CP
(Telephone Interview)
START_CP is the first screen when you enter a case. It
shows:
Survey title
Case status
Current date and time.
Incoming/Continuing status
Interview Number (1 through 7)
Confirmed Refusal Status (Yes or No)
After reviewing the information, choose Precode (1) to
conduct the interview by telephone. If you enter Precode (1)
for an incoming case (TIS 1) and you have not yet
completed the interview with the household respondent you
will see the edit check, NEED_PV_CK.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• This is an incoming case and requires a personal visit interview with the household respondent,
unless this is a last resort.
• If this is a last resort, select “Suppress” to continue with a telephone interview for this case.
Otherwise, select “Goto” to return to the START_CP screen and select personal interview.
Questions involved
START_CP: Start CAPI interview
Value
Telephone interview
Suppress
NEED_PV_CK
Close
Goto
NEED_PV_CK appears for TIS 1 cases as well as
replacement households when Precode (1) is selected at
START_CP when the household has not yet been
interviewed. Although incoming cases should be done by
personal visit, this was added to accommodate households
that request a telephone interview.
To continue with a telephone interview click on the
“Suppress” button, which takes you to DIAL_CP to start a
telephone interview. Otherwise, click on the “Goto” button to
return to START_CP to select Precode (2) or (3) to continue
with a personal visit interview. Personal visit interviews are
discussed in Topic 3 of this chapter.
START_CP
(Telephone Interview)
When entering Precode (1) in START_CP for TIS 2-7 cases
you progress to the following screens to view information
available for the case, that is:
the household roster (SHOW_CP_ROSTER) and
a reminder screen to view case level notes and the
interview time preference grid (Best Time to Call/no
Sunday information) (SHOW_INFO_CP).
(Note that Precodes 2-6 and corresponding instrument
paths are discussed in detail in Topic 2 of this chapter.)
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-19
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Status of household composition
LN
NAME
REL
MEMBER
SEX
AGE
STATUS
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
Jane Moe
Ref Per
Wife
Daughtr
Member
Member
Member
M
F
F
43
43
14
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
1 Enter 1 to Continue
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
SHOW_CP_ROSTER
SHOW_CP_ROSTER displays the household roster. The
roster includes anyone added to the roster during the time
the case has been in sample. Therefore, persons coded as
nonmembers are also displayed at this screen. In addition to
the SHOW_CP_ROSTER screen, you can also view the
household roster at any place in the instrument by clicking
on the HHROSTER index tab at the top of the Info Pane or
by pressing the “Shift” + “F1” keys.
INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS INTERVIEW
• Press Control + F7 to view case level notes
• Press Control + T to view interview time preference
• Language:
1 Enter 1 to Continue
SHOW_INFO_CP
SHOW_INFO_CP
SHOW_INFO_CP gives you a chance to review any notes
entered for the case since the household first came into
sample, by pressing the “Ctrl” + F7" keys simultaneously.
You can also check for any “Best Time to Call or No Sunday
Information” that was previously entered in the Interview
Time Preferences grid by pressing the “Ctrl” + “T” keys
simultaneously. Last, this displays any non-English
languages the household may speak based on entries in the
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
instrument during a previous contact. From
SHOW_INFO_CP, continue with HHNUM_VR_CP when
first attempting to contact the Household Respondent or the
WHOTOCALL_CP screen when attempting to reach an
Individual Respondent once the case has reached the
status of a sufficient partial (that is, the interview is complete
for the household respondent).
Is this a replacement household?
If unsure, enter 2 (No)
1 Yes
2 No
HHNUM_VR_CP
HHNUM_VR_CP
HHNUM_VR_CP is displayed when entering a case, either
for a personal visit interview or telephone interview, where
you have not obtained at least a partial interview with the
household respondent.
If the household is not a replacement, enter Precode (2),
“No.” Then interview the household as usual.
During a telephone interview, when you have discovered
that the previous household has moved out and entered
Precode (1), “Yes,” at HHNUM_VR_CP, check item
CK_REPLACEFOLLOWUP_CP appears:
You are attempting to code a replacement household
during a telephone interview.
A personal visit followup is required to verify new
respondents have moved into the sample address
before this case can be coded as a replacement.
CK_REPLACEFOLLOWUP_CP
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-21
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Follow up with a personal visit to verify the current status of
the sample address (vacant or occupied by new
respondents). Do not code a case as a replacement
household until you have followed up and verified that:
the entire household has moved out of the sample
address
AND
at least one new respondent has moved into the sample
address.
If you determine that the sample address is vacant, code the
case as a noninterview following the instructions in Part A,
Chapter 6. Do not code this situation as a replacement
household, since a new household has not moved into the
sample address.
Enter the line number of the person with whom you want to speak.
1. Ted Moe
3. Jane Moe
WHOTOCALL_CP
WHOTOCALL_CP
(Telephone Interview)
WHOTOCALL_CP appears when you re-enter a case
where you have already completed the Household
Respondent’s interview. This screen is used to select a
person to contact in order to set up the fills in the question
text in DIAL_CP as well as other screens in the Front
Section of the instrument with the name of the next person
you are trying to reach. This screen allows you to enter the
line number for any individual respondent whose interview
you have not yet completed. The instrument only displays
those respondents who have not completed their interview.
Enter the line number of the person you want to speak to
and then press the “Enter” key to go to DIAL_CP.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Dial number
Primary Number
(991) 555-9899 EXTENSION:
Phone Type: Home
Other Number:
(991) 555-9898 EXTENSION: 999
Phone Type: Work
Household respondent last enumeration: Ted Moe
Current Household respondent: Megan Moe
Address: 101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
1 Someone answers
2 No contact/answering machine
3 New telephone number/number disconnected
4 NOT ATTEMPTED NOW
DIAL_CP
DIAL_CP
At DIAL_CP, code the outcome of the call.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when someone answers; this takes you
to HELLO_1_CP.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when you get an answering machine or a
busy signal. This precode takes you to the back of the
instrument and VERIFY.
Precode (3)
If you get a recorded message that the number has been
disconnected or a new number is given, enter Precode (3)
which takes you to NEW_NUMBER_CP.
Precode (4)
Entering Precode (4) takes you to VERIFY to exit the
instrument.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-23
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Record new telephone number.
Enter 0 for no new telephone number.
OLD NUMBER: (991) 555-9899
NEW_NUMBER_CP
NEW_NUMBER_CP
If you find out that the phone number you dialed has been
disconnected and no new number is given, enter 0 (zero) at
NEW_NUMBER_CP to exit the instrument, via VERIFY.
Otherwise, enter the new phone number at this screen.
After typing the new number and pressing “Enter,” the
instrument goes back to DIAL_CP, which directs you to call
using the new number. If you do not enter the full ten-digit
phone number or if you enter an invalid area code, an edit
check pop-up appears that sends you back to the
NEW_NUMBER_CP screen to reenter the new number.
Hello. This is (YOUR NAME)... from the U.S. Census Bureau.
May I please speak with Megan Moe?
1 This is the correct person
2 Correct person called to the phone
3 Person not home now or not available now"
4 Person unknown at this number
5 Person no longer lives here
6 Person unavailable through closeout (includes deceased individuals)
HELLO_1_CP
HELLO_1_CP
HELLO_1_CP provides the introduction for you to use once
someone answers the phone. After saying “Hello,” you are
prompted to introduce yourself and then ask for either the
household respondent from the last enumeration (first time
calling the household this enumeration), the current
household respondent (if you have started the interview with
a household respondent), or the person selected at the
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
WHOTOCALL_CP screen.
The precode you enter at HELLO_1_CP determines what
screen the instrument brings up next, based on whether you
are interviewing a household respondent on the first
attempt, interviewing a household respondent on a reentry
into the case (for example, to complete a partial interview
with the household respondent), or interviewing an
individual respondent.
Precodes (1) and (2)
Precodes (3) or (5)
Entering Precode (1), “This is the correct person or Precode
or (2) “Correct person called to the phone” takes you to:
GETLETTER_CP when you are interviewing a
household respondent whose interview has not been at
least partially completed. (All TIS)
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP when you are interviewing a
household respondent or an individual respondent
whose interview has been partially completed this
interview period. (All TIS)
INTRO_REC_CP when you are interviewing an
individual respondent whose interview has not been at
least partially completed. (All TIS)
Entering Precode (3), “Person not home now or not
available now” or Precode (5), “Person no longer lives here”
takes you to either:
HELLO_ALT2_CP, HELP_OTH_CP, or NEWHHR_CP
when interviewing a household respondent. These
screens are discussed further in Topic 5 of this chapter.
(TIS 2-7)
ALTERNATE1_CP for a case when you are attempting
to interview an individual respondent who is not
available, but there is at least one other individual
respondent in the household who still needs to be
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-25
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
interviewed. The ALTERNATE1_CP screen allows you
to enter the line number of the next person you want to
attempt to interview. This screen is discussed further in
Topic 5 of this Chapter. (All TIS)
Entering Precode (4), “Person unknown at this number,”
goes to:
Precode (4)
DIAL_CORRECT_CP, which asks, “Have I reached
(telephone number)?” to ensure that you have dialed the
correct number.
Entering Precode (6) “Other outcome or problem
interviewing respondent” goes to:
Precode (6)
TOOLATE_CP if attempting to interview an individual
respondent. This item asks for a household member
who can serve as a proxy for an unavailable respondent
or a respondent who cannot be interviewed for some
other reason. This item is discussed in more detail in
Topic 5 of this chapter. (All TIS)
Have I reached (991) 555-9899?
1 Yes
2 No
DIAL_CORRECT_CP
DIAL_CORRECT_CP
When you call a household and the person who answers
the phone says they do not know the respondent you
asked for at HELLO_1_CP, the instrument goes to
DIAL_CORRECT_CP to verify that you dialed the correct
telephone number.
If you dialed the number correctly at DIAL_CP AND you
have not yet reached the household respondent, enter
Precode (1), which takes you to:
RTNUM_CP to verify whether you have reached the
household, when you have not contacted the
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
household yet this enumeration period.
NEWHHR_CP if you have already made contact with
the household respondent. At NEWHHR_CP the FR
instruction asks you if you want to change the
household respondent.
ALTERNATE1_CP if you are attempting to contact an
individual respondent and there are other household
members who have not completed their interview, or
to VERIFY, in the back of the instrument, when there
are no other respondents left to interview.
If you did not dial the correct number, enter Precode (2).
You will then see the edit check to verify that the correct
number was not reached:
Select the “Goto” button in order to return to the DIAL_CP screen to redial the phone number for
the household.
Otherwise, select the “Close” button to return to the DIAL_CORRECT_CP screen.
Questions involved
DIAL_CP: Dial phone number
DIAL_CORRECT_CP: Correct number
Value
Someone answers
No
Close
Goto
This edit check appears to verify that you have misdialed
the phone number for the household. If you have
misdialed, select the first row in the “Questions involved”
column to return to DIAL_CP and redial the phone
number. Otherwise, select the second row in “Questions
involved” to return to DIAL_CORRECT_CP and change
the answer to “Yes” to code that you have dialed the
correct number.
After changing the answer in DIAL_CORRECT_CP to
“Yes” the instrument continues with RTNUM_CP.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-27
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
I'm trying to reach someone in the Moe household.
Have I reached the correct household?
1 Yes
2 No
RTNUM_CP
RTNUM_CP
RTNUM_CP appears when you code at HELLO_1_CP that
the household respondent you are trying to reach is not
known by the person who answered the phone and that
person confirms that you dialed the correct number.
At RTNUM_CP, verify with the person on the telephone
whether the phone number still belongs to the household
from the last enumeration. If it is the same, enter Precode
(1) and the instrument continues to HELLO_ALT2_CP or
HELP_OTH_CP, depending on the roster composition. See
Topic 5 of this chapter for more information on these two
items.
If you have not reached the correct household, enter
Precode (2); the instrument goes to VERIFY at the back of
the instrument.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
PARTIAL INTERVIEW FOR: Ted Moe
IF NECESSARY: Hello, this is (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We completed part of your interview for the National Crime Victimization Survey and would like
to finish it now.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP appears when you are interviewing
a household respondent or an individual respondent whose
interview has been partially completed this interview period.
(All TIS).
This screen appears after entering Precodes (1) or (2) in
Item HELLO_1_CP or a valid line number in Item
ALTERNATE1_CP when calling back for a respondent with
a partial interview. Use this screen to reintroduce yourself
and the survey to the respondent before proceeding with the
respondent’s interview. After Entering (1) to continue, you
can press the “End” key to skip to the last unanswered
question in this respondent’s interview. For example, if you
stopped the interview with a respondent at
LOCATION_GENERAL in the incident report section during
your original contact, upon callback enter Precode (1) in
INTRO_PARTIAL_CP. At the next screen that appears
press the “End” key to skip to LOCATION_GENERAL. This
saves time by not having to go through all of the items the
respondent answered during the previous contact.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-29
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
?[F1]
RECALLED RESPONDENT: Jane Moe
IF NECESSARY: Hello, this is (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
We are talking with members of your household to obtain statistics on the kinds and amount of
crime committed against individuals 12 years of age or older.
We would like to complete your interview now.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTRO_REC_CP
INTRO_REC_CP
INTRO_REC_CP appears when you are interviewing an
individual respondent whose interview has not been at least
partially completed. (All TIS)
This screen will come up after entering Precodes (1) or (2)
in Item HELLO_1_CP or a valid line number in Item
ALTERNATE1_CP when calling back for a respondent who
has not been interviewed yet. Use this screen to introduce
yourself and the survey to the respondent before
proceeding with the respondent’s interview. After entering
(1) to continue, proceed to the NEXTPERSON screen,
which is prefilled with the respondent’s line number. Press
the “Enter” key to continue to INTERVIEWSTATUS to begin
the respondent’s interview.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Topic 5. Selecting a New Household or Individual Respondent
During CAPI Personal Visit and Telephone Interviews
(Screen Layout and Instructions for the
NEWHHR_CP, HELLO_ALT2_CP, HELP_OTH_CP,
ALTERNATE1_CP, TOOLATE_CP and NEXTPERSON)
Do you want to select a new household respondent?
1 Yes
2 No
NEWHHR_CP
NEWHHR_CP
If you answer (2), at GEN_INTRO_CP, (3), (5), or (6) at Item
HELLO_1_CP, or (1), at DIAL_CORRECT_CP, the
instrument takes you to NEWHHR_CP when you have
already started the interview with the household
respondent. NEWHHR_CP contains the interviewer
instruction, “Do you want to select a new household
respondent?” Enter (1) for “Yes,” and (2) for “No,” to exit the
instrument.
Entering Precode (1), “Yes,” at NEWHHR_CP takes you to
HELLO_ALT2_CP (if other eligible HHRs are listed on the
household roster), which prompts you to ask for another
household respondent based on those who are eligible to
be an HHR. If there are no other eligible HHRs on the roster
the instrument goes to Item HELP_OTH_CP, which asks if
the person you are currently talking to or anyone else who
lives there is eligible to be a household respondent.
NOTE: An eligible household respondent is a household
member who is:
Age 18 or older or
Age 17 and married to the reference person or
Age 17 when all members of the household are age 17 or
younger
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-31
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
You can also use the “New HHR” index tab at the top left of
the screen to select the line number to change household
respondents. (Only eligible household respondents will be
listed at NEW_HHR.) You may use the “New HHR” Section
Tab during the household respondent’s interview, until you
have completed the household roster updates.
NEW_HHR
(index tab)
May I speak to ( Ask for another possible household respondent.)
LN
NAME
STATUS
SEX
AGE
1
Ted Moe
NEED SELF
F
43
Enter precode or line number
Enter 31 if no one available now
1 Ted Moe
31 No one listed available now
HELLO_ALT2_CP
HELLO_ALT2_CP
HELLO_ALT2_CP is displayed so that you can select a
new household respondent when entries in Items
NEWHHR_CP, GEN_INTRO_CP, GEN_INTRO_CP_CK,
HELLO_1_CP, CAPI_INTRO_B, or RTNUM_CP are coded
that you need to select a new household respondent. The
HELLO_ALT2_CP screen appears only when there are
other household members listed as possible household
respondents.
Use this screen to help identify an eligible household
respondent for the current interview period;
HELLO_ALT2_CP presents you with a list of other eligible
household respondents. You must interview an eligible
household respondent BEFORE interviewing any other
NCVS eligible household members. Note that only those
who are eligible to be selected to act as the household
respondent should be displayed at this screen. If an eligible
household respondent is available, enter that household
member’s line number and continue with the household
respondent’s interview at GETLETTER_CP. Otherwise,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8//2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
enter Precode (31), “No one listed above available now.”
This takes you to HELP_OTH_CP, described below.
Perhaps you can help me.
I would like to speak to a member of the Moe household who lives there, is at least 18 years old,
and is knowledgeable about the household.
(If appropriate:) Would you or someone else there now qualify?
1 Yes (person you are speaking with or someone else available)
2 No (no one available or qualified)
3 Wrong household
HELP_OTH_CP
HELP_OTH_CP
Item HELP_OTH_CP is another screen used to identify an
eligible household respondent for the current interview
period. This screen appears when you have coded that you
would like to change the household respondent, but there
are no other persons listed on the roster who qualify as a
household respondent.
HELP_OTH_CP is displayed when there are no other
eligible household respondents listed on the roster and you
have entered in NEWHHR_CP, GEN_INTRO_CP,
GEN_INTRO_CP_CK, HELLO_1_CP, CAPI_INTRO_B,
and RTNUM_CP that you need to select a new household
respondent. HELP_OTH_CP appears when you enter
Precode (31) in HELLO_ALT2_CP because no one listed
as an eligible household respondent is available.
Precode (1), “Yes (person you are speaking with or
someone else available),” goes to
OTHR_NAME_FIRST_CP to collect the name of the new
household respondent. Entries of Precode (2), “No (no one
available or qualified),” and Precode (3), “Wrong
household,” exit the instrument.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-33
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What is your name?
Enter the respondent's first name on this screen and last name on the next screen.
OTHR_NAME_FIRST_CP
What is your last name?
Enter respondent's last name.
OTHR_NAME_LAST_CP
OTHR_NAME_FIRST_CP
and
OTHR_NAME_LAST_CP
OTHR_NAME_FIRST_CP and OTHR_NAME_LAST_CP
collect the name of the new HHR not already listed on the
household roster. These screens are accessed when Item
HELP_OTH_CP equals 1. After collecting this person’s
name, the instrument codes this new line number/
respondent as the new household respondent. When you
reach the Control Card Section, the instrument directs you
to collect demographic information for this new household
respondent. Topic 9 discusses the screens used to collect
and update the demographic information in more detail.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
These household members have not yet been interviewed:
LN
NAME
1
3
Ted Moe
Jane Moe
I still need to interview (READ NAMES FROM ABOVE)
Are either of them available now?
Enter line number or precode.
Enter 31 if No or No other household members available.
1 Ted Moe
3 Jane Moe
31 No or no one listed above available now
ALTERNATE1_CP
ALTERNATE1_CP
ALTERNATE1_CP presents you with a list of household
members (individual respondents) who have not yet been
interviewed or have not completed their interview. This
screen appears when the person selected at
WHOTOCALL_CP is coded as not available in
HELLO_1_CP, TOOLATE_CP, DIAL_CORRECT_CP or
GEN_INTRO_CP.
Therefore, when there are other respondents who still need
to be interviewed, ALTERNATE1_CP is asked to see if any
of the remaining NCVS eligible household members you
have not yet completed their NCVS or supplement
interviews are available to complete their interview. At this
screen read the question text to the person you are
speaking to and then enter the line number or precode for
the household member you wish to interview; enter Precode
(31) if no other household members are available.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-35
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Since the survey must be completed before Jane Moe's return, I can take her information from
someone else.
Would you or someone there now know how to answer the crime questions for Jane Moe?
1 Yes
2 No
TOOLATE_CP
TOOLATE_CP
This item asks for a household member who can serve as a
proxy for an unavailable respondent or a respondent who
cannot be interviewed for some other reason.
TOOLATE_CP appears when Precode (6), “Person
unavailable through closeout,” is entered in HELLO_1_CP
or the “Suppress” button is selected at the edit check
GEN_INTRO_CP_CK. If someone can act as a proxy
respondent (Precode (1)) the instrument leads you down
the path to collect the proxy reason and the line number of
the proxy respondent (that is, the person you talk to in order
to collect the data for the proxy person/person not able to
complete their interview by self-response). For a household
member to act as the proxy respondent, they must have
completed their own interview and done so by
self-response. Coding proxy interviews is discussed more in
Topic 6, below.
If a proxy respondent is not currently available, enter
Precode (2) to go to ALTERNATE1_CP when there are
other individual respondents left to be interviewed.
Otherwise, you exit the instrument via VERIFY.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
***Do not F10 from this screen ***
LN
NAME
STATUS
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Done-Int
Megan Moe Done-Int
Jane Moe
NEED SELF
HRESP
REL
SEX
AGE
R
Ref Person
Wife
Daughtr
M
F
F
43
43
14
I also need to speak with Jane Moe.
Is Jane Moe at home now?
Enter the person’s line number for next interview.
***Do not F10 from this screen ***
3 Jane Moe
31 Respondent refused for someone else
32 Household complete
33 No other person available now
NEXTPERSON
NEXTPERSON
NEXTPERSON shows the household roster and instructs
you to enter the line number of the next person to be
interviewed. After selecting the next person to interview the
instrument continues with INTERVIEWSTATUS to review
the type of interview needed for the respondent before
beginning their NCVS interview.
If the respondent you just completed an interview with
refuses for someone else, enter Precode (31) which will
lead you through screens to code that line number as a
refusal; see Topic 6 for more details on coding a respondent
as a refusal. If no other person is available for an interview,
enter Precode (33), which takes you to REFCBBREAK_CP
in the back of the instrument.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-37
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 6. Completing Self Response and Proxy Interviews
and Coding Initial Refusals
(Screen Layout and Instructions for the INTERVIEWSTATUS through
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT)
Review self/proxy status and person’s name before proceeding to screen questions.
• Interview is for: Jane Moe
• Talking to: Jane Moe
• Self/Proxy status: SELF INTERVIEW
• Jane Moe ISN’T the household respondent
• If wrong person selected, back up to the NEXTPERSON screen to select the next person
to be interviewed.
1 Continue with this respondent’s interview
2 Change to a proxy interview
INTERVIEWSTATUS
INTERVIEWSTATUS
The INTERVIEWSTATUS screen is the first screen
encountered after selecting the next person to interview. As
shown above, this screen gives you the following
information:
The name of the current respondent;
The name of the person you are speaking to;
The respondent’s current “Proxy Status” (Self or Proxy
Interview);
Whether the current respondent is or is not the
household respondent.
If the wrong line number was selected, back up to the
NEXTPERSON screen and enter the correct line number. If
the correct line number was selected and you are ready to
continue with a self interview, select Precode (1), “Continue
with this respondent’s interview” to start this respondent’s
NCVS interview. Otherwise, select Precode (2), “Change to
a proxy interview” to change the respondent’s interview
status from a Self interview to a Proxy interview.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• You are about to change this respondent’s interview status to a proxy interview.
• If you are sure the interview for this respondent needs to be completed by proxy, click the
“Suppress” button. Otherwise, click the “Close” or “Goto” button to return to the
INTERVIEWSTATUS screen.
Questions involved
INTERVIEWSTATUS:
Value
Proxy
Suppress
PERSTATUSPROXY
Close
Goto
The PERSTATUSPROXY edit check appears in order to
verify that you want to code the current respondent as a
proxy interview. See Part C, Chapter 1 of this manual for
more information regarding proxy interviews.
If the respondent’s interview needs to be completed by
proxy, click on the “Suppress” button. After clicking the
“Suppress” button, continue with PROXYREASON to code
the reason a proxy interview is needed for this respondent.
If you’ve reached this screen by mistake, click on the
“Close” or “Goto” button to return to INTERVIEWSTATUS.
• Enter the reason for proxy interview.
1 Proxy person is 12-13 years old and parent refused permission for self interview.
2 Proxy person is physically/mentally unable to answer.
3 Proxy person is temporarily absent and won’t return before closeout.
PROXYREASON
PROXYREASON
After you have determined a proxy interview is needed by
clicking on the “Suppress” button at the
PERSTATUSPROXY edit check, PROXYREASON
appears.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-39
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For the NCVS, a proxy person is a person who cannot
answer the questions for himself/herself (person talking
about). In other words, a proxy person is someone who
cannot complete his/her interview by self-response. The
proxy respondent is the person who will be answering the
questions for the proxy person (person talking to).
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), “Proxy person is 12-13 years old and
parent refused permission for self interview” when the
household member is 12 or 13 years old and the child’s
parent(s) refuse(s) to allow you to interview the 12 or
13-year-old child by self-response. In this situation, only a
parent who has already completed their own NCVS
interview by self-response can be the proxy respondent.
If you enter Precode (1), and the household member is older
than 13, PROXYAGEERROR appears. Otherwise, continue
with PICKPROXYRESP to select the proxy respondent.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), “Proxy person is physically/mentally
unable to answer” when the household member has a
physical and/or mental illness which prevents him/her from
responding directly to you. Entering Precode (2) takes you
to PROXYREASONSPEC to record the household
member’s physical/mental illness that prohibits a
self-response interview.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), “Proxy person is temporarily absent and
won’t return before closeout” when the household member
is away from the sample address temporarily AND is not
expected to return during the interview period. Before taking
a proxy interview, make sure that the person is still a
household member and will not return at any time during the
interview period. After entering Precode (3), the instrument
goes to PROXYDATERETURN_MO to record the date the
household member is expected to return to the sample
address.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Refer to Part C, Chapter 1 of this manual for more
information about acceptable reasons for conducting a
proxy interview.
• A proxy interview is not acceptable because the respondent is older than 13.
• Interview status will be reset to “SELF” interview.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
PROXYAGEERROR
PROXYAGEERROR
The PROXYAGEERROR screen appears when Precode
(1) is entered at PROXYREASON and the household
member is older than 13. This household member’s
interview status will be set to a “self” interview. Since
Precode (1) was an invalid reason at PROXYREASON, the
instrument will return to NEXTPERSON where you can
continue with this household member’s interview by
self-response, select another household member to
interview, or exit the case.
Describe the physical or mental condition that prevents the respondent from completing
a self interview.
PROXYREASONSPEC
PROXYREASONSPEC
PROXYREASONSPEC is the screen where you enter a
description of the physical or mental condition of this
household member that prevents him/her from completing
the interview by self-response. For example, “Line Number
2 is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s.”
Proxy interviews cannot be conducted for temporary
conditions, such as a respondent has a cold, is drunk/on
drugs, or is heavily medicated. In these situations, contact
the person at a later date to conduct his/her interview.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-41
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
After entering a valid proxy reason, the instrument
continues to PICKPROXYRESP.
• If unsure, ask:
When is Jane Moe expected to return?
• Enter month on this screen.
PROXYDATERETURN_MO
• If unsure, ask:
When is Jane Moe expected to return?
• Enter day on this screen.
PROXYDATERETURN_DY
• If unsure, ask:
When is Jane Moe expected to return?
• Enter year on this screen.
PROXYDATERETURN_YR
PROXYDATERETURN_MO,
PROXYDATERETURN_DY,
PROXYDATERETURN_YR
PROXYDATERETURN_MO,
PROXYDATERETURN_DY and
PROXYDATERETURN_YR are used to record the date
when the household member is expected to return to the
sample address. These screens appear when Precode
(3) is entered in PROXYREASON.
Although PROXYDATERETURN_MO and
PROXYDATERETURN_DY are two digits, you only
need to enter one digit (without a leading “0”). Rather,
you can enter a one digit for the months of January
through September (1-9) as well as for the first nine days
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
of a month. However, for PROXYDATERETURN_YR,
you must enter all four digits. For example, for
September 2, 2017, enter “9/2/2017.”
When a household member you are speaking with is
unsure of the exact date the proxy person will return, you
may:
Press the “Ctrl” and “D” keys at the same time to code
a blind “Don’t Know” in any of the return date
screens.
If the household member with whom you are speaking
refuses to give you the exact date the proxy person will
return, you may:
Press the “Ctrl” and “R” keys at the same time to code
a blind “Refused” in any of the return date screens.
If you enter Don’t Know or Refused in any of these
screens, the instrument proceeds to the
RETURNBYCLOSEOUT screen to verify whether the
proxy person will return before the current month’s
close-out.
After entering the date the household member is
expected to return, the instrument goes to:
Item RETURNDATEERROR1 when the date entered
is before close-out;
Item RETURNDATEERROR2 when the date entered
is more than six months after close-out;
Item PICKPROXYRESP when a valid return date is
entered.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-43
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Error: Date is unacceptable. You must set a callback date for this respondent.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
RETURNDATEERROR1
RETURNDATEERROR1
RETURNDATEERROR1 appears when the date entered in
Items PROXYDATERETURN_MO through
PROXYDATERETURN_DY is prior to the current month’s
close-out date. Since the household member will return
before close-out, set up a callback for this respondent to
complete his/her interview by self-response upon his/her
return. The instrument returns to NEXTPERSON after
entering Precode (1) at RETURNDATEERROR1.
• Date is more than 6 months beyond the closeout date.
• Since this person will be away from the household for such as extended period of time,
they are being coded as a nonmember.
Since Jane Moe is away for an extended period of time, no interview is required for her at this
time.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
RETURNDATEERROR2
RETURNDATEERROR2
RETURNDATEERROR2 appears when the date entered in
PROXYDATERETURN_MO through
PROXYDATERETURN_DY is more than six months after
the current month’s close-out date. Since the household
member will not return for an extended period of time, they
are coded as a nonmember and no interview is needed.
Read the statement, “Since (proxy person’s name) is
away for an extended period of time, no interview is
required for (him/her) at this time.” to the person with
whom you are speaking. This lets them know you will not
ask NCVS questions for that person. After entering Precode
(1), the instrument returns to NEXTPERSON.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Do you expect Jane Moe to return by July 31,2017?
1 Yes
2 No
RETURNBYCLOSEOUT
Item RETURNBYCLOSEOUT appears when a blind “Don’t
Know” or “Refused” is entered in any of
PROXYDATERETURN_MO through
PROXYDATERETURN_YR. This item is used to determine
whether the household member will return before close-out.
RETURNBYCLOSEOUT
If he/she is expected to return before close-out, enter
Precode (1), and the instrument returns to NEXTPERSON.
Set up a callback for this respondent to complete his/her
interview by self-response upon his/her return.
If the household member is not expected to return prior to
close-out, enter Precode (2), and the instrument proceeds
to VERIFYHHM to verify that this person is still considered a
household member.
• Verify that the proxy person is still a household member.
Does Jane Moe usually live here?
• If “No,” probe for usual residence elsewhere.
1 Yes
2 No
VERIFYHHM
VERIFYHHM
VERIFYHHM is designed to assist in determining whether
or not the person you are about to code as the proxy person
is still considered a household member. Ask the following
question in VERIFYHHM: “Does Jane Moe usually live
here?”
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-45
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If that person does usually live there, enter Precode (1) and
continue to PICKPROXYRESP to select the proxy
respondent. If the answer is "No," the instrument will
continue to VERIFYMEMURE to determine whether the
person has a usual place of residence held elsewhere.
Ordinarily, a person's usual place of residence is the place
where the person eats and sleeps the majority of the time.
As a general rule, a person is considered a household
member if:
the sample address is the person's usual place of
residence, or
the person is staying at the sample address at the time
of interview and does not have a usual place of
residence elsewhere.
(Also see Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 3 of this manual, as
well as your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) for
help in determining household membership.)
Does Jane Moe have a usual place of residence elsewhere?
1 Yes
2 No
VERIFYMEMURE
VERIFYMEMURE
When a household respondent mentions that a person on
the roster does not usually live there, follow up with
VERIFYMEMURE to determine if the person qualifies as a
household member for the NCVS. If the respondent replies
that this person has a usual residence elsewhere, enter
Precode (1), “Yes,” in VERIFYMEMURE, which indicates
that this person is NOT a household member. However,
entering Precode (2), “No,” indicates that this person does
not have a usual residence elsewhere and, therefore,
classifies as a household member by NCVS standards and
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
needs to complete their interview by proxy. The instrument
proceeds to PICKPROXYRESP.
If you are still unsure whether to include a person on the
household roster as a household member, select Precode
(2), “No,” in Item VERIFYMEMURE, and continue to
interview the person by proxy. Explain the situation in the
“Case Level Notes.”
LN
NAME
STATUS
HRESP
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
Jane Moe
Done-Int
R
Done-Int
NEED PRXY
REL
Ref Person
Wife
Daughtr
SEX
AGE
M
F
F
43
43
3
• Enter line number of current respondent.
• If unsure, ask name.
1 Ted Moe
2 Megan Moe
PICKPROXYRESP
PICKPROXYRESP
Select the proxy respondent at PICKPROXYRESP. That is,
select the person who will answer the questions for the
proxy person. In order for a person to be selected as the
proxy respondent, they must have already completed
his/her own NCVS interview by self response. After
selecting a valid proxy respondent, the instrument continues
with Item INTPROXYSTATUS.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-47
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Review self/proxy status and person’s name before proceeding to screen questions.
• Interview is for: Jane Moe
• Talking to: Megan Moe
• Self/Proxy status: PROXY INTERVIEW
• Jane Moe ISN’T the household respondent
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTPROXYSTATUS
INTPROXYSTATUS
Item INTPROXYSTATUS is the last of the series of screens
to code a proxy interview before proceeding to the NCVS
questions. Review the text displayed to verify that the proxy
person is correctly coded as a proxy interview and that the
correct proxy respondent has been selected. If everything is
correct, enter Precode (1), to continue. The instrument
begins the proxy person’s interview at TIMEATADDRESS,
which is the first screen in the Middle Section of the NCVS
instrument, as shown in Part B, Chapter 3 of this manual.
LN
NAME
STATUS
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Done-Int
Megan Moe Done-Int
Jane Moe
NEED SELF
HRESP
REL
SEX
AGE
R
Ref Person
Wife
Daughtr
M
F
F
43
43
13
• Enter line number of person refused FOR.
• If unsure, ask name.
WHICHLINEREFUSEDFOR
WHICHLINEREFUSEDFOR
After entering Precode (33), “Respondent refused FOR
someone else” at NEXTPERSON,
WHICHLINEREFUSEDFOR appears. At this screen,
enter the line number of the respondent who refused to
be interviewed or for whom another household member
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-48
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
refused. This changes the household member’s status to
“Refused,” but does not code them as a noninterview.
After entering the line number in Item
WHICHLINEREFUSEDFOR, continue to
PERSTATUSREFUSED.
• Changed to: REFUSED
• If this person is a TYPE Z NONINTERVIEW, you will need to code them as such in the Type Z
section of the instrument. To do this you must first exit the instrument and then re-enter the
case. When you are ready to transmit the case, enter Precode "5" at the START_CP screen to
access the Type Z section.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
PERSTATUSREFUSED
PERSTATUSREFUSED
PERSTATUSREFUSED is an edit check that shows the
current respondent has been coded as a refusal. However,
they have not been coded as a Type Z Noninterview at this
point. Respondents cannot be coded as Type Z
Noninterviews until you are ready to transmit the case.
In order to code this respondent as a Type Z:
complete interviews with all remaining NCVS eligible
household members;
exit the case;
re-enter the case, enter Precode (5), “Ready to transmit
case - no more followup (Type Z’s)” at START_CP;
enter the Type Z reason for each household member
who was not interviewed. Follow the instructions for
coding Type Z Noninterviews in Part A, Chapter 6 of this
manual.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-49
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Re-introduction for new respondent.
• If necessary Hello, I’m (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
I’m here concerning the National Crime Victimization Survey. We are talking with members of
your household to obtain statistics on the kinds and amount of crime committed against
individuals 12 years of age or older.
We would like to complete your interview now.
1 Enter 1 to Continue
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT
INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT
The INTROFORNEWRESPONDENT screen appears when
you are interviewing an individual respondent whose
interview has not been at least partially completed. (All TIS)
This screen will be displayed after a valid line number is
entered at NEXTPERSON. Use this screen to introduce
yourself and the survey to the respondent before
proceeding with the interview. After Entering (1) to continue,
proceed to the TIMEATADDRESS screen, which is the first
screen in the Middle Section of the NCVS instrument, as
shown in Part B, Chapter 3 of this manual.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-50
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Topic 7. Verifying the Sample Address, Primary Telephone Number
and Mailing Address (Screen Layout and Instructions for
GETLETTER_CP through NEWMAILGQDESCRIPTION_CP)
• If necessary: Hello I'm (YOUR NAME) from the U.S. Census Bureau.
I'm calling concerning the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Census Bureau is conducting
a survey here and throughout the Nation to determine how often people are victims of crime.
(We contacted your household for this survey several months ago.) Did you receive our
introductory letter in the mail?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t Know
GETLETTER_CP
GETLETTER_CP
GETLETTER_CP asks whether the respondent received
the NCVS introductory letter. This screen is presented for
situations where you have not yet started the interview with
a household respondent.
For personal visits, an FR instruction is displayed: ‘If “No” or
“Don’t know” give respondent an introductory letter and
allow time to read.’ If you encounter this situation, hand the
household respondent the letter (NCVS-572(L) for incoming
and replacement households or NCVS-573(L) for
continuing households).
For continuing households, the instrument automatically
inserts the statement “We contacted your household for this
survey several months ago.” So it is important that you read
text to the respondent as worded since that statement will
not be displayed for incoming or replacement households.
All precodes entered at this screen progress to the section
of the instrument where you verify the sample address,
beginning with VERADD_CP.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-51
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Confirm address information
I have your address listed as ...
• Read address below
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
Is that your exact address?
1 SAME address
2 MOVED (NOT same address)
3 Haven’t moved, but address has changed
4 Incorrect address previously recorded
VERADD_CP
VERADD_CP
The purpose VERADD_CP is to verify that you reached the
correct address. Read the address as it is displayed so we
can verify that we have the correct full address for the
sample household.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when you confirm that you reached the
correct sample address and no address corrections are
necessary. After entering Precode (1), for incoming cases,
the instrument goes to Item MAILINGSAME_CP. After
entering Precode (1), for continuing cases, the instrument
goes to CHNGPH_CP, then to MAILINGSAME_CP.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when you discover that you reached a
different address. (Precode (2) is an invalid entry for TIS-1
cases.) It is possible that the last interviewed household
moved from the sample address and kept the same phone
number. For the NCVS, we do not interview a household
after they have moved from the sample address. After
entering Precode (2), the instrument goes to MOVED_CP.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when you discover that you reached the
correct sample address, but the address has changed. After
entering Precode (3), continue with CHNGPH_CP, then
continue to collect the new address.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-52
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (4)
Part B, Chapter 2
Enter Precode (4) when you discover that you reached the
correct sample address, but the address was recorded
incorrectly in a previous interview. After entering Precode
(4), continue with CHNGPH_CP, then continue with the
screens to update the sample address.
Since your address rather than you personally was chosen for inclusion in the survey, no
interview is required of you at this time. Thank you for your past cooperation. The help you gave
us was an important contribution to the National Crime Victimization Survey data.
1 Enter 1 to continue
MOVED_CP
MOVED_CP
MOVED_CP is to inform the person you are speaking with
that we do not need to interview them since they have
moved from the sample address, as well as thank them for
past cooperation. Entering Precode (1) to continue takes
you to error message VERADD_CP_CK.
(If an incoming case, the instrument will display:)
Invalid entry
(Else if this is a continuing case, the instrument will display:)
• This case needs to be made a replacement household. Press GOTO to proceed to
HHNUM_VR_CP.
Questions involved
HHNUM_VR_CP: Replacement household?
MOVED_CP: Moved
Suppress
Value
No
Enter 1 to continue
Close
Goto
VERADDCP_CK
VERADD_CP_CK
When interviewing an incoming case, you will see the
VERADD_CP_CK screen when Precode (2) is selected at
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-53
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
VERADD_CP, since that is not a valid entry. In this situation
VERADD_CP_CK will display the message “Invalid entry”.
This edit check also appears after entering Precode (1) in
the MOVED_CP screen to verify that the entire household
has moved from the sample address. In this situation the
edit check will display the instruction “This case needs to be
made a replacement household. Press the “Goto” button to
proceed to Item HHNUM_VR_CP, discussed in more detail
in Topic 3 above. Otherwise, press the “Close” button to
return to the VERADD_CP screen.
• Do you need to change the current phone number?
CURRENT NUMBER: (991) 555-9899
1 Yes
2 No
CHNGPH_CP
CHNGPH_CP
CHNGPH_CP appears for all continuing cases that are not
replacement households. For any continuing case (TIS 2-7)
you are asked if you would like to change the current phone
number. If yes, enter Precode (1) and continue to
NEWPH_CP to ask the respondent for the new phone
number. If no, continue with the screens to change the
address (starting at NEWADDHNO_CP) when Precodes (3)
or (4) were entered in VERADD_CP or MAILINGSAME_CP
when Precode (1) was entered in VERADD_CP.
What is the area code and telephone number where you would like to be called?
• Record new number
• Enter 0 for no telephone number
NEWPH_CP
NEWPH_CP
NEWPH_CP appears when the respondent indicates in
CHNGPH_CP that they would like to change the telephone
number at which they are contacted. Enter the new number
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-54
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
or enter 0 for no telephone number. The instrument
continues with the screens to change the household
address (starting at NEWADDHNO_CP) when Precodes (3)
or (4) were entered in VERADD_CP or MAILINGSAME_CP
when Precode (1) was entered in VERADD_CP.
• OLD ADDRESS
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
• If incorrect or missing, enter new house number, otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWADDHNO_CP
NEWADDHNO_CP through
NEWADDGQDESCRIPTION_CP screens
NEWADDHNO_CP through
NEWADDGQDESCRIPTION_CP are asked when the
household respondent indicates at VERADD_CP that you
are at the correct sample address, but the actual address
has changed or was previously recorded incorrectly. These
screens allow you to correct or add any of the following
information: house number, house number suffix, street
name, unit designation, non-city style address, physical
location description, city, state, ZIP code, group quarters
building name, and group quarters description. If no change
is needed for a particular item, press “Enter” to move to the
next screen.
The original address information is displayed in the info
pane in the middle of the screen and can be edited in the
form pane at the bottom of the screen. After you update the
address information, ADRCHECK_CP appears to record
the reason for the change(s).
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-55
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Enter reason why address information provided by respondent did not match displayed address
OLD ADDRESS
NEW ADDRESS
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
101A Ocean Avenue
Anytown, VA 99997
• HOUSE NUMBER
11 House number was incorrect
12 House number was missing/blank
• HOUSE NUMBER SUFFIX
13 House number suffix was incorrect (e.g. A instead of B)
14 House number suffix was missing
• STREET NAME
15 Street name was correct by misspelled (e.g. Pak instead of Oak Street)
16 Street name was not correct (e.g Oak instead of Pickford)
• UNIT DESIGNATION
17 Unit designation was incorrect (e.g. A instead of 1)
18 Unit designation was missing
• NON-CITY STYLE ADDRESS
19 Non-city style address was incorrect (P.O. Box 12 instead of P.O. Box 121)
• ZIP CODE
20 ZIP code was missing or incorrect
• STATE
21 State was missing or incorrect (ME instead of MD)
• CITY
22 City name was missing or incorrect
• GROUP QUARTERS
23 Group quarters name was missing or incorrect
24 Building name was missing or incorrect
25 911 Address Conversion
ADRCHECK_CP
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-56
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
ADRCHECK_CP
Part B, Chapter 2
ADRCHECK_CP prompts you to enter a reason(s) why the
address information provided by the respondent did not
match the displayed address for the sample unit. Note that
this item allows multiple entries. After recording the reason
for the update the instrument continues with
MAILINGSAME_CP.
Is your mailing address (still) the same as your physical address?
1 Yes
2 No
MAILINGSAME_CP
________________________________________________________________________
MAILINGSAME_CP
MAILINGSAME_CP asks, “Is your mailing address still
the same as your physical address?” The instrument fills
MAILINGSAME_CP
the word “still” in the question text when the prior household
respondent reported that the mailing address was the same
as the physical address. If the mailing and physical
addresses were reported as being different the previous
enumeration or this is an incoming or replacement
household the question is worded, “Is your mailing
address the same as your physical address?”
Enter Precode (1) for “Yes” and the instrument takes you to
Item TENURE when the case is a TIS 1. If the case is a TIS
3, 5, or 7 and Precode (1) is entered in Item
MAILINGSAME_CP then the instrument will go to Item
TENURE, otherwise the instrument will go to Item
STUDENTHOUSING during even numbered enumerations.
If a replacement household occurs during an even
numbered enumeration, the instrument proceeds to the
TENURE screen, because a replacement household is
treated like a TIS 1 case.
Enter precode (2) for “No” and the instrument takes you to
the VERIFYMAILING_CP screen to verify the previous
mailing address is correct. If we had not previously collected
a mailing address, the instrument instead goes to Item
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-57
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NEWMAILHNO_CP.
I have your mailing address as...
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
Is that correct?
1 Yes
2 No
VERIFYMAILING_CP
VERIFYMAILING_CP
VERIFYMAILING_CP asks, “I have your mailing address
as 101 Ocean View Circle, Anytown, VA 99997. Is that
correct?”
Enter Precode (1) for “Yes” and the instrument takes you to
either TENURE when the case is a TIS 1. If the case is a TIS
3, 5, or 7 and Precode (1) is entered in
VERIFYMAILING_CP, then the instrument goes to
TENURE; otherwise the instrument goes to
STUDENTHOUSING during even numbered enumerations.
If a replacement household occurs during an even
numbered enumeration, the instrument proceeds to the
TENURE screen, because a replacement household is
treated like a TIS 1 case.
Enter Precode (2) for “No” and the instrument takes you to
NEWMAILHNO_CP, which begins the series of screens
that allow you to edit all of the mailing address fields.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-58
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• OLD ADDRESS
101 Ocean View Circle
Anytown, VA 99997
• If incorrect or missing, enter new house number, otherwise press “Enter” to continue
NEWMAILHNO_CP
NEWMAILHNO_CP through
NEWMAILGQ
DESCRIPTION_CP
NEWADDHNO_CP through
NEWADDGQDESCRIPTION_CP allow you to modify the
mailing address information for the household and include
all of the same address fields for the sample address except
physical location description, which is not part of the mailing
address.
The original address information is displayed in the info
pane in the middle of the screen and can be edited in the
form pane at the bottom of the screen. If no change is
needed, press “Enter” to move to the next screen.
After completing the screens, if the case is a TIS 1, 3, 5, or 7
the instrument goes to Item TENURE, otherwise the
instrument goes to Item STUDENTHOUSING during even
numbered enumerations. If a replacement household
occurs during an even numbered enumeration, the
instrument proceeds to the TENURE screen, because a
replacement household is treated like a TIS 1 case.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-59
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 8. Housing Unit Characteristics
(Screen Layout and Instructions for
TENURE through RESTRICTEDACCESS)
• Ask or verify:
Are your living quarters ...
• Read answer categories
1 Owned or being bought by you or someone in your household?
2 Rented for cash?
3 Occupied without payment of cash rent?
TENURE
TENURE
TENURE is asked initially during the first interview with the
sample household, which should be a personal visit
interview. You only see TENURE when you interview a
sample household during the third, fifth, and seventh
enumeration periods, since this question is asked of the
original household only during the odd-numbered interview
periods. (The exception to this rule is when you create a
replacement household during an even-numbered interview
period.)
Although the interviewer instruction specifies that this is an
“Ask or verify” question, you must always ask it during the
first enumeration. In subsequent enumerations you can
either re-ask the question of the respondent and read the
answer categories until you get a “Yes” response, or verify
that the information collected during the previous interview
is still correct.
After completing TENURE, the instrument takes you to
STUDENTHOUSING.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-60
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Owned or Being Bought
by You or Someone in
Your Household
Part B, Chapter 2
Before entering Precode (1) at the TENURE screen to
indicate that the living quarters is owned or being bought by
someone in the sample household, make sure that the
owner or co-owner of the sample unit:
Is a household member.
Actually lives in the sample unit when the unit is a
cooperative apartment or a condominium unit.
Has paid completely for the housing unit or is paying
on a mortgage for the housing unit.
Rented for Cash
Before entering Precode (2) at the TENURE screen to
indicate that the living quarters is rented for cash, make sure
that money is paid for rent or a contract exists for payment
of rent for the housing unit. The person paying the rent does
not have to live in the housing unit (for example, the rent
payer could be a welfare agency or a college student’s
parents.)
Occupied Without
Payment of Cash Rent
Before entering Precode (3) at the TENURE screen to
indicate that the living quarters is occupied without payment
of cash rent, make sure that the sample household:
Does not own or have to pay a mortgage payment.
Is not required to pay rent to reside in the housing unit
and no one else pays the rent for the household.
Examples of this situation might include:
A household living in a unit without paying rent in
exchange for services the household provides to the
owner.
A household living in a unit without paying rent as a gift
from a relative or friend who does not live in the housing
unit.
A household that is only required to pay for the utilities
they use and is not required to pay rent.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-61
Part B, Chapter 2
Special situations
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Situation
Action
Sample address is in a multi-unit
structure.
Mark TENURE based only on the
status of the unit is sample.
Sample address is in a rooming
house or dormitory that requires
the payment of rent.
Mark TENURE to show that the
room is “Rented for cash.”
Sample address is a mobile home
or trailer.
Mark TENURE only for the status
of the mobile home or trailer and
not for the site or land on which it
is located.
Sample address is located on a
military base and rent is paid
directly by the household or
deducted from their pay.
Mark TENURE to show that the
room is “Rented for cash.”
A sample household owns a
piece of property and rents an
adjacent property and both are
used as a single place.
Mark TENURE to show the tenure
status for the property on which
the sample address is located.
Are your living quarters presently used as student housing by a college or university?
1 Yes
2 No
STUDENTHOUSING
STUDENTHOUSING
STUDENTHOUSING is used to verify whether or not the
living quarters at the sample address is presently being
used as student housing by a college or university. Even
though this question is asked during the initial personal visit
interview, this information must be verified each interview
period to determine if there are any changes in the housing
unit’s status.
When TENURE is answered with Precode (1), “Owned or
being bought by you or someone in your household,” and
that case is TIS 1 or a replacement household, the
instrument continues with INDIANRESERVATIONHU.
Otherwise, the instrument continues with NAMECHECK.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-62
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
When TENURE is answered with either Precode (2),
“Rented for cash,” or Precode (3), “Occupied without
payment of cash rent,” the instrument proceeds to
PUBLICHOUSING.
Is this building owned by a public housing authority?
1 Yes, public housing
2 No, not public housing
PUBLICHOUSING
PUBLICHOUSING
PUBLICHOUSING is asked of incoming sample cases and
cases in interview periods 3, 5 and 7 in living quarters that
are rented for cash or occupied without payment of cash
rent.
If you get a “Yes” answer to PUBLICHOUSING, make sure
that the unit is in a federally funded project. If the building
is funded by a state or local government, select Precode (2),
“No, not public housing.” Also select Precode (2) if the
building is part of a federally assisted housing program,
such as VA, FHA, voucher, or certificate assisted housing.
If you select Precode (1), “Yes, public housing,” the
instrument proceeds to PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY
when conducting a personal visit interview or to
NAMECHECK for telephone interviews. If you select
Precode (2), “No, not public housing,” the instrument
proceeds to INDIANRESERVATIONHU for incoming and
replacement household cases, otherwise the instrument
goes to NAMECHECK .
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-63
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• If possible, verify PUBLICHOUSING entry of 1 (Yes) with the manager of building.
Able to verify
1 Public housing
2 Not public housing
Unable to verify
3 Telephone
4 Other - Specify
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY
PUBLICHOUSING
MGRVERIFY
If you determine in Item PUBLICHOUSING that the sample
unit is in a building that is owned by a public housing
authority, the instrument proceeds to
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY, which instructs you,
wherever possible, to:
Locate the building manager; and
Verify that this fact is true.
Do this verification the first time the case is identified as
being owned by a public housing authority in
PUBLICHOUSING. If you are unable to verify the
respondent’s “Yes” answer in PUBLICHOUSING, mark
Precode (4), “Other - specify” in
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY. After selecting Precode
(4), the instrument goes to
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFYSPEC, where you are
prompted to enter the reason you could not verify the unit’s
public housing status.
When you are conducting a telephone interview,
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY is bypassed and
automatically filled with Precode (3).
If you are unable to verify the structure’s public housing
status during the first enumeration period, try to verify public
housing status in a subsequent enumeration period, if
possible, and update the answer for
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY then.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-64
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• Specify the reason why you are unable to verify the public housing status for this housing unit.
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFYSPEC
PUBLICHOUSING
MGRVERIFYSPEC
The instrument goes to
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFYSPEC if you selected
Precode (4), “Other - Specify” in
PUBLICHOUSINGMGRVERIFY. Specify the reason you
were unable to verify the unit’s public housing status.
Are your living quarters located on an American Indian Reservation or on American Indian
Lands?
1 Yes
2 No
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
INDIANRESERVATIONHU
What Is an American
Indian Reservation?
INDIANRESERVATIONHU appears only during the initial
interview (including a replacement household) or when it
was left unanswered during the initial personal visit
interview with the sample household. It is acceptable to
answer this item without asking the question if you are
familiar with the area in which the sample address is located
and know for sure whether or not the living quarters is
located on an American Indian reservation or on American
Indian lands. When there is any doubt about which precode
to select, ask the household respondent the question before
selecting a precode.
An American Indian Reservation is a territory reserved as a
permanent tribal homeland with boundaries established by
treaty, statute, or executive or court order. The federal
government and some state governments established
reservations as territory over which American Indians
possess governmental jurisdiction. These entities are
designated as colonies, communities, pueblos, rancherias,
reservations, and reserves.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-65
Part B, Chapter 2
What Are American
Indian Lands?
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
American Indian Lands are comprised of tribal subdivisions
and trust lands.
A tribal subdivision is an administrative subdivision of a
reservation. Tribal subdivisions may extend beyond the
boundary of their reservations and are internal units of self
government or administration that serve social, cultural, or
economic purposes for the American Indians living on and
adjacent to the reservation.
Trust Lands are held in trust by the federal government for
either a tribe (tribal trust land) or an individual member of a
tribe (individual trust land). Such land is always associated
with a specific federally recognized reservation or tribe, but
may be located on or off the reservation.
During the past 12 months did sales of crops, livestock,
and other farm products from this place amount to $1,000 or more?
1 Yes
2 No
FARMSALES
FARMSALES
What We Mean by
“Place”
FARMSALES is asked of incoming cases or replacement
households which are identified as being in a rural area.
For this question, the term "place" encompasses one or
more tracts of land which the respondent considers to be on
the same property, farm, ranch, or estate. These tracts may
be adjoining or separated by a road, creek, or other pieces
of land. In most cases, a "place" can be clearly defined. For
example, in a built-up area, a "place" is likely to consist of a
house and a lot. However, in a more rural setting, a "place"
could consist of a whole tract of land or a combination of two
or three pieces of land (for example, a sample address on
one piece of land and another piece of land used to grow
crops for sale).
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-66
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What We Mean by
“Sales of Crops,
Livestock, and other
Farm Products”
Part B, Chapter 2
The household respondent should report the gross amount
of money received for the sale of crops, vegetables, fruits,
nuts, livestock and livestock products (milk, wool, and so
forth), poultry and eggs, and nursery and forest products
that are produced at this place and sold at any time during
the past 12 months.
Exclude the value of any products consumed at the place.
The household respondent does not need to provide an
exact amount. He/she only needs to identify whether or
not these sales totaled $1,000 or more during the past 12
months.
Sample household owns or is buying the property:
In this case, farm sales include sales from the entire
acreage or property that the sample household owns or is
buying, even if a portion of the property is rented to
someone else.
Sample household is paying cash rent for the property:
In this case, farm sales include only the amount of sales
generated from the property they are renting.
Sample household lives on property without paying
cash rent:
In this case, if the sample address for both the owner and
the non-cash renter are in the sample, include the amount of
farm sales from the entire acreage of the owner. Do not limit
the amount of sales to only the property occupied without
payment of cash rent.
Sample household lives on property subsidized by the
federal government not to grow certain crops:
Only include the amount of the subsidy if the respondent
would normally have grown and sold the crops that he/she
is paid not to grow.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-67
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Sample household moved to the property during the
past 6 months:
Explain to the current household that this question refers to
farm sales from the property during the past 12 months,
regardless of who resided on the property during those 12
months. If the current respondent is unable to answer this
question, press “Ctrl” + “D” simultaneously to code the item
as “Don’t know.”
Sample household is unable or unwilling to answer:
If a respondent is unable or unwilling to answer Item
FARMSALES, press “Ctrl” + “D” simultaneously to code the
item as “Don’t know.” Use the Case Level Notes to explain
why you entered “Don’t know” for Item FARMSALES.
• Please mark whether or not the sample household has direct access to their living quarters.
1 Direct
2 Through another unit - Not a separate HU; combine with unit through which access is gained
ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS is asked of incoming cases, replacement
households or continuing cases, when the question has not
been previously answered. It is designed to indicate
whether or not the sample household has direct access to
their living quarters.
A living quarters has direct access when an occupant can
either:
Enter his/her living quarters directly from the outside of
the structure OR
Enter his/her living quarters from a common hall or
lobby that is used by occupants of more than one unit
(as found in apartment buildings). The hall or lobby must
not be part of any unit and must be clearly separate from
all units in the structure.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-68
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
If the only entrance to an occupant’s living quarters is
through a room or hall of another household’s living
quarters, then the living quarters does not have direct
access.
Only mark ACCESS by observation when you are sure that
the sample unit has direct access. If you are not sure, ask
the household respondent before you complete ACCESS.
If you mark Precode (2) because the unit does not have
direct access, then the sample address is not a separate
housing unit and should be considered part of the housing
unit through which access to it is gained. It is also possible
that the unit may have been merged with another unit. A
merger is the result of combining two or more unit
addresses to form one unit address. A merger could involve
two single family homes or two or more apartments in a
multi-unit structure.
• Please select one box that describes the type of housing unit.
1 House, apartment, flat
2 HU in nontransient hotel, motel, etc.
3 HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
4 HU in rooming house
5 Mobile home or trailer with no permanent room added
6 Mobile home or trailer with one or more permanent rooms attached
7 HU not specified above - Describe
8 Quarters not HU in rooming or boarding house
9 Unit not permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.
10 Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
11 Student quarters in college dormitory
12 Other unit not specified above - Describe
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT is asked only of incoming cases,
replacement households, or continuing cases, when the
question has not ben previously answered.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-69
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
A housing unit is a group of rooms or a single room
occupied as separate living quarters or intended for
occupancy as separate living quarters. A housing unit may
be occupied by a family or one person, as well as by two or
more unrelated persons who share the living quarters.
To be considered a separate living quarters, the
occupants must:
Live and eat separately from all other persons on the
property; and
Have direct access to their living quarters from the
outside or through a common hall or lobby (as found in
apartment buildings).
Once you have determined that the sample address
qualifies as a housing unit, mark the appropriate box in
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT to indicate the type (not condition)
of housing unit. For example, mark Precode (1), “House,
apartment, flat,” for a vacant or occupied housing unit that
appears to be dilapidated, but still meets the housing unit
definition.
Precode (1), House,
Apartment, Flat
Mark Precode (1) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is:
Precode (2), HU in
Nontransient Hotel,
Motel, etc.
An ordinary house or apartment,
An apartment located over a garage or behind a store,
A janitor's quarters in an office building, and
Housing units in structures like converted barns or
sheds.
Mark Precode (2) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is in a nontransient hotel, motel, motor
court, or YMCA. A hotel or motel is classified as
nontransient if 75 percent or more of the rooms or suites
are occupied or intended for occupancy by permanent
guests. Permanent guests usually stay a month or more at
reduced monthly or weekly rates.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-70
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (3), HU
Permanent in Transient
Hotel, Motel, etc.
Precode (4), HU in
Rooming House
Part B, Chapter 2
Mark Precode (3) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is occupied or intended for occupancy by
permanent guests or resident employees. A hotel or motel
is classified as transient if more than 25 percent of the
rooms or suites are occupied or intended for occupancy by
transient guests. Transient guests usually stay less than a
month and pay daily rates.
Mark Precode (4) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is located in a rooming house or a
combination rooming and boarding house. Rooming houses
and boarding houses are group quarters that have five or
more units for rent. However, the weekly or monthly rent
paid by roomers at a rooming house does not cover meals,
but it could cover linens and maid service. At a boarding
house, the weekly or monthly rent paid by boarders entitles
them to their room and regular meals. The proprietor may or
may not eat with the boarders at a boarding house.
Precode (5), Mobile
Home or Trailer With No
Permanent Room
Added
Mark Precode (5) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is a mobile home or trailer (regardless of
the type of foundation) and no permanent rooms have been
added to the mobile home or trailer. Open or unheated
porches or sheds built onto trailers are not considered
rooms.
Precode (6), Mobile
Home or Trailer With
One or More Permanent
Rooms Added
Mark Precode (6) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when
the housing unit is a mobile home or trailer (regardless of
the type of foundation) and one or more permanent rooms
have been added. Sheds and open or unheated porches
built onto trailers are not considered rooms.
Precode (7), HU Not
Specified Above
Mark Precode (7) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT when a
housing unit cannot be described by the specific categories
already listed. Tents, houseboats, and railroad cars can fall
into this category if they meet the housing unit definition.
Whenever you mark Precode (7), make sure to describe the
type of structure accurately in Item
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNITSPEC7.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-71
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (8), Quarters
Not HU in Rooming or
Boarding House
Mark Precode (8) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT if the
GQ unit is located in a rooming or boarding house or a
combination rooming and boarding house. The sample unit
must not meet the housing unit definition. (Also see
Appendix B of Form 11-922.)
Precode (9), Unit Not
Permanent in Transient
Hotel, Motel, etc.
Mark Precode (9) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT if the
GQ unit is located in a transient hotel, motel, motor court,
etc. and is occupied or intended for occupancy by transient
guests. The sample unit must not meet the housing unit
definition. (Also see Appendix B of Form 11-922.)
Precode (10),
Unoccupied Site for
Mobile Home, Trailer, or
Tent
Mark Precode (10) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT if the
sample address identifies an unoccupied site for a mobile
home, trailer, or tent within a group quarters. The site must
not be intended for a mobile home, trailer, or tent that meets
the housing unit definition.
Precode (11), Student
Quarters in College
Dormitory
Mark Precode (11) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT if the
GQ unit is occupied by a college student in a dormitory. The
sample unit must not meet the housing unit definition.
Precode (12), Other Unit
Not Specified Above
Mark Precode (12) for Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT if the
GQ unit is not described in the categories already
mentioned. For example, mark Precode (12) for dormitories
used by nurses and interns in military hospitals (GQ Type
Code 904 for the 2000 sample design). Then enter the
description of the GQ type as shown in the Table of GQ
Types in Item TYPEOFHOUSINGUNITSPEC12. (Also see
Appendix B of Form 11-922.)
Identifying Changes in
Type of Living Quarters
If you discover a change in the type of living quarters or an
error in classification, correct the entries, if possible, and
note the circumstances and the date that you discovered
the change or error in the Case Level Notes.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-72
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Observe or ask:
How many housing units are in this structure?
11
22
33
44
5 5-9
6 10+
7 Mobile home/trailer
8 Only OTHER units
NUMBEROFUNITS
NUMBEROFUNITS
What Is a Structure?
If you are sure how to mark Item NUMBEROFUNITS by
your observation, mark the appropriate precode without
asking the question. However, if there is any doubt in your
mind, ask the question of the household respondent and
select the appropriate precode to indicate the number of
housing units in the structure. The NUMBEROFUNITS
screen is asked only of incoming cases, replacement
households or continuing cases, where the question has not
previously been answered. If you enter Precodes (1) or (7)
the instrument goes to GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY.
Otherwise, it goes to DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT.
A structure is a separate building that either:
Has open space on all sides (no other building attached
to it)
OR
Is separated from other structures by dividing walls that
extend from ground to roof.
Consider the following residential buildings to be separate
structures if the common wall between them goes from
ground to roof:
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-73
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Double houses
Duplex houses
Row houses
Houses attached to nonresidential structures.
Sheds and private garages attached to houses are not
considered separate structures because they are not
intended for occupancy as separate living quarters.
What Is a Housing Unit?
A housing unit is a group of rooms or a single room
occupied as separate living quarters or intended for
occupancy as separate living quarters. A housing unit may
be occupied by a family or one person, as well as by two or
more unrelated persons who share the living quarters.
(See Form 11-922, Chapter 1, page 5, for more information
about separate living quarters and direct access.)
Single-Unit Structures
If you select Precode (1) or Precode (7) because there is
only one housing unit in the structure, the instrument skips
to GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY. Make sure to mark
Precode (7), “Mobile home/trailer,” in NUMBEROFUNITS if
you marked either Precode (5), “Mobile home or trailer with
no permanent room added” or Precode (6), “Mobile home or
trailer with one or more permanent rooms added,” in
TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT.
Multi-Unit Structures
If you mark Precode (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) because there
are two or more housing units in the structure, complete
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT to inquire about direct access
from outside the structure.
Group Quarters Units
If the sample address identifies a group quarters (GQ) unit,
mark Precode (8) "Only OTHER units." Make sure to mark
Precode (8) in NUMBEROFUNITS if you marked any one of
the Precodes (8) through (12) in TYPEOFHOUSINGUNIT.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-74
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• Observe or ask:
Does the unit have an outside entrance, patio doors, or windows, etc., on the ground level - or
outside stairs leading directly to this unit?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT
DIRECTENTRANCE
TOUNIT
DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT is asked only of incoming
cases, replacement households or continuing cases, when
the question has not previously been answered. When you
are sure how to mark DIRECTENTRANCETOUNIT by your
observations, mark the appropriate precode without asking
the question. However, if there is any doubt in your mind,
ask the question of the household respondent and mark the
appropriate precode.
Precode (1) “Yes”
Mark Precode (1), "Yes" if there is some means of entering
the sample unit directly from the outside, such as a door,
patio doors, or windows at ground level (even if there are
locks and/or bars to prevent entrance) and outside stairs
(such as porch, deck, or fire escape stairs) that lead directly
to an outside entrance for the sample unit.
Precode (2) “No”
Mark Precode (2), "No" when there is no direct access into
the sample unit from outside of the structure and the only
entrance to the sample unit is through a common hall from
within the structure, such as a common hall into a second
floor apartment.
Precode (3) “Don’t
know”
In most cases, you should not need to mark the “Don’t
know” answer, so only select it as a last resort.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-75
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a gated or walled community that restricts access by non-residents or requires entry
codes, key cards, or security guard approval to access?
1 Yes
2 No
GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY
GATEDWALLED
COMMUNITY
GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY is asked only of incoming
cases or continuing cases where the question has not
previously been answered. When you are sure how to
answer GATEDWALLEDCOMMUNITY by your
observation, select the appropriate precode without asking
the question. If there is any doubt about how to properly fill
this item, ask the question of the household respondent and
then mark the appropriate precode.
Precode (1) “Yes”
Enter Precode (1), “Yes,” if access to the household’s
community requires some sort of special entry procedure
and the community is surrounded by walls, fences, or other
barriers to restrict entrance to the community’s homes by
non-residents of the community. Some resort or retirement
communities are good examples of gated or walled
communities. This restricted access refers to the entire
community, rather than just to an individual building or
housing unit. It also includes communities with guard
houses or protection that are operational during certain
hours, such as evenings only. However, it excludes
neighborhood watch programs with no authority to stop
visitors, as well as single-family housing units with gated
driveways.
Precode (2) “No”
Enter Precode (2), “No,” if the household’s unit is not
located in a gated or walled community which restricts
access to non-residents.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-76
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
• Ask if unsure
Is this unit in a building that requires a special entry system such as entry codes, key cards, or
security guard approval to access?
1 Yes
2 No
RESTRICTEDACCESS
RESTRICTEDACCESS
RESTRICTEDACCESS is asked only of incoming cases,
replacement households, or continuing cases, when the
question has not previously been answered.
Precode (1) “Yes”
Enter Precode (1), “Yes,” if the housing unit is in a building
that has some type of special entry system, such as an
intercom system from which the occupants can identify and
“buzz in” visitors or a security guard who monitors access
into the building.
Precode (2) “No”
Enter Precode (2), “No,” if the housing unit is not located in a
building that requires a special entry system for access
(including an intercom system or a security guard).
After completing RESTRICTEDACCESS the instrument
continues with the household roster demographic
characteristics section to build or update the household
roster. This is detailed in Topic 9 of this chapter.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-77
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 9. Household Roster Demographic Characteristics
(Screen Layout and Instructions for
HHROSTER_FNAME Through ANY_OTHERCHNG)
Overview of the Control
Card Section
The Control Card section of the NCVS instrument is made
up of three parts or tables; the PreDemo Table, the
DemoDetailed Table and the DemoChange Table. The
PreDemo Table is used to collect basic information about
the person living at the sample address, such as; their
name, sex, membership status. On the other hand, the
DemoDetailed Table is used to collect the more detailed
demographic information, such as; their age, marital status,
highest level of schooling and race, to name a few. Last, the
DemoChange Table is used to correct demographic
information that was previously collected and may not have
been updated or verified during the current enumeration.
The PreDemo Table General Information
The order in which you proceed through the PreDemo
Table, depends on whether the case is an incoming or
continuing household. An “incoming household” is one that
is being interviewed for the first time; either the first time it is
in sample or as a replacement household. A “continuing
household” is a case in enumerations 2-7 that is not a
replacement household.
For an incoming household you start this section by building
the roster, entering the names of the persons living or
staying at the sample address beginning at the
HHROSTER_FNAME screen. After entering the person’s
name you collect personal demographic information about
them, such as their relationship to the reference person, sex
and household membership. For a continuing case, you
start this section at the NAMECHECK screen to verify all
the household members listed from the previous
enumeration are still household members.
For all enumerations, continue by collecting and/or verifying
personal demographic information for each household
member in the DemoDetailed Table.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-78
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Building the Household
Roster During the First
Enumeration Period
Build the household roster by listing each person who is
living or staying at the sample address. Each person is
assigned a unique line number that is automatically allotted
in the instrument and is displayed to the left of the person’s
name. This line number distinguishes the various
individuals from each other in the instrument as well as the
output data. The line number is also used to identify the
household respondent for each enumeration period as well
as to identify the household member who reported an
incident. The line number should also be used to refer to a
person in the Incident Summary screen as well as the “Case
Level Notes,” rather than using the person’s name.
What are the names of all people living or staying here? Start with the name of the
person or one of the people who owns this home.
Enter first name on this screen.
Enter 999 to leave the table.
HHROSTER_FNAME
What are the names of all people living or staying here? Start with the name of the
person or one of the people who owns this home.
Enter last name on this screen.
HHROSTER_LNAME
HHROSTER_FNAME and
HHROSTER_LNAME
Build the household roster during the first interview with a
sample household starting with the first and last name of
each person living or staying at the sample address.
Once you ask the question in bold type, "What are the
names of all people living or staying here?" the next
statement you read varies, depending on the answer
recorded in Item TENURE.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-79
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If the living quarters is either owned or being bought by
someone in the household, read the statement as
follows: "Start with the name of the person or one of
the people who owns this home."
If the living quarters is rented for cash, read the
statement as follows: "Start with the name of the
person or one of the people who rents this home."
HHROSTER_LNAME is the second item of the two screens
used to enter a person’s name into the roster. Therefore, the
question text is in grey, which means that you do not have to
ask the question since you most likely were given the
person’s first and last name when you asked the question in
Item HHROSTER_FNAME.
Who to List on the
Roster
List the names (last names first) of the following persons:
All persons living or staying at the sample address at the
time of your contact.
All persons who usually live at the sample address, but
who are temporarily away for reasons such as visiting
friends or relatives, traveling for their jobs, in "general"
hospitals, and so forth.
All children who usually live at the sample address,
including infants under 1 year of age.
Any lodgers, servants, hired hands, and other persons
who usually live at the sample address.
Visitors and other persons who are not household
members (do not usually live at the sample address),
but are in the sample household at the time of your
interview and have stayed at the sample address at
least one night before your interview, such as a visitor or
student with a usual residence elsewhere.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-80
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Preferred Order for
Listing Names
Part B, Chapter 2
The "preferred" order for listing names on the roster by
relationship to the reference person is:
Reference person
Husband or wife of the reference person
Unmarried children of the reference person or his/her
spouse, starting with the oldest and ending with the
youngest
Married sons and/or daughters of the reference person
or his/her spouse, followed by the married child's
spouse, and each of their children (oldest to youngest)
Other persons related to the reference person or his/her
spouse. (If these other relatives are related to each
other, list them together.)
Lodgers and other nonrelatives staying at the sample
address. (If these other nonrelatives are related to each
other, list them together.)
Although this is the "preferred" order, it is not necessary to
change entries in the roster so that they match the
"preferred" order.
Completing the
Household Roster
Normally, you list the reference person in the first line of the
household roster. Then complete Items SEX (male or
female), RELATIONSHIP (relationship to reference
person), and HHMEMBER (household member) for one line
number before entering the next person in
HHROSTER_FNAME.
NOTE: The instrument automatically fills Precode (21),
“Reference Person” in RELATIONSHIP for the first
person listed on the roster when building the roster for a
new household. In this situation the instrument skips
from SEX to HHMEMBER.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-81
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The instrument automatically prefills the last name of the
person in the previous row so for each person with the same
last name as the preceding person you can just press the
“Enter” key to move from Item HHROSTER_LNAME to Item
SEX. If the last names are different you can press the
“Delete” key or type over the previous entry when the last
name is highlighted in blue.
As you complete the household roster, you may need to
probe for the household respondent to give you the names
of all remaining persons staying at the sample address. If
so, you can ask, "What are the names of all other
persons who are living or staying here?" Repeat this
question, as necessary, until you are sure that the
household roster is complete. Once you are sure you have
collected the names of all the persons living or staying at the
sample address enter “999” at Item HHROSTER_FNAME
in the next empty row to proceed to the HHLDCOVERAGE
screen.
If you mistakenly enter “999” in Item HHROSTER_FNAME
of a person who is already listed on the roster you encounter
an edit check pop-up that tells you how to proceed.
You can only enter 999 on a blank line – not over an existing person.
If you need to delete this person from the roster, use arrow keys to go to MEMBERCHANGES
and enter the reason why this person is no longer a member.
Select “close” to return to HHROSTER_FNAME to
restore Jane to the household roster.
Questions involved
HHROSTER_FNAME: First name
Close
Value
999
Goto
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-82
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
This edit check appears when you have entered “999” over
someone’s name. You are only permitted to enter “999” on a
line that is not occupied by a person listed on the roster.
Click on the “Close” or “Goto” buttons to return to Item
HHROSTER_FNAME and reenter the person’s name that
was overwritten with the entry of “999.” Notice that this edit
check displays the first name of the person that needs to be
stored in the third interviewer instruction, so make note of
the name before returning to the HHROSTER_FNAME
screen.
If you enter “999” in Item HHROSTER_FNAME to exit the
PreDemos Table and the person listed as the reference
person is coded as a nonmember you will also encounter an
edit check pop-up that tells you how to proceed.
You need to select a reference person who is a
household member.
Enter 21 in the “Relation” column for the
reference person.
Questions involved
HHROSTER_FNAME: First name
Close
Value
999
Goto
This edit check appears when you enter “999” to exit the
PreDemos Table and the line number marked as the
reference person is also listed as a nonmember. Click on
the “Close” or “Goto” buttons to return to Item
HHROSTER_FNAME and resolve this issue by either:
changing the current reference persons member status
to Precode (1) or
entering Precode (21) “Reference Person” in
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-83
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
RELATIONSHIP for another line number.
Every case must have a valid reference person before
leaving the PreDemos Table.
For the remaining items in the household roster
demographic screens the instrument automatically fills the
name of the household member for whom you are collecting
information in the question text.
Ask if necessary
Is Ted Moe male or female?
1 Male
2 Female
SEX
SEX
(Household Member’s Sex)
Ask the question in SEX and enter the appropriate precode
based on the household respondent’s answer.
Enter Precode (1) for “Male” or Precode (2) for “Female.”
What is Ted Moe’s relationship to you?
11 Husband
12 Wife
13 Son
14 Daughter
15 Father
16 Mother
17 Brother
18 Sister
19 Other relative
20 Nonrelative
RELATIONSHIP
RELATIONSHIP
(Relationship to the
Reference Person)
Use Item RELATIONSHIP to identify the reference person
and the relationship of each remaining person listed on the
roster to the reference person. The reference person is a
concept used to establish the relationship of everyone on
the roster to one specific person. When building the roster,
the instrument automatically codes the first person listed as
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-84
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
the reference person, so you do not need to select someone
to be the reference person at this point.
Ask the household respondent the question in Item
RELATIONSHIP and enter the precode corresponding to
the relationship (husband, wife, son, daughter, and so forth)
to the reference person.
Reference Person
The reference person is usually the first person
mentioned when you begin to build the household roster.
Since we want a responsible adult household member who
is less likely to permanently leave the household, it is
preferable to designate one of the persons who owns or
rents the home as the reference person. Each household
must have a reference person and the reference person
must be a household member.
(Also see Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 4, for more
information about the reference person.)
Relationship of Other
Persons to the
Reference Person
Once you have identified which person will be the reference
person, you must determine the precise relationship of all
other persons listed on the roster to the reference person.
Edit Checks Based on
Relationship Codes
After coding RELATIONSHIP you may encounter a pop-up
edit check based on a possible inconsistency in the
responses entered in SEX and RELATIONSHIP. You will
encounter these edit checks when:
You have listed more than one husband or more than
one wife;
You have listed both a husband and a wife as
relationships to the reference person;
You have listed more than one father or more than one
mother;
The person’s sex is inconsistent with the relationship,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-85
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
such as; a male sister, or a female father.
Correct inconsistencies when necessary.
Does Ted Moe usually live here?
If "No", probe for usual residence elsewhere.
1 Yes
2 No
HHMEMBER
HHMEMBER
(Household Member
Status)
HHMEMBER is designed to help you determine whether or
not each person listed in the household roster is considered
a household member. Once you have identified a person's
relationship to the reference person in Item
RELATIONSHIP, ask the following question in Item
HHMEMBER, "Does...usually live here?" If the answer is
"No," try to determine whether the person has a usual place
of residence held elsewhere for him/her in Item
HSEMEMURE. Ordinarily, a person's usual place of
residence is the place where the person eats and sleeps the
majority of the time.
As a general rule, a person is considered a household
member if:
The sample address is the person's usual place of
residence or
The person is staying at the sample address at the time
of interview and does not have a usual place of
residence elsewhere.
(Also see Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 3, of this manual as
well as your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) for
help in determining household membership.)
Person Is a Household
If you determine that the person meets the household
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-86
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Member
Part B, Chapter 2
member criteria:
Select Precode (1) “Yes” in Item HHMEMBER and
Continue to the next line on the household roster.
Person Is Not a
Household Member
If you determine that the person does not meet the
household member criteria:
Select Precode (2) “No” in Item HHMEMBER and
Then ask the question in HSEMEMURE to confirm that
person’s usual place of residence is elsewhere.
Does Ted Moe have a usual place of residence elsewhere?
1 Yes
2 No
HSEMEMURE
HSEMEMURE
(Usual Residence
Elsewhere)
When a household respondent mentions that a person on
the roster does not usually live there, follow up with the
question in HSEMEMURE to determine if the person
qualifies as a household member under NCVS procedures.
If the household respondent replies that this person has a
usual residence elsewhere, then enter Precode (1) “Yes” in
HSEMEMURE which means this person is NOT a
household member. However, entering Precode (2) “No”
means that the person does not have a usual residence
elsewhere and therefore classifies as a member by NCVS
standards.
If the entire household has a usual residence elsewhere,
follow the procedures for classifying the case as a Type B
Noninterview, as discussed after HHLDCOVERAGE below.
(See Part A, Chapter 6, Topic 3, for procedures to
classify a case as a Type B noninterview.)
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-87
Part B, Chapter 2
When Unsure About
Household Membership
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
First, reread the information:
In Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 3, of this manual and
In your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554).
If you are still unsure whether to include a person on the
household roster as a household member, select Precode
(1), "Yes," in Item HHMEMBER, continue to interview the
person, and explain the situation in the "Case Level Notes."
I have
LN
1
2
3
• Read names below listed as living or staying at this address.
NAME
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
Jane Moe
REL
Ref Person
Wife
Daughtr
AGE
43
43
14
SEX
M
F
F
MARITAL
Married
Married
Never Married
STATUS
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
Are ALL of these people still living or staying at that address?
1 Yes
2 No
NAMECHECK
Verifying the Household
Roster During the Second
Through Seventh
Enumeration Periods
In enumerations two through seven you verify, with the
household respondent, that the household roster is
up-to-date. In NAMECHECK you begin adding members to
the household, coding persons as nonmembers or adding
back persons who were previously coded as nonmembers.
NAMECHECK
(Verifying the Roster)
NAMECHECK appears after STUDENTHOUSING or
PUBLICHOUSING. NAMECHECK is only asked during
enumerations 2-7 for continuing cases to verify that all of the
people listed on the roster from the previous enumeration
are still living or staying at the sample address at the time of
the current interview. NAMECHECK should only display
those people who were marked as household members
during the previous enumeration. When reading the
question to the household respondent you are instructed to
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-88
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
read all the names of the people displayed at this item. So
using the example above you would ask, "I have Ted,
Megan and Jane Moe listed as living or staying at this
address. Are ALL of these people still living or staying
at this address?"
On the other hand, if the household respondent is the only
household member the question is phrased, "I have you
listed as living or staying at this address. Is that
correct?"
Who Should Be Listed
The household roster in NAMECHECK should include:
All persons living or staying at the sample address at the
time of the interview.
All persons who usually live at the sample address, but
who are temporarily away for reasons such as visiting
friends or relatives, traveling for their jobs, in “general”
hospitals, and so forth.
All children who usually live at the sample address,
including infants under 1 year of age.
Any lodgers, servants, hired hands, and other persons
who usually live at the sample address.
Visitors and other persons who are not household
members (do not usually live at the sample address),
but are in the sample household at the time of your
interview and have stayed at the sample address at
least one night before your interview, such as a visitor or
student with a usual residence elsewhere.
If the household roster is correct, enter Precode (1) “Yes” at
NAMECHECK and continue with HHLDCOVERAGE.
If you determine that the roster is not correct either because
someone listed is no longer a household member, there is
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-89
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
someone new living or staying at the address or someone
who is listed on the roster as a nonmember has returned to
the household and needs to be recoded as a household
member, enter Precode (2) “No” at NAMECHECK. Then
continue with REFPERSTILLLIVE to determine if the
reference person still lives at the sample address before
moving on to MEMBERCHANGES, to code the reason the
household roster is changing.
Ask or verify
Does Ted Moe still live at this address?
1 Yes
2 No
REFPERSTILLLIVE
REFPERSTILLLIVE
REFPERSTILLLIVE appears when you have coded that
there has been a change to the household composition at
NAMECHECK. At REFPERSTILLLIVE you ask or verify
whether the reference person still lives at the sample
address.
Enter Precode (1) for a “Yes” answer, indicating that the
reference person is still a usual resident and still qualifies as
the reference person for the sample household. After
entering Precode (1), continue with MEMBERCHANGES to
code the reason there was a change in the household
composition.
Changing the Reference
Person (Person Is Not a
Household Member)
If you determine that the person identified in
RELATIONSHIP as the reference person is not a
household member, you must identify another household
member as the reference person. If you encounter this
situation, you must:
Enter Precode (2) “No” in Item NAMECHECK.
Enter Precode (2) “No” in Item REFPERSTILLLIVE.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-90
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Determine who should be the new reference person by
asking the question in Item NEWREFPER.
If necessary, correct the relationship precodes in
RELATIONSHIP for the remaining persons in the
household roster to show their relationship to the new
reference person.
What is the name of the person (or one of the persons) who owns or rents that home? Would
that be you?
Enter line number of the new reference person or 31 if someone not listed
LN
NAME
1
2
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
REL
Ref Person
Wife
AGE
SEX
MARITAL
STATUS
43
43
M
F
Married
Married
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
NEWREFPER
NEWREFPER
This item is similar to the screen in the front of the
instrument where you can select a new household
respondent (HELLO_ALT2_CP). NEWREFPER asks the
current household respondent to select a new reference
person by asking, “What is the name of the person (or
one of the persons) who owns or rents that home?
Would that be you?” After reading the question, select a
new reference person based on the people listed in
NEWREFPER. The instrument should only display persons
at this screen who qualify to be selected as the reference
person, based on the criteria for selecting a reference
person. (For more information on who qualifies as a
reference person see Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 4, of this
manual.)
Although rare, you may encounter a situation where the
household respondent mentions someone who is not listed
on the roster displayed at this item. If that occurs, verify that
this new person is actually a household member and if so,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-91
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
enter Precode (31) “Someone not listed above” in
NEWREFPER to add a new person to the roster via the
PreDemos Table discussed above. By adding a new
household member using this path, the instrument
automatically removes the code in the “Relation” column
from the previous reference person. The instrument will also
create a new line number and assigns Precode (21)
“Reference Person” in the “Relation” column of this person
just added to the household roster. The instrument also
empties the “Relation” column for any remaining household
members. You will need to enter the relationship codes for
the remaining household members based on the new
reference person. When a new person is added to the roster
as the new reference person the instrument will continue
with MEMBERCHANGES for line number 1. At this point,
you should enter the reason the previous reference person
has left the household and then use the arrow keys to go to
HHROSTER_FNAME for the new reference person.
Complete the items for this person; HHROSTER_FNAME,
HHROSTER_LNAME, SEX and MEMBERCHANGES.
Note: Enter the reason the new reference person entered
the household in MEMBERCHANGES.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-92
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Enter reason why there is a change in household membership for this person.
If no change is needed for this person, press the ENTER key without selecting a precode.
Use the arrow keys to move through the table and REVIEW/UPDATE demographics.
When done, press Page Down.
WHY ENTERED HOUSEHOLD:
11 Returned from school or college
12 Returned from institution
13 Entered because of marriage/separation/
divorce
14 Person entered household for
reasons other than above
WHY LEFT HOUSEHOLD:
15 Person died
16 Left for school or college
17 Entered institution
18 Left because of marriage/separation/divorce
19 Person left household for
reasons other than above
20 Visitor – residence elsewhere
MEMBERCHANGES
MEMBERCHANGES
(Changes in Household
Composition)
MEMBERCHANGES is accessible when a change in the
household composition has been noted by an entry in
HELP_OTH_CP, NAMECHECK, or HHLDCOVERAGE.
When a change has occurred in the household composition,
record the reason for the change based on the Precodes
listed in MEMBERCHANGES. The instrument automatically
goes to MEMBERCHANGES associated with the first line
number. Even if Line Number 1 does not have any changes,
the instrument starts at line number 1. If there are no
changes to the first line number’s household member status
you can use the down arrow to navigate to the line number
where the first change occurred.
MEMBERCHANGES does not have a question for you to
ask the household respondent. Use this screen to document
household composition changes when you discover that a
household member has entered or left the household since
the previous interview. Try to determine the reason for the
change without antagonizing the household respondent
with questions that may be too personal or specific.
Once you determine the reason a household member
entered or left a household, find the appropriate 2-digit
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-93
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (08/2017)
reason code in the answer list, which is divided by reasons
for entering and leaving the household. If the reason does
not fit into any of the precodes, use the "Case Level Notes"
to further explain the change.
Adding a Household
Member
When a new person enters a household:
Add the person's name to the household roster using
HHROSTER_FNAME and HHROSTER_LNAME in the
next unused row. These items were discussed earlier in
this topic.
Complete Item RELATIONSHIP to determine the new
person's relationship to the reference person.
Complete HHMEMBER to determine if the new person
qualifies as a household member.
If you get a "Yes" answer in HHMEMBER, complete
BRTHDATEMO through RACE (in the
DemoDetailed Table) for the new household
member, as applicable.
If you get a "No" answer in HHMEMBER, ask the
HSEMEMURE. If the new person does not have a
usual residence elsewhere enter Precode (2) “No”,
then follow the instruction above for when
HHMEMBER equals “Yes.” Otherwise, enter
Precode (1) in HSEMEMURE, since the person
being added is staying at the household temporarily
and has a usual residence elsewhere. In this case
you need not collect data for Items BRTHDATEMO
through RACE (in the DemoDetailed Table) for this
person because they are not considered a
household member. However, you do need to enter
Precode (20) “Visitor - residence elsewhere” in
MEMBERCHANGES for this person.
In MEMBERCHANGES, enter the appropriate Precode
(11 - 14), to code the reason the household member
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-94
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
was added to the roster. In the “Case Level Notes” enter
a brief description of the reason for the change. For
example, "L2 added to roster Precode 14/Married to
L1/1-2017."
Deleting a Household
Member
Person dies:
If a person listed on the roster has died, enter Precode (15),
"Person died," in Item MEMBERCHANGES and add a brief
description in the “Case Level Notes.”
Person leaves household:
If a person leaves a household and is not just temporarily
absent, enter the appropriate Precode (16-19) in Item
MEMBERCHANGES. Then in the “Case Level Notes” enter
a brief description, such as; "L4 left HHLD/Precode
16/Attending College/2-2017" or "Precode 19/L2 Active
military duty overseas/3-2017."
Person's Household
Membership Changes
If a person listed on the roster was coded as a nonmember
during a previous enumeration and then returns while the
household is still in sample, enter the appropriate Precode
(11-14) in MEMBERCHANGES. Be sure to verify that this
person’s Membership status in the “HHmember” column
has changed to a value of (1) “Yes.” In the “Case Level
Notes” enter a brief description of the reason the person has
returned to the household, for example, “L3 returned to
household/Precode 13/ Released from prison/7-2017."
If you discover that a person who was listed as a URE
(usual residence elsewhere) in a previous enumeration
period, is now a household member, enter the appropriate
Precode (11-14) in MEMBERCHANGES. Be sure to verify
that this person’s Membership status in the “HH member”
column has changed to a value of (1) “Yes.” Then in the
“Case Level Notes” enter a brief description of the reason
the person has returned to the household, for example,
"Precode 14/L2 Returned from active military duty
overseas/2-2017."
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-95
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Have I missed anyone else living or staying here such as
any babies, any lodgers, or anyone who is away at present
traveling or in the hospital?
1 Yes
2 No
HHLDCOVERAGE
HHLDCOVERAGE
(Household Roster
Coverage)
Asking
HHLDCOVERAGE 1st Enumeration Period
HHLDCOVERAGE is designed to remind the household
respondent to mention anyone he/she may have forgotten
to mention initially and to ensure that the household roster is
complete. Many household respondents forget to mention
babies, lodgers, and visitors when asked about persons
staying at their home.
During the first enumeration, HHLDCOVERAGE appears
after you enter “999” in the next empty row, at
HHROSTER_FNAME to indicate you’ve completed the
roster.
When interviewing a sample household for the first time,
start Item HHLDCOVERAGE by reading, "Have I missed
anyone else living or staying here such as any babies,
any lodgers, or anyone who is away at present
traveling or in the hospital?"
If the household respondent answers "Yes" to the question
in Item HHLDCOVERAGE:
Select Precode (1) "Yes,"
Add the person's name to the household roster via the
HHROSTER_FNAME and HHROSTER_LNAME
screens, and
Complete Items SEX, RELATIONSHIP and
HHMEMBER for the added person.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-96
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Continue asking if you missed anyone else living or
staying at the address until the household respondent
answers, "No." Then enter “999” again in the next empty
row at the HHROSTER_FNAME screen. Then enter
Precode (2) “No” in HHLDCOVERAGE. The instrument
then goes to BIRTHDATEMO to begin collecting the
rest of the demographic information for each household
member.
If the household respondent answers "No" to the question in
HHLDCOVERAGE:
Select Precode (2) "No,"
The instrument proceeds to BIRTHDATEMO to begin
collecting the rest of the demographic information for
each household member.
Asking
HHLDCOVERAGE 2nd Through 7th
Enumeration Periods
HHLDCOVERAGE appears next for the second through
seventh enumeration cases after entering Precode (1) “Yes”
at Item NAMECHECK to signify the input roster was
correct.
HHLDCOVERAGE also appears during Time in Sample
two through seven after entering Precode (2) “No” in
NAMECHECK to signify the input roster was not correct,
then entering “999” in the next empty row in Item
HHROSTER_FNAME when you have completed making
those changes to the roster. Once you reach
HHLDCOVERAGE, ask "Have I missed anyone else
living or staying here such as any babies, any lodgers,
or anyone who is away at present traveling or in the
hospital?"
If the household respondent answers "Yes" to
HHLDCOVERAGE:
Select Precode (1) "Yes,"
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-97
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Add the person's name to the household roster via the
HHROSTER_FNAME and HHROSTER_LNAME
screens, and
Complete Items SEX, RELATIONSHIP and
HHMEMBER for the added person.
Continue asking if you missed anyone else living or
staying at the address until the household respondent
answers "No." Then enter “999” in the next empty row at
the HHROSTER_FNAME screen and then enter
Precode (2) “No” in Item HHLDCOVERAGE. The
instrument then proceeds to the AGECHECK screen for
the first household member to begin verifying and/or
collecting the rest of the demographic information for
each household member.
If the household respondent answers "No" to the question in
Item HHLDCOVERAGE:
Select Precode (2) "No,"
Households consisting entirely of persons who are not
household members and have a usual residence
elsewhere proceed to Item ENTIREHHURE.
Otherwise, the instrument proceeds to Item
AGECHECK to begin verifying the demographic
information collected during previous enumerations for
each household member.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-98
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
All people on the household roster have a usual residence elsewhere.
Enter 1 to exit the case.
Then reenter the case to code it a Noninterview (Type B - Entire Household URE) via START_CP.
1 Enter 1 to continue
ENTIREHHURE
ENTIREHHURE
In the situation, where all of the persons listed on the
household roster have a usual residence elsewhere the
case will need to be coded as a Type B Noninterview. This
screen will appear when Precode (2) is entered in
HHLDCOVERAGE and all of the persons listed on the
roster have been coded as nonmembers.
By entering Precode (1) at ENTIREHHURE you
acknowledge that this case classifies as a Type B
noninterview (outcome code 225), “Temporarily occupied
by persons with URE.”
After exiting the case, you will need to reenter the case to
complete the process of coding this case as a Type B via
the START_CP screen. (Also see Part A, Chapter 6,
Topic 3, Type B Noninterview Categories.)
The DemoDetailed Table General Information
Once you have verified which persons listed in the
household roster qualify as household members at the
sample address, then begin collecting and/or verifying the
demographic information for each household member. The
DemoDetailed Table consists of Items AGECHECK
through RACE which are used to obtain personal
characteristics (date of birth, age, marital status, and so
forth) for each household member listed on the roster.
Complete Items AGECHECK through RACE, as applicable,
for one household member before completing these items
for the next household member on the roster. You do not
complete Items AGECHECK through RACE for any
nonhousehold members listed on the roster.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-99
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
I have you listed as 43 years old as of last month.
Is that correct?
1 Yes, age IS correct
2 No, age is NOT correct
AGECHECK
AGECHECK
(Verifying the Age on Input)
During enumerations two through seven AGECHECK is the
first of these demographic information collection/verification
screens and is used to verify each household member’s
current age during each enumeration period. This screen
appears for the first household member and is then
repeated for each remaining household member. The
NCVS instrument inserts the appropriate household
member’s name and age based on information from the
previous interview.
When a case is loaded, the instrument calculates each
household member’s age, based on the date of birth that
was collected during a prior enumeration period and fills that
age into the question text of AGECHECK. During
enumerations two through seven you will ask the household
respondent the question in AGECHECK for each
household member. For example, when verifying the
household respondent’s age you will ask, “I have you listed
as 43 years old. Is that correct?”
Ask the question as worded; the question text changes
when a household member’s birth month is the same as the
current interviewing month. In this situation the instrument
automatically inserts the phrase “as of last month” into the
question text to alert the household respondent we are
verifying the person’s age “as of last month.” This way if a
household member’s birthday has already occurred during
the current interview month the age information is
collected/verified the same across all cases. Therefore,
when the interviewing month is the same as the birth month
for a household member ask, in AGECHECK, “I have you
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-100
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
listed as 43 years old, as of last month. Is that correct?”
When the Previous Age
Recorded Is Correct
When you ask the question in AGECHECK and the
household respondent confirms the household member’s
age is correct:
Enter Precode (1) “Yes, age IS correct”.
Continue to verify the remaining demographic
information items for the current household member. If
the current household member you are verifying
information about is 14 years of age or older the
instrument proceeds to MARITAL. If the current
household member is 12 or 13 years of age the
instrument proceeds to either EDUCATIONATTAIN or
ATTENDINGSCHOOL. Otherwise, if the current
household member is under 12 years of age the
instrument proceeds to AGECHECK for the next
household member or to ROSTERREVIEW when there
are no more household members left to verify
demographic information for.
When the Previous Age
Recorded Is Not Correct
When you ask the question in Item AGECHECK and the
household respondent says the age we previously recorded
is incorrect:
Enter Precode (2) “Yes, age is NOT correct”.
The instrument proceeds to the BRTHDATEMO,
BRTHDATEDY and BRTHDATEYR screens to edit the
incorrect date of birth information. See below for more
information regarding completing these three items.
When the Birthday
Previously Collected is
Incomplete or Refused
If a household member’s date of birth (month, day, or year)
was not completed or the person's date of birth was refused
during a prior enumeration, the instrument will not be able to
calculate an age for that person for the current enumeration.
In this situation, the instrument skips the AGECHECK
screen and go to the Items BRTHDATEMO,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-101
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
BRTHDATEDY and BRTHDATEYR screens to edit the
incorrect or incomplete date of birth information.
What is Ted Moe’s date of birth?
Enter month on this screen
BRTHDATEMO
What is Ted Moe’s date of birth?
Enter day on this screen
BRTHDATEDY
What is Ted Moe’s date of birth?
Enter year on this screen
If the year is less than 1890, enter 1890
BRTHDATEYR
BRTHDATEMO,
BRTHDATEDY and
BRTHDATEYR
(Date of Birth)
During the first enumeration you come to BRTHDATEMO
after entering Precode (2) in HHLDCOVERAGE in order to
start collecting a household member’s date of birth. You
also come to BRTHDATEMO during enumerations two
through seven when a person was added to the household
roster during the current enumeration, when the household
member’s date of birth was not correct (you entered
Precode (2) in AGECHECK) or the date of birth was
incomplete or refused during a previous enumeration.
Entering the Date of Birth
Although BRTHDATEMO and BRTHDATEDY are two
digits, you do not need to enter a zero for a one digit month
or day. Rather, you can enter a one digit for the months of
January through September (1-9) as well as for the first 9
days of a month. However, for BRTHDATEYR you must
enter 4 digits. For example, enter 4/2/2017 for April 2, 2017.
When a household respondent is unsure of the exact date of
birth, you can:
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-102
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Press the “Ctrl” and “D” keys at the same time to code a
blind “Don’t Know” in any or all three birth date screens.
If you enter don’t know in BRTHDATEYR the instrument
proceeds to ESTAGE to ask the household respondent
to estimate the household member’s age.
Since certain questions will only be on-path based on a
household member’s age, it is very important that you
are careful to correctly capture age information when
building or updating the roster for the household.
Date of Birth is Refused
If the household respondent refuses to give you another
household member's date of birth, you can:
Press the “Ctrl” and “R” keys at the same time to code
a blind “Refused” in any or all three birth date screens.
If you enter refused in BRTHDATEYR the instrument
proceeds to AGERNG to ask the household respondent
to select which age range the household member’s age
fits into, based upon the age ranges specified in the
answer list.
That would make Ted Moe 43 years old.
Is that correct?
1 Yes
2 No
VFYAGE
VFYAGE
(Verify Age Based on Birth
Date Collected)
After collecting the date of birth information the instrument
goes to VFYAGE to verify that the age calculated in the
instrument, based on the date of birth information collected
in BRTHDATEMO, BRTHDATEDY and BRTHDATEYR is
correct. If you entered a blind “Don’t Know” or a blind
“Refusal” in BRTHDATEYR the instrument bypasses this
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-103
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
screen and continues on to either ESTAGE or AGERNG as
discussed below.
VFYAGE is set up similarly to AGECHECK. For example,
when verifying the age based on the date of birth just
collected for the household respondent you ask, “That
would make you 43 years old. Is that correct?” Be sure
to ask the question as worded, because the question text
changes when a household member’s birth month is the
same as the current interviewing month. In this situation the
instrument automatically inserts the phrase “as of last
month” into the question text to alert the household
respondent we are verifying the person’s age as of last
month. This way if a household member’s birthday has
already occurred during the current interview month the age
information is collected/verified the same across all cases.
Therefore, when the interviewing month is the same as the
birth month for a household member, ask in Item VFYAGE,
“That would make you 43 years old, as of last month. Is
that correct?”
If the age is not correct enter Precode (2) to return to
BRTHDATEMO, BRTHDATEDY and BRTHDATEYR to
edit the incorrect date of birth information. If the age is
correct and the current household member you are verifying
information about is 14 years of age or older the instrument
proceeds to MARITAL. If the current household member is
12 or 13 years of age the instrument proceeds to either
EDUCATIONATTAIN or ATTENDINGSCHOOL.
Otherwise, if the current household member is under 12
years of age the instrument proceeds to Item AGECHECK
for the next household member or to the ROSTERREVIEW
screen when there are no more household members left to
verify demographic information for.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-104
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Even though you don’t know Ted Moe’s exact birthdate, what is your best guess as to how old he
was on his last birthday?
ESTAGE
ESTAGE
(Estimating a Household
Member's Age)
Item ESTAGE is asked when the household respondent
does not know the birth year for a household member and
you entered a blind “Don’t Know” in Item BRTHDATEYR.
This screen is used to collect an estimated age of the
household member, in lieu of a date of birth. This is an
attempt to get some age for a household member in order to
determine whether the respondent is eligible for the NCVS.
Remember, age is very important to capture because it is
used as criteria for asking other question such as;
LEAVING_HOME, ORIENTATION_MALE,
ORIENTATION_FEMALE, GENID_BIRTH,
GENID_DESCRIBE, GENID_CURRENT,
GENID_CONFIRM, ACTIVE_DUTY and
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN.
For Babies Under 1 Year:
Enter "0" in Item ESTAGE for household members who are
under 1 year of age.
For Adults Over Age 96:
Enter "96" in Item ESTAGE for an adult whose age is 96 or
older.
If you enter a blind “Don’t Know” or a blind “Refusal” in Item
ESTAGE the instrument will proceed to the AGERNG
screen. Otherwise if the current household member you are
verifying information about is 14 years of age or older the
instrument proceeds to the MARTIAL screen. If the current
household member is 12 or 13 years of age the instrument
proceeds to either Item EDUCATIONATTAIN or Item
ATTENDINGSCHOOL. Otherwise, if the current household
member is under 12 years of age the instrument proceeds
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-105
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
to Item AGECHECK for the next household member or to
the ROSTERREVIEW screen when there are no more
household members left to verify demographic information
for.
Is he a child, a teenager, or an adult? Is he ...
Read appropriate age categories.
1 0 - 11 years old?
2 12 - 13 years old?
3 14 - 15 years old?
4 16 - 17 years old?
5 18 - 24 years old?
6 25 - 34 years old?
7 35 - 49 years old?
8 50 - 65 years old?
9 66 years old or older?
AGERNG
AGERNG
(Coding an Age into a
Range of Ages)
AGERNG is asked when the household respondent refuses
to give you the birth year for a household member and you
entered a blind “Refused” in BRTHDATEYR. AGERNG
also appears when you enter a blind “Don’t Know” or a blind
“Refusal” in ESTAGE. AGERNG is used to code a
household member’s age into one of nine ranges. This is
done in an attempt to narrow down a household member’s
age in order to determine whether the respondent is eligible
for the NCVS. Age is also used as a criterion for asking
certainsocio-demographic questions and some NCVS
supplements.
After entering the precode in AGERNG and the current
household member you are verifying information about is 14
years of age or older, the instrument proceeds to MARITAL.
If the current household member is 12 or 13 years of age the
instrument goes to either EDUCATIONATTAIN or
ATTENDINGSCHOOL. Otherwise, if the current household
member is under 12 years of age the instrument goes to
AGECHECK for the next household member or to
ROSTERREVIEW when there are no more household
members left to verify demographic information for.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-106
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
LAST REPORTED AS: Married
Enter new marital status for Ted Moe
If in doubt, ask:
Is Ted Moe now married, widowed, divorced, separated, or has he never been married?
1 Married
2 Widowed
3 Divorced
4 Separated
5 Never married
MARITAL
MARITAL
(Marital Status)
Item MARITAL is used to verify the marital status of each
household member who is at least 14 years of age during
each enumeration period. For household members who are
12 or 13 years of age, the instrument codes them
automatically as “Never married,” Precode (5). In most
cases, this screen also shows the person’s marital status as
reported in the previous enumeration period. You can often
determine a household member's marital status without
asking the question in Item MARITAL. However, if there is
any doubt, ask the question in Item MARITAL as worded for
all household members who are 14 years of age and older.
If an unrelated man and woman are living together and it is
not evident whether or not they consider themselves as
married to each other (either legally or by common law), ask
the question in Item MARITAL as worded or determine the
marital status without asking, if possible.
Precode (1) “Married”
Enter Precode (1) “Married” in MARITAL when:
The person is currently married and living with his/her
spouse.
The person is currently married, but is parted
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-107
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
temporarily from his/her spouse for reasons other than
marital discord. For example: employment, military
service, spouse in nursing home, and so forth.
The person is not officially married, but is living with
someone as husband and wife, such as a common-law
marriage.
If the person is separated from his/her spouse due to marital
discord, enter Precode (4), “Separated.”
Precode (2) “Widowed”
Enter Precode (2), “Widowed” in Item MARITAL when the
household member's spouse has died and the person has
not remarried. If not sure, ask the question in Item
MARITAL as worded and accept the household
respondent's answer.
Precode (3) “Divorced”
Enter Precode (3), “Divorced” when the person's divorce is
final. If you suspect that the person's divorce is not final, ask
the question in Item MARITAL as worded and accept the
household respondent's answer.
Precode (4)
“Separated”
Enter Precode (4), “Separated” in Item MARITAL when:
The person is married, but has a legal separation.
The person is married, but has parted from his/her
spouse because of marital discord.
The person expects to obtain a divorce in the future.
The person intends to remain separated from his/her
spouse permanently and never get a divorce.
If the person is separated from his/her spouse for reasons
other than marital discord, enter Precode (1) “Married.”
Precode (5)
“Never Married”
Enter Precode (5) “Never married” in MARITAL when the
person has never been married or the person's only
marriage was annulled. The instrument prefills Precode (5)
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-108
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
“Never married,” automatically and skips over this item for
children in the household who are under 14 years of age.
After completing the MARITAL screen the instrument will
proceed to Item ARMEDFORCES when the current
household member you are verifying information about is
between the ages of 18 and 65. If the current household
member is between the ages of 14 and 17 the instrument
proceeds to either Item EDUCATIONATTAIN or Item
ATTENDINGSCHOOL.
LAST REPORTED AS: No
Is Ted Moe now in the Armed Forces?
1 Yes
2 No
ARMEDFORCES
ARMEDFORCES
(Armed Forces)
For each household member (male or female) between the
ages 18 and 65, ask the question in ARMEDFORCES. The
instrument skips over ARMEDFORCES when the
household member is under 18 years of age or over 65
years of age. In most cases, this screen also shows the
person’s military status as reported in the previous
enumeration period.
A household member who is between 18 and 65 years of
age is considered as "in the Armed Forces" when the
person is serving on active duty at time of interview in the:
U.S. Army
U.S. Navy
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Coast Guard
Reserve branch of any of the above Armed Services
and is currently on active duty status for several months
U.S. Public Health Service as commissioned officers
who are attached to any branch of the above Armed
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-109
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Services
National Guard in Federal Service (if his/her unit has
become part of regular forces by Presidential Order)
U.S. military academies as Cadets (for example, West
Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the
Coast Guard Academy).
Each of the military services has a regular component and a
reserve component. Members of the regular component of
any branch of the Armed Forces are always considered to
be on active duty, unless they are retired. Members of the
reserve component of any branch of the Armed Forces are
only considered to be on active duty when they have been
called to active duty by military order and are currently on
active duty for several months.
First Enumeration
Period
Select Precode (1) “Yes” if the household member is
currently in the Armed Forces on active duty.
Select Precode (2) “No” if the household member is not
currently on active duty in the Armed Forces. Also select
Precode (2) if the household member:
Only serves in the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve
Is an employee of the Merchant Marines, Maritime
Commission, or the American Field Service Department
Is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense
Serves in a National Guard unit not blanketed into the
regular forces by Presidential order and is not serving
the 4-6 months of active duty in connection with
provisions of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955
Is in short periods of active reserve training or is
attending weekly reserve meetings.
If still unsure which box to mark in ARMEDFORCES, select
Precode (1) “Yes”; explain the situation in “Case Notes.”
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-110
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Subsequent
Enumeration Periods
Part B, Chapter 2
When you see Precode (1) marked in ARMEDFORCES for
a household member, verify each enumeration period that
the person is still an active duty member of the Armed
Forces. If you discover that the person is no longer an active
duty member of the Armed Forces, select Precode (2).
Using the "Case Level Notes," note the change and the date
that you discovered the change (for example, Item 20 - L2
separated from AF (1/2017).
If a household member has turned 18 years of age since the
last interview, this item will appear, but the response will be
empty because it was previously unanswered. Ask
ARMEDFORCES during the current interview.
If you happen to discover that any household member ages
18 to 65 years has entered the Armed Forces on active duty
since the last interview, select Precode (1) in
ARMEDFORCES. Using the "Case Level Notes," note the
change and the date that you discovered the change (for
example, Item 20 - L3 joined the AF (1/2017).
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-111
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 6)
LAST REPORTED AS:
12th grade (no diploma)
What is the highest level of school Ted Moe completed or the highest degree he received?
1 1st grade
2 2nd grade
3 3rd grade
4 4th grade
5 5th grade
6 6th grade
7 7th grade
8 8th grade
9 9th grade
10 10th grade
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
11th grade
12th grade (no diploma)
High school graduate (diploma, or the equivalent)
Some college (No Degree)
Associate’s degree
Bachelor’s degree (e.g. BA, AB, BS)
Master’s degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEng, MSW, MBA)
Professional School degree (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
Doctoral degree (e.g. PhD, EdD)
Never attended, preschool, kindergarten
EDUCATIONATTAIN
EDUCATIONATTAIN
(Educational Attainment)
When to Ask
EDUCATIONATTAIN
EDUCATIONATTAIN is designed to provide up-to-date
information on the educational attainment of each
household member who is 12 years of age or older. The
question in this item asks about the highest level of school
completed or the highest degree received by the household
member. In most cases, this screen also shows the
person’s highest level of education as reported previously.
During the first, third, fifth, and seventh enumeration
periods, ask EDUCATIONATTAIN for each eligible
household member. The instrument skips over this question
during these enumerations, for any household members
who are under 12 years of age during the reference period.
Under the following situations, also ask Item
EDUCATIONATTAIN during an enumeration period other
than the first, third, fifth, and seventh enumeration period:
The household was not interviewed in the previous
enumeration period (first, third, or fifth).
The person became a household member since the
previous enumeration period.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-112
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
The person celebrated his/her 12th birthday since the
previous enumeration period.
Before asking EDUCATIONATTAIN during a personal visit,
open your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) and show
the “Table of Education Codes” flashcard to the household
respondent. Notice in Item EDUCATIONATTAIN that the
page number (Page 6) that the “Table of Education Codes”
are on is displayed next to the Flashcard icon in the upper
left hand corner of the screen.
If you add a household member during a telephone
interview, ask EDUCATIONATTAIN, and if necessary, read
the education categories from the answer list.
Education Codes for
Item
EDUCATIONATTAIN
A “Table of Education Codes” also appears in your
Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554). Shown below are
the available precodes for Item EDUCATIONATTAIN,
along with descriptions for these educational attainment
codes.
If interviewing during a household member's summer
vacation from school, enter the appropriate code for the
grade just completed, NOT the grade that he/she will attend
in the fall. For persons who have skipped or repeated
grades, enter the code for the highest grade completed,
regardless of the number of years it took.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-113
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
CODE
DESCRIPTION OF GRADE/YEAR/DEGREE
1-8
Use one of these codes, as appropriate, for elementary
school grades 1 through 8.
9 - 11
Use one of these codes, as appropriate, for high school
grades 9 through 11.
12
Enter code (12) if the respondent completed
12th grade, but did not receive a high school diploma.
13
Enter code (13) if the respondent completed 12th grade
and received a high school diploma or the equivalent of
a high school diploma.
14
Enter code (14) if the respondent completed some
college without receiving a college degree.
15
Enter code (15) if the respondent has an Associate’s
degree, which is normally awarded after completing two
years of college.
16
Enter code (16) if the respondent has a Bachelor’s
degree (BA, AB, or BS), which is normally awarded after
completing four years of college.
17
Enter code (17) if the respondent has a Master’s degree
(MA, MS, MEng, MSW, or MBA), which is normally
awarded after completing six years of college.
18
Enter code (18) if the respondent has a Professional
School degree (MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, or JD) earned in
fields such as medicine, dentistry, chiropractic
medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy,
podiatry, veterinary medicine, law, or theology.
19
Enter code (19) if the respondent has a Doctorate
degree (PhD or EdD).
20
Use this code for children who have never attended
school and for children attending kindergarten,
preschool, or only day care.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-114
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Special Situations for
Item
EDUCATIONATTAIN
Part B, Chapter 2
Here are some examples for handling a response other than
the highest grade or year completed:
Junior high/middle school:
Since junior high or middle school can cover different
grades in different localities, probe to determine the highest
grade or year completed and enter the appropriate code in
Item EDUCATIONATTAIN.
High school equivalency tests:
Enter Precode 13 in Item EDUCATIONATTAIN for persons
who pass a high school equivalency test, such as the GED,
or who receive a high school diploma while in the Armed
Forces.
Post-graduate high school:
Enter Precode 13 in Item EDUCATIONATTAIN for persons
who have received a high school diploma and are attending
post-graduate high school courses in preparation for
attending college.
Miscellaneous school system:
Determine the equivalent grade in the American regular
school system for household members who have obtained
their formal education in foreign schools, ungraded schools,
night schools or by the instruction of tutors (if counted
toward promotion in the American regular school system),
"readers" (roughly equivalent to regular grades), or "normal"
schools.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-115
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
You marked 8th grade as the highest level of school completed for a person age 18. Are you sure
this is correct?
Questions involved
EDUCATIONATTAIN: Education
Value
8th grade
Suppress
Close
Goto
EDUCATION_CK
EDUCATION_CK
(Edit Check to Verify
Education Attainment)
EDUCATION_CK is a soft edit check that compares the
entry in EDUCATIONATTAIN against the household
member’s age. The edit check is set up to be displayed
when the precode entered in EDUCATIONATTAIN does
not fit the norm for someone the age of the household
member. For example, this item appears if a 14 year old is
coded as having completed college. If the entry in
EDUCATIONATTAIN is correct, then click on the
“Suppress” button to continue with the
ATTENDINGSCHOOL screen. Otherwise, press either the
“Goto” or “Close” buttons to return to EDUCATIONATTAIN
to change the answer.
LAST REPORTED AS: Regular school
Is Jane Moe currently attending or enrolled in a regular school such as elementary or high school
or enrolled either full-time or part-time in a college or university, trade, or vocational school?
1 Regular school
2 College/University
3 Trade school
4 Vocational school
5 None of the above schools
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
ATTENDINGSCHOOL
(Attending School)
ATTENDINGSCHOOL is designed to determine whether or
not each household member who is 12 years of age or older
is currently attending or enrolled in regular school
(elementary or high school) or enrolled full-time or part-time
in a college or university, trade, or vocational school. In
most cases, this screen also shows the answer given for
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-116
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
this household member as reported in the previous
enumeration period. Ask the question in
ATTENDINGSCHOOL in ALL enumeration periods.
When asking ATTENDINGSCHOOL for a high school
graduate, the instrument automatically omits the phrase,
“enrolled in a regular school such as elementary or
high school or” In other words, this phrase should be
omitted for the person when you enter educational
attainment code 13 or a higher code in
EDUCATIONATTAIN.
Precode (1) “Regular
school”
The term "regular school" includes both public and private
schools starting with kindergarten and continuing through
elementary, junior or middle, and high school, regardless of
whether the classes are graded or ungraded. If a household
member is enrolled or attends special education classes,
but the school consists of mostly regular classes, use
Precode (1) “Regular school” for the person. However, if the
person's school is entirely for special education classes,
use Precode (5), “None of the above schools.”
Precode (2) “College/
University”
Use Precode (2), “College/University,” for each household
member who:
Has graduated from high school, and
Is currently enrolled in or attending a 2- or 4-year college
or university or post-graduate school.
Precode (3) “Trade
school”
Use Precode (3), “Trade school,” when a household
member is enrolled in or attending a secondary school
teaching a skilled trade that does not earn college credit. A
trade school prepares a person for a skilled trade, such as
plumber or electrician. Most trade schools have
apprentice/journeyman programs.
Precode (4) “Vocational
school”
Use Precode (4), “Vocational school,” when a household
member is enrolled in or attending a secondary school
teaching a skill to help the person pursue a career, such as
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-117
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
barber or cosmetology schools. These courses do not earn
college credit.
Precode (5) “None of
the above schools”
Use Precode (5), “None of the above schools,” when the
household member is:
Not enrolled in or attending any type of school,
Attending a home school,
Attending a school devoted entirely to special
education, such as an alternative school, or
Working on completing a GED.
(Page 8)
Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino?
1 Yes
2 No
SP_ORIGIN
SP_ORIGIN
(Hispanic Origin)
Item SP_ORIGIN is only asked once to record whether or
not each household member is Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino
by his/her national, cultural, or language group. Always ask
Item SP_ORIGIN during the first interview or when adding a
household member during a subsequent enumeration
period, regardless of the household member's race.
Purpose of Item
SP_ORIGIN
If a respondent wants to know why we ask whether anyone
is Spanish, Hispanic or Latino, explain that this information
enables us to tabulate crime victimization data for this group
of people, since they comprise the largest minority group in
this country.
Completing Item
SP_ORIGIN
For a personal visit interview, open the Information Card
Booklet (NCVS-554) and show the “Hispanic Origin”
flashcard to the household respondent before asking Item
SP_ORIGIN. Notice in Item SP_ORIGIN that the page
number (Page 8) is displayed next to the Flashcard icon in
the upper left hand corner of the screen. For a telephone
interview, ask the Hispanic origin question from the
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-118
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Information Card Book including the Hispanic Origin
examples.Enter Precode (1) for “Yes” even if the household
member has multiple origins and one origin is Spanish,
Hispanic, or Latino.
If you get a "No" answer, enter Precode (2) for the
household member.
If you get a "Don't know" answer, probe by asking if the
household member has a parent or grandparent who is
Spanish, Hispanic or Latino. The following list may also help
to determine whether or not a person is Spanish, Hispanic
or Latino.
A Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino person identifies his/her ancestry with one of the following
groups:
Argentina
Balaoric Islands
Basque
Bolivia
Boricua
Californie
Californio (Californi)
Canary Islands
Catalonian
Central American
(Spanish speaking)
Chicano
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuban
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Hispanic
Honduras
Iberian (i.e., Spain)
La Raza
Majorcan
Mexican
Mexican American
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rican
South American
(Spanish speaking)
Spanish
Spaniard
Spanish American
Spanish speaking
Uruguay
Venezuela
When a household respondent is still unable to answer
SP_ORIGIN for a household member, enter “Ctrl” + “D” for
“Don’t know.” If a household respondent refuses to answer
SP_ORIGIN for a household member, enter “Ctrl” + “R” for
“Refused.” In both of these situations, enter a note in the
"Case Level Notes" (for example, SP_ORIGIN - DK for
LN3...).
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-119
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 10)
If personal interview show flash card.
If telephone interview read answer categories.
Do not probe.
Please choose one or more races that you consider/considers yourself to be.
1 White
2 Black or African American
3 American Indian, or Alaska Native
4 Asian
5 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
6 Other - Specify
RACE
RACE
(Race)
Ask Item RACE once for each household member to record
up to six races that each household member considers
him/herself to be. Enter the appropriate race code(s) for
each household member's race(s) based on the household
respondent's answer. If you add any household members in
subsequent enumeration periods, make sure to complete
Item RACE for these added persons at that time.
Before asking Item RACE for a personal visit interview,
open the Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) and show
the “Race” flashcard to the household respondent. Notice in
Item RACE that the page number (Page 10) is displayed
next to the Flashcard icon in the upper left hand corner of
the screen.
If you add a household member during a telephone
interview, ask Item RACE and, if necessary, read the race
categories from the answer list.
Do NOT mark Item RACE either by observation, probing, or
asking a neighbor. Since the Census Bureau bases race on
self-identification, you must ask this race question for each
household member even when it may seem obvious.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-120
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Review all categories
Is this information correct?
LN NAME
REL
AGE
SEX
MARITAL STATUS
___________________________________________________________________________________
1
2
3
TED MOE
MEGAN MOE
JANE MOE
Ref Per
Wife
Daughtr
43
43
14
M
F
F
Married
NEED SELF
Married
NEED SELF
Never married NEED SELF
1 Yes
2 No
ROSTERREVIEW
ROSTERREVIEW
(Reviewing the Household
Roster)
When you have completed the Control Card questions in
the NCVS instrument for all household members, you will
see the ROSTERREVIEW, which is the last screen in the
front section of the NCVS instrument. This screen gives you
one LAST opportunity to make changes to the household
roster. If no household roster changes are required, enter
Precode (1), “Yes” which takes you to TIMEATADDRESS,
which is the first screen in the middle section of the NCVS
instrument and is shown in Part B, Chapter 3 of this manual.
If changes are required to the roster because something
was previously coded incorrectly, enter Precode (2), “No”
and the instrument progresses to WHOTOCHANGE, the
first screen in the DemoChange Table, to select the line
number of the household member whose information needs
to be updated.
The DemoChange Table General Information
The DemoChange Table is only accessed when Precode
(2) is entered in Item ROSTERREVIEW. Use the
DemoChange Table to edit demographic information that is
missing or was coded incorrectly in a previous enumeration.
This section lets you make changes to certain demographic
information for any household member. You may edit
multiple demographic variables for a person at one time, but
can only edit the information for one person at a time.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-121
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
• Enter the line number of the person requiring a change.
LNNAME
REL
AGE
SEX
MARITAL
STATUS
_________________________________________________________________________
1
2
3
Ted Moe
Megan Moe
Jane Moe
Ref Person
Wife
Daughtr
43
43
14
M
F
F
Married
Married
Never married
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
NEED SELF
WHOTOCHANGE
WHOTOCHANGE
(Selecting a Household
Member to Update Their
Information)
At WHOTOCHANGE enter the number that corresponds to
the line number of the household member whose
information needs to be updated. After entering the number,
the instrument proceeds to WHATFIX.
HOUSEHOLD RESPONDENT: Megan Moe
REFERENCE PERSON: Ted Moe
What change is needed?
LNNAME
REL
AGE SEX
MARITAL
STATUS
_________________________________________________________________________
3
Jane Moe
Daughtr
14
F
Never married
NEED SELF
1 Name
2 Relationship
3 Date of Birth
4 Sex
5 Marital Status
WHATFIX
WHATFIX (Selecting the
Information to Update)
At Item WHATFIX select the precode(s) that correspond
with the demographic information that needs to be updated;
you can select up to five precodes per household member.
Since you must first select a household member in Item
WHOTOCHANGE, you can only update one household
member’s demographic information at a time.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-122
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
You only go through those screens listed below that
correspond to the precode(s) selected in Item WHATFIX.
Precode (1) “Name”
Enter Precode (1) "Name" when you notice that the
household member’s name, as listed in Item
ROSTERREVIEW is either incorrect or misspelled. After
selecting all the precodes in Item WHATFIX press “Enter” to
proceed to the CHNG_NAMEFIRST screen when you
selected Precode (1) in the WHATFIX screen.
Precode (2)
“Relationship”
Enter Precode (2) "Relationship" when you notice that the
household member’s relationship code is incorrectly
displayed in Item ROSTERREVIEW. You cannot change
who the reference person is or their relationship code via
the WHATFIX screen; this must be done in the
NAMECHECK and REFPERSTILLLIVE screens discussed
earlier in this topic. However, you can change any other
household member’s relationship code using these
screens. When Precode (2) is selected in Item WHATFIX,
the CHNG_REL screen appears.
Precode (3) “Date of
Birth”
Enter Precode (3) "Date of Birth" when you notice that the
household member’s age is not correct or is missing in
ROSTERREVIEW. If there is no data in the “AGE” column
for a respondent it is because the age was not collected
during a previous enumeration. If this is the case, take this
opportunity to collect birth date information. When Precode
(3) is selected in Item WHATFIX, CHNG_BRTHDATEMO
appears to collect or update the date of birth information for
that household member.
Precode (4) “Sex”
Enter Precode (3) "Sex" when you notice that the household
member’s sex is incorrect at ROSTERREVIEW. When
Precode (4) is selected in WHATFIX, the CHNG_SEX
screen appears.
Precode (5) “Marital
Status”
Enter Precode (5) "Marital Status" when you notice that the
household member’s marital status is incorrect at Item
ROSTERREVIEW. You will not be able to change the
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-123
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
marital status for household members under the age of 14,
since the instrument automatically codes the marital status
for those household members as Precode (5), “Never
married.” When Precode (5) is selected in Item WHATFIX,
the CHNG_MARITAL screen appears.
OLD FIRST NAME: Jane
OLD LAST NAME: Moe
Enter corrected first name
Press the enter key if no change to first name
CHNG_NAMEFIRST
OLD FIRST NAME: Jane
OLD LAST NAME: Moe
Enter corrected last name
Press the enter key if no change to last name
CHNG_NAMELAST
CHNG_NAMEFIRST and
CHNG_NAMELAST
(Changing a Member’s
Name)
Items CHNG_NAMEFIRST and CHNG_NAMELAST
should be used to correct a misspelled first or last name or a
situation where a respondent prefers to be listed differently.
For example, a household respondent would rather be listed
as “Chris” rather than “Christopher.” The instrument will
always go to the CHNG_NAMEFIRST screen when
Precode (1) is entered in Item WHATFIX. Therefore, if only
the last name needs to be updated, you can just press the
“Enter” key to move to the CHNG_NAMELAST screen
without making changes to the household member’s first
name. The same is also true when only the first name needs
to be updated; press the “Enter” key in CHNG_NAMELAST
to move on without making any changes to that screen.
After updating the household member’s name the
instrument proceeds to Items CHNG_REL,
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO, CHNG_SEX or CHNG_MARITAL
when any of Precodes (2-5) are entered in Item WHATFIX,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-124
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
respectively. If none of Precodes (2-5) are entered in
WHATFIX the instrument continues to Item
ANY_OTHERCHNG.
Ask if necessary.
What is Jane Moe’s relationship to Ted?
11 Husband
12 Wife
13 Son
14 Daughter
15 Father
16 Mother
17 Brother
18 Sister
19 Other relative
20 Nonrelative
CHNG_REL
CHNG_REL
(Changing a Member’s
Relationship Code)
CHNG_REL is used to change the relationship code when it
was previously coded incorrectly or there was a change that
was not caught during the current interview. If you selected
Precode (1) in addition to Precode (2) in WHATFIX the
instrument proceeds to Item CHNG_NAMEFIRST before
coming to the CHNG_REL screen. You cannot change who
the reference person is or their relationship code via
CHNG_REL; this must be done in NAMECHECK and
REFPERSTILLLIVE, discussed earlier in this topic. You
may, however, change any other household member’s
relationship code using CHNG_REL.
If the relationship code entered in CHNG_REL conflicts with
the relationship codes of other household members, such
as there being both a “Husband” and a “Wife” codes or a the
relationship conflicts with the sex entered for the person,
such as a “Female” “Brother” then you will encounter the
same edit checks discussed earlier in Topic 9, when we
covered RELATIONSHIP.
After updating the household member’s relationship code,
the instrument proceeds to Items CHNG_BRTHDATEMO,
CHNG_SEX or CHNG_MARITAL depending on which of
the Precodes (3-5) are entered in Item WHATFIX,
respectively. If none of the Precodes (2-5) were entered in
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-125
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item WHATFIX the instrument proceeds to Item
ANY_OTHERCHNG.
Ask if necessary.
Enter month on this screen.
Press the enter key if no change to day.
OLD BIRTHDATE (Month): 04
What is your date of birth?
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO
Ask if necessary.
Enter day on this screen.
Press the enter key if no change to day.
OLD BIRTHDATE (Day): 21
What is your date of birth?
CHNG_BRTHDATEDY
Ask if necessary.
Enter year on this screen.
If year is less than 1890, enter 1890.
Press the enter key if no change to year.
OLD BIRTHDATE (Year): 1995
What is your date of birth?
CHNG_BRTHDATEYR
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO,
CHNG_BRTHDATEDY,
CHNG_BRTHDATEYR
(Changing a Member’s Date
of Birth)
Use Items CHNG_BRTHDATEMO, CHNG_BRTHDATEDY
and CHNG_BRTHDATEYR to change a household
member’s date of birth when you notice that the household
member’s age is missing or incorrect at the
ROSTERREVIEW screen. These items appear when
Precode (3) is selected at Item WHATFIX, but the
instrument proceeds through Items CHNG_NAMEFIRST,
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-126
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
CHNG_NAMELAST and CHNG_REL if Precodes (1)
and/or (2) were also selected at Item WHATFIX.
If necessary, ask the household respondent the question in
the CHNG_BRTHDATEMO screen and enter the
household member’s birth month. If the displayed birth
month is correct, press the “Enter” key to move to the next
screen without making any changes to Item
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO. Type in the day or press the
“Enter” key when the displayed day of the month is correct
in Item CHNG_BRTHDATEDY. The instrument will go to
the CHNG_BRTHDATEYR screen to update, when
necessary, the birth year of the household member. If the
birth year is correct, press the “Enter” key, otherwise type in
a new birth year between 1890 and the current year.
After updating the household member’s date of birth the
instrument will proceed to Items CHNG_SEX or
CHNG_MARITAL when either Precode (4) or (5) are
entered in Item WHATFIX, respectively. If neither Precode
(4) or Precode (5) were entered in Item WHATFIX the
instrument proceeds to Item
CHNG _ANYOTHER.
Ask if necessary:
Is Jane Moe male or female?
1 Male
2 Female
CHNG_SEX
CHNG_SEX
(Changing a Member’s Sex)
Use Item CHNG_SEX to change the sex if it was previously
coded incorrectly. If you selected Precodes (1), (2) and/or
(3) in addition to Precode (4) in Item WHATFIX the
instrument proceeds to Items CHNG_NAMEFIRST,
CHNG_NAMELAST, CHNG_REL,
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO, CHNG_BRTHDATEDY,
CHNG_BRTHDATEYR before coming to the CHNG_SEX
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-127
Part B, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
screen.
After updating the household member’s sex the instrument
proceeds to Item CHNG_MARITAL when Precode (5) was
entered in Item WHATFIX, otherwise the instrument
proceeds to Item CHNG _ANYOTHER.
Ask if necessary
Is Jane Moe now married, widowed, divorced, separated or has he never been married?
1 Married
2 Widowed
3 Divorced
4 Separated
5 Never married
CHNG_MARITAL
CHNG_MARITAL
(Changing a Member’s
Marital Status)
Item CHNG_MARITAL should be used to change the
household member’s marital status if it was previously
coded incorrectly or has changed. If you selected any or all
of the Precodes (1) through (4) in Item WHATFIX the
instrument proceeds through Items CHNG_NAMEFIRST,
CHNG_NAMELAST, CHNG_REL,
CHNG_BRTHDATEMO, CHNG_BRTHDATEDY,
CHNG_BRTHDATEYR and CHNG_SEX before coming to
the CHNG_MARITAL screen.
After updating the household member’s marital status the
instrument continues to ANY_OTHERCHNG.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-128
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 2
Please review your changes. To correct, back up using the arrow keys.
LN
NAME
STATUS
REL
AGE
SEX
MARITAL
1
Jane Moe
NEED SELF
Daughtr
14
F
Never married
1 Enter 1 to Continue
ANY_OTHERCHNG
ANY_OTHERCHNG
(Reviewing the Changes
Just Entered)
When you have completed updating a household member’s
demographic information in the DemoChange Table the
NCVS instrument goes to Item ANY_OTHERCHNG. If the
changes you just made are correct enter “1” to go back to
the ROSTERREVIEW screen. If more corrections must be
made for the current household member, back up using the
arrow keys to the appropriate screen to make the changes.
If there are other persons on the household roster whose
information needs updating, follow the steps outlined in
Items ROSTERREVIEW through CHNG_MARITAL.
Front Section of the NCVS Instrument
B2-129
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument:
Introduction and Screening Items
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Introduction
B3-2
2 Screening Questions
B3-3
3 Screener Section Closing Screens
B3-30
4 Socio-Demographic Questions
B3-32
5 Informing the Household Respondent,
Household Income, Other Languages,
End Screens, and Choosing the Next
Respondent to Interview
B3-59
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-1
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Introduction
Overview of the Middle
Section
The Middle Section of the NCVS instrument is designed to:
Determine whether any of the eligible household
members (12 years of age or older) at the sample
address were victimized by crime during each
household member’s 6-month reference period. These
questions are referred to as the screening items of the
NCVS instrument.
The screening items cover a wide variety of situations
and are designed to provide the respondent with
concrete examples of the types of crimes that are
typically reported for the NCVS and could be
overlooked by respondents. These screen items
attempt to ensure that we collect ALL incidents of crime
that occurred during each sample household member’s
6-month reference period.
Collect a variety of detailed information about each
reported incidence of crime that occurred during a
sample household member’s 6-month reference
period. It is important to record accurate and complete
information about each crime incident, so that we have
a clear picture of what happened during the incident.
These questions are referred to as the incident report
items of the NCVS instrument.
For items which include the “Ask or verify” instruction, you
can verify the answer with the respondent without asking
the question -- if the respondent provided the information
earlier in the interview. If you do not see the “Ask or verify”
instruction on the screen, you must ask the question as
worded.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Topic 2. Screening Questions
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some questions that are helpful in studying
where and why crimes occur.
•
Ask or verify:
Last reported as: 3 years
How long have you lived at this address?
•
Probe:
Just approximately.
•
Enter number of years lived at address
•
Enter 0 for less than a year
TIMEATADDRESS
TIMEATADDRESS
Item TIMEATADDRESS is the first question in the
screening section of the NCVS instrument and is used to
determine the length of continuous time the respondent
has lived at the sample address. Since Items
TIMEATADDRESS and TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS do not
relate directly to crimes, it is important that you read the
lead-in statement to the respondent before asking the
question or verifying the answer from the last enumeration,
which is displayed in the top right corner of the screen at
Item TIMEATADDRESS.
If a respondent seems unsure about how to answer this
question, you can tell him/her that we are interested in the
most recent continuous length of time the respondent has
lived as a usual resident at the sample address.
Here is an example:
During the past 5 years, a household member:
Resided at the sample address,
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-3
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Then left the sample address for 6 months to live on a
college campus, and
Then returned to reside at the sample address just 3
months prior to the interview and has stayed there
continuously during the past 3 months.
For this example, enter Precode (0), ”Less than a year” at
Item TIMEATADDRESS. After entering Precode (0),
continue with Item MONTHSATADDRESS where you enter
the number of months that the household member has lived
at the sample address.
Here are some examples of what to enter in
TIMEATADDRESS or MONTHSATADDRESS based on a
respondent’s answer:
If respondent says:
4 ½ months
6 months, 1 week
2 weeks
11 months, 3 weeks
11 months, 1 week
8 weeks
Half a year
11 ½ months
All my life
Don’t know
(Ctrl +D)
Enter:
5 months
6 months
1 month
1 year
11 months
2 months
6 months
1 year
Respondent’s age
If the respondent’s answer is vague, enter a “Don’t know”
answer (Ctrl + D) at either Item TIMEATADDRESS or
MONTHSATADDRESS, and continue with Item
TIMEATADDRESSPROBE shown on the next page to elicit
a more exact answer.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Have you lived here:
1 More than 5 years?
2 Less than 5 years but more than 1 year?
3 Less than 1 year but more than 6 months?
4 Six months or less?
5 Don’t know
TIMEATADDRESSPROBE
TIMEATADDRESS PROBE
Item TIMEATADDRESSPROBE provides probe questions
to help the respondent identify the length of time he/she has
lived continuously at the sample address. If the respondent
is unsure or their answer to this question is vague, probe to
get a more exact answer. Some examples of probes:
Respondent's answer:
Probe:
Years and years
Would you say more than 5
years or less than 5 years?
5 to 10 years
Would you say more than 7
years or less than 7 years?
Less than a year
Would you say more than 6
months or less than 6
months?
It's been so long, I can't
really say.
Can you give me your
best estimate?
When the respondent is the household respondent and has
lived at the sample address for 5 or more years, continue
with Item BUSINESS. For all other respondents in the
household who have lived at the sample address for 5 or
more years, continue with Item SQTHEFT. When a
respondent has lived at the sample address for less than 5
years, continue with Item TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS shown
on the next page.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-5
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Altogether, how many times have you moved in the last 5 years?
Enter number of times
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS
TIMESMOVED
IN5YEARS
Item TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS is used to determine how
many times the respondent has moved in the last 5 years.
Ask the question and enter the number provided by the
respondent. Do not enter a range of numbers, such as "2-4."
Count all moves whether inside or outside of the United
States, including the move into the sample unit.
Each time a respondent changes his/her usual place of
residence is considered one move. Since it is acceptable to
enter an estimate, only enter Control + D, “Don’t know,” as a
last resort.
For respondents who are students, you may need to explain
what we consider to be a move. For example, Jeffrey Doe
moved from his parents’ home (the sample address) to a
college dormitory and then moved back to his parents’
home in the 5 years prior to the interview. For this situation,
Jeffrey Doe moved two times for Item
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS.
Although some students may consider their usual place of
residence to be their parents’ home, we consider their usual
place of residence to be the place where they usually live
and sleep. During the school year, their usual residence
could be a college dormitory or apartment. Each time a
student changes the place where he/she usually lives and
sleeps is considered a move, even if it is just moving from
one dormitory room to another one.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Does anyone in this household operate a business from this address?
1 Yes
2 No
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Item BUSINESS is asked only of the household respondent
to determine if a sample household member operates a
business from the sample address. A “Yes” answer,
Precode (1), takes you to Item BUSINESSSIGN and a “No”
answer, Precode (2), takes you to Item SQTHEFT.
Is there a sign on the premises or some other indication to the general public that a business is
operated from this address?
1 Yes
2 No
BUSINESSSIGN
BUSINESSSIGN
Recognizable Business
Item BUSINESSSIGN is asked only of the household
respondent to determine if the business operated from the
sample address is considered recognizable or
unrecognizable.
For a business to be considered recognizable, it must have
a sign announcing the business and the sign must be:
Visible to the public from OUTSIDE the sample housing
unit,
AND
Located on the sample household's property, such as a
sign on a front door, window, garage door, mail box, or a
free standing sign in the front yard of the sample unit.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-7
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The following indicators are NOT evidence that a business
is recognizable:
The business is advertised in a newspaper, magazine,
telephone book, or on the Internet.
A motor vehicle, such as a van, car, truck, or bus, is
parked in the driveway or in front of the housing unit,
even if the vehicle carries the business logo on it.
Unrecognizable
Business
If NO business sign is visible from outside the sample
housing unit, then the business is considered
unrecognizable. Any reported incidents of theft from an
unrecognizable business operated by a sample household
member must be included in the NCVS.
Here is the reason why we need to differentiate between a
recognizable and an unrecognizable business operated
from the sample address by a household member:
We keep crime incidents that involve property stolen
from an unrecognizable business,
BUT
We do NOT keep crime incidents that ONLY involve
property stolen from a recognizable business.
However, if the following types of incidents are reported, we
want to keep them regardless of whether a household
member operates a recognizable business:
Personal property was stolen from the household
respondent or another household member.
The household respondent or another household
member received a face-to-face threat of physical
harm, was attacked, or an attempt was made to
attack the household member.
Someone illegally entered, broke into or attempted
to break into the sample unit.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
(Refer to Part C, Chapter 2, Topic 4, of this manual for
detailed definitions and examples of special situations
for recognizable and unrecognizable businesses.)
SCREENING QUESTIONS
The screening questions are used to determine whether any
eligible household members (12 years of age or older) at the
sample address were victimized by crime during each
household member’s six-month reference period. They
cover a wide variety of situations and are designed to
provide the respondent with concrete examples of the kinds
of crimes that are typically reported for the NCVS and could
be overlooked by respondents. These screen questions
ensure that we collect ALL incidents of crime in a sample
household that occurred during each respondent’s
six-month reference period.
A screener question has two parts: the “question stem” and
the “screener cues.” A “question stem” or “stem” refers to
the main part of the screener question. The terms “screener
cues” or “cues” refer to the examples or prompts that follow
the main part of the question.
There are a number of cues in each screener question
because sometimes respondents focus only on the specific
items being mentioned. In screener question SQTHEFT, for
example, if we didn’t include “Things outside your home,
such as a garden hose or lawn furniture,” respondents may
not realize that we want them to tell us about that type of
theft. We can’t have a list of every possible type of property,
so we try to identify enough different kinds of property to
help respondents think beyond the examples provided.
Some of the screener questions ask about attempted
crimes as well as completed ones. These are important
cues because often respondents may not think to report
incidents that did not result in a completed crime.
The household respondent’s interview has a few additional
screen questions to elicit crime incidents involving the entire
household, in addition to crime incidents involving just the
household respondent. These additional screen questions
are asked in items SQTHEFT, SQBREAKIN,
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-9
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
SQTOTALVEHICLES, and SQMVTHEFT to determine
whether any crime incidents involving the entire household
happened.
General Instructions for
Screening Questions
In Item SQTHEFT - Things stolen from outside the
home (for example, lawn furniture or a garden hose),
and things stolen from a household member under 12
years of age (for example, a 10-year-old's bicycle stolen
from the home's driveway),
In Item SQBREAKIN - Break-ins, attempted break-ins,
or illegal entries at the sample address (for example, the
house, garage, shed, or a storage room), or at a hotel,
motel, or vacation home where the respondent was
staying,
In Item SQTOTALVEHICLES - The total number of
motor vehicles owned by the entire household during
the 6 months prior to the interview, and
In Item SQMVTHEFT - Thefts or attempted thefts of
motor vehicles owned by the household during the 6
months prior to the interview, including gasoline and
parts (for example, tire, hubcap, attached car stereo or
satellite radio, wheels, battery, CD player, etc.).
Record incidents as a respondent reports them, regardless
of whether the screening question relates to the type of
incident reported.
Most of the screening questions have at least three
categories and could have as many as eight categories.
This may prompt some respondents to give you an answer
before you finish reading each category. Even if you are
interrupted, you must read every category in its entirety, so
that we do not miss any crime incidents.
The following technique may help you get through all the
categories of a screen question before a respondent
answers:
1
After reading each category, only pause long enough to
let the respondent know that you are about to start
reading the next category. If you pause too long, the
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
respondent may feel that you are waiting for an answer.
2
After reading all categories for a screening question,
pause long enough to allow the respondent to reply. If
the respondent doesn't give you an answer, then ask the
question, "Did any incidents of this type happen to
you?"
3
If you get a "Yes" response, enter Precode (1) which
brings up a screen similar to the SQTHEFTTIMES
screen, which asks, “How many times?”
Use this item to record the total number of incidents
reported at the screening question, along with a brief
description of what happened during each incident. If
the respondent reports more than one incident for a
screening question, number each incident separately
and enter a brief description for each incident (for
example, #1, L1 threatened by coworker, #2, L1's purse
snatched).
If this technique does not work and a respondent either
interrupts you in the middle of reading a category or before
you finish reading all categories for a screening question,
follow these steps:
Respondent answers in the middle of reading a
category:
1
Stop and thank the respondent, but explain that there is
more to the question which he/she still needs to hear
before giving an answer.
2
Reread the unfinished category again from the
beginning. If the respondent gives you a "No" answer
after you finish reading the entire category, tell the
respondent that you need to finish reading ALL
categories for the question. If the respondent gives you
a "Yes" answer before you have read all categories,
then follow the instructions below.
Respondent answers "Yes" before you have read ALL
categories:
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-11
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
1
Stop and thank the respondent, but explain that there
are more categories which he/she still needs to hear
before giving an answer.
2
Reread the categories again from the beginning. If the
respondent gives you a "No" answer before you finish
reading the entire list, tell the respondent that you need
to finish reading ALL categories for the question. If the
respondent gives you a "Yes" answer before you have
read all categories, then follow the instructions below.
It’s important to ask all the questions in their entirety
because they have been specifically designed to jog
respondents’ memories and help them recall incidents they
may have forgotten. The screener questions have been
developed and refined since the beginning of the NCVS. If a
respondent has forgotten an incident and you do not ask the
screener question or cue that may help them remember it,
we run the risk of not collecting it. These omissions and
missed incidents can result in the crime rates we calculate
being erroneously low, and in survey results being biased.
Also, you must ask the questions as worded and in their
entirety for the sake of interview consistency. Standardizing
the way in which every FR asks the questions on the NCVS
ensures that every respondent hears the exact same
questions, helps the survey collect information consistently
across all regions, and helps make the survey results more
valid.
By using these techniques, there is less chance of missing
any crime incidents that occurred during a respondent's
reference period. (Also see Part A, Chapter 2, Topic 6,
for general interviewing techniques to use for the
NCVS.)
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the kinds of crimes this study
covers. As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the last 6 months,
that is, since January 13,2017. Was something belonging to you stolen, such as- Read each category.
--Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase, book --Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone --Bicycle or sports equipment --Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools --Things outside your home, such as a garden hose or lawn furniture --Things belonging to children in the household --Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or CDs -OR
--Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQTHEFT
SQTHEFT
Item SQTHEFT is the first screening question, asked of all
eligible household members. However, two categories for
this item are asked only of the household respondent:
Things outside your home, such as a garden hose or
lawn furniture.
Things belonging to children in the household.
Note that the instrument automatically inserts the date
marking the beginning of the reference period in the
question. Also note that this date may not be the same for all
respondents. Item SQTHEFT is designed to remind each
respondent of incidents in which thefts were attempted or
completed during the 6 months before the interview.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-13
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has anyone - Read each category
--Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your home by forcing a door or window, pushing past
someone, jimmying a lock, cutting a screen, or entering through an open door or window?
--Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a garage, shed, or storage room?
OR
--Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or motel room or vacation home where you were
staying?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQBREAKIN
SQBREAKIN
Item SQBREAKIN is asked only of the household
respondent to find out if:
The household respondent’s home or lodging was
broken into or illegally entered,
OR
An attempt was made to break into or illegally enter the
household respondent’s home or lodging.
Note that the phrase “Other than any incident already
mentioned” only displays in Item SQBREAKIN if an incident
was reported in SQTHEFT. For the remaining screen
questions, SQMVTHEFT and SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME,
the phrase “Other than any incidents already mentioned” is
automatically displayed when at least one incident was
reported in a previous screen question by the current
respondent. If no incidents have been reported, this phrase
is omitted from the question text.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Moved Into Sample
Address During
Reference Period
A household respondent may have lived in more than one
housing unit during the past 6 months. If you encounter this
situation, include all incidents reported at Item SQBREAKIN
that happened during the household respondent's reference
period AND involved property owned or rented by the
current household respondent.
Incident Happened at
Sample Address Before
Owned/Rented by
Household Respondent
Only accept incidents involving property owned or
rented by the current household during the 6 months
prior to the interview. For example, you would accept a
reported incident if the current household respondent was
the owner/renter of the sample unit, but had not yet moved
into the sample unit when the incident occurred.
However, do NOT accept the reported incident when the
following conditions exist:
The household respondent reports an incident that
happened at the sample address during the household
respondent's 6-month reference period,
BUT
Household Respondent
Owns/Rents a
Recreation Vehicle or
Vacation Home
The current household respondent was not the owner or
renter at the sample address at the time of the incident.
For example, the sample unit may still have been owned
or rented by the previous owner/renter or may have
been vacant while it was available for sale or rent.
Accept the incident if the recreation vehicle or vacation
home was owned or rented by the household respondent
AND was being occupied as a housing unit at the time of the
incident.
Do not accept incidents involving break-ins or attempted
break-ins of vacation or second homes when:
The vacation or second home is part of a recognizable
business,
The vacation or second home was rented to a
nonhousehold member at the time of the incident,
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-15
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
OR
The vacation or second home was not occupied by the
sample household as a residence at the time of the
incident.
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned
by you or any other member of this household during the last 6 months?
Include those you no longer own.
If greater than 4, enter 4.
SQTOTALVEHICLES
SQTOTALVEHICLES
Item SQTOTALVEHICLES is another question that is
asked only of the household respondent to determine:
The total number of motor vehicles currently or
previously owned by the sample household during the
last 6 months;
AND
Whether any of these motor vehicles were stolen or
used without permission, including parts and gasoline;
AND
Whether any attempts were made to steal or use them
without permission, including parts and gasoline.
Make sure to include the statement “Include those you no
longer own” at the end of the question to remind
respondents that we want them to include vehicles they
owned during the last six months.
If the sample household has not owned any motor vehicles
during the six months prior to the interview, enter (0) for
“None” and continue with Item SQATTACKWHERE.
Otherwise, enter the appropriate number of vehicles up to
the number “4.” If the answer is “more than 4 vehicles,”
enter “4.” If the respondent refuses to answer the question
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
for Item SQTOTALVEHICLES, you still ask the screening
question for Item SQMVTHEFT, which asks whether
anyone stole or used any of the vehicles or their parts
without permission.
What to Include for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES
If a household respondent questions what to include in the
total number of motor vehicles for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES, here are some guidelines on the
type of vehicles to include:
Include cars, vans, trucks, sport utility vehicles,
motorcycles, or any other motorized vehicle that can be
legally used as a means of transportation on most roads
or highways (for example, motorized recreation vehicles
that do not require towing).
Include a motorized vehicle owned by a sample
household member during the 6 months prior to the
interview, even if it has been sold, given away, junked,
stolen, or abandoned.
Include all vehicles owned by an unrecognizable
business that a household member operates, as well as
all vehicles owned for the household's personal use.
Include vehicles owned by a recognizable business that
a household member operates IF the vehicles are used
at least partially for the household's personal use.
Include vehicles leased by a household member for at
least one month when the leased vehicles are the
responsibility of the household member if stolen.
What to Exclude for
Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES
If a household respondent questions what to exclude from
the total number of motor vehicles for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES, here are some guidelines on the
type of vehicles to exclude:
Exclude motorized vehicles that cannot be driven legally
as a means of transportation on most roads or highways
(for example, minibikes, go-carts, or snowmobiles).
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-17
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Exclude vehicles owned by a recognizable business
when the business is operated by a household member
AND the vehicles are used ONLY for business
purposes.
Exclude business vehicles that are loaned to a
household member for private use when the business is
NOT owned by a household member.
Exclude vehicles that a household member rented for
less than one month.
Exclude vehicles owned by parents in a sample
household when their children are using the vehicles
while attending school away from the sample address.
Respondent Refuses to
Answer Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES
If a household respondent refuses to answer or feels
uneasy about answering Item SQTOTALVEHICLES,
explain the reasons for asking about motor vehicles owned
by the household.
These reasons include determining whether or not we need
to ask about:
Any motor vehicles owned by the sample household
that were stolen or used without permission, including
parts and gasoline.
AND
Any attempts made to steal or use these motor vehicles
without permission, including parts and gasoline.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, was the vehicle Read each category
--Stolen or used without permission?
--Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo, hubcap, or battery?
--Did anyone steal any gas from it?
OR
--Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or parts attached to it?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQMVTHEFT
SQMVTHEFT
Distinguishing Between
Vandalism and
Attempted Thefts
Item SQMVTHEFT, shown above, refers to the motor
vehicles mentioned at Item SQTOTALVEHICLES and is
asked only of the household respondent to determine
whether:
Any of these motor vehicles were stolen or used without
permission, including parts and gasoline.
Any attempts were made to steal or use them without
permission, including parts and gasoline.
Accept reported attempts to steal motor vehicles or motor
vehicle parts owned by the household, because attempted
thefts are just as important as actual thefts. However, it may
not always be clear to a respondent that an attempt was
made to steal his/her vehicle or parts (for example, a broken
car window). If it is unclear whether the incident was an
attempted theft or an act of vandalism:
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-19
Part B, Chapter 3
Examples of Motor
Vehicle Parts
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Probe by asking, "Do you think the offender was
actually trying to break into or steal your vehicle or
do you think it was an act of vandalism?"
Rely on the respondent's perception. If the respondent
feels the incident was an attempted theft or is still
unsure, enter Precode (1), “Yes,” at Item SQMVTHEFT.
However, if the respondent feels the incident was an act
of vandalism (for example, a broken antenna, mirror or
slashed tires) AND there was no attempt to steal a
motor vehicle, including parts and gasoline, enter
Precode (2), “No,” at Item SQMVTHEFT.
The following items are examples of parts attached to motor
vehicles: tires, wheels, hubcaps, manufacturer’s insignias,
CD players, car stereos, cellular phones, batteries, steering
wheels, door handles, and so on. If a respondent reports a
theft or attempted theft of other types of items from a vehicle
at Item SQMVTHEFT (for example, Christmas presents or
grocery items), accept the reported incident at Item
SQMVTHEFT.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Other than any incidents already mentioned, since January 13, 2017, were you attacked or
threatened OR did you have something stolen from you Read each category
--At home including the porch or yard --At or near a friend’s, relative’s, or neighbor’s home --At work or school --In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping mall, restaurant, bank, or airport --While riding in any vehicle --On the street or in a parking lot --At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling lanes, or while fishing or hunting OR
--Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you from any of
these places?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQATTACKWHERE
SQATTACKWHERE
Item SQATTACKWHERE is asked of all eligible household
members and is designed to remind each respondent of
incidents in which he/she may have been attacked or
threatened with physical harm in a variety of locations or
situations. This item also asks about things stolen from the
respondent or attempts to steal anything from the
respondent. This question focuses on the places where a
respondent may have been attacked or threatened.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-21
Part B, Chapter 3
Acceptable and
Unacceptable Threats
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The following conditions must exist for a threat to be
acceptable for the NCVS:
The threat must be delivered verbally and face-to-face
between the offender and the respondent, AND
The threat must involve the potential for physical harm
to the respondent.
Do not accept threats that an offender makes over the
telephone, in a letter, FAX, or electronic message. Also
unacceptable are threats or warnings delivered by another
person for the offender, as well as a respondent saying that
he/she just felt threatened.
Other than any incidents already mentioned, has anyone attacked or threatened you in any of
these ways - Exclude telephone threats
Read each category
--With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife --With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick --By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle --Include any grabbing, punching, or choking --Any rape, attempted rape, or other type of sexual attack --Any face to face threats OR
--Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all?
Please mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
1 Yes
2 No
SQATTACKHOW
SQATTACKHOW
Item SQATTACKHOW is asked of all eligible household
members and is designed to remind each respondent of
incidents in which he/she may have been attacked or
threatened with physical harm involving various weapons or
the use of force. This question focuses on the ways in which
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
a respondent may have been attacked or threatened. Only
accept threats that are verbal, face-to-face threats to
physically harm the respondent.
Do not accept threats that an offender makes over the
telephone, in a letter, FAX, or electronic message. Also
unacceptable are threats or warnings delivered by another
person for the offender, as well as a respondent saying that
he/she just felt threatened.
With the exception of cases involving police officers, accept
any incidents in which the offender had a weapon present
during the incident, even if the offender did not use it. Also
accept incidents in which the offender threw something or
shot at the respondent, even though the object may not
qualify as a weapon for the NCVS.
People often don’t think of incidents committed by someone they know. Other than any incidents
already mentioned, did you have something stolen from you or were you attacked or threatened
by - Exclude telephone threats
Read each category
--Someone at work or school --A neighbor or friend --A relative or family member --Any other person you have met or known?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-23
Part B, Chapter 3
SQATTACKKNOWNOFF
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item SQATTACKKNOWNOFF is asked of all eligible
household members and is designed to remind each
respondent of incidents in which the offender was someone
he/she knows (for example, co-worker, friend, neighbor,
relative, or family member) and involved a theft, attack, or
threat. Only accept verbal, face-to-face threats to physically
harm the respondent.
Do not accept threats that an offender makes over the
telephone, in a letter, FAX, or electronic message. Also
unacceptable are threats or warnings delivered by another
person for the offender, as well as a respondent saying that
he/she just felt threatened.
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult to talk about. Other than
any incidents already mentioned, have you been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual
activity by - Read each category
--Someone you didn’t know --A casual acquaintance OR
--Someone you know well?
Ask only if necessary:
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
1 Yes
2 No
SQSEXUAL
SQSEXUAL
Item SQSEXUAL is asked of all eligible household
members and is designed to record all incidents in which the
respondent was forced or coerced to engage in unwanted
sexual activity, regardless of whether the respondent did or
did not know the offender. Make sure to read the lead-in
statement before asking the question at this screen.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, did you call the police to
report something that happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
1 Yes
2 No
SQCALLPOLICECRIME
SQCALLPOLICE
CRIME
Item SQCALLPOLICECRIME is asked of all eligible
household members and is designed to remind each
respondent of incidents that the respondent reported to the
police because something happened to the respondent that
he/she thought was a crime. This is a general question
designed to bring out crimes that the respondent may have
overlooked earlier or perhaps we did not ask about
specifically in an earlier screening question. (For example,
incidents in which the offender was a child, or no loss or
injury resulted.)
As you ask the question in Item SQCALLPOLICECRIME,
always emphasize the word “YOU,” which appears in capital
letters. If the respondent relates an incident that might not
be a crime, such as a traffic accident, or that involved a
nonhousehold member, stress that for this item we are only
interested in an incident when:
It was reported to the police,
It directly affected the respondent or another household
member,
AND
The respondent believes it to be a crime.
After stressing these points, accept the respondent's
answer and enter Precode (1), “Yes,” for Item
SQCALLPOLICECRIME. After entering Precode (1), you
see the SQCALLPOLICESPEC screen.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-25
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What happened?
(Describe all incidents for this screener below)
SQCALLPOLICESPEC
SQCALLPOLICESPEC
SQCALLPOLICESPEC is used to describe what happened
during these incidents and whether or not a household
member was victimized during the incident. When you finish
entering your descriptions, press ENTER.
If not sure ask:
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
1 Yes
2 No
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
SQCALLPOLICE
ATTACKTHREAT
If you can determine the answer to
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT, “Were you attacked
or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt
made to steal something that belonged to you or
another household member?” based upon responses to
previous screen questions you can enter the appropriate
precode without asking the question. However, if you are
not sure whether the respondent was attacked or
threatened, or something was stolen or an attempt was
made to steal something that belonged to the respondent or
another household member, ask the question before
entering the precode.
When multiple incidents are reported at the
SQCALLPOLICESPEC screen AND at least one of the
incidents involves the respondent being attacked or
threatened, or something was stolen or an attempt was
made to steal something that belonged to the respondent or
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
another household member, then enter Precode (1), “Yes.”
After entering Precode (1), ask “How many times?” in
Item SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES and enter
the TOTAL number of incidents reported at
SQCALLPOLICESPEC in which the respondent was
attacked or threatened, or something was stolen, or an
attempt was made to steal something that belongs to the
respondent or another household member.
If you enter Precode (2), “No,” at
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT, you are indicating that
the incident did not involve an NCVS crime.
How many times?
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
SQCALLPOLICE
ATTACKTHREATTIMES
When multiple incidents are reported in
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT AND at least one of
the incidents involves the respondent being attacked or
threatened, or something was stolen or an attempt was
made to steal something that belonged to the respondent or
another household member, the instrument brings up Item
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES. Ask “How
many times?” and enter the TOTAL number of incidents
reported at Item SQCALLPOLICEATTACKSPEC in which
the respondent was attacked.
During the last 6 months, other than any incident(s) already mentioned, did anything which you
thought was a crime happen to YOU, but did NOT report to the police?
1 Yes
2 No
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
SQNOCALLPOLICE
CRIME
Item SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME is asked of all eligible
household members and is designed to remind each
respondent of incidents that he/she did NOT report to the
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-27
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
police, even though the respondent thought they were
crimes. These incidents could have been overlooked earlier
in the interview because we did not ask about them
specifically (for example, incidents in which the offender
was a child or no loss or injury resulted).
As you ask the question in SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME,
always emphasize the words “YOU” and “NOT,” which are
displayed in capital letters.If the respondent relates an
incident that might not be a crime, such as a traffic accident,
or that involved a nonhousehold member, stress that for this
item we are only interested in an incident when:
It directly affected the respondent or another household
member
AND
The respondent believes it to be a crime.
After emphasizing these points, accept the respondent’s
answer and enter the appropriate precode.
After entering Precode (1), “Yes,” for Item
SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME, continue with Item
SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC, which asks for incident details.
What happened?
Describe all incidents for this screener below.
SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC
________________________________________________________________________
SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC
The SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC screen is used to describe
what happened during these incidents, and whether or not a
SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC
household member was victimized during the incident.
Enter the incident description, then press ENTER.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
If not sure ask:
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an attempt made to steal
something that belonged to you or another household member?
1 Yes
2 No
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
SQNOCALLPOLICE
ATTACKTHREAT
If you can determine from previous responses to screen
questions the answer to the question at the
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT screen, “Were
you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or
an attempt made to steal something that belonged to
you or another household member?” you can enter the
appropriate precode without asking the question. However,
if you are not sure the respondent was attacked or
threatened, or something was stolen or an attempt was
made to steal something that belonged to the respondent or
another household member, ask the question before
entering the precode.
If you enter Precode (2), “No,” in this item, you indicate that
the incident did not involve an NCVS crime.
How many times?
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
SQNOCALLPOLICE
ATTACKTHREAT
TIMES
When multiple incidents are reported in
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT AND at least one
of the incidents involves the respondent being attacked or
threatened, or something was stolen or an attempt was
made to steal something that belonged to the respondent or
another household member,
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES appears.
Ask “How many times?” and enter the TOTAL number of
incidents reported at SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKSPEC.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-29
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Screener Section Closing Screens
Who besides the respondent was present when the screen questions were asked?
If telephone interview mark box 11.
11 Telephone (Field telephone)
12 No one besides respondent present
13 Respondent’s spouse
14 Household member(s) 12+, not spouse
15 Household members under 12
16 Nonhousehold member(s)
17 Someone was present - Can’t say who
18 Don’t know if someone else present
PRESENTFORSQS
PRESENTFORSQS
The intent of this question is to determine who besides the
respondent was present when the screen questions were
asked. If the interview is taken over the telephone, only
enter Precode (11), “Telephone.” Otherwise, enter the
appropriate precode(s).
Did the person for whom this interview was taken help the proxy respondent answer any screen
questions?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Person for whom interview taken not present
PROXYHELP
PROXYHELP
Item PROXYHELP appears when a proxy interview has
been taken and is intended to find out whether the proxy
person helped the proxy respondent answer any of the
screen questions.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
End of Screening items
A total of 1 incident(s)
AND
0 refusals were reported in "how many times?"
Enter 1 to continue
INC_REPORTS
INC_REPORTS
The INC_REPORTS screen marks the end of the screening
items when a respondent has reported at least one crime
incident. This screen also tells you how many incidents
were reported, and how many refusals were reported in the
“How many times?” screener. Once you have read this
screen, press (1) to proceed. After pressing (1), continue
with the INCIDENTINTRO screen, which leads you into the
incident report items.
No incident reports needed for: John Doe
Enter 1 to continue
NO_CRIMES
NO_CRIMES
The NO_CRIMES screen marks the end of the screening
questions when a respondent did NOT report any incidents.
After pressing (1) to proceed, continue with Item
ENDSCREENER.
DO NOT F10 to exit the instrument from Item
ENDSCREENER; doing so may cause loss of all collected
data and necessitate restarting the case.
The instrument continues with JOBLASTWEEK when the
respondent is at least 16 years of age. Otherwise, it
continues with the NEXTPERSON screen.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-31
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. Socio-Demographic Questions
Overview of the
Socio-Demographic
Questions
The socio-demographic questions are asked of all eligible
respondents regardless of whether they report a crime
incident. The particular socio-demographic questions that
come on path for any interview depend on several factors
including the age of the respondent; the interview number;
proxy interview status; and if the respondent has answered
the question before. See each question for details.
Now we have some questions about your demographic characteristics.
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
The instrument proceeds to a screen introducing the
socio-demographic questions. Then proceeds to questions
on disability.
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
1
2
Yes
No
HEARING
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
1
2
Yes
No
VISION
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
Concentrating, remembering or making decisions?
1
2
Yes
No
LEARN_CONCENTRATE
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
Walking or climbing stairs?
1
2
Yes
No
PHYSICAL_LIMIT
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty…
Dressing or bathing?
1
2
Yes
No
DRESS_BATH
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such
as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?
1
2
Yes
No
LEAVING_HOME
DISABILITY
The disability questions include HEARING, VISION,
LEARN_CONCENTRATE, PHYSICAL_LIMIT,
DRESS_BATH, and LEAVING_HOME.
Who Gets the Item(s)?
The disability questions are asked of all persons 12 years of
age or older except for LEAVING_HOME, which is asked of
all persons 15 years of age or older.
When is Item Asked?
The disability questions are asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th
interviews, or if never asked before.
Precode (1)
If “Yes,” select Precode (1).
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-33
Part B, Chapter 3
Precode (2)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If “No,” select Precode (2).
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the United States, born in a U.S.
territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or become a citizen of the U.S. through naturalization?
1
2
3
4
5
Yes, born in the United States
Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas
Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
No, not a U.S. citizen
CITIZENSHIP
CITIZENSHIP
The responses to this question are used to determine the
U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizen populations as well as to
determine the native and foreign-born populations.
Who Gets the Item?
Asked of all persons 12 years of age or older.
When is Item Asked?
Asked at 1st interview, if never asked before, if “Refused” or
“Don’t Know” at prior interview, or if the respondent reported
they were not a citizen at the prior interview.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), “Yes, born in the United States,” if born
in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), for “Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, or Northern Marianas.” People born in
American Samoa, although not explicitly listed, are
included in this response category.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), for “Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen
parent or parents.” Born abroad means that the person was
NOT born in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Marianas,
or American Samoa.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4), for “Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization.”
Naturalization is the legal act or process by which a
non-citizen may acquire U.S. citizenship or nationality. It
may be done by a statute without any effort on the part of
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
the individual, or it may involve an application and approval
by legal authorities.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5), “No, not a U.S. citizen” if the respondent
indicates that they are not a U.S. citizen at the time of the
survey.
(Page 12)
Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
If further clarification is needed, read: By gay, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to persons of
the same sex. Another term that may be used for gay is homosexual.
If further clarification is needed, read: By straight, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to persons
of the opposite sex. Another term that may be used for straight is heterosexual.
If further clarification is needed, read: By bisexual, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to
persons of both the same sex and opposite sex.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Gay
Straight, that is, not gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
Refused
ORIENTATION_MALE
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-35
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 12)
Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
If further clarification is needed, read: By lesbian or gay, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to
persons of the same sex. Another term that may be used for lesbian or gay is homosexual.
If further clarification is needed, read: By straight, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to persons
of the opposite sex. Another term that may be used for straight is heterosexual.
If further clarification is needed, read: By bisexual, we mean romantic or sexual attraction to
persons of both the same sex and opposite sex.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Lesbian or gay
Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
Bisexual
Something else
I don’t know the answer
Refused
ORIENTATION_FEMALE
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
The NCVS includes questions on sexual orientation
(ORIENTATION_MALE and
ORIENTATION_FEMALE). Sexual orientation is the
direction of one’s romantic or sexual attraction to
members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes.
There are tremendous gaps in information about crime
victimization as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) persons. By collecting sexual
orientation data, researchers, policy makers, health
providers, and advocates will be able to identify and
address crimes affecting the LGBT community.
Research has shown that sexual orientation and gender
identity are correlated with crime victimization. These
questions are included in the NCVS to better
understand the relationship between these
characteristics and experiences with criminal
victimization.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Respondents may ask what the question means by
“lesbian,” “gay,” “straight,” or “bisexual.” If so,
read the appropriate definition that appears on the
question screen to the respondent. Do not try to
define these terms yourself. Use the definitions on
the question screen.
Who Gets the Item?
Asked of all persons 16 years of age or older.
All persons defined as male in the household roster
will be asked the ORIENTATION_MALE question.
All persons defined as female in the household
roster will be asked the ORIENTATION_FEMALE
question.
If SEX is answered “Don’t Know” or “Refused” in the
household roster, the instrument will ask the
ORIENTATION_FEMALE question.
When is Item Asked?
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interviews, or if never asked
before.
Proxy Respondents
Proxy respondents are NOT allowed. The sexual
orientation questions will be off-path and unavailable for
the proxy respondent to answer.
No Observation/
No Probing/
Do NOT mark this item either by observation or
probing. Answers to this question must be obtained
strictly through self-identification. You must ask the
question for each respondent even when the
answer seems obvious.
For personal visit
interviews
In the instrument, a book icon and page reference at the top
left of the screen denotes when a flashcard should be used.
This tells you that there is a corresponding page in the
Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) to show the
respondent.
During personal visit interviews, show the respondent the
English or Spanish version of the flashcard as appropriate
before asking the questions. The top half of the flashcard is
titled SO_(Male) and lower half of the flashcard is titled
SO_(Female). Direct them to the SO_(Male) or
SO_(Female) question as appropriate.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-37
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For telephone interviews
During telephone interviews, read the bold text of the
question.
Precode (1)
Gay/Lesbian or gay
Refer to the precode definition in gray text in the first FR
instruction on the question screen if needed.
Precode (2)
Straight, that is, not gay/
Straight, that is, not
lesbian or gay
Refer to the precode definition in gray text in the second
FR instruction on the question screen if needed.
Precode (3)
Bisexual
Refer to the precode definition in gray text in the third FR
instruction on the question screen if needed.
Precode (4)
Something else
If the respondent describes his or her sexual orientation as
something other than precodes 1, 2, or 3, select the
“Something else” answer category. If the household
member asks what “Something else” means, respond, “An
answer other than what was provided in the answer
categories.”
Precode (5)
I don’t know the answer
If the respondent states that he/she does not know the
answer, select the “I don’t know the answer” answer
category.
Precode (6)
Refused
If the respondent refuses to answer the question, select
this precode.
Sexual Orientation and
Gender Identity
FAQs
A respondent may ask you why you are asking them this
question. If so, reference the FAQs tab, and read the
appropriate response.
Listed below are the verbatim responses that you should
give to respondents if they ask you a question or the
meaning of one of the terms related to sexual orientation
and/or gender identity.
You will find all the responses below by clicking on the
FAQs tab. Additionally, definitions relevant to the question
wording can be found in gray text on the associated
question screen.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Q: Why does the NCVS ask about sexual orientation and
gender identity?
A: Research has shown that sexual orientation and
gender identity are correlated with crime victimization.
These questions are included in the NCVS to better
understand the relationship between these
characteristics and experiences with criminal
victimization. Additionally, discrimination against
persons because of their sexual orientation and
gender identity is prohibited by federal hate crime
statutes and the 2013 reauthorized Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA). Since the NCVS includes
measures of hate crime and the provision of victim
services, the inclusion of these items in the NCVS will
allow researchers to better address policy-relevant
questions about victimization and victim services.
Q: What is meant by “sexual orientation”?
A: The direction of one’s romantic or sexual attraction to
members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both
sexes.
Q: What is meant by “gender identity”?
A: A person’s internal sense of gender, that is, being
male, female, or a blend of both.
Q: What is meant by “lesbian” or “gay”?
A: Romantic or sexual attraction to persons of the same
sex. Another term that may be used for lesbian or gay
is homosexual.
Q: What is meant by “straight”?
A: Romantic or sexual attraction to persons of the
opposite sex. Another term that may be used for
straight is heterosexual.
Q: What is meant by “bisexual”?
A: Romantic or sexual attraction to persons of both the
same sex and opposite sex.
Q: What is meant by “transgender”?
A: A person whose internal sense of being male or
female is different from the sex assigned to them at
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-39
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
birth.
(Page 14)
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate?
1 Male
2 Female
3 Refused
4 Don’t know
GENID_BIRTH
GENDER IDENTITY
The NCVS includes questions on gender identity
(GENID_BIRTH, GENID_DESCRIBE, and
GENID_CONFIRM). Gender identity is a person’s internal
sense of gender, that is, being male, female, or a blend of
both.
There are tremendous gaps in information about crime
victimization as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) persons. By collecting sexual
orientation data, researchers, policy makers, health
providers, and advocates will be able to identify and
address crimes affecting the LGBT community. Research
has shown that sexual orientation and gender identity are
correlated with crime victimization. These questions are
included in the NCVS to better understand the relationship
between these characteristics and experiences with
criminal victimization.
Respondents may ask what the question,
GENID_DESCRIBE, means by “transgender.” If so,
read the appropriate definition that appears on the
question screen to the respondent. Do not try to define
this term yourself. Use the definition on the question
screen.
Who Gets the Items?
Asked of all persons 16 years of age or older.
When Are Items Asked?
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interviews, or if never asked
before.
Proxy Respondents
Proxy respondents are NOT allowed. The gender identity
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
questions will be off-path and unavailable for the proxy
respondent to answer.
No Observation/
No Probing/
Do NOT mark these items either by observation or
probing. Answers to these questions must be
obtained strictly through self-identification. You must
ask the questions for each respondent even when the
answer seems obvious.
For personal visit
interviews
In the instrument, a book icon and page reference at the
top left of the screen denotes when a flashcard should be
used. This tells you that there is a corresponding page in
the Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554) to show the
respondent.
During personal visit interviews, show the respondent the
English or Spanish version of the flashcard as appropriate
before asking the questions. The top half of the flashcard is
used for the GENID_BIRTH question and lower half of the
flashcard is used for the GENID_DESCRIBE question.
For telephone interviews
During telephone interviews, read the bold text of the
question.
Precodes for GENID_BIRTH
Precode (1)
Male
If “Male,” select Precode (1).
Precode (2)
Female
If “Female,” select Precode (2).
Precode (3)
Refused
If the respondent refuses to answer the question, select this
precode.
Precode (4)
Don’t know
If the respondent states that he/she does not know the
answer to the question, select this precode.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-41
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 14)
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female, or transgender?
If further clarification is needed, read: By transgender, we mean a person whose internal sense of
being male or female is different from the sex assigned to them at birth.
1
2
3
4
Male
Female
Transgender
None of these
GENID_DESCRIBE
Precodes for GENID_DESCRIBE
Precode (1)
Male
If “Male,” select Precode (1).
Precode (2)
Female
If “Female,” select Precode (2).
Precode (3)
Transgender
Refer to the precode definition in gray text in the FR
instruction on the question if needed.
Precode (4)
None of these
If the respondent cannot find a category that describes
his/her gender identity, select the “None of these” answer
category. If the household member asks what “None of
these” means, respond, “An answer other than what was
provided in the answer categories.”
Just to confirm, you were assigned {GENID_BIRTH fill} at birth and now {GENID_DESCRIBE fill}. Is that
correct?
1
2
3
4
Yes
No
Refused
Don’t know
GENID_CONFIRM
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
The GENID_CONFIRM question will only appear when
GENID_BIRTH and GENID_DESCRIBE do not match (i.e.,
if GENID_DESCRIBE is answered Transgender, None of
these, or is not consistent with a Male or Female answer for
GENID_BIRTH).
When Is GENID_CONFIRM
Asked?
If GENID_CONFIRM is answered “Yes” indicating that the
responses recorded in the instrument for GENID_BIRTH
and GENID_DESCRIBE are correct, then the instrument
continues to the next question. If GENID_CONFIRM is
answered “No” indicating that the responses recorded in the
instrument for GENID_BIRTH and GENID_DESCRIBE are
not correct, then the instrument takes you back to
GENID_BIRTH and GENID_DESCRIBE to ask those
questions again. The instrument will allow the interview to
continue to the next question once the household member
answers “Yes” to GENID_CONFIRM.
Precodes for GENID_CONFIRM
Precode (1)
Yes
If “Yes,” select precode (1).
Precode (2)
No
If “No,” select precode (2).
Precode (3)
Refused
If “Refused,” select precode (3).
Precode (4)
Don’t know
If “Don’t Know,” select precode (4).
Sexual Orientation
and Gender Identity
FAQs
A respondent may ask you why you are asking them this
question. If so, reference the FAQs tab, and read the
appropriate response. The FAQs available are listed in detail
on pages B3-39.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-43
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
Mark one box
1
2
3
4
Never served in the military
Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard
Now on active duty
On active duty in the past, but not now
ACTIVE_DUTY
VETERAN STATUS
The NCVS collects data on the past and present military service
of household members (ACTIVE_DUTY and
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN).
The veteran status questions are intended to accurately count
men and women who are currently on active duty in the Armed
Forces as well as those who have served on active duty in the
past (even for a short time) and are now considered veterans.
A respondent serving in the U.S. Armed Force, Reserves, or
National Guard is considered to be on active duty at the time of
interview in the:
U.S. Army,
U.S. Navy,
U.S. Air Force,
U.S. Marine Corps,
U.S. Coast Guard,
Reserve branch of any of the above Armed Services
and is currently on active duty status for several months,
U.S. Public Health Service as commissioned officers
who are attached to any branch of the above Armed
Services,
National Guard in Federal Service (If his/her unit has
become part of regular forces by Presidential Order),
and
U.S. military academies as Cadets (for example, West
Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and the
Coast Guard Academy).
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Each of the military services has a regular component and a
reserve component. Members of the regular component of
any branch of the Armed Forces are always considered to be on
active duty, unless they are retired. Members of the reserve
component of any branch of the Armed Forces are only
considered to be on active duty when they have been called to
active duty by military order and are currently on active duty for
several months.
Who Gets the Item(s)?
Asked of all persons 18 years of age or older.
After the first interview, only asked of persons age 18 to 39
years of age who previously answered “Never served in the
military,” “Don’t Know,” or “Refused.”
When is Item Asked?
Asked at 1st interview or if never asked before.
Asked at subsequent interviews if “Never served in the
military,” “Don’t Know,” or “Refused” at prior interview.
Precodes for
ACTIVE_DUTY
If the respondent gives you a general answer of “Yes” to the
ACTIVE_DUTY question, probe to find out if it was active duty
for training in the Reserves or National Guard (precode 2), if
they are on active duty now (precode 3), or were on active duty
only in the past (precode 4).
Precode (1)
Never served in the
military
Respondent never served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves,
or National Guard.
Precode (2)
Only on active duty for
training in Reserves or
National Guard
Respondent trained for active duty in the Reserves or National
Guard, but was never called to service. Always consider
members of the regular service as on active duty. Members of
the Reserve service are considered to be on active duty if they
are called to service by a military order, such as the Gulf War.
Do not include weekend training for the Reserves or National
Guard as being on active duty.
Precode (3)
Now on active duty
Respondent is NOW on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces,
Reserves, or National Guard. Refer to the definition above.
Precode (4)
On duty in the past, but not
now
Respondent served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces,
Reserves, or National Guard in the past, but is not now serving.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-45
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces?
Mark all that apply, even if just for part of the time period
If needed, probe: Any other time period?
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
September 2001 or later
August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
May 1975 to July 1990
Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
February 1955 to July 1964
Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
January 1947 to June 1950
World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
November 1941 or earlier
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
If the respondent has served on active duty, ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN when is asked.
Precodes for
ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
When asking the ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN question, probing
may be necessary to capture all periods of service from the
household member.
It is common for a veteran to be discharged and re-enter
military service in another period. For example, a veteran
may have served during WWII, was discharged, and then
re-entered military service during the Korean War.
Probe by asking, “Any other time period?” to ensure that you
select each period the respondent was on active duty.
Select all that apply, i.e. mark a box for each period in which
the person served, even if just for part of the period.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST WEEK?
If necessary: Do not include volunteer work or work around the house.
If farm or business operator in household, ask about unpaid work
1 Yes
2 No
JOBLASTWEEK
JOBLASTWEEK
Item JOBLASTWEEK is asked to determine if the
respondent had a job AT ALL during the week before the
interview. This could be a full-time or part-time job for salary
or wages working for a business, government agency, or
self-employed. Do NOT include volunteer work for which the
respondent was not paid. You only see this screen if the
respondent is at least 16 years of age.
For the NCVS, a job is defined as any activity that is done
for pay, wages, salary, commission, tips, or payment "in
kind," or that is done without pay on a family farm or for a
family business. If someone in the household has a farm or
a business, make sure to probe by asking the respondent
about any unpaid work last week for the family farm or
business.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent had a job or
worked at a business at any time during the week prior to
the interview, even if the respondent was on vacation or
temporarily absent due to sickness or some other reason.
After entering Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item
JOBDESCRIPTION.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent did not have a job
or work at a business during the week prior to the interview.
Also, enter Precode (2) if a respondent receives scholarship
money while attending school (even if it is in excess of the
cost of tuition, textbooks, late fees, and so on) AND does
not have a job. After entering Precode (2), "No," continue
with Item JOBDURINGREFPERIOD.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-47
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Ask or verify:
Did you have a job or work at a business DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
1 Yes
2 No
JOBDURINGREFPERIOD
JOBDURINGREF
PERIOD
Item JOBDURINGREFPERIOD is asked to determine
whether the respondent had a job or worked at a business
at any time during the 6 months prior to the interview. You
only see this screen when the respondent did not have a job
or work at a business during the week before the interview.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent had a job or
worked at a business at any time during the 6 months prior
to the interview, even if the respondent was away from work
during some of that time for a vacation or illness. After
entering Precode (1), continue with Item
JOBLAST2WEEKS.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent did not have a job
or work at a business at any time during the 6 months prior
to the interview. After entering Precode (2), continue with
the NEXTPERSON screen (In some cases Items
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY and/or OTHER_LANGUAGE
may appear if they have not been answered in previous
enumerations). (If the respondent is the household
respondent, however, and the household is in its first, third,
fifth, or seventh interview period, the instrument goes to
Item HOUSEHOLDINCOME.)
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-48
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Did that (job/work) last 2 consecutive weeks or more?
1 Yes
2 No
JOBLAST2WEEKS
JOBLAST2WEEKS
Once the respondent tells you in Item
JOBDURINGREFPERIOD that he/she had a job or worked
at a business during the 6 months before the interview, then
you will ask the question in Item JOBLAST2WEEKS to
determine whether that job or work lasted for 2 or more
consecutive weeks.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when the respondent has worked
at least 2 consecutive weeks at the job or business
mentioned in Item JOBDURINGREFPERIOD. After
entering Precode (1), continue with Item
JOBDESCRIPTION.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when the job or work mentioned in
Item JOBDURINGREFPERIOD did NOT last for at least 2
consecutive weeks. After entering Precode (2), continue
with the NEXTPERSON screen. (If the respondent is the
household respondent, however, and the household is in its
first, third, fifth, or seventh interview period, the instrument
goes to Item HOUSEHOLDINCOME.)
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-49
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 16)
Ask or verify:
Which of the following best describes your job?
Were you employed in the -Read each category until respondent says “Yes,” then enter appropriate precode
11 Medical Profession?
12 Mental Health Services Field?
13 Teaching Profession?
14 Law Enforcement or Security Field?
15 Retail Sales?
16 Transportation Field?
17 Something else?
JOBDESCRIPTION
JOBDESCRIPTION
Item JOBDESCRIPTION is used to identify whether the
respondent's job is in one of the job classifications which
may increase or decrease his/her likelihood of becoming a
victim of crime. Item JOBDESCRIPTION allows you to
verify a known answer without asking the question first. If
you need to ask this question, make sure to read each
answer category until you get a “Yes” response.
Note the book icon and page reference at the top left of the
screen. This tells you that there is a corresponding page in
the Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554). During personal
visit interviews, show the “Employment” flashcard to the
respondent so they can see the categories. Ask the
question in Item JOBDESCRIPTION, then ask the
respondent to identify on the flashcard the job category that
best describes his/her job. If the respondent cannot find a
job category that describes his/her job, use the “Something
else” answer category and enter the respondent’s job title at
the “Specify” screen.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-50
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
If the respondent worked at more than one type of job during
the past six months, enter the precode for the category at
which the respondent worked the MOST hours. If the
respondent worked at more than one type of job during the
past six months AND spent the same amount of time at
each job, enter the precode for the first category mentioned.
Once you identify the general job category from one of the
seven category headings in Item JOBDESCRIPTION, then
one of the following screens appears to further identify the
respondent’s job.
If you enter Precode (11), Medical Profession, Item
MEDICALJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (12), Mental Health Services Field,
Item MENTALHEALTHJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (13), Teaching Profession, Item
TEACHINGJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (14), Law Enforcement or Security
Field, Item LAWENFORCEJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (15), Retail Sales, Item
RETAILSALESJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (16), Transportation Field, Item
TRANSPORTJOB appears.
If you enter Precode (17), Something Else, Item
JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC appears.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-51
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Employed in the Medical Profession
If not in the medical profession, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
As a- Read each category
11 Physician?
12 Nurse?
13 Technician?
14 Other Medical Profession? - Specify
MEDICALJOB
MEDICALJOB
If the respondent’s answer is “Other” and you enter Precode
(14), a “Specify” answer screen, Item MEDICALJOBSPEC
appears. Enter the type of medical profession at
MEDICALJOBSPEC.
Employed in the Mental Health Services Field:
If not in Mental Health Services Field, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
Are your duties - Read each category
15 Professional (Social worker/psychiatrist)?
16 Custodial care?
17 Some other Mental Health Services Profession ?- Specify
MENTALHEALTHJOB
MENTALHEALTHJOB
If the respondent answers “Other” and you enter Precode
(17), a “Specify” answer screen, Item
MENTALHEALTHJOBSPEC appears. Enter the type of
mental health services job at MENTALHEALTHJOBSPEC.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-52
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Employed in the Teaching Profession
If not in the Teaching Profession, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
Were you employed in a- Read each category
18 Preschool?
19 Elementary?
20 Junior high or middle school?
21. High school?
22 College or university?
23 Technical or industrial school?
24 Special education facility?
25 Other Teaching Profession? - Specify
TEACHINGJOB
TEACHINGJOB
If the respondent answers “Other” and you enter Precode
(25), a “Specify” answer screen, Item TEACHJOBSPEC
appears. Enter the type of job in the teaching profession in
TEACHJOBSPEC.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-53
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Employed in the Law Enforcement or Security Field:
If not in the Law Enforcement or Security Field, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
Were you employed as a- Read each category
26 Law enforcement officer?
27 Prison or jail guard?
28 Security guard?
29 Other Law Enforcement Profession? - Specify
LAWENFORCEJOB
LAWENFORCEJOB
If the respondent answers “Other” and you enter Precode
(29), a “Specify” answer screen, Item
LAWENFORCEJOBSPEC appears. Enter the type of job in
the law enforcement or security field in
LAWENFORCEJOBSPEC.
Employed in retail sales
If not in Retail Sales, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
Were you employed as a- Read each category
30 Convenience or liquor store clerk?
31 Gas station attendant?
32 Bartender?
33 Other Retail Sales Profession? - Specify
RETAILSALESJOB
RETAILSALESJOB
If the respondent answers “Other” and you enter Precode
(33), a “Specify” screen RETAILSALESJOBSPEC
appears. Enter the type of job in retail sales in
RETAILSALESJOBSPEC.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-54
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Employed in the Transportation Field
If not in Transportation Field, back up to JOBDESCRIPTION and change answer
Were you employed as a- Read each category
34 Bus driver?
35 Taxi cab driver?
36 Other Transportation Field Profession? - Specify
TRANSPORTJOB
TRANSPORTJOB
If the respondent answers “Other” and you enter Precode
(36), a “Specify” answer screen TRANSPORTJOBSPEC
appears; enter the type of job in the transportation field.
Please specify the job not covered in the answer categories 11-16 in JOBDESCRIPTION
JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC
JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC
If you enter Precode (17) at Item JOBDESCRIPTION, the
instrument prompts you to enter the respondent’s
occupation in JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-55
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Ask or verify:
Is your job with- Read each category
1
2
3
4
A private company, business, or individual for wages?
The Federal government?
A State, county, or local government?
Yourself (Self-employed) in your own business, professional practice, or farm?
EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
EMPLOYERTYPE
CURRENT
Item EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT is used to determine
whether the respondent's job or work is with:
A private company, business, or individual for wages,
Precode (1).
The Federal government, Precode (2).
A State, county, or local government, Precode (3).
The respondent's own business, professional practice,
or farm (self-employed), Precode (4).
This item allows you to verify a known answer with the
respondent without asking the question.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when a respondent worked for a
PRIVATE employer for wages, salary, commission, tips,
piece-rates, or pay in kind. Also enter Precode (1) for
respondents who worked for pay for churches, unions, and
other private nonprofit organizations.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when a respondent:
Worked for any branch of the Federal government.
Was elected to a paid Federal office.
Was a member of the Armed Forces.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-56
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Was employed by an international organization (for
example, the United Nations) or a foreign government.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when a respondent worked in any branch
of a state, county, or local government. This also includes
respondents who were elected to paid state, county, or local
offices.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) when a respondent was self-employed
for profit or fees in his/her OWN business, farm, shop,
office, practice, and so on.
Are you employed by a college or university?
1 Yes
2 No
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
COLLEGEEMPLOYER
Item COLLEGEEMPLOYER is used to determine whether
a respondent is employed by a college or university. If the
respondent indicated in Item TEACHINGJOB that he/she
was a teacher employed by a college or university and you
entered Precode (22), the instrument skips over Item
COLLEGEEMPLOYER and continues with Item
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-57
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
While working at your job, do you work mostly in- Read each category
1
2
3
4
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
Or combination of any of these?
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
Item CURRENTJOBMSATYPE is asked to find out if a
respondent works in a city, suburban area, rural area, or a
combination of any of these areas. If the respondent was a
victim of crime while on the job, we can use this information
to determine if specific areas are more prone to crime.
Read each answer category as part of the question. Most
respondents will know the correct response, so let the
respondent decide which type of area. When a respondent
worked for more than one employer, enter the precode for
the area in which he/she worked the greater number of
hours. If a respondent works offshore, such as on an aircraft
carrier, the answer to Item CURRENTJOBMSATYPE must
be based on the ship's home harbor. Avoid entering
Precode (4), "Combination of any of these?" unless a
respondent insists that the area he/she worked in MOST of
the time was a combination of city, suburban, and rural.
BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY
Item BESTTIME_NOSUNDAY allows you to review or
update the interview time preference for the household.
After reviewing the time preference, press "1" to continue.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-58
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Topic 5. Informing the Household Respondent,
Household Income, Other Languages, End Screens,
and Choosing the Next Respondent to Interview
I need to interview all other household members age 12 and older and will be asking them the
same questions I asked you about crime.
(1) Enter 1 to continue
INFORM_HHR
INFORM_HHR
This screen appears after the household respondent has
completed their interview, including the employment
section, but only when there is at least one household
member between12-17 years old. Otherwise, the
instrument skips over this screen and goes to
HOUSEHOLDINCOME. Read the text to the respondent as
shown.
During the months when a supplement is being conducted,
this screen contains additional text to read to the household
respondent regarding asking the supplement questions of
household members under the age of 18. (For example,
when the school crime supplement is conducted, the
instrument also displays: “Additionally, I will be asking
household members age 12 through 17 some questions on
school-related crime.)
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-59
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Page 18)
(Which category on this card represents/Which category represents) the TOTAL combined income of
all members of this HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This includes money from jobs, net
income from business, farm or rent, pensions, dividends, interest, Social Security payments, and any
other money income received by members of this HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or older.
Which category represents the TOTAL HOUSEHOLD income during the past 12 months?
11 Less than $5,000
12 $5,000 to $7,499
13 $7,500 to $9,999
14 $10,000 to $12,499
15 $12,500 to $14,999
16 $15,000 to $17,499
17 $17,500 to $19,999
18 $20,000 to $24,999
19 $25,000 to $29,999
20 $30,000 to $34,999
21 $35,000 to $39,999
22 $40,000 to $49,999
23 $50,000 to $74,999
24 $75,000 to $99,999
25 $100,000 to $149,999
26 $150,000 to $199,999
27 $200,000 or more
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
HOUSEHOLDINCOME
The NCVS instrument brings up Item
HOUSEHOLDINCOME only during the household
respondent’s interview and then only in the first, third, fifth,
and seventh enumeration periods. If necessary, explain to
the household respondent that we do not need him/her to
identify the specific total household income, just the income
range in which it falls.
For personal visit interviews
Just before reading the question in Item
HOUSEHOLDINCOME, show the household respondent
the flashcard in your Information Card Booklet (NCVS-554)
and then ask the HOUSEHOLDINCOME question to
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-60
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
determine the household’s total combined income. After
reading the question, allow the respondent time to read the
categories, make an estimate, and respond. When
necessary, help the respondent by adding each household
member’s income and/or the income from all sources to get
the total combined income.
For telephone interviews
In most cases, after the first personal visit interview, the
remaining interviews at the sample address are conducted
by telephone. Read the question and each income category
until the respondent identifies the appropriate category.
What to Include
Respondents may ask about what type of income to include
in the combined household income. Include the following
types of income:
Income received from jobs
Net income from business, farm, or rent
Pensions
Dividends and interest
Social security payments
Alimony and child support
Public assistance
Any other money received by household members who
are 14 years of age and older.
We are interested in the household's combined income
during the 12 months immediately preceding the interview
date --not the last calendar year-- unless they happen to
coincide. Do not specifically ask a household respondent to
look for tax records; however, a respondent can use income
tax records to help him/her to compare the last calendar
year's income with the income in the 12-month period
preceding the interview.
Make sure that the answer includes the money income
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-61
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
received during the 12 months immediately preceding the
interview and covers the reference person and each
household member who is 14 years of age and older. Do not
include income from nonhousehold persons who are listed
in the household roster. If necessary, name each household
member who is 14 years of age and older, so that the
household respondent understands whose money income
we want to include. Remember that you can access the
household roster by pressing the “Shift” and “F1" keys
simultaneously. You can also click the “HH Roster” tab at
the top left of the screen.
What to Exclude
We do not want the household respondent to include:
"In kind" income, such as room and board, free meals in
a restaurant, value of crops produced by a farmer and
consumed by his family, and so on.
Insurance payments or lump-sum inheritances.
Occasional gifts of money from persons not living in the
household or any exchanges of money between
relatives living in the same household.
Money received from selling one's own home, car, or
other personal property.
Savings withdrawals from banks.
Tax refunds.
Income from nonhousehold persons who are listed in
the household roster.
Special Situations for
Item HOUSEHOLD
INCOME
If a household respondent reports no income, a loss, or that
they "broke even," enter Precode (11), "Less than $5,000."
Before accepting an answer of "No income," make sure that
the household respondent understands what type of income
we want included and from which persons in the household.
In difficult cases, try to assist the household respondent by
probing to find out:
Which household members worked during the last 12
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-62
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
months.
How much money each working household member (14
years of age and older) earned each week or pay
period.
Whether or not any household members (14 years of
age and older) operated a business or a farm during the
last 12 months.
Whether or not any household members (14 years of
age and older) received a pension, dividends, interest,
etc.
Avoid "Don't know" or "Refused" answers if possible.
Reassuring
Respondents
You may encounter a household respondent who knows the
household income, but is reluctant to tell you because
he/she does not think we need to know or does not see why
it would be necessary for the survey. If so, explain that
information such as income, race, and sex are
essential for providing statistics which reflect the
crime experiences for various segments of the United
States population.
If number was previously collected, verify number is still current
What is the telephone number where you would like to be called?
Respondent's current number:
Enter 0 for no telephone number or no modifications to previously collected phone number
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER
RESPONDENTPHONE
NUMBER
RESPONDENTPHONENUMBER is asked at the
conclusion of a completed interview; it allows you to collect
a different phone number for each household member. If the
number was previously collected, verify that it is still a
current number. Enter 0 (zero) for no telephone number or if
no modifications to a previously collected phone number are
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-63
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
necessary.
The instrument then goes to RESPONDENTPHONETYPE
(if a phone number is entered) or RESPINTERVIEWLANG
(if no phone number is entered).
What type of phone is this (for example, a home, office, or cell phone)?
1 Home
2 Work
3 Cell/digital
4 Beep/page/service
5 Pay phone
6 Toll free
7 Other
8 Fax
RESPONDENTPHONETYPE
RESPONDENTPHONE
TYPE
RESPONDENTPHONETYPE asks what type of phone the
number is. Enter the appropriate precode. The instrument
goes to RESPINTERVIEWLANG.
Was this respondent’s interview conducted in a language other than English?
1 Yes
2 No
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
RESPINTERVIEWLANG
RESPINTERVIEWLANG is asked to find out if the
respondent’s interview was conducted in a language
other than English. Enter Precode (1) for “Yes” and the
instrument goes to WHICH_LANG. Enter Precode (2) for
“No” and the instrument goes to ENDPERSON.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-64
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
What language was the respondent’s interview conducted in?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Spanish
French
Russian
German
Vietnamese
Chinese
Korean
Tagalog
Asian
Japanese
Germanic
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Dutch
Norwegian
Swedish
Arabic
Greek
Italian
Polish
Portuguese
Urdu
Other-Specify
Don't know
WHICH_LANG
WHICH_LANG
Item WHICH_LANG asks, “What language was the
respondent’s interview conducted in?”
Enter the precode for the appropriate language. If the
language is not on this list, enter Precode (21), “OtherSpecify,” and the instrument takes you to Item
LANG_SPEC, where you specify the appropriate language.
Specify the other language spoken
LANG_SPEC
LANG_SPEC
In LANG_SPEC, enter the “other” language spoken. This
item allows 30 characters.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-65
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
You have completed this respondent’s interview
***Do not F10 from this screen***
Enter 1 to continue
ENDPERSON
ENDPERSON
Item ENDPERSON appears when you have completed the
individual respondent’s interview. DO NOT F10 to exit the
instrument from ENDPERSON; doing so may cause loss of
all collected data and necessitate restarting the case.
There are no more incidents to report.
***Do not F10 from this screen***
Enter 1 to continue
ENDSCREENER
ENDSCREENER
Item ENDSCREENER appears when there are no more
incident reports to complete for this screener, as well as no
more incidents for this respondent. DO NOT F10 to exit the
instrument from ENDSCREENER; doing so may cause loss
of all collected data and necessitate restarting the case.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-66
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 3
Current incident report is over
***Do not F10 from this screen***
Enter (1) to continue
ENDINCIDENT
ENDINCIDENT
Item ENDINCIDENT appears after each incident report to
let you know that the report has been completed. This
screen is also used by the instrument to close the incident
report, which is why it is important not to press F10 at this
item. If you press F10, it may cause the loss of all collected
data and necessitate restarting the case.
***Do not F10 from this screen***
LN NAME
STATUS HRESP
REL
SEX AGE
1
2
DONE-Int
NEED SELF
Ref Person
Husband
F
M
Megan Moe
Ted Moe
25
29
I also need to talk with Ted Moe.
Is Ted Moe at home now?
Enter person’s line number for next interview
***Do not F10 from this screen***
2 Ted Moe
31 Respondent refused FOR someone else
33 No other person available now
NEXTPERSON
NEXTPERSON
Item NEXTPERSON appears when there are other eligible
household members who still need to complete the NCVS
interview. The line number of each household member is
displayed, along with the person’s name, interview status,
relation, sex, and age. Select the next person in the
household to be interviewed at Item NEXTPERSON.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-67
Part B, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The question text for Item NEXTPERSON changes
depending on how many household members remain to be
interviewed. For one more household member interview,
the screen display is as shown above. If there is more than
one household member remaining to interview, the screen
display says, “I also need to talk with (names). Are any of
them at home now?”
Select Precode (31) “Respondent refused for someone
else,” if the respondent refused the interview for some other
household member. Select Precode (33), “No other person
available now,” if no other person is currently available and
the interviews for the household are not complete.
DO NOT F10 to exit the instrument from NEXTPERSON;
doing so may cause loss of all collected data and
necessitate restarting the case. Instead, use Precode (33)
to exit the case.
Introduction and Screening Items
B3-68
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument:
Incident Report Items
Table of Topics
Topic
1
2
3
Screen Layout and Instructions for Items
INCIDENTINTRO through HAPPEN
Page
B4-2
Screen Layout and Instructions for Items
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS through
ANYTHINGFURTHER
B4-128
Screen Layout and Instructions for Items
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME through SUMMARY
B4-230
Incident Report Items
B4-1
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Screen Layout and Instructions for
Items INCIDENTINTRO Through HAPPEN
Talking to: John Doe
Asking about: John Doe
● Starting the First Incident Report
***DO NOT F10 FROM THIS SCREEN***
You said before that during the last 6 months:
L1's bike stolen from carport
Frequency:
1 time(s)
***DO NOT F10 FROM THIS SCREEN***
INCIDENTINTRO
INCIDENTINTRO
INCIDENTINTRO marks the beginning of the incident
report section in the middle of the NCVS instrument.
This section gathers a variety of information about
each reported incidence of crime that occurred during
the respondent’s six-month reference period. It is
important to record accurate and complete information
so that we get a clear picture of what happened during
the incident. This screen also identifies:
The person to whom you are speaking.
The household member about whom you are
asking these questions.
The brief description of the incident that you
entered in the screening section of the instrument.
The number of times the incident happened as
reported in the screening item.
The instrument changes the display of the first
interviewer instruction based on which incident report
you are starting. For the first incident report for a
screener question, the instrument displays “First.” For
Incident Report Items
B4-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
subsequent incidents reported in the same screen
question, the instrument fills in the word “Next.”
Once you are done reviewing this screen, enter
Precode (1) to continue to Item INCIDENTADDRESS
or INCIDENTDATE based on the number of months
the respondent has lived at the sample address, as
determined earlier in the interview in
TIMEATADDRESS. If the respondent has lived at the
sample address for more than six months, the
instrument continues with Item INCIDENTDATE. If
multiple incidents are reported, when you complete one
crime report, you then return to this screen for each
remaining incident. Do not F10 from Item
INCIDENTINTRO; doing so may result in loss of data
and necessitate restarting the case.
Once you start to complete a crime incident report in
this section, you must finish it, with the exception of
incidents that happened outside of the respondent’s
reference period. For all other situations, it is important
to finish this section once you begin, as you may
discover that an additional NCVS crime has occurred in
conjunction with the original crime.
Asking about:
JOHN DOE
Did (this/the first) incident happen while you were living here or before you moved to this
address?
1 While living at this address
2 Before moving to this address
INCIDENTADDRESS
INCIDENTADDRESS
If the household member has lived at the sample
address for 6 months or less, then the NCVS
instrument brings up Item INCIDENTADDRESS in
order to determine if the reported incident occurred
while the household member:
Incident Report Items
B4-3
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Lived at the sample address or
Lived at a previous address.
Before asking the question for Item
INCIDENTADDRESS, always read the lead-in
statement, which includes the incident description that
you entered in the screening question. When the
incident reported in a screen question happened ONLY
ONE TIME during the reference period, read the
question text as follows: “Did this incident happen
while you were living here or before your moved to
this address?”
If more than one incident was reported for a screen
question, read the question for Item
INCIDENTADDRESS as follows: “Did the first
incident happen...?” For subsequent incidents from a
screen question, read the question for Item
INCIDENTADDRESS as follows: “Did this incident
happen...?”
Based on the respondent's answer, enter either
Precode (1), "While living at this address," or Precode
(2), "Before moving to this address." The instrument
then goes to Item INCIDENTDATE.
In what month did (this/the first) incident happen?
Reference Period:
July: 2016
January: 2017
● Encourage respondent to give exact month
1 January
2 February
3 March
4 April
5 May
6 June
7 July
8 August
9 September
10 October
11 November
12 December
97 Don’t know exact month within reference period
INCIDENTDATE
Incident Report Items
B4-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
INCIDENTDATE
Part B, Chapter 4
Item INCIDENTDATE is used to determine the month and
year in which the incident occurred. Encourage
respondents to give an exact month. When necessary,
probe with holidays or other special events to help the
respondent identify an exact month of occurrence.
Enter the 1- or 2-digit precode to identify the month in
which the incident happened. It is not necessary to enter
a 2-digit precode for the months of January through
September, because the instrument will accept a 1-digit
precode. As a last resort, enter Precode (97) when a
respondent cannot identify the exact month of
occurrence.
When the incident reported in a screen question
happened ONLY ONE TIME during the reference
period, ask INCIDENTDATE this way:
“In what month did this incident happen?”
When the incident reported in a screen question
happened MORE THAN ONE TIME, you must ask
questions about each incident that occurred during
the reference period separately. Ask the question in
INCIDENTDATE based on the number of incidents
reported.
For the first incident, ask, “In what month did the
first incident happen?”
For subsequent incidents ask, “In what month did
this incident happen?”
Repeat as necessary for all other occurrences.
Date is Outside of Reference
Period
The reference period is displayed in the upper right of the
INCIDENTDATE screen as shown above. If the
respondent's answer to Item INCIDENTDATE is a month
outside of his/her reference period, remind the
respondent of the starting and ending dates for his/her
reference period.
When the respondent still gives you a date outside of
his/her reference period, enter the appropriate precode
for the month given by the respondent. After entering a
Incident Report Items
B4-5
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
precode for a month outside of the respondent’s
reference period, the following edit check appears:
● If necessary:
Did you say June?
Questions involved
Value
INCIDENTDATE: Incident month verify June
Suppress Close Goto
If the month reported or entered is incorrect and the
incident happened within the reference period, click
“Goto.” The instrument goes back to INCIDENTDATE so
you can record the correct month.
If you verify at the edit check that the incident was
entered or reported incorrectly and happened outside of
the respondent’s reference period, click “Suppress.” This
makes the incident out-of-scope and no further questions
are asked about that incident.
We are only asking about crimes that happened during
the last 6 months. We will not collect information on this
incident.
OSINCNOTNEEDED
Once you click “Suppress,” the instrument goes to Item
OSINCNOTNEEDED, where you read, “We are only
asking about crimes that happened during the last 6
months. We will not collect information on this
incident.” Enter (1) to continue.
Incident Report Items
B4-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Did you have anything (else) like this happen between
July 2016 and January 2017?
INCIDENTDATEPROBE
Item INCIDENTDATEPROBE appears: “Did you have
anything like this happen between July 2016 and
January 2017?” Choose the appropriate precode: (1) for
“Yes” and (2) for “No.” If you choose “Yes,” the instrument
goes back to INCIDENTINTRO to collect an incident
report for that incident. If you choose “No,” the current
incident entry is deleted.
If you delete the incident, the instrument goes to Item
INC_REDUCE in order for you to record the reason why
the incident is being deleted.
● Briefly explain why the number of incidents is being
reduced.
INC_REDUCE
When an incident is deleted, enter a description of why
you deleted that incident, such as “Incident occurred in
June; outside of reference period.”
If the same type of incident occurred more than once
AND one or more of the incidents happened during the
reference period, click “Close” or “Goto” at the edit check.
Complete the incident report items for each in-scope
incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-7
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
● If unsure, ask:
Altogether, how many times did this type of incident happen during the last 6 months?
● Number of incidents recorded for this screening question: 7
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
INCIDENTNUMBEROF TIMES
Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES is used to record,
for a specific screen question, the total number of times
that the incident happened during the reference period.
It is also the first item used to determine whether there
are multiple incidents reported for a screen question
that could qualify as a series of crimes.
If you are already sure what the total number is, enter
the number of incidents without asking the question in
Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES. This screen
always shows the number of incidents reported earlier
in the screen question.
Always record the exact number of incidents and only
include incidents that happened during the respondent's
reference period. The instrument does not permit you to
enter a range of numbers (for example, 1-4).
Whenever a respondent seems unsure, probe to arrive
at an exact number or at least his/her best estimate. Do
not rush the respondent and allow sufficient time for the
respondent to recall information about the incidents.
Use neutral probes to help arrive at an exact number or
the respondent's best estimate, such as "Thinking back,
can you recall what you were doing or what was
happening in your life at the time of the incidents?"
If the entry in Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES is
less than or equal to the number entered in the
screener question, the instrument continues with either:
Item INCIDENTTIME when less than six incidents
were reported,
Incident Report Items
B4-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
OR
Item INCIDENTSSIMILAR when six or more
incidents were reported in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES.
When the number of incidents entered at Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES does not match the
number of incidents recorded earlier in the interview at
the screening item, INCIDENTTIMESPROBE appears:
● Number of incidents recorded in
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES: 2 is GREATER than the
number of incidents recorded for this screening
question: 1
● Information will be collected for 2 incidents.
● Enter 1 to continue
INCIDENTTIMESPROBE
INCIDENTTIMESPROBE alerts you to the difference in
the number of incidents and lets you know that you will
be completing a separate set of the incident report
items for each incident recorded at
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES.
If you enter a number of incidents in
INCIDENTTIMESPROBE between 1 and 5, the
instrument continues with INCIDENTTIME because the
multiple incidents automatically disqualify as a series of
crimes and, therefore, you must complete a separate
set of incident report items for each incident. Failure to
do so will result in either the respondent classifying as a
noninterview or the household classifying as a
noninterview. If you enter 6 or more incidents in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, continue with Item
INCIDENTSSIMILAR.
Incident Report Items
B4-9
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
● If unsure, ask:
Are these incidents similar to each other in detail or are they for different types of crimes?
1 Similar
2 Different (not a series)
INCIDENTSSIMILAR
INCIDENTSSIMILAR
Item INCIDENTSSIMILAR is used to determine whether the
multiple incidents are very similar to each other or whether
the incidents involve different types of crimes. The incidents
entered in Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES must be
very similar to each other in detail to qualify as a series
of crimes. If you are not sure which precode to enter, ask the
respondent the question in Item INCIDENTSSIMILAR.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), “Similar,” if ALL the incidents entered in
Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES are very similar to
each other in detail. For example, a respondent reported
seven separate incidents that occurred during the reference
period in which money was stolen from her desk at work. In
each of these incidents, money was stolen from her desk at
work and she was not victimized in any other way that might
classify as a different type of NCVS crime. Therefore, enter
Precode (1). After entering Precode (1), continue with
RECALLDETAILS.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), “Different (“not a series”),” when there are
facts for some of the incidents entered in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES that differentiate them from
one another. After entering Precode (2), continue with Item
INCIDENTTIME, because these incidents do not qualify as a
series of crimes. For example, a respondent reported seven
separate incidents all of which took place in the same parking
garage during the reference period. For two of the incidents,
the offender threatened to sexually assault her. For the
remaining five incidents, someone broke into her car and
stole unattached items, such as a coat, music CDs, and so
on. In this example, we do NOT have at least 6 very similar
incidents, so enter Precode (2).
Incident Report Items
B4-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● If unsure, ask:
Can you recall enough details of each incident to distinguish them from each other?
1 Yes (not a series)
2 No (is a series)
RECALLDETAILS
RECALLDETAILS
Item RECALLDETAILS is used to determine whether the
multiple incidents meet the final criteria for a series of
crimes. If you are not sure whether the respondent can
recall enough facts about each incident to distinguish them
from one another, ask the question of the respondent before
entering a precode for this item.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent can remember
enough facts to distinguish the incidents from one another,
so that you can complete most of the required incident
report questions for each incident. By entering Precode (1),
you are confirming that the multiple incidents are NOT a
series of crimes. Therefore, you will complete a separate set
of incident report questions for each incident entered in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES. After entering Precode (1),
continue with Item INCIDENTTIME.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when the respondent cannot remember
enough facts to distinguish the multiple incidents from one
another, so that it would be impossible to complete a
separate set of incident report questions for each incident
entered in Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES. By entering
Precode (2), you are confirming that the multiple incidents
entered in Item INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES qualify as a
series of crimes. After entering Precode (2), you will
continue with Item INCIDENTTIME; however, the following
statement will appear above the question, “The following
questions refer only to the most recent incident.”
When incidents qualify as a series of crimes, be sure to read
this lead-in statement before reading the question in Item
INCIDENTTIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-11
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(Also, see Part C, Chapter 3, Topic 2, for more
information about a series of crimes.)
About what time did this incident happen?
● During the day:
11 After 6 a.m. -- 12 noon
12 After 12 noon -- 3 p.m.
13 After 3 p.m. -- 6 p.m.
14 Don't know what time of day
● At night:
15 After 6 p.m. -- 9 p.m.
16 After 9 p.m. -- 12 midnight
17 After 12 midnight -- 6 a.m.
18 Don't know what time of night
● OR
19 Don't know whether day or night
INCIDENTTIME
INCIDENTTIME
Item INCIDENTTIME is used to determine what time of day
or night the incident happened. When completing the
incident report items for a series of crimes, read the lead-in
statement; then the question asks, “About what time did
the most recent incident happen?” This is done to remind
the respondent that we are interested in the most recent
incident in a series of crimes.
Specific Time Given
If a respondent answers with a specific time, such as 10
p.m., then enter the appropriate precode for the time given
(For example, when the answer is 10 p.m., enter Precode
(16), "After 9 p.m. - 12 midnight.") Verify whether the specific
time given is "a.m." or "p.m."
Range of Hours Given
When a respondent answers with a range of hours:
1. See if the hours given fit into one answer category. For
example, when a respondent answers with "Between 4
and 6 p.m.," enter Precode (13), "After 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.".
2. If the range of hours does not fit into one answer
category, see if the hours given are all "during the day" or
all "during the night." For example, when a respondent
answers with "Sometime between12 noon and 4 p.m.,"
Incident Report Items
B4-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
enter Precode (14), "Don't know what time of day." If a
respondent answers with "Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.,"
enter Precode (18), "Don't know what time of night."
3.
Respondent Does Not
Know What Time
If the range of hours overlaps day and night answer
categories, enter Precode (19), "Don't know whether day
or night." For example, when a respondent answers with
"Sometime between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.," enter Precode
(19), "Don't know whether day or night.”
When a respondent really does not know an exact hour or
range of hours when the incident happened and he/she tells
you that:
It happened sometime during the day, enter Precode
(14), "Don't know what time of day."
It happened sometime during the night, enter Precode
(18), "Don't know what time of night."
He/she really does not know whether it happened during
the day or during the night, enter Precode (19), "Don't
know whether day or night."
In what city, town, or village, did this incident occur?
Present residence: ANYTOWN, AK
1
2
3
4
5
Outside U.S.
Not inside a city/town/village
SAME city/town/village as present residence
DIFFERENT city/town/village from present residence - Specify
Don't know
INCIDENTPLACE
INCIDENTPLACE
Precode (1)
Item INCIDENTPLACE is one of the items designed to
establish where the crime occurred. Encourage the
respondent to be as precise as possible.
Enter Precode (1), "Outside U.S.", when the incident
happened outside of the 50 states and the District of
Incident Report Items
B4-13
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Columbia. For the purposes of the NCVS, consider Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the other U.S. territories as
being outside of the United States. After entering Precode
(1), continue with Item LOCATION_GENERAL.
Precode (2)
Precode (2), "Not inside a city/town/village," when the
incident did not happen inside the limits of a city, town, or
village. After entering Precode (2), continue with Items
INCIDENTSTATE and INCIDENTCOUNTY.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), “SAME city/town/village as present
residence,” when the incident took place in the same city,
town, or village as the sample address. After entering
Precode (3), continue with Item INCIDENTAIR.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4), "DIFFERENT city/town/village from
present residence," when the incident happened in a
different city, town, or village from the sample address.
Make sure to enter the name of the city, town, or village
where the incident occurred on the INCIDENTPLACESPEC
screen that appears after entering Precode (4). Once you
have entered the city, town, or village where the incident
occurred, continue with Items INCIDENTSTATE and
INCIDENTCOUNTY.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) when the respondent does not know
where the incident happened. Then continue with Items
INCIDENTSTATE and INCIDENTCOUNTY.
In what state did it occur?
INCIDENTSTATE
INCIDENTSTATE
When you start typing the state name in INCIDENTSTATE,
a list of states appears in a pop-up box. Select the correct
state name and press “Enter” or the “Select” radio button.
The instrument goes to INCIDENTCOUNTY.
Incident Report Items
B4-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
In what county did it occur?
INCIDENTCOUNTY
INCIDENTCOUNTY
Type in the name of the county in INCIDENTCOUNTY.
Then Item COUNTYSTATE appears, which asks if this is
the same county and state as the respondent’s current
residence. If the respondent’s current address is available,
that information is displayed in item COUNTYSTATE as
shown.
● Ask or verify:
Is this the same county and state as your present residence?
● Present residence: ANYTOWN ALASKA
COUNTYSTATE
COUNTYSTATE
Any answer in COUNTYSTATE takes you to INCIDENTAIR,
which asks if the incident occurred on American Indian
land/reservation.
Did this incident occur on an American Indian Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
1 Yes
2 No
INCIDENTAIR
INCIDENTAIR
Item INCIDENTAIR is used to determine whether the
incident happened on an American Indian Reservation or on
American Indian Lands. In most cases, a respondent will
probably answer the question in Item INCIDENTAIR without
hesitation. However, if a respondent is unsure of how to
answer, included here are definitions of “American Indian
Reservation” and “American Indian Lands” so you can help
Incident Report Items
B4-15
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
the respondent.
What is an American
Indian Reservation?
American Indian Reservations are territories reserved as
permanent tribal homelands with boundaries established by
treaty, statute, or executive or court order. The Federal
Government and some state governments have established
reservations as territory over which American Indians have
governmental jurisdiction. These are designated as
colonies, communities, pueblos, rancherias, reservations,
and reserves.
What are American
Indian Lands?
American Indian Lands are comprised of tribal subdivisions
and trust lands.
A tribal subdivision is an administrative subdivision of a
reservation. Tribal subdivisions may extend beyond the
boundary of their reservations, and are internal units of selfgovernment or administration that serve social, cultural, or
economic purposes for the American Indians living on and
adjacent to the reservation.
The Federal Government holds Trust Lands in trust for
either a tribe (tribal trust land) or an individual member of a
tribe (individual trust land). Such land is always associated
with a specific federally recognized reservation or tribe, but
may be located on or off the reservation.
If you feel that probing is necessary AFTER asking the
question in Item INCIDENTAIR, the following probe may
help the respondent to give you an accurate answer:
"Did the incident happen in an American Indian colony,
community, pueblo, rancheria, reservation, or reserve?"
After completing Item INCIDENTAIR, continue with Item
LOCATION_GENERAL to code where the incident
occurred.
Incident Report Items
B4-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Did this incident happen...
● Read each category until respondent says ‘yes,’ then enter appropriate precode
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
36
In your home or lodging?
Near your home or lodging?
At, in, or near a friend’s/relative’s/neighbor’s home?
At a commercial place?
In a parking lot or garage?
At school?
In an open area, on the street, or on public transportation?
Somewhere else?
LOCATION_GENERAL
LOCATION_GENERAL
Item LOCATION_GENERAL contains eight GENERAL
categories used to identify the place where an incident
happened. Selecting one of the general categories takes you
to another screen where you select the SPECIFIC type of
place where the incident happened.
It is very important that you enter the most appropriate
precode for Item LOCATION_GENERAL, so that you follow
the correct path through the incident report items. If you enter
the wrong precode in Item LOCATION_GENERAL, the
appropriate questions will not be asked to show what really
happened during the incident.
When a respondent's answer in LOCATION_GENERAL is
not clear and you are unsure which precode to enter, probe
for more details to identify the correct incident location.
LOCATION_GENERAL allows you to enter only ONE
precode, so be sure to enter the most appropriate one.
Example:
A respondent's answer for Item LOCATION_GENERAL
is, "At work." That response is too general for you to
know which precode to enter, so you need to find out
where the respondent works.
Incident Report Items
B4-17
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you select Precode (11), “In your home or lodging,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_IN_HOME is the next
screen that appears.
If you select Precode (12), “Near your home or lodging,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_NEAR_HOME is the
next screen that appears.
If you select Precode (13), “At, in, or near a
friends’/relative’s/neighbor’s home,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_OTHER_HOME is the
next screen that appears.
If you select Precode (14), “At a commercial place,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_COMMERCE is the
next screen that appears.
If you select Precode (15), “In a parking lot or garage,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_PARKING is the next
screen that appears.
If you select Precode (16), “At school,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_SCHOOL is the next
screen that appears.
If you select Precode (17), “In an open area, on the street, or
on public transportation,” at LOCATION_GENERAL,
LOCATION_OPEN_AREA is the next screen that appears.
If you select Precode (36), “Somewhere else,” at
LOCATION_GENERAL, LOCATION_SPEC is the next
screen that appears. It says, “Please specify the other
location where this incident occurred.” Enter the location in
the Location Specify field, then press “Enter.” The instrument
then skips to RESTRICTEDAREA.
If, after probing, the respondent still doesn’t know where the
incident took place, enter “Ctrl” + “D” to code a blind “Don’t
know” at Item LOCATION_GENERAL.
LOCATION_GENERAL is the only location screen where
you may enter a “Don’t know” response.
Incident Report Items
B4-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● Ask if necessary:
Where in your home or lodging did this incident happen?
11 In own dwelling, own attached garage, or enclosed porch (Include illegal entry or attempted
illegal entry of same)
12 In detached building on own property, such as detached garage or storage shed, etc.
(Include illegal entry or attempted illegal entry of same)
13 In vacation home/second home (Include illegal entry or attempted illegal entry of same)
14 In hotel or motel room respondent was staying in (Include illegal
entry or attempted illegal entry of same)
LOCATION_IN_HOME
LOCATION_IN_ HOME
LOCATION_IN_HOME covers Precedes (11) through (14)
for enclosed structures at which an incident may have
occurred. An enclosed structure is one which has a door or
window to gain entry through, such as a respondent's
house, apartment, room, garage, shed, enclosed porch, or a
vacation home, second home, or hotel/motel room in which
the respondent was staying at the time of the incident. This
also includes enclosed structures that are on the
respondent's property, but are detached from the main
structure, such as a detached garage or storage shed.
These enclosed structures must be owned or rented by the
sample household. It does not matter how the offender
gained entrance to the enclosed structure (For example, the
offender may have used force, was let in by a household
member, or gained entrance through an unlocked or open
door or window). However, if the offender did not enter or try
to enter the types of places identified in Precodes (11)
through (14), then return to LOCATION_GENERAL and
enter the most appropriate precode.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), In your own dwelling, own attached
garage, or enclosed porch (Include illegal entry or
attempted entry of same), when the offender either tried to
enter or was inside the following types of places during the
incident:
Incident Report Items
B4-19
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The respondent's own dwelling, attached garage, or
enclosed porch.
The respondent's room in a boarding house, school
dormitory, or a similar type of place. As you ask the
questions in Items OFFENDERLIVE through
OFFENDERGETIN, keep in mind that we are only
interested in the respondent's room and not the rest of
the building. If the incident took place somewhere else in
the building outside of the respondent's room, do NOT
enter Precode (11), instead return to
LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode (12), which
will take you to LOCATION_NEAR_HOME, then select
Precode (16), Apartment hall, storage area, laundry
room.
The respondent's apartment. As you ask the questions in
Items OFFENDERLIVE through OFFENDERGETIN,
keep in mind that we are only interested in the
respondent's apartment and not the rest of the apartment
building. If the incident took place somewhere else in the
building outside of the respondent's apartment, do NOT
enter Precode (11) in LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead
return to LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode
(12), which will take you to LOCATION_NEAR_HOME,
then select Precode (16), Apartment hall, storage area,
laundry room.
The respondent's former living quarters, as long as the
respondent was living there at the time of the incident
AND the incident occurred during the respondent's 6month reference period.
The respondent's enclosed porch. If the incident
occurred on the respondent's unenclosed porch, do NOT
enter Precode (11), LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead
return to LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode
(12), which will take you to LOCATION_NEAR_HOME,
then select Precode (15), Own yard, sidewalk,
driveway, carport, unenclosed porch.
After entering Precode (11) in LOCATION_IN_HOME,
continue with Item OFFENDERLIVE.
Incident Report Items
B4-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (12)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (12), In detached building on own
property, such as detached garage or storage shed,etc.
(Include illegal entry or attempted illegal entry of same),
when the offender either tried to enter or was inside the
following types of places during the incident:
A detached building on the respondent's property other
than the respondent's dwelling or attached garage, such
as a detached garage, tool shed, guest house, barn,
greenhouse, and so on. Do NOT enter Precode (12)in
LOCATION_IN_HOME if the incident took place in an
open carport on the respondent's property, instead return
to LOCATION_ GENERAL and enter Precode (12),
which takes you to LOCATION_NEAR_HOME, then
select Precode (15) Own yard, sidewalk, driveway,
carport, unenclosed porch.
A mobile home or trailer that is NOT used as a
recreation vehicle and is situated on the respondent's
property. If the mobile home or trailer is used as a
recreation vehicle, do NOT enter Precode (12) in
LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead return to LOCATION_
GENERAL and enter Precode (12), which will take you
to LOCATION_NEAR_ HOME, then select Precode
(15), Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport,
unenclosed porch.
After entering Precode (12) in LOCATION_IN_HOME,
continue with Item OFFENDERLIVE.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), In vacation home/second home
(Include illegal entry or attempted illegal entry of same),
when the offender either tried to enter or was inside the
following types of places during the incident:
A second home either owned or in the possession of the
respondent. Second homes include former dwellings still
owned or rented by the respondent, but not used as the
respondent's primary residence, as well as new
dwellings that are in the possession of the respondent,
but not yet used as the primary residence. If the incident
happened at a second home owned by a nonhousehold
member or rented to a nonhousehold member, do NOT
enter Precode (13) in LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead
Incident Report Items
B4-21
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
return to LOCATION_GENERAL and select Precode
(13), which takes you to LOCATION_OTHER_HOME,
then select Precode (18), At or in home or other
building on their property.
A vacation home owned by the respondent, regardless
of whether or not the respondent was residing at the
vacation home when the incident took place. If the
incident happened at a vacation home that is owned or
rented by a nonhousehold member, do NOT enter
Precode (13) in LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead return to
LOCATION_ GENERAL and select Precode (13), which
takes you to LOCATION_OTHER_HOME, then select
Precode (18), At or in home or other building on their
property.
A detached building on the property of a second home or
vacation home owned by the respondent, such as a
detached garage, storage shed, and so on. If the
incident happened in the yard of a vacation or second
home, do NOT enter Precode (13) in
LOCATION_IN_HOME, instead return to
LOCATION_GENERAL, enter Precode (36), then
describe the location on the "Specify" screen, Item
LOCATION_SPEC, that appears after entering Precode
(36).
After entering Precode (13) in LOCATION_IN_HOME,
continue with Item OFFENDERLIVE.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), In hotel or motel room respondent
was staying in (Include illegal entry or attempted illegal
entry of same), when the offender either tried to enter or
was inside a hotel or motel room, where the respondent was
staying temporarily during any part of the incident. However,
if the incident happened somewhere else in the hotel or
motel building (for example, in a conference room, lobby, or
hallway) and the offender never entered or tried to enter the
respondent's room, do NOT enter Precode (14) in
LOCATION_IN_HOME; instead return to
LOCATION_GENERAL, enter Precode (14) “At a
commercial place,” which takes you to Item
LOCATION_COMMERCE. There, select Precode (25),
“Inside other commercial building, such as store.”
Incident Report Items
B4-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
After entering Precode (14) in LOCATION_IN_HOME,
continue with Item OFFENDERLIVE.
● Ask if necessary:
Where near your home or lodging did this incident happen?
15 Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport, unenclosed porch (does not include apartment
yards)
16 Apartment hall, storage area, laundry room (does not include apartment parking
lot/garage)
17 On street immediately adjacent to own home
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
LOCATION_NEAR _HOME
Precode (15)
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME covers Precodes (15) through
(17) for places near a respondent's primary residence where
an incident may have occurred.
Enter Precode (15), Own yard, sidewalk, driveway,
carport, unenclosed porch (does not include apartment
yards), when the incident happened in the following places
near the respondent's home:
✔ The respondent's yard, regardless of its size, when it
belongs solely to the respondent's house, townhouse,
mobile home, apartment, condominium, and so on. If the
yard is for the use of all occupants in the apartment
building, do not enter Precode (15) in
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME, instead return to
LOCATION_GENERAL and select Precode (17) which
takes you to the LOCATION_OPEN_AREA screen.
Then enter Precode (33), In apartment yard park, field,
and playground.
✔ The respondent's driveway, mailbox, sidewalk,
unenclosed porch, or carport used solely by the
respondent's unit. If the incident happened in a parking
lot used by more than just the sample unit, do NOT enter
Precode (15) in LOCATION_NEAR_HOME, instead
return to LOCATION_ GENERAL and choose Precode
Incident Report Items
B4-23
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(15), which takes you to LOCATION_PARKING. Enter
Precode (30), Apartment/townhouse parking
lot/garage.
✔ The respondent's motor vehicle or recreation vehicle
parked on the respondent's property and intended for the
sole use of the respondent.
✔ The respondent's balcony or patio when it is used solely
by the respondent's unit and there was no illegal entry or
attempted illegal entry to the sample unit itself.
✖ Do not enter Precode (15) when the incident took place
in a detached garage or storage shed on the
respondent’s property. Instead, select Precode (11) in
LOCATION_GENERAL and mark Precode (12) in
LOCATION_IN_HOME.
After entering Precode (15) in LOCATION_NEAR_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), Apartment hall, storage area, laundry
room (does not include apartment parking lot/garage),
when the incident happened inside a respondent's
residential building, but not in the respondent's apartment,
condominium, room in a boarding house, a dormitory room,
and so on.
Precode (16) is NOT intended for incidents that:
✖ Happened in another apartment or room in the
respondent's building, other than the respondent's
apartment or room, instead return to
LOCATION_GENERAL and select Precode (13).
LOCATION_OTHER_HOME appears; enter Precode
(18), At or in home or other building on their
property.
✖ Happened in an apartment parking garage, even if the
parking garage is in the basement of the respondent's
building, instead return to LOCATION_ GENERAL and
select Precode (15). LOCATION_PARKING appears;
enter Precode (30), Apartment/townhouse parking
Incident Report Items
B4-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
lot/garage.
After entering Precode (16) in LOCATION_NEAR_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), On street immediately adjacent to
own home, when the incident occurred on the street
IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT to the respondent's property.
"Immediately adjacent" includes directly in front or to the
side of the sample unit and does NOT include next door or
across the street from the sample unit.
After entering Precode (17) in LOCATION_NEAR_HOME,
you continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
● Ask if necessary:
Where at, in, or near a friend’s/relative’s/neighbor’s home did this incident happen?
18 At or in home or other building on their property
19 Yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport (does not include apartment yards)
20 Apartment hall, storage area, laundry room (does not include apartment parking
lot/garage)
21 On street immediately adjacent to their home
LOCATION_OTHER_HOME
LOCATION_OTHER_HOME
Precode (18)
LOCATION_OTHER_HOME covers Precodes (18) through
(21) for places where an incident may have happened that
are at, in, or near the home of a respondent's friend, relative,
or neighbor.
Enter Precode (18), At or in home or other building on
their property, when the incident happened at or in a
dwelling or other building on the property owned by a friend,
relative, or neighbor. Other buildings on a friend's, a
relative's, or a neighbor's property could include a garage,
porch, tool shed, guest house, barn, greenhouse, mobile
home, or trailer that is not used as a recreation vehicle, and
so on.
Incident Report Items
B4-25
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Also enter Precode (18) when the incident happened at or
in:
✓ A second home or vacation home owned by a friend,
relative, or neighbor of a respondent.
✓ A friend's, relative's, or neighbor's room in a boarding
house, school dormitory, or similar type of place.
✓ A friend's, relative's, or neighbor's apartment.
After entering Precode (18) in LOCATION_OTHER_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
If the incident happened at or in a dwelling or other building
on the property of someone the respondent does not know,
return to LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode (36)
and enter a description of exactly where the incident took
place when the “Specify” screen appears.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), Yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport
(does not include apartment yards), when the incident
happened in a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's yard,
sidewalk, driveway, carport, balcony, open porch, or patio.
The yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport, balcony, open porch,
or patio must be intended for the sole use of the
respondent's friend, relative, or neighbor and not for the use
of other housing units.
Do NOT enter Precode (19) in LOCATION_OTHER_HOME
if the incident took place in an apartment yard; instead,
return to LOCATION_GENERAL and select precode (17).
The LOCATION_OPEN_AREA screen appears; select
precode (33). If the incident happened in the yard, sidewalk,
driveway, or carport of someone the respondent does not
know, return to LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode
(36); then enter a description of exactly where the incident
took place when the “Specify” screen, LOCATION_SPEC
appears.
After entering Precode (19) in LOCATION_OTHER_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
Incident Report Items
B4-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (20)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (20), Apartment hall, storage area, laundry
room (does not include apartment parking lot/garage),
when the incident happened in the building where a
respondent's friend, relative, or neighbor lives, but not in the
friend, relative, or neighbor's housing unit. The building
could include apartments, condominiums, dormitory rooms,
boarding house rooms, and so on. If the incident happened
in the building's parking garage, do not enter Precode (20) in
in LOCATION_OTHER_ HOME, instead return to
LOCATION_ GENERAL and enter Precode (15); then enter
Precode (30) at the LOCATION_PARKING item.
After entering Precode (20) in LOCATION_OTHER_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21), On street immediately adjacent to
their home, when the incident occurred on the street
IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT to the property of the
respondent's friend, relative, or neighbor. "Immediately
adjacent" includes directly in front or to the side of the
friend's, the relative's, or the neighbor's unit and does NOT
include next door or across the street from the friend's,
relative's, or neighbor's housing unit.
After entering Precode (21) in LOCATION_OTHER_HOME,
continue with Item INSIDEOROUT.
Incident Report Items
B4-27
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
● Ask if necessary:
At what type of a commercial place did this incident happen?
22
23
24
25
26
27
Inside restaurant, bar, nightclub
Inside bank
Inside gas station
Inside other commercial building, such as a store
Inside office
Inside factory or warehouse
LOCATION_COMMERCE
LOCATION_COMMERCE
LOCATION_COMMERCE covers Precodes (22), (23), (24),
(25), (26), and (27) for different types of commercial places
inside of which the incident could have occurred
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22), Inside restaurant, bar, nightclub,
when the incident happened INSIDE any type of eating
and/or drinking establishment, such as a restaurant, bar and
grill, cafe, tavern, cafeteria, bar, and so on.
After entering Precode (22) in LOCATION_COMMERCE,
continue with Item RESTRICTED AREA.
If the incident happened OUTSIDE of an eating and/or
drinking establishment, return to LOCATION_GENERAL
and enter Precode (15), “In a parking lot or garage.” When
the incident happened in a parking lot outside of the eating
and/or drinking establishment, enter either Precode (28),
“Commercial parking lot or garage,” or Precode (29),
“Noncommercial parking lot or garage” in
LOCATION_PARKING.
Enter Precode (17), “In an open area, on the street, or on
public transportation,” at LOCATION_GENERAL and
Precode (34), “On the street,” at LOCATION_OPEN_AREA
when the incident happened on the street near the eating
and/or drinking establishment.
Precodes (23), (24), and
Enter Precode (23), Inside bank, when the incident
Incident Report Items
B4-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
(25)
Part B, Chapter 4
happened in a bank, credit union, or some other type of
financial institution. Enter Precode (24), Inside gas station,
when the incident happened anywhere on the property of a
gas station. Enter Precode (25), Inside other commercial
building, such as a store, when the incident happened
INSIDE a business establishment where cash/credit is
exchanged for purchased products by the general public,
OTHER THAN AT A BANK OR GAS STATION. For
example, in a department store, factory outlet store, hotel
gift shop, and so on.
Precode (25) is NOT intended for incidents that happened in
a:
✖ Restaurant, bar, or nightclub; instead, enter Precode
(22), Inside restaurant, bar, nightclub.
✖ Commercial parking lot or garage; instead, return to
LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode (15); then
enter Precode (28), Commercial parking lot/garage at
LOCATION_PARKING.
✖ Noncommercial parking lot or garage; instead, return to
LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode (15); then
enter Precode (29), Noncommercial parking
lot/garage at LOCATION_PARKING.
✖ Airport, bus or train station, or on a bus, train, plane, or
some other type of public transportation; instead, return
to LOCATION_GENERAL and enter Precode (17); then
enter Precode (35) On public transportation or in
station, at LOCATION_OPEN_AREA.
After entering Precode (23), (24), or (25) in
LOCATION_COMMERCE, continue with Item
RESTRICTEDAREA.
Precode (26) or (27)
Enter Precode (26), Inside office, when the incident
happened INSIDE a building used for office work, including
incidents that occurred in post office buildings. Enter
Precode (27), Inside factory or warehouse, when the
incident happened INSIDE a commercial building used for
Incident Report Items
B4-29
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
factory work or warehouse storage purposes.
After entering Precode (26) or (27) in
LOCATION_COMMERCE, continue with Item
RESTRICTEDAREA.
● Ask if necessary:
In what type of a parking lot or garage did this incident happen?
28 Commercial parking lot/garage
29 Noncommercial parking lot/garage
30 Apartment/townhouse parking lot/garage
LOCATION_PARKING
LOCATION__PARKING
Precode (28)
LOCATION_PARKING covers Precodes (28) through (30)
for all types of parking lots and parking garages at which the
incident could have happened.
Enter Precode (28), Commercial parking lot/garage, when
the incident took place at an attended or unattended parking
lot or garage, which is privately operated for profit AND
requires a parking fee.
Do NOT enter Precode (28) when the incident occurred:
✖ In a parking lot or garage that has parking meters or is
operated by a local, state, or Federal government,
regardless of whether or not a fee is required, instead
enter Precode (29), Noncommercial parking
lot/garage.
✖ In a commercial parking lot or garage during hours when
the general public can park free, instead enter Precode
(29), Noncommercial parking lot/garage.
After entering Precode (28) in LOCATION_PARKING,
continue with Item RESTRICTEDAREA.
Incident Report Items
B4-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (29)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (29), Noncommercial parking lot/garage,
when the incident happened at a public parking lot or
garage where the general public can park free of charge,
such as at a shopping mall or shopping center, bus station,
office building, and so on.
Also enter Precode (29) when the incident happened at:
✓ A parking lot or garage that has parking meters.
✓ A parking lot or garage that is operated by a local, state,
or Federal government, regardless of whether or not a
fee is required.
✓ A commercial parking lot or garage during hours when
parking is free to the general public.
Do NOT enter Precode (29) when the incident took place:
✖ At parking meters on the side of a street, instead return
to LOCATION_GENERAL, enter Precode (17), In open
area, and then select Precode (34), On the street, at
LOCATION_OPEN_AREA.
✖ At apartment parking lots, instead enter Precode (30) in
LOCATION_ PARKING.
✖ At school parking lots or areas, instead enter Precode
(16), At school, at LOCATION_ GENERAL, On school
property, and Precode (32) at LOCATION_SCHOOL.
After entering Precode (29) in LOCATION_ PARKING,
continue with Item RESTRICTEDAREA.
Precode (30)
Enter Precode (30), Apartment/townhouse parking
lot/garage, when the incident happened in the parking area
provided for residents and their guests. This includes
residents of apartments, townhouses, rooming houses,
dormitories, condominiums, and so on. It does not matter if
the parking garage is inside or attached to the resident's
building. If you are unsure what type of parking lot/garage to
select, probe to determine the correct category.
Incident Report Items
B4-31
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
After entering Precode (30) in Item LOCATION_PARKING,
continue with Item RESTRICTEDAREA.
If you are unsure about what type of parking lot to select,
probe to determine the correct category.
● Ask if necessary:
Where at school did this incident happen?
31 Inside school building
32 On school property (school parking area, play area, school bus, etc.)
LOCATION_SCHOOL
LOCATION_SCHOOL
Precode (31)
LOCATION_SCHOOL covers Precodes (31) and
(32) for school buildings and school property at
which the incident could have taken place.
Enter Precode (31), Inside school building, when
the incident happened INSIDE a school building
(for example, in a classroom, gym, hallway, or
principal's office). If the incident happened on the
grounds of a school and not inside a school
building, enter Precode (32), On school property.
If the incident happened in a school dormitory
building, return to LOCATION_GENERAL, enter
Precode (11), “In own dwelling, own attached
garage, or enclosed porch,” at Item
LOCATION_IN_HOME or (16), “Apartment hall,
storage area, laundry room,” at
LOCATION_NEAR_HOME, as appropriate.
After entering Precode (31) in
LOCATION_SCHOOL, continue with
RESPONDENTSSCHOOL.
Incident Report Items
B4-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● Ask if necessary:
Where in an open area, on the street, or on public transportation did this incident happen?
33 In apartment yard, park, field, playground (other than school)
34 On the street (other than immediately adjacent to own/friend's/relative's/neighbor’s home)
35 On public transportation or in station (bus, train, plane, airport, depot, etc.)
LOCATION_OPEN_AREA
LOCATION_OPEN _AREA
Item LOCATION_OPEN_AREA covers Precodes (33)
through (35) for a variety of places open to the general
public where an incident could take place.
Precode (33)
Enter Precode (33), In apartment yard, park, field,
playground (other than school), when the incident
occurred in a public, unenclosed area AND the area is NOT
on school property. Also, enter Precode (33) when the
incident happened in a yard shared by more than one
family. After entering Precode (33) in
LOCATION_OPEN_AREA, continue with INSIDEOROUT.
Precode (34)
Enter Precode (34), On the street (other than immediately
adjacent to own/friend's/relative's/neighbor's home),
when the incident happened on a public street or highway
AND the street or highway is not adjacent to the
respondent's own home or the home of a respondent's
friend, relative, or neighbor.
Also enter Precode (34) when the incident involved:
A parked motor vehicle, such as an incident involving
auto theft,
The respondent driving or riding in a motor vehicle,
The respondent walking or riding a bicycle on a street,
The respondent while on the shoulder of a street or on a
public sidewalk, that is not covered in another answer
category of Item LOCATION_GENERAL.
Incident Report Items
B4-33
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (35)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (35), On public transportation or in station
(bus, train, plane, airport, depot, etc.), when the incident
happened on some type of public transportation (bus, taxi,
train, plane, subway, and so on) or in a bus depot, train
station, airport, or subway station. Also, enter Precode (35)
when the incident happened on a school bus while
transporting persons to or from an activity that is NOT
sponsored by the school, such as to or from a summer
camp.
After entering Precode (35) in LOCATION_OPEN_AREA,
continue with INSIDEOROUT.
LOCATION_SPEC
Precode (36)
If you choose Precode (36), “Somewhere else” at the
LOCATION_GENERAL screen, the LOCATION_SPEC
screen appears.
Enter Precode (36) when the incident happened at or in a
place that does not fit any of the places shown for any other
location screen. After entering Precode (36) in
LOCATION_GENERAL, always describe the place or
situation on the "Specify" screen, LOCATION_SPEC, which
appears after entering Precode (36).
Some examples for when to enter Precode (36):
Fenced in storage yard of a factory
Jail or prison
Hospital
Library
Church
On a beach.
If a respondent doesn’t know where the incident occurred,
enter “Ctrl” + “D” to recode “Don’t know” at
LOCATION_GENERAL instead of LOCATION_SPEC.
After entering Precode (36) and describing the crime
Incident Report Items
B4-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
incident location on the “Specify” screen, continue with
RESTRICTEDAREA.
Did the offender live there or have a right to be there, for instance, as a guest or a repairperson?
1 Yes
2 No
OFFENDERLIVE
OFFENDERLIVE
If you enter Precode (11), (12), (13), or (14) in Item
LOCATION_IN_HOME, you will ask the question in Item
OFFENDERLIVE to determine whether the offender had a
legal right to be in the respondent's home or other structure
on the respondent's property.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when the offender:
Was living or staying with the respondent when the
incident happened.
Had a legal right to be in the respondent's dwelling or a
building on the respondent's property when the incident
happened, such as a plumber, cleaning service,
hotel/motel house cleaner, and so on.
Had permission to enter the respondent's dwelling or a
building on the respondent's property prior to the time the
incident took place, such as a friend, relative,
salesperson, or meter reader. However, if the offender
entered fraudulently, do not enter Precode (1). For
example, if the offender misrepresented his/her purpose
for needing to enter the building/unit/dwelling as a repair
person, police officer, maid, etc. to gain entrance; enter
Precode (2), “No.”
After entering Precode (1), continue with FARFROMHOME.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when the offender:
Was not living or staying with the respondent and did not
Incident Report Items
B4-35
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
have a legal right or permission to be in the dwelling or
building on the respondent's property at the time of the
incident.
Was let into the dwelling by a child and did not have a
legal right to enter the dwelling because the parents
would not have allowed access to the offender.
Pushed his/her way into the dwelling when the
respondent answered the door.
Entered the dwelling by fraudulently misrepresenting
himself/herself as a repairperson, police officer, maid, etc.
After entering Precode (2), continue with
OFFENDERINSIDE.
(Don’t Know)
Enter Ctrl + D, for "Don't know," when the respondent does
not know who the offender was or whether the offender had
a legal right to be in the dwelling or other building on the
respondent's property. If you think that the respondent
answered, "Don't know," because he/she is uncertain who
the offender is, you may want to probe by asking the
respondent if the person suspected of being the offender
had a legal right to be in the respondent's dwelling.
After entering Ctrl + D, continue with OFFENDERINSIDE.
Did the offender actually get INSIDE your (house/apartment/room/garage/shed/enclosed porch)?
1 Yes
2 No
OFFENDERINSIDE
OFFENDERINSIDE
After entering “No” or “Don’t know” in Item
OFFENDERLIVE, ask the question in Item
OFFENDERINSIDE to determine if the offender actually
entered the building or dwelling. As you ask the question,
make sure to read the appropriate type of structure. For
example, if the incident occurred in the respondent's garage,
Incident Report Items
B4-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
ask, "Did the offender actually get INSIDE your garage?"
For a Multi-Unit Structure
If the incident happened in a multi-unit structure, such as an
apartment building or a hotel, we are only interested in the
respondent's apartment unit or hotel room for Item
OFFENDERINSIDE. Enter Precode (2), "No," if the offender
got inside the building, but did not actually get inside the
respondent's apartment unit or hotel room.
Before entering a “Don’t
know” answer
If you feel that a respondent may know how the offender
entered the dwelling or other building on the respondent's
property even though he/she answered "Don't know," probe
by repeating the respondent's answer or pausing a moment.
However, some respondents really do not know if the
offender actually got inside. For instance, enter Ctrl + D if a
respondent:
Did not find anything disturbed or stolen even though the
window in the back door was broken and the door was
unlocked.
Was told by a neighbor that an offender was seen
leaving the respondent's house, but there was no
evidence that the offender got inside.
The instrument goes to Item FORCEDENTRY when
Precode (1) is selected at Item OFFENDERINSIDE;
otherwise, it goes to Item OFFENDERTRY.
Did the offender TRY to get in your (house/apartment/room/garage/shed/enclosed porch)?
1 Yes
2 No
OFFENDERTRY
OFFENDERTRY
After entering Precode (2) or “Don’t know” in Item
OFFENDERINSIDE, you will ask the question in Item
OFFENDERTRY to determine if the offender tried to get into
the respondent's dwelling or other building on the respondent's
property. As you read the question, make sure to read the
Incident Report Items
B4-37
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
appropriate type of structure. For example, if the incident
occurred in the respondent's enclosed porch, ask, "Did the
offender TRY to get inside your enclosed porch?"
For a Multi-Unit Structure
If the incident happened in a multi-unit structure, such as an
apartment building or a hotel, we are only interested in the
respondent's apartment unit or hotel room for Item
OFFENDERTRY. Enter Precode (2), "No," if the offender
tried to get inside the building, but did not actually try to get
inside the respondent's apartment unit or hotel room.
Before Entering
Precode (2)
Before entering Precode (2), "No," in Item OFFENDERTRY,
make sure that the respondent did NOT answer "No"
because the offender was let in or entered through an
unlocked or open door or window. In other words, there was
no evidence of forcible entry. If this is the case, back up and
change the answer in Item OFFENDERINSIDE to “Yes” by
entering Precode (1) to show that the offender actually got
inside the respondent's home or lodging.
Reviewing Answer in
Item LOCATION_
GENERAL
If you entered Precode (2), "No," in Items
OFFENDERINSIDE and OFFENDERTRY, you are
indicating that the offender did NOT get inside or try to get
inside the respondent's home or lodging. Therefore, no
illegal entry or attempted illegal entry happened. Edit check
ENTRY_CK will appear to alert you to the inconsistency. In
this situation, you must go back to one of the questions
involved in the inconsistency and review the entry with the
respondent so you can verify that the correct precode was
entered to indicate where the incident took place.
Was there any evidence, such as a broken lock or broken window, that the offender(s) got in by
force?
1 Yes
2 No
FORCEDENTRY
Incident Report Items
B4-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What was the evidence?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
WINDOW:
11 Damage to window (include frame, glass broken/removed/cracked)
12 Screen damaged/removed
13 Lock on window damaged/tampered with in some way
14 Other (specify)
DOOR:
15 Damage to door (include frame, glass panes or door removed)
16 Screen damaged/removed
17 Lock or door handle damaged/tampered with in some way
18 Other (specify)
OTHER:
19 Other than window or door (specify)
EVIDENCE
Evidence of Forcible Entry
Items FORCEDENTRY and EVIDENCE are used to
determine whether there was any physical, visible evidence
of forcible entry found after the incident took place.
FORCEDENTRY
Ask the question in Item FORCEDENTRY when:
Precode (1) is entered in Item OFFENDERINSIDE
indicating that the offender actually got inside the
respondent's dwelling or lodging
OR
Precode (1) or Control + D is entered in Item
OFFENDERTRY indicating that the offender tried to get
in the respondent's dwelling or lodging or the respondent
does not know whether the offender tried to get in the
respondent's dwelling or lodging.
Incident Report Items
B4-39
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when there was physical, visible
evidence following the incident that the offender entered or
tried to enter the respondent's dwelling or lodging by force.
Examples of visible evidence are shown in the answer
categories for Item EVIDENCE. After entering Precode (1)
for Item FORCEDENTRY, you will continue with Item
EVIDENCE to identify the types of physical, visible evidence
from the incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," in Item FORCEDENTRY, when the
evidence is:
A skeleton key or entry through an open window,
door, etc.
A ladder or trash placed next to a window, but there
was no evidence that the window was tampered with
in some way.
An injury to the respondent as he/she opened the
door and the offender pushed the respondent out of
the way. Although this is evidence of an attack, it is
not evidence of a break-in.
An offender forces a respondent to let him/her enter
the dwelling or lodging and there is no visible
evidence of a break-in or attempted break-in to the
dwelling or lodging after the incident.
In the examples provided above, enter Precode (2), "No," if
no evidence of a forcible entry or attempted forcible entry
was mentioned. After entering Precode (2) in Item
FORCEDENTRY, continue with Item OFFENDERGETIN.
EVIDENCE
After entering Precode (1) in Item FORCEDENTRY, you ask
the question in Item EVIDENCE to identify the types of
evidence found after the incident indicating that there was a
forcible entry or an attempted forcible entry of the
respondent's dwelling or lodging. Enter all precodes that
apply to the respondent's answer and continue to ask,
"Anything else?" until you get a "No" response.
The answer categories for Item EVIDENCE are separated
into three groups--Window, Door, and Other. Precodes (11)
through (14) relate to the types of damage to a window.
Precodes (15) through (18) relate to the types of damage to
Incident Report Items
B4-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
a door. Precode (19) relates to all other means of force
used to gain entry or to try to gain entry into the
respondent's dwelling or lodging.
Since physical, visible evidence of force is evidence that can
be seen, the following types of evidence are NOT
considered signs of forcible entry or attempted forcible entry:
✖ An open or unlocked window
✖ An open or unlocked door.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the glass in the window was broken,
cracked, or removed, or if there was evidence on the
window frame that force was used to gain access or to try to
gain access into the building, such as pry marks on the
window frame.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the window screen was cut, ripped, or
removed by the offender to gain access or to try to gain
access.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the window lock was damaged,
removed, or showed visible signs that the offender tampered
with it to gain access or to try to gain access.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the respondent mentions some type of
window damage not covered by Precodes (11) through (13).
When the “Specify” screen, EVIDENCE_SPEC14, appears
after entering Precode (14), enter a note describing how the
offender gained access or attempted to gain access through
a window. Avoid entering Precode (14) if the respondent's
answer really fits one of the answer categories for Precodes
(11) through (13).
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if there were marks on the door or door
frame, such as scratches, holes, or damaged glass in the
door, or if the offender removed or knocked down the door
to gain access or to try to gain access.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender damaged or removed a
screen door.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if a door lock or handle was damaged,
Incident Report Items
B4-41
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
tampered with, or removed.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the respondent mentions some type of
door damage not covered by Precodes (15) through (17).
When the “Specify” screen, EVIDENCE_SPEC18, appears
after entering Precode (18), enter a note describing how the
offender gained access or attempted to gain access through
a door. Avoid entering Precode (18) if the respondent's
answer really fits one of the answer categories for Precodes
(15) through (17).
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the offender forcibly gained access or
tried to gain access other than through a door or window,
such as by cutting a hole in a wall. After entering Precode
(19), always note what type of evidence there was of forcible
entry or attempted forcible entry when the “Specify” screen,
EVIDENCE_SPEC19, appears. After completing the
EVIDENCE screen, continue with Item FARFROMHOME.
Incident Report Items
B4-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How did the offender get in?
11 Let in
12 Offender pushed his/her way in after door opened
13 Through OPEN DOOR or other opening
14 Through UNLOCKED door or window
15 Through LOCKED door or window - Had key
16 Through LOCKED door or window - Picked lock, used credit card, etc., other than key
17 Through LOCKED door or window - Don't know how
18 Don't know
19 Other - specify
OFFENDERGETIN
OFFENDERGETIN
OFFENDERGETIN appears if FORCEDENTRY is answered (2),
“No” and determines how the offender got/tried to get inside the
respondent’s dwelling/lodging when there was no evidence of
actual or attempted forcible entry. Enter the first precode that
applies; probe when respondent’s answer is unclear or too
general.
After completing OFFENDERGETIN, the instrument goes to
FARFROMHOME.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the offender was let into the dwelling or
lodging by someone who was not authorized to permit entry. For
example, a child lets in an offender even though the child's
parents had told the offender never to come to their home.
Also, enter Precode (11) if the offender entered the dwelling or
lodging without permission or entered fraudulently when
someone answered the door. For example, an offender
falsely claims to be a police officer or a maid to gain access.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the offender pushed his/her way in after
someone opened the door.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the offender got in or tried to get in through
a door or other opening that was already open at the time of the
incident. Do not enter Precode (13) if the offender had to open
an unlocked door, window, and so on to enter the respondent's
dwelling or lodging.
Incident Report Items
B4-43
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The phrase "Other openings" includes open windows, open
garage doors, the open side of a three-sided shed, an opening
left by a missing door or window, a hole in the wall, etc.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the offender opened or tried to open an
unlocked door or window to gain access.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the offender used a key to enter the
respondent's dwelling or lodging through a locked door
or window. A key includes one cut to fit the lock, a skeleton key,
or any other key.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender used "another means," other
than a key, to gain access through a locked door or window
AND the respondent knows or has a pretty good idea how the
offender entered or attempted to enter the dwelling or lodging.
The phrase "another means" includes picking the lock, using a
credit card, and so on.
It is possible that you could discover that the method used to
gain access or to try to gain access left physical, visible
evidence of force. If this happens, correct the answer in Item
FORCEDENTRY by changing Precode (2) to Precode (1). When
you go back to a previous screen to change an answer, the
instrument will bring up the correct screens automatically.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the respondent thinks or knows that the
offender entered or tried to enter his/her dwelling or lodging
through a locked door or window, but does not know how.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the respondent does not know how the
offender gained access or tried to gain access to his/her
dwelling or lodging. For example, a respondent returns home
and discovers that the television and stereo system are gone,
but there is no indication at all of how the offender got into the
home.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the offender entered or tried to enter the
respondent's dwelling or lodging by some means not described
by Precodes (11) through (18). After entering Precode (19),
always describe the method used on the "Specify" screen,
OFFENDERGETIN_SPEC.
An example for entering Precode (19): The offender held a gun
to the respondent's head and forced the respondent to open the
door.
Incident Report Items
B4-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Was it your school?
1 Yes
2 No
RESPONDENTSSCHOOL
RESPONDENTSSCHOOL
After entering Precode (31), "Inside school building," in
LOCATION_SCHOOL, continue with
RESPONDENTSSCHOOL to determine whether the
incident happened at the school the respondent attends.
Precode (1)
For a "Yes" answer, enter Precode (1). Continue with Item
PARTSCHOOLBLDG to determine in what part of the
school building the incident happened.
Precode (2)
For a "No" answer, enter Precode (2). Continue with Item
RESTRICTEDAREA to determine whether or not the
incident happened in an area restricted to certain people.
In what part of the school building did it happen?
1 Classroom
2 Hallway/Stairwell
3 Bathroom/Locker room
4 Other (library, gym, auditorium, cafeteria)
PARTSCHOOLBLDG
PARTSCHOOLBLDG
Item PARTSCHOOLBLDG is asked to determine in what
part of the school building the incident happened. Only ONE
precode is allowed to identify the most accurate description
of where the incident took place within the respondent's
school building.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent tells you that the
incident occurred in a classroom.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent tells you that the
Incident Report Items
B4-45
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
incident occurred in a school hallway or stairway/stairwell.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent tells you that the
incident occurred in a school bathroom, shower room, or
locker room.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent tells you that the
incident occurred in another location within the school
building other than the locations mentioned for Precodes (1),
(2), or (3), such as in the school library, gym, auditorium,
cafeteria, etc.
● Ask or verify:
Did the incident happen in an area restricted to certain people or was it open to the public at the
time?
1 Open to the public
2 Restricted to certain people (or nobody had a right to be there)
3 Don't know
4 Other - specify
RESTRICTEDAREA
RESTRICTEDAREA
Item RESTRICTEDAREA is asked to determine whether at
the time of the incident the location (where the incident
occurred) was restricted to certain people or was open to
the public.
Notice that Item RESTRICTEDAREA has the instruction
"ASK OR VERIFY." When you see this instruction, you can
verify a known answer with the respondent without asking
the question. Only verify a known answer when you see this
instruction and do not enter the precode without at least
verifying the answer first with the respondent.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the incident happened in an area
that was open to the general public at the time of the
incident. Places that are usually open to the public include
stores, public sidewalks, public buildings, restaurants,
parking lots, apartment yards, parks, etc.
Incident Report Items
B4-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when the incident happened in an area
that was restricted to certain people at the time of the
incident, such as an employee's lounge in a store, a
school classroom, or a private country club. Restricted
places normally consider persons who do not belong on the
premises as trespassers. Also, enter Precode (2) if the
incident happened at a business during non-business hours
when the place is restricted and is not open to the general
public.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent does not know if the
place where the incident happened was open to the general
public at the time of the incident. For example, a
respondent left his raincoat at a restaurant and, when he
returned the next day, the raincoat was not found. In this
situation, you would enter Precode (3) since the respondent
does not know whether the incident happened during
business or non-business hours AND the restaurant is NOT
open to the general public during non-business hours.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent's answer does not fit the
answer categories for Precodes (1) through (3). After
entering Precode (4), make sure to explain the situation on
the "Specify" screen, RESTRICTEDAREA_SPEC. Avoid
entering Precode (4) if the respondent's answer really fits
Precode (1), (2), or (3).
● Ask or verify:
Did it happen indoors, outdoors, or both?
1 Indoors (inside a building or enclosed space)
2 Outdoors
3 Both
INSIDEOROUT
INSIDEOROUT
Item INSIDEOROUT is asked to determine if the incident
happened indoors, outdoors, or both indoors and outdoors.
Item INSIDEOROUT includes the "ASK OR VERIFY"
Incident Report Items
B4-47
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
instruction, which allows you to verify a known answer with
the respondent without asking the question. Only verify a
known answer when you see this instruction and do not
enter the answer without at least verifying it with the
respondent.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the incident happened inside a building
or enclosed space that has a roof, such as a three-sided
shed, screened porch, screened gazebo, patio room, etc.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the incident happened outdoors in an
open space, such as in a backyard (fenced or unfenced),
baseball field, carport, parking lot, open porch or patio, and
so on. For the NCVS, all modes of transportation are
considered outdoors. This includes cars, trucks, vans, sport
utility vehicles, buses, taxicabs, airplanes, trains, etc.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the incident happened both indoors and
outdoors. For example, a respondent was attacked inside a
bar. As the respondent fled the bar, the offender followed
him and continued to attack him in the parking lot. Another
example would be an incident in which a respondent's
property was stolen from inside the home and from the
unenclosed patio.
Incident Report Items
B4-48
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● Ask or verify:
How far away from home did this happen?
● Probe: Was it within a mile, 5 miles, 50 miles or more?
● Enter the code for the first answer category that the respondent is sure of
1 At, in, or near the building containing the respondent's home or next door
2 A mile or less
3 Five miles or less
4 Fifty miles or less
5 More than 50 miles
6 Don't know how far
FARFROMHOME
FARFROMHOME
Item FARFROMHOME is asked to determine the distance
between where the incident happened and where the
respondent was residing at the time of the incident.
Notice that Item FARFROMHOME has the instruction "ASK
OR VERIFY." When you see this instruction, you can verify
a known answer with the respondent without asking the
question. Only verify a known answer when you see this
instruction and do not enter the answer without at least
verifying it first with the respondent. Enter the first precode
about which the respondent feels sure of the answer.
Item FARFROMHOME also includes a probe question that
you only need to ask if the respondent seems uncertain
about how to answer the question.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the incident took place in the
respondent's home or on the respondent's property. If the
respondent was living in a single family home or a mobile
home at the time of the incident, Precode (1) refers to the
home, yard, driveway, carport, sidewalk, or street adjacent
to the home. Also, enter Precode (1) if the incident
happened at the respondent's next-door neighbor's home.
Incident Report Items
B4-49
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If the respondent was living in an apartment, dormitory
room, and so on, at the time of the incident, Precode (1)
refers to:
Inside the respondent's unit,
Inside the building where the unit is located (for example,
an apartment hallway or laundry room),
Inside another resident's unit in the same building,
The yard, sidewalk, or street adjacent to the respondent's
building.
Precodes (2) Through (6)
Enter the first precode from Precodes (2) through (6) that
best describes the distance between where the incident
happened and where the respondent was residing at the
time of the incident. For example, enter Precode (3) when
the respondent is unsure if the distance is less than 5 miles,
but is positive that the distance is at least two miles.
? [F1]
● Ask or verify:
Were you or any other member of this household present when this incident occurred?
● You may need to probe to obtain more details to determine if respondent was present.
1 Yes
2 No
HHMEMBERPRESENT
HHMEMBERPRESENT
Ask or verify Item HHMEMBERPRESENT to determine
whether any household members were present when the
incident occurred. Note the question mark at the top left of
the screen. It indicates that there is a help screen for this
item. In this question, the help screen includes a definition of
what “present” means, should you need to review the
concept during an interview. It is extremely important that
Incident Report Items
B4-50
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
you enter the correct precode for this item, because an
incorrect answer will either:
✓ Cause you to skip over items needed to fully describe
the incident and could cause the incident to classify
incorrectly when you enter Precode (2), "No," by
mistake,
OR
✓ Cause you to ask questions that do not relate to what
happened during the incident when you enter Precode
(1), "Yes," by mistake.
It is very important that you understand the NCVS concept
of "presence" during an incident. If you suspect that a
respondent's answer to Item HHMEMBERPRESENT is not
correct based on the information provided earlier in the
interview, make sure to probe for an accurate answer. If you
probe and it is still unclear which precode to enter for Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT, it is better to enter Precode (1),
"Yes," than to enter Precode (2), "No."
Here are three examples when the respondent answered
"No," but, by NCVS standards, each respondent is
considered present during the incident:
A respondent answers "No" to Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT because she was sleeping in
her bedroom on the second floor while the offender
forcibly entered through her kitchen door on the first floor
and stole electronic equipment.
A respondent answers "No" to Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT because he is watching
television in his family room while the offender stole
three bicycles from his attached garage.
A respondent answers "No" to Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT because she is in the kitchen
cooking dinner while the offender who is a guest was
stealing jewelry and money from her bedroom dresser.
Incident Report Items
B4-51
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
In all of these examples, Precode (1), "Yes," should be
entered because the respondent in each case is considered
present during the incident. This may not always be clear to
a respondent.
For the NCVS, a household member is considered
present when he/she is at the immediate scene of the
crime incident and there is an opportunity for the
offender to attack or threaten to physically harm a
household member or to take something directly from a
household member.
If a current household member was not at the immediate
scene of the incident, but was personally attacked or
threatened with physical harm or an attempt was made to
harm the household member, consider the person present
during the incident and complete the incident report items
for each eligible household member who was personally
victimized. This includes:
Being shot at through a window by someone outside of
the house,
Being threatened with physical harm by a neighbor in the
adjoining yard or by an ex-boyfriend standing outside the
respondent's closed door while the respondent is inside
the house and on the other side of the closed door. This
does NOT include threats that are NOT made in person
directly from the offender to the respondent, such as a
threat by telephone, Internet, FAX, mail, or through
another person.
(Also see Part C, Chapter 3, Topic 6, for more detailed
information about presence during an incident.)
Notice that Item HHMEMBERPRESENT has the instruction
"ASK OR VERIFY." When you see this instruction, you can
verify a known answer with the respondent without asking
the question. Only verify a known answer when you see this
instruction and do not enter the answer without at least
verifying it first with the respondent.
(Note: If you are taking a proxy interview, the instrument
replaces the word “you” with the proxy person’s name.)
Incident Report Items
B4-52
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (1), "Yes"
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent or any other
person, who is a household member at the time of the
interview, was present during the incident according to the
NCVS definition of presence. After entering Precode (1), you
will continue with Item WHICHMEMBER.
Here are some examples for when Precode (1) should be
entered in Item HHMEMBERPRESENT:
Precode (2), "No"
✓
A woman looked out her kitchen window and saw a
strange boy entering her garage. When she entered the
garage, she saw that the boy was attempting to steal
her bicycle. The boy got scared and ran away. In this
situation, the woman was PRESENT because she
reached the immediate crime scene while the attempted
crime was still in progress and she could have been
harmed by the offender.
✓
A man falls asleep on the beach and when he wakes;
his CD player and keys are gone. In this situation, the
man was PRESENT even though he was sleeping while
the incident took place. He was at the immediate scene
of the crime and could have been harmed by the
offender.
✓
A woman was resting in her family room when a
stranger tried to break in through the locked door. When
she turned on the porch light, he ran away. In this
situation, the woman was PRESENT because she was
at the immediate scene of the attempted break in and, if
the break in had been successful, she could have been
harmed by the offender.
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent AND any other
person, who is a household member at the time of interview,
were NOT present during the incident according to the
NCVS definition of presence.
After entering Precode (2), continue with
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS.
Here are some examples to demonstrate when Precode (2)
Incident Report Items
B4-53
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
should be entered in HHMEMBERPRESENT:
✓ A woman's leather coat was stolen from the coatroom in
the restaurant lobby while she was eating dinner at the
restaurant. After finishing her meal, she returned to the
coatroom to get her leather coat and it was gone. In this
situation, the woman was NOT PRESENT, because she
was not at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident and the offender did not have an opportunity to
harm the woman during the theft.
✓ A man was sleeping inside his house while someone
stole his new Mercedes from his driveway. In this
situation, the man was NOT PRESENT, because he was
not at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident and the offender did not have an opportunity to
harm him during the theft.
✓ A woman looked out her living room window and saw
someone loading her riding lawn mower from her front
yard onto a truck. By the time she got outside, they had
driven away with her lawn mower. In this situation, the
woman was NOT PRESENT because she was not at the
immediate scene of the crime and there was no chance
that she could have been harmed during the incident.
● Ask or verify:
Which household members were present?
1 Respondent only
2 Respondent and other household member(s)
3 Only other household member(s), not respondent
WHICHMEMBER
WHICHMEMBER
After entering Precode (1), "Yes," in Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT, continue with Item
WHICHMEMBER so you can determine which household
members were present during the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-54
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Notice that Item WHICHMEMBER has the instruction "ASK
OR VERIFY." When you see this instruction, you can verify
a known answer with the respondent without asking the
question. Only verify a known answer when you see this
instruction and do not enter the answer without at least
verifying it first with the respondent.
Item WHICHMEMBER is another critical item and you need
to ensure that you enter the correct precode. Otherwise,
important information may be missed (for example,
information about weapons, attack or threat methods,
injuries, medical expenses, and so on) or inappropriate
questions may be asked (for example, questions about
weapons, attacks, and threats).
(Note: For proxy interviews, the word “respondent” is
replaced with the proxy person’s name.)
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent for a self-response
interview (or the proxy person for a proxy interview) is the
ONLY household member who was present during the
incident. After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
SEEOFFENDER.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when both the respondent for a selfresponse interview (or the proxy person for a proxy
interview) AND other household members were present
during the incident. After entering Precode (2), continue with
Item SEEOFFENDER.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent for a self-response
interview (or the proxy person for a proxy interview) was
NOT present during the incident, but other household
members were present. Before entering Precode (3), make
sure that the respondent (or proxy person [not the proxy
respondent]) was NOT present during the incident. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item HAPPEN.
Incident Report Items
B4-55
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
● Ask or verify:
Did you personally see an offender?
1 Yes
2 No
SEEOFFENDER
SEEOFFENDER
Proxy Interviews
Item SEEOFFENDER is asked to determine if the
respondent personally saw an offender.
If you are conducting a proxy interview, the proxy
respondent may not know for sure whether the proxy person
saw the offender during the incident. Probe by asking if the
proxy respondent thinks the proxy person saw the offender
and then enter the appropriate precode based on the proxy
respondent's answer. Precode (3), “Don’t know,” appears in
the answer list for proxy interviews only.
Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun or knife, or something to use as a weapon, such as a
bottle or wrench?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
WEAPONPRESENT
WEAPONPRESENT
Guns and Knives
When a respondent was present during the incident, you
ask the question in Item WEAPONPRESENT to determine
whether the offender had a weapon or used an object as a
weapon.
With the exception of BB and tear gas guns, all guns, rifles,
and knives are considered weapons. BB and tear gas guns
are only considered weapons when they are used as clubs.
Incident Report Items
B4-56
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Objects Used as
Weapons
Part B, Chapter 4
Objects other than guns, rifles, and knives must have been
used as weapons to be considered weapons. For example,
if the offender used a screwdriver only to break into the
respondent's home, the screwdriver is NOT a weapon for
the incident. However, if the offender attacked or threatened
to attack the respondent with the screwdriver, then the
screwdriver is a weapon for the incident.
When a respondent mentions an object that may or may not
be a weapon depending on how the offender used it,
probe to verify that the object was used to either attack the
respondent or threaten to attack the respondent. Make sure
to explain in the summary report exactly how the object was
used as a weapon during the incident.
Motor Vehicles
In the following situations, a motor vehicle (for example, a
car, truck, van, SUV, motorcycle, and so on) can be
considered a weapon:
The respondent knows the offender and the offender
deliberately used a motor vehicle to try to run into the
respondent's vehicle or a vehicle in which the
respondent was riding.
The respondent believes that the offender deliberately
struck or tried to hit him/her with a motor vehicle while
the respondent was on foot, a bicycle, in a motor vehicle,
and so on. The respondent's belief could be based on
words spoken by the offender or facts known about the
offender.
However, the offender's vehicle is NOT a weapon if the
respondent does not know the offender and there was NO
verbal threat of physical harm to the respondent when:
✖ The offender cut in front of a vehicle driven by the
respondent.
✖ The offender cut in front of a vehicle in which the
respondent was a passenger.
✖ The offender and the respondent were involved in some
type of traffic accident or incidence of road rage.
Incident Report Items
B4-57
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Thrown Objects
Objects that are thrown at the respondent are ONLY
considered weapons if they hit the respondent. If the object
did NOT hit the respondent, consider the incident
as a threat (entering Precode (1) in Item THREATEN) and
identify the type of threat by entering Precode (21) in Item
HOWTHREATEN. Do not enter Precode (1) in Item
WEAPONPRESENT if the respondent mentions only the
thrown object that did not hit him/her as a weapon.
Objects That Are Never
Weapons
The following objects are NEVER considered weapons for
the NCVS:
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
✖
Precode (1)
Animals
Parts of the body (for example, hands, feet, and so on)
Small empty cans
Mace or pepper spray
Tear gas
Chloroform
Rings
Casts
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the offender had a weapon, such
as a gun or knife, or used an object, such as a bottle or
baseball bat, as a weapon. After entering Precode (1),
"Yes," you will continue with Item WEAPON.
Whenever you enter Precode (1), "Yes," indicating that the
offender had a weapon during the incident, you must enter
Precode (1), "Yes," in either Item ATTACK, TRYATTACK,
or THREATEN to indicate that the offender attacked, tried to
attack, or threatened the respondent during the incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent says that the
offender did not have a weapon. After entering Precode (2),
continue with Item ATTACK.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent says that
he/she does not know whether the offender had a weapon.
After entering Precode (3), continue with Item ATTACK.
Incident Report Items
B4-58
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What was the weapon?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
1 Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
2 Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
3 Knife
4 Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
5 Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
6 Other - specify
WEAPON
WEAPON
Item WEAPON is asked to identify the type of weapon(s) the
offender had during the incident. This is a multiple response
question; you may enter more than one response. Ask the
question as worded in Item WEAPON and continue asking,
"Anything else?" until the respondent says, "No."
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent mentions any type
of handgun, other than a BB gun, tear gas gun, or stun gun.
If a respondent mentions a stun gun, enter Precode (6),
“Other,” and enter "stun gun" on the "Specify" screen.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when the respondent mentions a rifle,
shotgun, or any gun that is NOT a handgun, other than a BB
or tear gas gun.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent mentions any type
of knife.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) when the respondent mentions an object
with a thin sharp edge or a fine point (other than a knife) that
is intended for cutting or piercing (for example, scissors, ice
pick, axe, and so on). When you enter Precode (4) in Item
WEAPON, make sure to explain in the summary report
whether the sharp object was used as a weapon. If the
sharp object was used as a weapon, also explain how it was
used as a weapon, such as whether the object was thrown
at and hit the respondent, used to stab the respondent, or
used to threaten the respondent.
Incident Report Items
B4-59
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) when the respondent mentions a bluntedged object without sharp edges or points, such as a club,
rock, blackjack, and so on. Also, enter Precode (5) when the
offender used a BB gun or tear gas gun as a club. When
you enter Precode (5) in Item WEAPON, make sure to
explain in the summary report if the blunt object was used
as a weapon. If the blunt object was used as a weapon, also
explain how it was used as a weapon, such as whether the
object was thrown at and hit the respondent, used to beat
the respondent, or used to threaten the respondent.
Precode (6)
Enter Precode (6), “Other,” and enter a complete description
of the weapon on the "Specify" screen, WEAPON_SPEC
such as "stun gun." Precode (6) is intended for weapons
that you are unsure how to classify or for weapons or
objects that the respondent believes the offender had and
could use as a weapon, even if the respondent does not
know what the weapon or object was. If possible, try to
obtain a description and enter it on the "Specify" screen.
Avoid entering Precode (6) if the weapon fits one of the
other answer categories.
When you enter Precode (6) in Item WEAPON, make sure
to explain in the summary report if the object was used as a
weapon. If the object was used as a weapon, also explain
how it was used as a weapon and whether the object was
thrown at the respondent, used to beat the respondent, or
used to threaten the respondent.
Did the offender hit you, knock you down, or actually attack you in any way?
1 Yes
2 No
ATTACK
ATTACK
Precode (1)
Ask the question in Item ATTACK to determine if the
respondent was actually attacked during the incident. In
other words, there was some type of physical contact
between the offender and the respondent.
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when there was some type of
Incident Report Items
B4-60
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
physical contact between the offender and the respondent
(for example, the offender hit, knocked down, or assaulted
the respondent in some way).
Do NOT enter Precode (1) if the offender:
✖ Threw something at the respondent and the object did
NOT hit the respondent
OR
✖ Shot at the respondent and the bullet MISSED the
respondent.
After entering Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item
HOWATTACK.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when the offender did NOT touch
or have physical contact with the respondent during the
incident. Also enter Precode (2) if the offender:
✓ Threw something at the respondent and the object did
NOT hit the respondent
OR
✓ Shot at the respondent and the bullet MISSED the
respondent.
After entering Precode (2), "No," continue with Item
TRYATTACK.
Did the offender TRY to attack you?
1 Yes
2 No
TRYATTACK
TRYATTACK
Ask the question in Item TRYATTACK to determine if the
offender tried to attack the respondent during the incident,
Incident Report Items
B4-61
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
but did NOT have any physical contact with the respondent.
If there is any question in your mind as to whether or not the
offender tried to attack the respondent, go with the
respondent's perception.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when both the offender and the
respondent were present during the incident and the
offender:
✓ Made an attempt to attack the respondent (for example,
the offender tried to punch, hit, shoot, or stab the
respondent and missed)
OR
✓ The respondent perceives that the offender could have
caused physical injury to him/her (for example, the
offender was chasing the respondent with a gun in
his/her hand, but was stopped before reaching the
respondent).
After entering Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item
HOWTRYATTACK.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when the offender did not attempt
to attack the respondent during the incident. Also, enter
Precode (2) if the respondent was threatened with physical
harm, but the offender did not attempt to attack him/her.
After entering Precode (2), "No," continue with Item
THREATEN.
Did the offender THREATEN you with harm in any way?
1 Yes
2 No
THREATEN
THREATEN
Ask the question in Item THREATEN to determine whether
the offender made a face-to-face verbal threat to
physically harm the respondent during the incident. Both
Incident Report Items
B4-62
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
the respondent and the offender must be present and the
threat must be voiced by the offender directly to the
respondent.
Do NOT include threats made by:
✖ Telephone,
✖ Letter,
✖ Electronic mail,
✖ FAX machine, or
✖ Threats delivered by someone other than the offender.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when the offender verbally
threatened to physically harm the respondent. After entering
Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item HOWTHREATEN.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when:
✓ Someone other than the offender delivered the threat to
the respondent.
✓ The respondent felt threatened, but the offender did not
verbally threaten to physically harm the respondent.
✓ The threat was made by telephone, letter, electronic
mail, or FAX machine.
After entering Precode (2), "No," continue with Item
WHATHAPPEN.
Incident Report Items
B4-63
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What actually happened?
●Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
11 Something taken without permission
12 Attempted or threatened to take something
13 Harassed, argument, abusive language
14 Unwanted sexual contact with force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
15 Unwanted sexual contact without force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
16 Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry of house/apartment
17 Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry of car
18 Damaged or destroyed property
19 Attempted or threatened to damage or destroy property
20 Other - specify
WHATHAPPEN
WHATHAPPEN
Ask WHATHAPPEN to identify what happened during the
incident when the respondent answers "No" to each of the
questions in Items ATTACK, TRYATTACK, and
THREATEN indicating that the offender did NOT attack, try
to attack, or threaten him/her with physical harm. This item
allows you to enter multiple precodes, so continue asking,
"Anything else?" until you get a "No" response. Once you
have completed Item WHATHAPPEN, the instrument
continues with Item IMPACT_JOB if Precode (15) was
selected in Item WHATHAPPEN. If Precode (14) was
selected in Item WHATHAPPEN, the instrument continues
with Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1. Otherwise, the
instrument goes to Item PREGATTIMEOFINC if you are
speaking with a female respondent ages 18 to 49, otherwise
it continues with Item PROTECTSELF.
After asking the question in Item WHATHAPPEN, you may
discover that the offender did attack, tried to attack, or
verbally threatened to physically harm the respondent. If so,
do not enter any precodes in Item WHATHAPPEN and
correct the answers entered in Items ATTACK,
TRYATTACK, or THREATEN, as necessary. (You may
Incident Report Items
B4-64
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
correct previous answers by pressing the “Up” arrow key
and backing up to the appropriate screen to change
responses.)
Unwanted Sexual Contact
Precodes (14) and (15) include a broad range of unwanted
sexual acts and are included in Item WHATHAPPEN for
respondents who do not consider the unwanted sexual
contact as an assault. We want to ensure that all sexual
assaults committed during an incident are reported.
Categories for unwanted sexual contact are also included in
Items HOWTRYATTACK and HOWTHREATEN to ensure
that we do not miss any sexual assaults when a respondent
says that the offender tried to attack or threatened to
physically harm him/her.
It may not always be clear whether you should enter
Precode (14), (with force), or Precode (15), (without force),
based on what the respondent tells you. Generally, if the
sexual contact involved grabbing, pushing, restraining, or
other acts of force, enter Precode (14) and then ask the
structured probe at Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1. If the
sexual contact did not involve any force (for example, only
unwanted touching and/or fondling), enter Precode (15) in
Item WHATHAPPEN. If unsure, go with the respondent's
perception of whether or not force was used.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "Something taken without permission," if
the offender stole something belonging to the respondent or
another household member.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), "Attempted or threatened to take
something" if the offender:
Tried to take something that belonged to the respondent
or another household member
OR
Threatened to take something belonging to the
respondent or another household member. A threatened
theft can be verbal (For example, "I'm taking your
motorcycle.") or nonverbal (For example, the offender
reaches for the respondent's purse, but doesn't get it.)
Incident Report Items
B4-65
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), "Harassed, argument, abusive
language," if the offender verbally bothered the respondent
without threatening him/her (for example, yelling, teasing,
insulting, arguing, using obscenities, and so on).
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), "Unwanted sexual contact with force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)," if the offender used any type of
force during the unwanted sexual contact (for example,
grabbing, pushing, or restraining). After entering Precode
(14), continue with Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), "Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)," if the offender did not use any
force during the unwanted sexual contact (for example,
sexually touching, embracing, and/or fondling the
respondent without grabbing, pushing, or restraining).
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Forcible entry or attempted forcible
entry of house/apartment," if the offender used force to
either break into or attempt to break into the respondent's
house or apartment during the incident. When NO FORCE
was used to enter or attempt to enter, enter Precode (20),
"Other," and explain the break in or attempted break in when
the "Specify" screen, WHATHAPPEN_SPEC, appears.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Forcible entry or attempted forcible
entry of car," if the offender used force during the incident to
break into or attempt to break into a car or any other type of
motor vehicle owned by the respondent or another
household member. If force was NOT used, enter Precode
(20), "Other." When the "Specify" screen appears, explain
how the offender entered or attempted to enter the
household member's motor vehicle WITHOUT FORCE (For
example, the offender entered the motor vehicle through an
unlocked door).
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18), "Damaged or destroyed property," if the
offender damaged or destroyed property during the incident
that belongs to the respondent or another household
member.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), "Attempted or threatened to damage or
destroy property," if the offender tried or threatened to
damage or destroy property during the incident that
Incident Report Items
B4-66
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
belongs to the respondent or another household member.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20), "Other," when the incident does not fit
one of the preceding categories for Item WHATHAPPEN
and enter a brief and concise explanation of what happened
during the incident on the "Specify" screen,
WHATHAPPEN_SPEC, which appears after entering
Precode (20). Some examples of acceptable entries for
Precode (20) are:
✓
Illegal entry of the respondent's house or car without
the use of force
✓
Obscene gestures
✓
Trespassing on the respondent's property
✓ A "Peeping Tom."
You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual contact with force. Do you mean forced or coerced
sexual intercourse including attempts?
1 Yes
2 No
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1
SEXCONFORCE
PROBE_1
This probe question appears if Item WHATHAPPEN is
answered with Precode (14), “Unwanted sexual contact with
force,” and is asked to ensure that the incident did not
include forced or coerced sexual intercourse, including
attempted forced or coerced sexual intercourse.
If you enter Precode (1) at Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1,
continue with Item HOWATTACK to code the incident as an
attack. If you enter Precode (2), continue with Item
IMPACT_JOB.
Incident Report Items
B4-67
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
How did the offender TRY to attack you?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all codes that apply, separate with commas
11 Verbal threat of rape
12 Verbal threat to kill
13 Verbal threat of attack other than to kill or rape
14 Verbal threat of sexual assault other than rape
15 Unwanted sexual contact with force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
16 Unwanted sexual contact without force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
17 Weapon present or threatened with weapon
18 Shot at (but missed)
19 Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
20 Attempted attack with weapon other than gun/knife/sharp weapon
21 Object thrown at person
22 Followed or surrounded
23 Tried to hit, slap, knock down, grab, hold, trip, jump, push, etc.
24 Other - specify
HOWTRYATTACK
Incident Report Items
B4-68
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How were you threatened?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all codes that apply, separate with commas
11 Verbal threat of rape
12 Verbal threat to kill
13 Verbal threat of attack other than to kill or rape
14 Verbal threat of sexual assault other than rape
15 Unwanted sexual contact with force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
16 Unwanted sexual contact without force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)
17 Weapon present or threatened with weapon
18 Shot at (but missed)
19 Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
20 Attempted attack with weapon other than gun/knife/sharp weapon
21 Object thrown at person
22 Followed or surrounded
23 Tried to hit, slap, knock down, grab, hold, trip, jump, push, etc.
24 Other - specify
HOWTHREATEN
HOWTRYATTACK and
HOWTHREATEN
Item HOWTRYATTACK is asked to identify how the
offender tried to attack the respondent when Precode (1),
"Yes," is entered in Item TRYATTACK. Item
HOWTHREATEN is asked to identify how the offender
threatened to harm the respondent when Precode (1),
"Yes," is entered in Item THREATEN.
The answer categories for Items HOWTRYATTACK and
HOWTHREATEN are the same and both items allow for
multiple entries, so continue asking "Any other way?" until
you get a "No" response. After completing Item
HOWTRYATTACK or Item HOWTHREATEN, you will
continue with Item PREGATTIMEOFINC if you are speaking
to a female respondent ages 18 to 49, otherwise you will
continue with Item PROTECTSELF.
If you determine that none of the respondent's answers for
Item HOWTRYATTACK or HOWTHREATEN indicate that
there was an attempted attack or a threat of physical harm,
Incident Report Items
B4-69
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
do NOT enter any precodes for Items HOWTRYATTACK
and HOWTHREATEN, and correct the answer for Item
TRYATTACK or THREATEN, as necessary. (Correct
answers for these items by using the “Up” arrow key to back
up to the item and change responses.) After making the
correction, the instrument brings up the appropriate screens
automatically.
Unwanted Sexual
Contact
Precodes (15) and (16) include a broad range of unwanted
sexual acts for respondents who do not consider an
unwanted sexual contact as an attack or assault. We want
to ensure that all sexual assaults committed during an
incident are reported correctly. Precode (15), "Unwanted
sexual contact with force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)," and
Precode (16), "Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)," can be entered as answers for
Items HOWTRYATTACK or HOWTHREATEN.
Based on what the respondent tells you, it may not always
be clear whether you should enter Precode (15), (with
force), or Precode (16), (without force). Generally, if the
sexual contact involved grabbing, pushing, restraining, or
other acts of force, enter Precode (15) and then ask the
structured probe question for Item
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2. If the respondent tells you that
he/she was forced or coerced into having sexual intercourse
or a forced attempt was made to have sexual intercourse,
continue with Item HOWATTACK. If the sexual contact did
not involve any force (for example, only unwanted touching,
embracing, and/or fondling), enter Precode (16) in Item
HOWTRYATTACK or HOWTHREATEN. If unsure, go with
the respondent's perception of whether or not force was
used.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), Verbal threat of rape, if the offender
was face-to-face with the respondent and verbally
threatened to rape the respondent. For the NCVS, rape
means forced sexual intercourse including both
psychological coercion, as well as physical force. Forced
sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral penetration
by the offender(s). The penetration also can be from a
foreign object, such as a bottle.
Incident Report Items
B4-70
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), Verbal threat to kill, if the offender was
face-to-face with the respondent and verbally threatened to
kill the respondent.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), Verbal threat of attack other than to
kill or rape, if the offender was face-to-face with the
respondent and verbally threatened to attack the
respondent in some way other than by raping or killing
him/her.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), Verbal threat of sexual assault other
than rape, if the offender was face-to-face with the
respondent and verbally threatened to sexually assault the
respondent, but did not threaten to rape him/her.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), Unwanted sexual contact with force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.), if the offender used some type
of force such as grabbing, restraining, or pushing during the
unwanted sexual contact. After entering Precode (15), you
always ask the structured probe question in
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), Unwanted sexual contact without
force (grabbing, fondling, etc.), if the offender made some
type of unwanted sexual contact without the use of force.
For example, during the incident, the offender may have
embraced, fondled, or touched the respondent against
his/her will, but did not grab, push, or restrain the
respondent in any way.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), Weapon present or threatened with
weapon, if the offender had a weapon or an object that
he/she intended to use as a weapon and the respondent
believed the offender would use the weapon to harm
him/her. Do NOT enter Precode (17) if the offender
attempted to use the weapon or actually shot at the
respondent.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18), Shot at (but missed), if the offender
discharged a gun or rifle in the direction of the respondent
intending to hit the respondent, but the bullet did NOT hit the
respondent.
Incident Report Items
B4-71
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Do NOT enter Precode (18) if:
✖ The offender was not aiming to hit the respondent
OR
✖ The bullet actually hit the respondent. If the respondent
was hit by a bullet, change the answer in Item ATTACK
to "Yes" (use the “Up” arrow key to back up to the item
and change the answer) and the instrument continues
with Item HOWATTACK.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), Attempted attack with knife/sharp
weapon, if the offender tried unsuccessfully to strike or stab
the respondent with a knife or other sharp weapon, such as
an ice pick or scissors.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20), Attempted attack with weapon other
than gun/knife/sharp weapon, if the offender tried
unsuccessfully to attack the respondent with a weapon other
than a gun, knife, or other sharp weapon. This could include
weapons such as clubs, blackjacks, rocks, etc.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21), Object thrown at person, if the
offender threw an object at the respondent, but did not hit
him/her.
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22), Followed or surrounded, if the
offender was following the respondent or blocking his/her
way, and the offender's close proximity to the respondent
caused the respondent to fear for his/her safety.
Precode (23)
Enter Precode (23), Tried to hit, slap, knock down, grab,
hold, trip, jump, push, etc., if the offender tried
unsuccessfully to hit, slap, knock down, grab, hold, trip,
jump, or push the respondent.
Precode (24)
Enter Precode (24), Other, if the offender tried to attack or
threatened to physically harm the respondent in a way that
does not fit one of the preceding categories. Avoid using this
category if at all possible since most threats or attempted
attacks can be identified in the categories for Precodes (11)
through (23). If you do need to enter Precode (24), make
sure to enter how the offender tried to attack or threatened
Incident Report Items
B4-72
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
to physically harm the respondent in the "Specify" screen,
HOWTRYATTACK_SPEC, that appears after entering
Precode (24).
You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual contact with force.
Do you mean forced or coerced sexual intercourse including attempts?
1 Yes
2 No
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2
This probe question appears when Item HOWTRYATTACK
or Item HOWTHREATEN is answered with Precode 15,
“Unwanted sexual contact with force,” and is asked to
ensure that the incident did not include forced or coerced
sexual intercourse, including attempted forced or coerced
sexual intercourse.
If the respondent tells you that he/she was forced or coerced
into having sexual intercourse or a forced attempt was made
to have sexual intercourse, enter Precode (1) and continue
with Item HOWATTACK. Otherwise, continue with Item
IMPACT_JOB.
Incident Report Items
B4-73
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
How were you attacked?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all codes that apply, separate with commas
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Raped
Tried to rape
Sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape
Shot
Shot at (but missed)
Hit with gun held in hand
Stabbed/cut with knife/sharp weapon
Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
Hit by object (other than gun) held in hand
Hit by thrown object
Attempted attack with weapon other than gun/knife/sharp weapon
Hit, slapped, knocked down
Grabbed, held, tripped, jumped, pushed, etc.
Other - specify
HOWATTACK
HOWATTACK
After a respondent tells you in Item ATTACK that he/she
was attacked during the incident, continue with Item
HOWATTACK to determine how the respondent was
attacked during the incident. Item HOWATTACK allows you
to enter multiple precodes, so continue asking "Any other
way?" until you get a "No" response.
If you discover that the respondent was NOT physically
attacked during the incident, leave Item HOWATTACK
unanswered, back up and change the answer in Item
ATTACK to "No," and continue with Item TRYATTACK.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), “Raped,” if the respondent says that
he/she was raped during the incident. After entering
Precode (11), an “Active Signal” box appears as shown
below:
Incident Report Items
B4-74
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Active Signal
You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual
intercourse?
If “No,” then ask: What do you mean?
Questions Involved
howAttack: How attacked
Suppress
Close
Value
Raped
Goto
This screen is included to ensure that the respondent's
definition of rape matches the NCVS definition. For the
NCVS, rape means forced sexual intercourse including both
psychological coercion, as well as physical force. Forced
sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral penetration
by the offender(s). The penetration also can be from a
foreign object, such as a bottle.
If the respondent’s answer to the probe question in the
“Active Signal” box is “Yes,” click on the “Suppress”
button to move to the next question.
If the respondent's answer to the probe question is "No," you
must ask the second probe question, "What do you
mean?" The purpose of this question is to distinguish
between rape and other forms of sexual assault. Do not
probe beyond this question.
If the respondent’s answer to the second probe question
does not satisfy the NCVS definition for rape, click on the
“Close” or “Goto” button, then delete Precode (11) in Item
HOWATTACK. Include as much detail as possible about the
incident as you write the summary report later in the
interview. If the attack involved another type of sexual
assault other than rape, enter Precode (13) in Item
HOWATTACK.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), “Tried to rape,” if the respondent says
that the offender tried to rape him/her during the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-75
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
After entering Precode (12), an “Active Signal” box appears
as shown below:
Active Signal
You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean attempted
forced or coerced sexual intercourse?
If “No,” then ask: What do you mean?
Questions Involved
Value
howAttack: How attacked Tried to rape
Suppress
Close
Goto
This screen is included to ensure that the respondent's
definition of attempted rape matches the NCVS definition.
For the NCVS, rape means forced sexual intercourse
including both psychological coercion, as well as physical
force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or
oral penetration by the offender(s). The penetration also can
be from a foreign object, such as a bottle.
If the respondent’s answer to the probe question in the
“Active Signal” box is “Yes,” click on the “Suppress” button
to move to the next question.
If the respondent's answer to the probe question in the
“Active Signal” box is "No," you must ask the second probe
question, "What do you mean?" The purpose of this
question is to distinguish between attempted rape and other
forms of sexual assault. After asking, “What do you
mean?” do not ask any additional probe questions.
If the respondent’s answer to the second probe question
does not satisfy the NCVS definition for attempted rape,
click on the “Close” or “Goto” button, delete Precode (12) in
Item HOWATTACK. Include as much detail as possible
about the incident as you write the summary report later in
the interview. If the attack involved another type of sexual
assault, enter Precode (13) in Item HOWATTACK.
Incident Report Items
B4-76
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) when the respondent was sexually
assaulted in some way other than rape or attempted rape;
that is, the sexual assault did not involve forced or coerced
sexual intercourse or attempted sexual intercourse (for
example, fondling the respondent's breasts against her will).
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) when the offender shot a gun or rifle at
the respondent and the respondent was actually hit by the
bullet.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) when the offender shot a gun or filed
intending to hit the respondent, but the respondent did not
get hit by the bullet. During an incident, it is possible to have
both an attempted attack and an actual attack. However, if
you enter Precode (15) AND you do not enter another
precode in HOWATTACK to indicate that some physical
attack or contact happened during the incident, you must:
Leave Item HOWATTACK blank,
Back up and change the "Yes" answer in Item ATTACK
to "No," and
Ask the question about attempted attacks in Item
TRYATTACK next.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) when the offender used a gun or rifle to
strike the respondent (for example, using it to inflict blunt
force injury, rather than shooting at the respondent).
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) when the offender used a knife or other
sharp object to cut the respondent causing a puncture
wound.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) when the offender tried to cut or stab the
respondent with a knife or other sharp object, but was not
successful in causing a puncture wound. During an incident,
it is possible to have both an attempted attack and an actual
attack. However, if you enter Precode (18) AND do not enter
another precode in Item HOWATTACK to indicate that
some physical attack or contact happened during the
incident, then you must:
Leave Item HOWATTACK blank,
Incident Report Items
B4-77
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Back up and change the "Yes" answer in Item
ATTACK to "No," and
Ask the question about attempted attacks in Item
TRYATTACK next.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) when the offender was holding an
object, other than a gun, in his/her hand and hit the
respondent with the object.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) when the offender threw something at
the respondent AND the thrown object hit the respondent.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) when the offender tried to attack the
respondent with a weapon, other than a gun, knife, or sharp
weapon, but the weapon did not make contact
with the respondent. During an incident, it is possible to
have both an attempted attack and an actual attack.
However, if you enter Precode (21) AND do not enter
another precode in Item HOWATTACK to indicate that
some physical attack or contact happened during the
incident, then you must:
Leave Item HOWATTACK blank,
Back up and change the "Yes" answer in Item ATTACK
to "No," and
Ask the question about attempted attacks in Item
TRYATTACK next.
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22) when the offender used his/her hands or
fists to hit, slap, or knock down the respondent.
Precode (23)
Enter Precode (23) when the offender physically interfered
with the respondent's movement by grabbing, holding,
tripping, jumping, or pushing him/her.
Precode (24)
Enter Precode (24) when the offender physically attacked
the respondent in a way not covered in Precodes (11)
through (23). After entering Precode (24), make sure to
explain how the respondent was attacked on the "Specify"
screen, HOWATTACK_SPEC. Before entering Precode
Incident Report Items
B4-78
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
(24), make sure that the method of attack does not fit one of
the previous answer categories in Item HOWATTACK.
Did the offender THREATEN to hurt you before you were actually attacked?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Other - specify
PRETHREATEN
PRETHREATEN
After identifying in Item HOWATTACK how the
respondent was physically attacked, you will ask
the question in Item PRETHREATEN to determine
if the offender verbally threatened to hurt the
respondent prior to the actual attack. The verbal
threat could be to take any of the actions specified
in Item HOWATTACK, such as threatening to rape
the respondent.
The offender could have voiced the threat anytime
from the start of the incident until the moment of the
physical attack.
In most cases, you will enter Precode (1), "Yes," or
Precode (2), "No," based on the respondent's
answer. Only enter Precode (3), "Other," if you
need to describe the situation with more than just a
"Yes" or "No" answer. Make sure to explain the
respondent's answer on the "Specify" screen,
PRETHREATEN_SPEC, that appears after
entering Precode (3).
Incident Report Items
B4-79
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What were the injuries you suffered, if any?
PROBE: Anything else?
Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11 None
12 Raped
13 Attempted rape
14 Sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape
15 Knife or stab wounds
16 Gun shot, bullet wounds
17 Broken bones or teeth knocked out
18 Internal injuries
19 Knocked unconscious
20 Bruises, black eye, cuts, scratches, swelling, chipped teeth
21 Other (specify)
INJURY
INJURY
After completing Item PRETHREATEN, you will ask Item
INJURY to determine if the respondent experienced any
personal injuries during the attack and, if so, to identify what
type of bodily injuries were suffered from the incident. Do not
include mental or emotional suffering as an injury.
Since the respondent may have suffered various types of
injuries during the incident, continue asking, "Anything
else?" until you get a "No" response.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "None," when the respondent tells you
that he/she did not experience any physical injuries from the
attack. However, do not enter Precode (11) if:
✖ You enter another precode in Item INJURY
OR
✖ You entered Precode (11), "Raped," in Item
HOWATTACK.
After entering precode (11), continue with IMPACT_JOB.
Incident Report Items
B4-80
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (12)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (12), "Raped," when you have entered
Precode (11), "Raped," in Item HOWATTACK, regardless of
whether the respondent mentions "Raped" as an injury. If
this happens, hit the “Suppress” button in the Active Signal
box (which appears as a pop-up), without asking the probe
question a second time. However, when the respondent did
not mention "Raped" in Item HOWATTACK and then reports
"Raped" as an injury in Item INJURY, you must ask the
probe question in the Active Signal box that appears.
Active Signal
You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual
intercourse?
If “No,” then ask: What do you mean?
Questions Involved
How attacked
Injury: Injuries
Suppress
Close
Value
Raped
Goto
If the respondent’s answer to the probe question in the
“Active Signal” box is “Yes,” click on the “Suppress” button to
move to the next question. However, if the respondent
answers, "No," in the Active Signal box, ask the additional
probe, "What do you mean?" This additional probe
question is needed to distinguish between rape, attempted
rape, and other types of sexual assaults.
After asking, "What do you mean?" do not ask any
additional probe questions. Make sure to include any
additional details about the incident later in the interview at
the SUMMARY screen.
Precode (13)
Only enter Precode (13), "Attempted rape," when the
respondent specifically says that his/her injury was an
attempted rape. Do not automatically enter Precode (13),
"Attempted Rape," when Precode (12), "Tried to rape," is
entered in Item HOWATTACK. If an offender tried to rape
Incident Report Items
B4-81
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
the respondent and the respondent does not report any
physical injuries in Item INJURY, enter Precode (11),
"None," in Item INJURY.
If the respondent reports an "Attempted rape" injury in INJURY,
but did not report "Tried to rape" in Item HOWATTACK, an
“Active signal” box appears:
Active Signal
You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean attempted
forced or coerced sexual intercourse?
If “No,” then ask: What do you mean?
Questions Involved
Injury: Injuries
Suppress
Close
Value
Attempted rape
Goto
If you get a "Yes" answer, click on the “Suppress” button to
continue to the next screen.
If the respondent says that he/she did not mean attempted forced
or coerced sexual intercourse or is unsure of the answer, ask the
additional probe question, "What do you mean?" in the “Active
Signal” box. The second probe question is needed to distinguish
between rape, attempted rape, and other types of sexual
assaults. Make sure to include any additional details about the
incident in the summary report later in the interview.
Precode (14)
Only enter Precode (14), "Sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape," when the respondent specifically says that this
was one of his/her injuries. Make sure to also ask if the
respondent suffered any other injuries and, if so, enter the
appropriate precodes in Item INJURY. Do not automatically
enter Precode (14) when Precode (13), "Sexual assault other
than rape or attempted rape," is entered in Item HOWATTACK.
If the respondent reports a sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape in Item HOWATTACK and does not report any
physical injuries in Item INJURY, enter Precode (11), "None," in
Incident Report Items
B4-82
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Item INJURY.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), "Knife or stab wounds," when the
respondent reports an injury caused by a knife or any other
sharp or pointed object.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Gun shot, bullet wounds," when the
respondent reports an injury caused by the bullet or shot
from a hand gun, rifle, shotgun, and so on. Do not enter
Precode (16) if the injury was caused by being shot with a
BB gun, tear gas gun, or a stun gun.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Broken bones or teeth knocked out,"
when the respondent reports that he/she suffered broken,
chipped, or cracked bones from the attack. Also enter
Precode (17) when a respondent says that one or more of
his/her teeth were knocked out.
However, do not enter Precode (17) for injuries involving
broken, chipped, or cracked teeth; instead, enter Precode
(20) for this type of injury.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18), "Internal injuries," when the respondent
reports that he/she suffered any type of internal injuries
during the attack.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), "Knocked unconscious," when the
respondent reports that he/she was knocked unconscious,
blacked out, passed out, went into a coma, and so on, resulting
directly from the attack.
Do not enter Precode (19) if the respondent became
unconscious or fainted due to fear or medical treatment,
which cannot be attributed directly to the attack.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20), "Bruises, black eye, cuts, scratches,
swelling, chipped teeth," when the respondent reports any
minor injuries that are not covered specifically in Precodes (12)
through (19). Examples of injuries to include for Precode (20)
are minor burns, bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, swellings,
and chipped teeth suffered during the attack.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21), "Other," when the respondent mentions an
injury that does not seem to fit into any of the injuries for
Incident Report Items
B4-83
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precodes (12) through (20). Always enter a description of the
injury on the "Specify" screen, INJURY_SPEC after entering
Precode (21) (for example, eye damage from gasoline thrown
in eyes or severe burns from acid dropped on arms). Avoid
entering Precode (21) if the injury fits into one of the injury
descriptions for Precodes (12) through (20).
● Ask or verify:
Were any of the injuries caused by a weapon other than a gun or knife?
1 Yes
2 No
INJURYNOTGUN
INJURYNOTGUN
Item INJURYNOTGUN is used to determine if any
injuries reported in Item INJURY were caused by a
weapon OTHER THAN a gun or a knife. If you feel
sure of the answer, you can verify the answer with the
respondent, instead of asking the question. Otherwise,
ask the question in Item INJURYNOTGUN. If you get a
"Yes" answer, enter Precode (1) and continue with
Item FIRSTINJURY. If you get a "No" answer, enter
Precode (2) and continue with Item MEDICALCARE.
Which injuries marked in the field INJURIES were caused by a weapon OTHER than a gun or
knife?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
17 Broken bones or teeth knocked out
19 Knocked unconscious
FIRSTINJURY
FIRSTINJURY
Item FIRSTINJURY is used to identify which
injuries reported in Item INJURY were caused by a
weapon OTHER THAN a gun or knife. With the
Incident Report Items
B4-84
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
exception of Precodes (15), knife or stab wounds,
and (16), gunshot or bullet wounds, the injuries
reported at Item INJURY will be shown at Item
FIRSTINJURY.
Since we are interested in injuries that were caused
by a weapon other than a gun or knife, Precodes
(15) and (16) will not appear in Item FIRSTINJURY,
even if they were entered in Item INJURY. Enter
the appropriate precodes for the injuries listed at
Item FIRSTINJURY that were caused by a weapon
other than a gun or knife.
Were you injured to the extent that you received any medical care, including self treatment?
1 Yes
2 No
MEDICALCARE
MEDICALCARE
Item MEDICALCARE is used to find out if the
respondent received any medical care for the injuries
reported in Item INJURY. This medical care includes
any care or treatment provided for the respondent's
physical injuries, including self treatment. Treatment can
range from bandages and ice packs to setting broken
bones and major surgery.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when the respondent received
any type of medical treatment for the reported injuries,
regardless of where the medical care was provided or
who provided the treatment. After entering Precode (1),
you will continue with Item RECEIVECAREWHERE.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when the respondent did not
receive any medical treatment for his/her injuries. After
entering Precode (2), continue with Item IMPACT_JOB.
Incident Report Items
B4-85
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Where did you receive this care?
● PROBE: Anywhere else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
11 At the scene
12 At home/neighbor's/friend's
13 Health unit at work/school, first aid station at a stadium/park, etc.
14 Doctor's office/health clinic
15 Emergency room at hospital/emergency clinic
16 Hospital (other than emergency room)
17 Other - specify
RECEIVECAREWHERE
RECEIVECAREWHERE
Item RECEIVECAREWHERE is used to determine
where the respondent received medical treatment
for his/her injuries. Continue asking, "Anywhere
else?" until you get a "No" response, since the
respondent may have been cared for at more than
one location (for example, at the crime scene, then
at an emergency room, and later at a doctor's
office).
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "At the scene," if the
respondent received any type of medical treatment
at the scene of the attack (for example, in the alley
where he was mugged or in the shopping mall
where she was stabbed).
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), "At home/neighbor's/friends," if
the respondent received any type of medical
treatment at his/her home or at the home of the
respondent's neighbor, friend, or relative.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), "Health unit at work/school,
first aid station at a stadium/park, etc.," if the
respondent received any type of medical treatment
at a health unit or first aid station at work or school,
at a sports arena or stadium, airport, at a train or
Incident Report Items
B4-86
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
subway station, a museum or some other type of
emergency facility other than those covered in
Precodes (14), (15), or (16).
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), "Doctor's office/health clinic," if
the respondent received any type of medical
treatment at any type of doctor's or dentist's office,
or in some kind of medical or health clinic that
serves patients on either a routine or an emergency
basis.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), "Emergency room at hospital/
emergency clinic," if the respondent received any
type of medical treatment at a hospital emergency
room or at an emergency clinic. Emergency clinics
differ from other medical clinics in that they only
deal with emergency cases and do not provide
services on a routine basis.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Hospital (other than
emergency room)," if the respondent received any
type of medical treatment after being admitted to a
hospital or being referred to an outpatient treatment
center or therapy area. If the respondent was
treated first at a hospital emergency room and was
later admitted to the hospital, enter Precodes (15)
AND (16).
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Other," if the respondent
received any type of medical treatment at a location
other than the places identified in Precodes (11)
through (16). Avoid entering Precode (17) if the
location fits into one of the other precodes in Item
RECEIVECAREWHERE. If you do enter Precode
(17), always enter a description of the place on the
"Specify" screen, RECEIVECAREWHERE_SPEC
(for example, in ambulance on way to hospital or on
a street, shoulder of a highway, parking lot, and so
on, but NOT at the crime scene).
Incident Report Items
B4-87
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did you stay overnight in the hospital?
1 Yes
2 No
CAREOVERNIGHT
CAREOVERNIGHT
When a respondent received medical care in a hospital
(Precode (16) entered in Item RECEIVECAREWHERE),
Item CAREOVERNIGHT is asked to find out if the
respondent stayed in a hospital overnight to receive
medical care for his/her injuries suffered during the attack.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, continue
with Item CAREDAYHOSPIT. If you enter Precode (2)
for a "No" answer, continue with
MEDICALINSURANCE.
How many days did you stay in the hospital?
● If over 200 days, enter 200
CAREDAYHOSPIT
CAREDAYHOSPIT
CAREDAYHOSPIT is used to identify how many days the
respondent spent in the hospital for this treatment.
When determining the number of days spent in the hospital:
Count each night spent in the hospital as one day
and only enter whole days (for example, enter 3
days, not 3 1/2 days).
Count all days spent in the hospital up to the night
prior to the interview.
If a respondent cannot recall the exact number of
days, enter the respondent's best estimate.
Incident Report Items
B4-88
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
At the time of the incident, were you covered by any medical insurance, or were you eligible for
benefits from any other type of health benefits program, such as Medicaid, Veterans
Administration, or Public Welfare?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
MEDICALINSURANCE
MEDICALINSURANCE
Item MEDICALINSURANCE is used to determine if the
respondent was eligible to receive health benefits from a
medical insurance plan or policy. Normally, the benefits will
cover all or part of the hospital expenses and the charges
for a doctor or surgeon's services, medication, and so on.
The respondent needs to understand that you are asking
about health benefits from a formal plan or policy with
defined membership and benefits which he/she was eligible
to receive at the time of the incident.
In addition to health insurance coverage from a private
company, we are also interested in knowing whether the
respondent was eligible for benefits from any publicly
organized system that provides health benefits, such as
medicaid, Veterans Administration, or Public Welfare.
If a respondent tells you that a friend or family member
offered to pay for his/her medical expenses, probe to find
out whether the respondent was covered by some type of
health insurance plan, even if the respondent did not submit
a claim or the plan did not pay any benefits.
Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, Precode (2) for a "No"
answer, and Precode (3) for "Don't know." After completing
Item MEDICALINSURANCE, continue with Item
MEDICALEXPENSES.
Incident Report Items
B4-89
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What was the total amount of your medical expenses resulting from this incident (INCLUDING
anything paid by insurance)? Include hospital and doctor bills, medicine, therapy,
braces, and any other injury-related expenses.
Obtain an estimate if necessary
Round to the nearest dollar
Enter a number between 1-999,996
MEDICALEXPENSES
MEDICALEXPENSES
Item MEDICALEXPENSES is used to identify the
TOTAL dollar amount of the respondent's medical
expenses resulting directly from injuries suffered
during the incident. (Note that the parenthetical
phrase “INCLUDING anything paid by insurance
only appears if item MEDICALINSURANCE was
answered with Precode (1), “Yes.”) Include in this
figure any doctor and hospital bills, surgeon's fees,
emergency room expenses, ambulance services,
services provided by a physical therapist, dentist,
and so on. Also include expenses for medicine and
any kind of special devices or aids required as a
result of the respondent's injuries, such as braces,
crutches, dentures, eyeglasses, a wheelchair, or
artificial limbs.
Enter the respondent's answer in whole dollars in
the “Total amount” space. If the respondent is not
sure of the exact amount, enter his/her best
estimate of the cost for medical expenses.
If the respondent is still undergoing medical
treatment for injuries related to the incident, ask for
the respondent's best estimate of the projected total
cost for his/her medical expenses and enter the
projected estimate in the "Total amount" space.
Incident Report Items
B4-90
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter 0 (zero), to indicate “No Cost,” if the
respondent did not incur any medical expenses for
his/her injuries as a result of the incident.
After completing Item MEDICALEXPENSES, the
instrument goes to Item IMPACT_JOB.
Emotional Toll Questions:
Items IMPACT_JOB through
KIND_HELP_ PHYPROBS
The Emotional Toll questions (added in July 2008)
are only asked of persons who reported a violent
crime, such as an attack, threat of attack,
attempted attack, or unwanted sexual contact (with
or without force).
Being a victim of crime affects people in different ways. Next I would like to ask you some
questions about how being a crime victim may have affected you.
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to have significant problems with your job or
schoolwork, or trouble with your boss, coworkers, or peers?
1 Yes
2 No
IMPACT_JOB
IMPACT_JOB
Item IMPACT_JOB informs the respondent that we
are changing the focus of the next set of questions
to talk about how being a victim of a crime has
affected them. This question specifically asks the
respondent whether being a victim of this crime has
led the respondent to have significant problems
with their job or schooling, or trouble with their
boss, coworkers, or peers.
Select Precode (1), “No,” when the respondent
reports that they have experienced significant
problems with their job or schoolwork, or people
they frequently interact with in their daily lives.
Select Precode (2), “Yes,” when the respondent
reports that they have not experienced any
significant problems with their job or schoolwork, or
Incident Report Items
B4-91
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
people they frequently interact with in their daily
lives.
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to have significant problems with family members or
friends, including getting into more arguments or fights than you did before, not feeling you
could trust them as much, or not feeling as close to them as you did before?
1 Yes
2 No
IMPACT_FAMILY
IMPACT_FAMILY
Item IMPACT_FAMILY is asked to find out whether
being the victim of a crime caused the respondent
to have significant problems with his/her family
and/or friends.
Select Precode (1), “Yes,” when the respondent
reports that being a victim of this crime led to
significant problems with family members or
friends.
Select Precode (2), “No,” when the respondent
reports that being a victim of this crime did not lead
to any significant problems with family members of
friends.
How distressing was being a victim of this crime to you? Was it not at all distressing, mildly
distressing, moderately distressing, or severely distressing?
1
2
3
4
Not at all distressing
Mildly distressing
Moderately distressing
Severely distressing
HOW_DISTRESSING
HOW_DISTRESSING
Item HOW_DISTRESSING is asked to find out
what level or magnitude of distress the respondent
Incident Report Items
B4-92
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
felt after having been the victim of a crime.
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1) when the respondent states that
being a victim of this crime was not at all
distressing.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2) when the respondent states that
being a victim of this crime was mildly distressing.
If Precodes (1) or (2) are selected and either of the
Items IMPACT_JOB and IMPACT_FAMILY are
marked “Yes,” then the instrument goes to the
FEEL_WORRIED screen. However, if both Items
IMPACT_JOB and IMPACT_FAMILY are marked
“No” and Precode (1) or (2) is marked in Item
HOW_DISTRESSING, the instrument skips to one
of the following screens:
Item PREGATTIMEOFINC, if the respondent is
a female between the ages of 18 and 49 years
old.
Item PROTECTSELF when the respondent is
NOT a female between the ages of 18 and 49
years old.
Precode (3)
Select Precode (3) when the respondent states that
being a victim of this crime was moderately
distressing to them. If Precode (3) is selected the
instrument goes to Item FEEL_WORRIED.
Precode (4)
Select Precode (4) when the respondent states that
being a victim of this crime was severely distressing
to them. If Precode (4) is selected the instrument
goes to Item FEEL_WORRIED.
Incident Report Items
B4-93
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Still thinking about your distress associated with being a victim of this crime did you feel any of
the following ways for A MONTH OR MORE? Did you feel...
Worried or anxious?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_WORRIED
Angry?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_ANGRY
Sad or depressed?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_SAD
Vulnerable?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_VULNERABLE
Incident Report Items
B4-94
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Violated?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_VIOLATED
Like (you/he/she) couldn't trust people?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_MISTRUST
Unsafe?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_UNSAFE
Some other way?
1 Yes
2 No
FEEL_OTHER_WAY
What other way did being a victim of this crime make (you/name) feel?
FEEL_OTHER_WAY_SP
Incident Report Items
B4-95
Part B, Chapter 4
FEEL_WORRIED through
FEEL_OTHER_WAY_SP
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Items FEEL_WORRIED through FEEL_OTHER_WAY_SP
ask about the feelings and perceptions of distress the
respondent may have had after experiencing a crime
incident.
This series of eight questions is asked when the
respondent reports that they were moderately or severely
distressed or they have experienced significant problems
at work or school or with family members or friends as a
result of being a victim of this crime. These questions are
asked independently of one another, but share the same
question stem.
On the FEEL_WORRIED screen the question stem
appears in bold face text and reads, “Still thinking about
your distress associated with being a victim of this
crime did you feel any of the following ways for A
MONTH OR MORE? Did you feel ...” followed by
“worried or anxious?”
In items FEEL_ANGRY through FEEL_OTHER_WAY the
question stem is in gray text to signify that reading the
question stem is optional, however, the specific question
text appears in bold face text and must be read to the
respondent. Repeat the question stem whenever
appropriate or if asked by the respondent. If the responses
to all eight of these questions is “No,” signifying that the
respondent has not experienced any of these types of
feelings for a month or more, the instrument goes to Item
HAVE_HEADACHES. Otherwise, it goes to Item
SEEK_PRO_HELP.
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1), “Yes,” in each of these eight questions
if the respondent reports that they experienced those
specific types of feelings for a month or more as a result of
being a victim of this crime. A “Yes” response in Item
FEEL_OTH_WAY causes the instrument to go to Item
FEEL_OTH_WAY_SP to collect any other feelings that do
not fit the first seven categories presented. Remember the
respondent must have experienced these feelings for a
month or more and attribute these feelings directly to being
a victim of this crime. Be brief but descriptive when
entering this information in Item FEEL_OTHER_WAY_SP.
Incident Report Items
B4-96
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (2)
Part B, Chapter 4
Select Precode (2), “No,” in each of these eight questions if
the respondent reports that they did not experience that
specific type of feeling for a month or more as a result of
being a victim of this crime.
Did you seek any kind of professional help for the feelings you experienced
as a result of being a victim of this crime?
1 Yes
2 No
SEEK_PRO_HELP
SEEK_PRO_HELP
Item SEEK_PRO_HELP is asked to find out whether the
respondent sought any kind of professional help dealing with
their feelings after experiencing a crime incident. It appears
when the respondent reported having at least one of the
feelings in FEEL_WORRIED through FEEL_OTHER_WAY
because they were a crime victim.
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1), “Yes,” if the respondent reports that they
sought some form of professional help for the prolonged
feelings they experienced. The instrument goes to
PRO_HELP_SOUGHT.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2), “No,” if the respondent reports that they
did not seek any professional help for the feelings they
experienced. The instrument goes to HAVE_HEADACHES.
Incident Report Items
B4-97
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What kind of professional help did you seek?
● Mark all that apply separated by commas
1
2
3
4
5
Counseling/therapy
Medication
Visited doctor or nurse
Visited ER/hospital/clinic
Other - Specify
PRO_HELP_SOUGHT
What other kind of professional help did you seek?
HELP_SOUGHT_SP
PRO_HELP_SOUGHT and
HELP_SOUGHT_SP
Items PRO_HELP_SOUGHT and HELP_SOUGHT_SP are
asked to find out what kind of professional help the
respondent sought. Mark as many responses as apply in
Item PRO_HELP_SOUGHT.
Item HELP_SOUGHT_SP appears if Precode (5), “Other,” is
marked in PRO_HELP_SOUGHT. Use
HELP_SOUGHT_SP to list any type of professional help
that does not appear in the answer categories in
PRO_HELP_SOUGHT. HELP_SOUGHT_SP allows 100
characters for a response.
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1) if the respondent reports that they sought
professional counseling/therapy as a result of being a victim
of this crime.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2) if the respondent reports that they sought
medication as a result of being a victim of this crime.
Precode (3)
Select Precode (3) if the respondent reports that they visited
a doctor or nurse as a result of being a victim of this crime.
Precode (4)
Select Precode (4) if the respondent reports that they visited
Incident Report Items
B4-98
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
the emergency room, hospital, or clinic, as a result of being
a victim of this crime.
Precode (5)
Select Precode (5) if the respondent reports that they sought
some other form of professional help not listed in categories
1 through 4. If Precode (5) is selected, the instrument goes
to HELP_SOUGHT_SP to collect the “other” kind of
professional help the respondent sought. Be brief, but
descriptive, when entering the other kind of professional
help in the “Other - Specify” field.
Did you experience any of the following physical problems associated with being a victim of this
crime for A MONTH OR MORE? Did you experience....
Headaches?
1 Yes
2 No
HAVE_HEADACHES
Trouble sleeping?
1 Yes
2 No
TRBL_SLEEPING
Changes in (your/his/her) eating or drinking habits?
1 Yes
2 No
EATING_PROBS
Incident Report Items
B4-99
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Upset stomach?
1 Yes
2 No
UPSET_STOMACH
Fatigue?
1 Yes
2 No
FATIGUE
High blood pressure?
1 Yes
2 No
HIGH_BLOOD_PRESS
Muscle tension or back pain?
1 Yes
2 No
MUSCLE_TENSION
Incident Report Items
B4-100
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Some other physical problem?
1 Yes
2 No
OTHER_PHYSICAL
What other physical problem did you experience for A MONTH OR MORE?
OTH_PHY_SP
HAVE_HEADACHES through
OTH_PHY_SP
Items HAVE_HEADACHES through OTH_PHY_SP ask
about physical problems the respondent may have had in
response to the crime incident they experienced. The
respondent must have experienced the physical problems
for a month or more and attribute these problems directly
to the crime incident. These questions are asked
independently of one another but share the same question
stem.
In Item HAVE_HEADACHES the question stem appears in
bold face text and reads, “Did you experience any of the
following physical problems associated with being a
victim of this crime for A MONTH OR MORE? Did you
experience...” followed by “headaches?”
Items TRBL_SLEEPING through OTHER_PHYSICAL the
question stem appears in gray text to signify that reading the
question stem is optional, however, the specific question
text appears in bold face text and must be read to the
respondent. Repeat the question stem whenever
appropriate or if asked by the respondent. If you select the
“Yes” response to Item OTHER_PHYSICAL the instrument
goes to Item OTH_PHY_SP. Enter the verbatim response
provided by the respondent for the other physical problem
that they experienced for a month or more as a result of
being the victim of this crime.
Incident Report Items
B4-101
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1) in each of these eight questions if the
respondent reports that they experienced that specific type
of physical problem for a month or more as a result of being
a victim of this crime. If the respondent reports that they
experienced at least one prolonged physical problem for a
month or more by answering “Yes” to at least one of Items
HAVE_HEADACHES through OTHER_PHYSICAL, the
instrument goes to Item SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2) in each of these eight questions if the
respondent reports that they did not experience that specific
type of physical problem for a month or more as a result of
being a victim of crime. If the response to all eight of these
questions is “No,” signifying that the respondent has not
experienced any of these types of physical problems for a
month or more the instrument skips to one of the following
screens:
Item PREGATTIMEOFINC, if the respondent IS a
female between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.
Item PROTECTSELF when the respondent is NOT a
female between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.
Other than any medical care you received for the (injury/injuries) did you seek any kind of
professional or medical help for the physical problems you experienced as a result of being a
victim of this crime?
1 Yes
2 No
SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS
SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS
Item SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS asks the respondent if they
sought any kind of professional or medical help for the
prolonged physical problems they reported as a result of
being a victim of this crime. The phrase “Other than any
medical care you received for the injury(ies) you
suffered,” is only displayed and read to the respondent
when the respondent reported an injury. If no injuries were
reported you read, “Did you seek any kind of professional
Incident Report Items
B4-102
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
or medical help for the physical problems you
experienced as a result of being a victim of this crime?”
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1), “Yes,” if the respondent reports that they
sought some form of professional or medical help for the
prolonged physical problems they experienced. The
instrument goes to Item KIND_HELP_PHYPROBS.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2) if the respondent reports that they did not
seek any professional or medical help for the physical
problems they experienced. The instrument will skip to one
of the following screens:
Item PREGATTIMEOFINC, if the respondent IS a
female between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.
Item PROTECTSELF when the respondent is NOT a
female between the ages of 18 and 49 years old.
What kind of professional or medical help did you seek?
● Mark all that apply separated by commas
1 Counseling/therapy
2 Medication
3 Visited doctor or nurse
4 Visited ER/hospital/clinic
5 Other - Specify
KIND_HELP_PHYPROBS
What other kind of professional help did you seek?
KIND_HELP_PHYOTH_SP
KIND_HELP_ PHYPROBS,
Item KIND_HELP_PHYPROBS asks the respondent what
KIND_HELP_PHYPROBS_SP kind of professional or medical help they sought for the
prolonged physical problems they experienced. This
question is only asked when the respondent reports that
Incident Report Items
B4-103
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
they sought professional help for the physical problems they
reported. Select all precodes that apply.
Precode (1)
Select Precode (1) if the respondent reports that they sought
professional counseling/therapy for the physical problems
they experienced.
Precode (2)
Select Precode (2) if the respondent reports that they sought
medication to alleviate the physical problems they
experienced.
Precode (3)
Select Precode (3) if the respondent reports that they visited
a doctor or nurse to treat or diagnose the physical problems
they experienced.
Precode (4)
Select Precode (4) if the respondent reports that they visited
the emergency room, hospital, or clinic, to treat the physical
problems they experienced.
Precode (5)
Select Precode (5) if the respondent reports that they sought
some other form of professional help not listed in answer
categories 1 through 4 to address the prolonged physical
problems they experienced. If Precode (5) is selected, the
instrument will proceed to the KIND_HELP_PHYOTH_SP
screen to collect the “other” kind of professional help the
respondent sought for their prolonged physical problems.
After completing the new Emotional Toll section the
instrument goes to the PREGATTIMEOFINC screen if the
respondent is a female between the ages of 18 and 49
years old. Otherwise the instrument goes to Item
PROTECTSELF.
Research shows that pregnant women may be at a higher risk of being the victim of a violent
crime.
Were you pregnant at the time of this incident?
1 Yes
2 No
PREGATTIMEOFINC
Incident Report Items
B4-104
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
PREGATTIMEOFINC
Part B, Chapter 4
Item PREGATTIMEOFINC is asked to determine the
pregnancy status of all female respondents ages 18 to 49
during any incidents in which they were present.
Some women may be sensitive to this question or find it
intrusive in nature. If you encounter such reactions, remind
the respondent of the confidentiality and importance of the
data.
Did you do anything with the idea of protecting YOURSELF or your PROPERTY
while the incident was going on?
1 Yes
2 No/took no action/kept still
PROTECTSELF
PROTECTSELF
Item PROTECTSELF is used to determine if the respondent
did anything in an attempt to protect himself/herself or
his/her property during the incident.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, continue with
Item ACTIONSDURINGINC. Enter Precode (2) when the
respondent answers "No" or says that he/she took no action
or just kept still during the incident. After entering Precode
(2), continue with Item DURINGINCIDENT.
Was there anything you did or tried to do about the incident while it was going on?
1 Yes
2 No/took no action/kept still
DURINGINCIDENT
DURINGINCIDENT
Item DURINGINCIDENT is used to find out if the respondent
did ANYTHING while the incident was taking place, even if
the respondent's actions were not intended to protect
himself/herself or his/her property.
Incident Report Items
B4-105
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer and you will continue
with Item ACTIONSDURINGINC. Enter Precode (2) if the
respondent answers "No" or says that he/she took no action
or just kept still during the incident. After entering Precode
(2), continue with Item ANYONEPRESENT.
Incident Report Items
B4-106
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What did you do?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
● Used physical force toward offender:
11 Attacked offender with gun; fired gun
12 Attacked with other weapon
13 Attacked without weapon (hit, kicked, etc.)
14 Threatened offender with gun
15 Threatened offender with other weapon
16 Threatened to injure, no weapon
● Resisted or captured offender:
17 Defended self or property (struggled, ducked, blocked blows, held onto property)
18 Chased, tried to catch or hold offender
● Scared or warned off offender:
19 Yelled at offender, turned on lights, threatened to call police, etc.
● Persuaded or appeased offender:
20 Cooperated, or pretended to (stalled, did what they asked)
21 Argued, reasoned, pleaded, bargained, etc.
● Escaped or got away:
22 Ran or drove away, or tried; hid, locked door
● Got help or gave alarm:
23 Called police or guard
24 Tried to attract attention or help, warn others (cried out for help, called children inside.)
● Reacted from pain or emotion:
25 Screamed from pain or fear
● Other:
26 Other - specify
ACTIONSDURINGINC
Incident Report Items
B4-107
Part B, Chapter 4
ACTIONSDURINGINC
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item ACTIONSDURINGINC is used to identify the types of
actions taken by the respondent during the incident. Since
the respondent may have taken more than one action,
continue asking, "Anything else?" until you get a "No"
response. Based on the respondent's answer, enter ALL
precodes that apply.
The types of actions listed in Item ACTIONSDURINGINC
are divided into eight groups and each group has a heading
which is in large blue type. Scan these titles to speed up
your search for the correct precodes to enter for a
respondent's answer.
Precodes (11)
through (16)
Precodes (11) through (16) fall under the heading, “USED
PHYSICAL FORCE TOWARD OFFENDER,” and cover any
aggressive actions taken by the respondent against the
offender, such as attacking the offender either with or
without a weapon or threatening to physically harm the
offender with or without a weapon.
Precodes (17) and (18)
Precodes (17) and (18) fall under the heading, “RESISTED
OR CAPTURED OFFENDER,” and cover a respondent's
actions taken in an attempt to catch the offender or resist
the offender (for example, the respondent struggled,
ducked, blocked blows, held onto property) without actually
attacking or threatening to physically harm the offender.
Precode (19)
Precode (19) falls under the heading, “SCARED OR
WARNED OFF OFFENDERS,” and covers a respondent's
actions taken in an attempt to scare or warn off the offender
by yelling, turning lights on, threatening to call the police,
and so on.
Precodes (20) and (21)
Precodes (20) and (21) fall under the heading
“PERSUADED OR APPEASED OFFENDER,” and cover a
respondent's actions taken in an attempt to coax the
offender not to take specific actions or to calm the offender
down to avoid injury. This could include pretending to
cooperate with the offender, stalling for time to escape,
pleading with the offender, etc.
Precode (22)
Precode (22) falls under the heading, “ESCAPED OR GOT
AWAY,” and covers a respondent's attempts to get away
from the offender and leave the crime scene.
Incident Report Items
B4-108
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precodes (23) and (24)
Precodes (23) and (24) fall under the heading, “GOT HELP
OR GAVE ALARM,” and cover the respondent calling the
police or a guard or the respondent trying to attract attention
(for example, crying out for help or sounding a car horn).
Precode (25)
Precode (25) falls under the heading, “REACTED TO PAIN
OR EMOTION,” and covers the respondent screaming or
making noise in reaction to pain or fear.
Precode (26)
Precode (26) falls under the heading, “OTHER,” and covers
any action(s) taken by the respondent that do not fit into one
of the previous categories for Item ACTIONSDURINGINC.
Before entering Precode (26), make sure that the answer
does not fit Precodes (11) through (25). However, if you do
enter Precode (26), always enter a description of the
respondent's action(s) on the "Specify" screen,
ACTIONSDURINGINC_SPEC.
Continue with Item INJACTION if the respondent was
injured in the incident (Precode (12) - (21) entered in Item
INJURY). Otherwise, continue with Item INJACTIONHELP.
Did you take these actions before, after, or at the same time that you were injured?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1
2
3
Actions taken before injury
Actions taken after injury
Actions taken at same time as injury
INJACTION
INJACTION
Item INJACTION is used to determine whether the
respondent took the actions identified in Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC BEFORE, AFTER, OR AT THE
SAME TIME THAT THE OFFENDER INJURED THE
RESPONDENT. Enter all precodes that apply; separate with
commas.
After completing Item INJACTION, continue with Item
INJACTIONHELP.
Incident Report Items
B4-109
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did your action help the situation in any way?
● Probe: Did your action help you avoid injury, protect your property, escape from the
offender - or were they helpful in some other way?
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
INJACTIONHELP
INJACTIONHELP
Item INJACTIONHELP is used to find out whether the
respondent feels that any of his/her actions identified in Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC improved the situation or helped
minimize the damage done during the incident. If the
respondent seems unsure of how to answer this question,
also ask the additional probe question shown for Item
INJACTIONHELP.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you will
continue with Item HELP. After entering Precode (2) for a
"No" answer or Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer, you
continue with Item ACTIONWORSE.
How were they helpful?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1
2
3
4
5
6
Helped avoid injury or greater injury to respondent
Scared or chased offender off
Helped respondent get away from offender
Protected property
Protected other people
Other - specify
HELP
Incident Report Items
B4-110
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
HELP
Part B, Chapter 4
Item HELP is used to identify how the respondent’s actions
improved the situation or minimized the damage done
during the incident. You will only ask this question if the
respondent answers "Yes" to the question in Item
INJACTIONHELP. Based on the respondent’s answer,
enter all precodes that apply and continue asking, "Any
other way?" until you get a "No" response.
If the respondent mentions a way that his/her actions helped
improve the situation and the answer does not fit the
descriptions in Precodes (1) through (5), enter Precode (6),
"Other," and enter the description on the "Specify" screen,
HELP_SPEC. Avoid entering Precode (6), if the answer
matches one of the other descriptions in Precodes (1)
through (5).
After completing Item HELP, continue with Item
ACTIONWORSE.
Did your action make the situation worse in any way?
● Probe: Did your action lead to injury, greater injury, loss of property, make the offender
angrier, or make the situation worse in some other way?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
ACTIONWORSE
ACTIONWORSE
Item ACTIONWORSE is used to find out whether the
respondent feels that any of his/her actions identified in Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC caused the situation to deteriorate or
the damage done to escalate during the incident. If the
respondent seems unsure of how to answer this question,
also ask the additional probe question shown for Item
ACTIONWORSE.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you continue
with Item WORSE. After entering Precode (2) for a "No"
Incident Report Items
B4-111
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
answer or Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer, continue
with Item ANYONEPRESENT.
How did they make the situation worse?
●Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1 Led to injury or greater injury to respondent
2 Caused greater loss of property or damage to property
3 Other people got hurt (worse)
4 Offender got away
5 Made offender angrier, more aggressive, etc.
6 Other - specify
WORSE
WORSE
Item WORSE is used to identify how the respondent's
actions made the situation worse or caused the damage
done to escalate during the incident. You will only ask this
question if the respondent answers "Yes" to the question in
Item ACTIONWORSE. Based on the respondent's answer,
enter all the precodes that apply and continue asking, "Any
other way?" until you get a "No" response.
If the respondent mentions a way that his/her actions made
the situation worse and the answer does not fit the
descriptions in Precodes (1) through (5), enter Precode (6),
"Other," and enter the description on the "Specify" screen,
WORSE_SPEC. Avoid entering Precode (6), if the answer
matches one of the other descriptions in Precodes (1)
through (5).
After completing Item WORSE, continue with Item
ANYONEPRESENT.
Incident Report Items
B4-112
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Was anyone present during the incident besides you and the offender? (Other than children
under age 12.)
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
ANYONEPRESENT
ANYONEPRESENT
Item ANYONEPRESENT is used to find out if anyone other
than the offender and the respondent was present during
the incident, EXCLUDING children under 12 years of age.
Other persons present could include other crime victims,
bystanders, or other household members.
When deciding whether a person is "present" during an
incident, follow the instructions in this chapter for completing
Item HHMEMBERPRESENT, as well as the detailed
information about presence during an incident in Part C,
Chapter 3, Topic 6.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you will
continue with Item OTHERSACTIONS. After entering
Precode(2) for a "No" answer or Precode (3) for a "Don't
know" answer, you continue with either:
Item FIRSTTOUSEFORCE when the respondent used
or threatened to use physical force against the offender
(Precodes (11) through (16) entered in Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC)
OR
Item ONEORMOREOFFENDERS when the respondent
did NOT use or threaten to use physical force against
the offender.
Incident Report Items
B4-113
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did the actions of (this person/any of these people) help the situation in any way?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
OTHERSACTIONS
OTHERSACTIONS
When persons, other than the respondent, the offender, and
children under the age of 12 were present during the
incident (Precode (1), "Yes," entered in Item
ANYONEPRESENT), you will continue with Item
OTHERSACTIONS so you can determine whether the
actions taken by any of these persons may have helped the
situation in any way.
As you read the question in Item OTHERSACTIONS, only
use the phrase "this person" if the respondent happens to
mention that there was only one other person present.
Otherwise, read the question using the phrase "any of
these people."
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you will
continue with Item HOWOTHERSHELP. Enter Precode (2)
for a "No" answer or for instances when the other persons
present did nothing or took no actions during the incident.
Enter Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer. After entering
either Precode (2) or (3), continue with Item
OTHERSACTIONSWORSE.
Incident Report Items
B4-114
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How did they help the situation?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1 Helped avoid injury or greater injury to respondent
2 Scared or chased offender off
3 Helped respondent get away from offender
4 Protected property
5 Protected other people
6 Other - specify
HOWOTHERSHELP
HOWOTHERSHELP
Item HOWOTHERSHELP is used to identify how the actions
of other persons present during the incident helped the
situation. Based on the respondent's answer, enter all
precodes that apply and continue asking, "Any other way?"
until you get a "No" response.
If the respondent mentions a way that the other person's
actions helped the situation which does not fit the
descriptions in Precodes (1) through (5), enter Precode (6),
"Other," and enter the description on the "Specify" screen,
HOWOTHERSHELP_SPEC. Avoid entering Precode (6), if
the answer matches one of the other descriptions in
Precodes (1) through (5).
After completing Item HOWOTHERSHELP, press “Enter” to
continue with Item OTHERSACTIONSWORSE.
Incident Report Items
B4-115
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did the actions of (this person/any of these people) make the situation worse in any way?
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
OTHERSACTIONSWORSE
OTHERSACTIONSWORSE
Item OTHERSACTIONSWORSE is used to find out whether
the respondent feels that any actions taken by other persons
present during the incident caused the situation to
deteriorate or the damage done to escalate.
As you read the question in OTHERSACTIONSWORSE,
use the phrase "this person" if the respondent says that
there was only one other person present. Otherwise, read
the question using the phrase "any of these people."
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, continue with
Item OTHWORSE. After entering Precode (2) for a "No"
answer or Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer, continue
with Item PERSONSHARMED.
How did they make the situation worse?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1
2
3
4
5
6
Led to injury or greater injury to respondent
Caused greater loss of property or damage to property
Other people got hurt (worse)
Offender got away
Made offender angrier, more aggressive, etc.
Other - specify
OTHWORSE
Incident Report Items
B4-116
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
OTHWORSE
Part B, Chapter 4
Item OTHWORSE is used to identify how the actions of
other persons made the situation worse or caused the
damage done to escalate during the incident. Based on the
respondent's answer, enter all precodes that apply and
continue asking "Any other way?" until you get a "No"
response.
If the respondent mentions a way that the actions of other
persons made the situation worse and the answer does not
fit the descriptions in Precodes (1) through (5), enter
Precode (6), "Other," and enter the description on the
"Specify" screen, OTHWORSE_SPEC. Avoid entering
Precode (6) if the answer matches one of the other
descriptions in Precodes (1) through (5).
After completing Item OTHWORSE, continue with Item
PERSONSHARMED.
Not counting yourself, were any of the persons present during the incident harmed (PAUSE),
threatened with harm (PAUSE), or robbed by force or threat of harm?
(Do not include yourself, the offender, or children under 12 years of age.)
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
PERSONSHARMED
PERSONSHARMED
Item PERSONSHARMED is used to determine whether or
not other persons who were present during the incident
were physically harmed, threatened with physical harm, or
robbed by force or threat of harm. As you ask the question
for Item PERSONSHARMED, make sure to pause where
indicated and make sure that the respondent understands
NOT to include:
✖ Himself/herself,
✖ The offender(s), and
Incident Report Items
B4-117
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
✖ Any children who were younger than 12 years of age at
the time of the incident.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you will
continue with Item PERSONSHARMEDNUM. Enter
Precode (2) for a "No" answer or when the respondent
indicates that:
The respondent was the only person harmed or
threatened with harm.
The only other person who was harmed or threatened
with harm was someone under 12 years of age.
The other person(s) did NOT experience any physical
harm or threat of physical harm (for example, they had
their pockets picked or property was stolen from their
cars while they were in a bank).
Enter Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer.
After entering Precode (2) or (3), continue with either:
Item FIRSTTOUSEFORCE when the respondent used
or threatened to use physical force against the offender
(Precodes (11) through (16) entered in Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC)
OR
Item ONEORMOREOFFENDERS when the respondent
did NOT use or threaten to use physical force against
the offender.
How many?
(Do not include yourself, the offender, or children under 12 years of age.)
PERSONSHARMEDNUM
Incident Report Items
B4-118
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
PERSONSHARMEDNUM
Part B, Chapter 4
Item PERSONSHARMEDNUM is used to identify the total
number of persons over the age of 12 who were harmed,
threatened with harm, or robbed by force or threat of harm
during the incident, EXCLUDING the respondent and the
offender(s). Enter the number of persons provided by the
respondent in the space for "How many harmed."
If the respondent's answer is not a number (for example, the
respondent says "several," "just a few," "many," or similar),
probe to get an estimate of the number of other persons
who were present and personally victimized during the
incident.
After completing Item PERSONSHARMEDNUM, continue
with Item HHMEMHARMED.
How many of these persons are members of your household now?
(Do not include yourself, the offender, or children under 12 years of age.)
Number of hhld members 12 years and older: 3
Number of persons present: 3
HHMEMHARMED
HHMEMHARMED
Item HHMEMHARMED is used to:
Determine whether any of the persons included in the
count in Item PERSONSHARMEDNUM are household
members at the time of interview.
Identify the number of persons included in the count in
Item PERSONSHARMEDNUM who are household
members at the time of interview.
If you enter a number of persons at this screen, continue
with Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES.
Incident Report Items
B4-119
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If not sure, ask:
Who are these household members?
(Do not include yourself, the offender, or children under 12
years of age.)
2 Jane Doe
3 Jeffrey Doe
HHMEMHARMED_NAMES
At Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES, identify by line number,
each of the household members other than the respondent,
the offender(s), or children under 12 years of age, who were
harmed, threatened with harm, or robbed by force or the
threat of harm during the incident.
Each of the household members identified at this screen
should report this incident during his/her interview. However,
do NOT ask about the victimization reported by another
household member if the current respondent does not
mention it himself/herself. You may discover that a
household member was NOT personally victimized during
the incident or you have already interviewed one of these
household members and the person did not report this
incident. If this happens, enter this fact in an “F7" note at this
screen, as well as at the Control + F7 case level notes.
For proxy interviews, if the proxy respondent was one of the
persons who was personally victimized during the incident
reported for the proxy person, make sure that you enter the
proxy respondent's line number in Item
HHMEMHARMED_NAMES, NOT the line number for
the person for whom the interview is being taken (proxy
person).
Incident Report Items
B4-120
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Who was the first to use or threaten to use physical force - you, the offender, or someone else?
1 Respondent
2 Offender(s)
3 Someone else
FIRSTTOUSEFORCE
FIRSTTOUSEFORCE
Item FIRSTTOUSEFORCE is asked when any precode of
11 through 16 is entered in Item ACTIONSDURINGINC.
This item is used to identify the first person to use or
threaten to use physical force during the incident.
If the first person to use or threaten to use force during the
incident was:
✓ The respondent (not proxy respondent) - Enter Precode
(1)
✓ One or more of the offenders - Enter Precode (2)
✓ Someone other than the respondent or an offender Enter Precode (3)
If the respondent does not know who used or threatened to
use force first - use Ctrl + D for “Don’t know.”
After entering the appropriate precode in Item
FIRSTTOUSEFORCE, continue with Item
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS.
Incident Report Items
B4-121
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Do you know or have you learned anything about the offender(s) - for instance, whether there
was one or more than one offender involved, whether it was someone young or old, or male or
female?
1 Yes
2 No
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
Item KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS is ONLY asked when NO
household members were present during the incident
(Precode (2), "No," entered in Item HHMEMBERPRESENT).
If you discover that any household members WERE present
during the incident, do not ask the question in Item
KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS. Using the “Up” arrow, return
to Item HHMEMBERPRESENT and correct the answer to
show that the respondent or other household members were
present.
Item KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS is used to find out if the
respondent knows anything or has learned anything about
the offender(s), such as whether there were one or more
offenders, whether the offender was young or old, or male or
female. It does not matter from which source the respondent
received this information; for instance, it may have come
from the police, neighbors, or other circumstances of the
incident.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, continue with
Item SUREOFINFO. After entering Precode (2) for a "No"
answer, continue with Item THEFT.
Incident Report Items
B4-122
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How sure are you of this information?
Do you have a suspicion, are you fairly sure or are you certain?
1 Suspicion
2 Fairly sure
3 Certain
SUREOFINFO
SUREOFINFO
Item SUREOFINFO is used to discover how sure the
respondent is about the accuracy of what he/she knows or
has learned about the offender(s).
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent only suspects what
he/she knows about the offender(s) is true. Enter Precode
(2) if the respondent is fairly sure what he/she knows about
the offender(s) is true. Enter Precode (3) if the respondent is
certain what he/she knows about the offender(s) is true.
How did you learn about the offender(s)?
Probe: Any other way?
Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Respondent saw or heard offender
From other member of household who was eyewitness
From other eyewitness(es) other than household member(s)
From police
Other person (not eyewitness)
Offender(s) admitted it
Offender(s) had threatened to do it
Stolen property found on offender's property or in offender's possession
Figured it out by who had motive, opportunity or had doneit before
Other - specify
LEARNOFFENDERS
Incident Report Items
B4-123
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
LEARNOFFENDERS
Item LEARNOFFENDERS is used to determine how the
respondent found out any information about the offender(s).
Since there may have been more than one source, enter all
precodes that apply and continue asking "Any other way?"
until you get a "No" response. Once you complete Item
LEARNOFFENDERS, continue with Item THEFT.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the respondent saw or heard the
offender, but was not present during the incident. For more
information about presence during an incident, refer to Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT in this chapter and Part C, Chapter
3, Topic 6.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the respondent found out about the
offender from another household member who saw the
offender, but was not present during the incident.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the respondent found out about the
offender from someone who is not a household member,
such as a neighbor who actually saw the offender commit
the crime.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the respondent found out about the
offender from the police department.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the respondent found out about the
offender from someone who is not a household member, but
this person did not see the offender commit the crime.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender(s) admitted his/her
offense to the respondent, another household member, or to
someone who is not a household member AFTER the
incident happened.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the offender(s) threatened to commit
this type of crime against the respondent or someone else
PRIOR to the incident.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the respondent or someone else found
property that was stolen during the incident on the offender's
property or in the offender's possession.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the respondent suspects a particular
person to be the offender because that person had a motive
Incident Report Items
B4-124
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
or opportunity to commit the crime or because the person
had committed similar crimes in the past.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the respondent's answer really does
not fit the descriptions in Precodes (11) through (19). After
entering Precode (20), explain how the respondent found
out information about the offender(s) on the "Specify"
screen, LEARNOFFENDERS_SPEC.
What actually happened?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Something taken without permission
Attempted or threatened to take something
Harassed, argument, abusive language
Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry of house/apartment
Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry of car
Damaged or destroyed property
Attempted or threatened to damage or destroy property
Other - specify
HAPPEN
HAPPEN
Item HAPPEN is used to determine what actually happened
during the incident when only other household members
were present, but NOT the respondent (Precode (3) entered
in Item WHICHMEMBER). Since the offender(s) may have
taken more than one action during the incident, continue
asking "Anything else?" until you get a "No" response and
enter all precodes that apply.
If you discover that a household member other than the
respondent was personally victimized during the incident,
complete the incident report items for the incident for other
household members who report that they were victimized
when you conduct their interviews. If you already
interviewed the other household members and they did not
report the incident, note this fact in an “F7" note at this
Incident Report Items
B4-125
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
screen, as well as at the case level notes (Ctrl + F7).
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the offender stole something that
belongs to the respondent or another household member.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the offender:
✓ Tried to steal something that belongs to the respondent
or another household member
OR
✓ Threatened either verbally or nonverbally to take
something that belongs to the respondent or another
household member. An example of a verbal threat to
take something is the offender saying: "Give me your
jacket or I'll rip it off your back." An example of a
nonverbal threat to take something is an offender lunging
towards the household member reaching for her
necklace.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the offender bothered a household
member verbally without threatening the household
member. This could include yelling, teasing, insulting,
arguing, using obscenities, and so on.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the offender forced his/her way into or
attempted to force his/her way into the respondent's home
and physical evidence of force is visible on the
house/apartment after the incident happened. Do not enter
Precode (14) if there was no force involved or if the only
force involved was used against a household member and
not against the house/apartment. In this case, enter Precode
(18), "Other," and explain the situation at "HAPPEN_SPEC"
which prompts, “Please specify what actually happened.”
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the offender forcibly entered or tried to
enter a car or other motor vehicle owned by the respondent
or another household member. However, if no physical force
was used to enter or to try to enter the vehicle (for example,
offender opened an unlocked door to enter the vehicle),
enter Precode (18), "Other," and explain the situation on the
"HAPPEN_SPEC" screen that appears.
Incident Report Items
B4-126
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender damaged or destroyed
property during the incident that belongs to the respondent
or another household member.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the offender tried or threatened to
damage or destroy property belonging to the respondent or
another household member while the crime was being
committed.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the respondent's answer does not fit
any of the descriptions in Precodes (11) through (17) and
then explain what actually happened during the incident on
the "HAPPEN_SPEC" screen that appears.
Here are some examples of acceptable explanations after
entering Precode (18), "Other":
✓ Illegal entry into house/apartment, no force used
✓ Peeping tom
✓ Offender opened hood of car
✓ Obscene gestures.
After entering all appropriate precodes, press “Enter” and
proceed to the next item.
Incident Report Items
B4-127
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 2. Screen Layout and Instructions for
Items ONEORMOREOFFENDERS through
ANYTHINGFURTHER
● Ask or verify:
Was the crime committed by only one or by more than one offender?
1 Only one
2 More than one
3 Don't know
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
ONEORMORE
OFFENDERS
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS is asked to find out if the
crime was committed by one offender or multiple offenders. If the
respondent has already told you how many offenders were
involved in the incident, you can verify this information with the
respondent instead of asking the question in Item
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when only one offender was involved in the
incident. The instrument continues with
SINGOFFENDERKNEW, which asks the respondent if they
knew the offender.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when there were two or more offenders
involved in the incident. The instrument continues with Item
HOWMANYOFFENDERS.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not know whether there
was just one offender or more than one offender involved in the
incident. After entering Precode (3), continue with Item
KNOWOFFENDERS.
Incident Report Items
B4-128
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Do you know anything about one of the offenders?
1 Yes
2 No
KNOWOFFENDERS
KNOWOFFENDERS
Item KNOWOFFENDERS is used to determine whether the
respondent knows anything about the offender(s). You only ask
this question when the respondent does not know whether there
was one or more than one offender (“Don’t know” entered in Item
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS).
After entering Precode (1) for a “Yes” answer, continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERKNEW, which asks the respondent if they knew
the offender. After entering Precode (2) for a “No” answer,
continue with Item THEFT.
Was the offender someone you knew or a stranger you had never seen before?
1 Knew or had seen before
2 Stranger
3 Don’t know
SINGOFFENDERKNEW
SINGOFFENDERKNEW
Item SINGOFFENDERKNEW is used to determine whether the
respondent knew the offender or had seen the offender in the
past.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the offender knew or had seen the offender at
some time prior to the incident. After entering Precode (1),
continue with Item SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the offender is a stranger to the respondent.
After entering Precode (2), the instrument continues with Item
SINGOFFENDERRECOG.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not know for sure
whether or not the offender is someone he/she knows or is a
Incident Report Items
B4-129
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
stranger. The instrument continues with Item
SINGOFFENDERRECOG.
Would you be able to recognize the offender if you saw him/her?
1 Yes
2 Not sure (possibly or probably)
3 No
SINGOFFENDERRECOG
SINGOFFENDERRECOG
Item SINGOFFENDERRECOG is used to find out how certain
the respondent is that he/she could identify the offender if the
respondent saw the offender again.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent is fairly sure that he/she
would recognize the offender if the respondent saw the offender
again. After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when the respondent thinks he/she might
recognize the offender if the respondent saw the person again, but
is not certain. After entering Precode (2), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent knows that he/she could
not recognize the offender if the respondent saw the offender
again. After entering Precode (3), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-130
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How well did you know the offender - by sight only, casual acquaintance, or well known?
1 Sight only
2 Casual acquaintance
3 Well known
SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL
SINGOFFENDERHOW
WELL
After a respondent has indicated in Item
SINGOFFENDERKNEW that he/she knew or had seen the
offender before the incident, then you ask the question in Item
SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL to find out how well the
respondent knew the offender. If the respondent does not answer
with one of the suggested choices, probe by repeating the options.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent only remembers seeing the
offender previously. After entering Precode (1), you will continue
with Item SINGOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent knew the offender somewhat
and felt comfortable saying “Hello,” but did not necessarily know
his/her name. After entering Precode (2), you continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERRELATION.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent feels that he/she knew the
offender very well. Let the respondent make this decision. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERRELATION.
Incident Report Items
B4-131
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Would you have been able to tell the police how they might find the offender, for instance,
where he/she lived, worked, went to school, or spent time?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Other - Specify
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT
Item SINGOFFENDERSIGHT is used to determine whether the
respondent has any information which may help the police find the
offender. The respondent's answer should be based on what
he/she knows about the offender, and NOT necessarily on what
the respondent actually told the police.
Enter Precode (1) for a “Yes” answer, Precode (2) for a “No”
answer, and Precode (3), “Other,” when you need to record more
than just a "Yes" or “No” answer. After entering Precode (3), make
sure to enter a description of the respondent's answer on the
SINGOFFENDERSIGHT_SPEC screen, which then appears.
When you complete Item SINGOFFENDERSIGHT,
continue with Item SINGOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-132
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How well did you know the offender?
For example, was the offender a friend, cousin, etc.?
RELATIVE:
11 Spouse at time of incident
12 Ex-spouse at time of incident
13 Parent or step-parent
14 Own child or step-child
15 Brother/sister
16 Other relative - specify
NONRELATIVE:
17 Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
18 Friend or ex-friend
19 Roommate, boarder
20 Schoolmate
21 Neighbor
22 Customer/client
23 Patient
24 Supervisor (current or former)
25 Employee (current or former)
26 Co-worker (current or former)
27 Teacher/school staff
28 Other nonrelative - Specify
SINGOFFENDERRELATION
SINGOFFENDER
RELATION
Item SINGOFFENDERRELATION is used to identify the
relationship between the respondent and the offender, when the
respondent indicates in Item SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL that
he/she was a casual acquaintance of the offender or knew the
offender very well (Precode (2) or (3) entered in Item
SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL). Always ask BOTH questions
in Item SINGOFFENDERRELATION to ensure that the
respondent identifies all types of relationships, not just relatives.
Enter only the first precode that applies to the respondent’s
answer. Notice that the answer categories are divided into two
groups: Precodes (11) through (16) cover relatives of the
Incident Report Items
B4-133
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
respondent and Precodes (17) through (28) cover nonrelatives of
the respondent.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the offender was the spouse of the
respondent (husband/wife) at the time of the incident, regardless
of whether they are currently married to each other.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the offender was a former spouse
(husband/wife) of the respondent at the time of the incident.
Accept the respondent's answer and do not probe when the
respondent says “Ex-spouse” or “Former wife/husband.”
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the offender is the mother, father, stepmother, or step-father of the respondent. Precode (13) is not
intended for parents through marriage, which should be included
in Precode (16), “Other relative.” After entering Precode (16),
indicate the type of other relative on the “Specify” screen, such as
“father-in-law” or “mother-in-law.”
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the offender is a child of the respondent by
birth, adoption, or marriage, such as a son, daughter, step-son, or
step-daughter. Precode (14) is not intended for foster children;
instead enter Precode (28), “Other nonrelative,” and enter the
relationship on the “Specify” screen.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the offender is a brother or sister of the
respondent or the child of a respondent's step-parent. Precode
(15) is not intended for “brothers-in-law” or “sisters-in-law.” Instead
enter Precode (16), “Other,” and enter the relationship on the
“Specify” screen.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender was the respondent's aunt,
uncle, cousin, grandparent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-inlaw, brother-in-law, or any offender who is related to the
respondent by blood or marriage and is not described in Precodes
(11) through (15). After entering Precode (16), always enter the
relationship on the “Specify” screen,
SINGOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_16.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the offender is a nonrelative who has or has
had romantic connections to the respondent. For example, the
offender and the respondent were dating at the time of the
incident or used to date before the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-134
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the offender is a male or female friend or
past friend of the respondent AND there is no romantic connection
between the two persons.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the offender is a person who is NOT related
to the respondent, but was living with the respondent at the time of
the incident, such as a boarder or roommate. Precode (19) is not
intended for “live-in” boyfriends/girlfriends; instead, enter Precode
(17) for these situations.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the offender attended the same school as
the respondent at the time of the incident AND is not related to the
respondent.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if the offender lives close enough to the
respondent to be considered a neighbor AND is not related to the
respondent.
Precodes (22), (23),
(24), (25), or (26)
Enter the most appropriate precode from Precodes (22),
(23), (24), (25), and (26) if the offender is a nonrelative, but is
known by the respondent as a business client, patient, or a
supervisor, employee, or co-worker, including former supervisors,
employees, and co-workers.
Precode (27)
Enter Precode (27) if the offender is a teacher or a school staff
member at the respondent’s school. If the respondent works at the
school, use the appropriate precode (24), (25), or (26).
Precode (28)
Enter Precode (28) if the respondent's answer does not fit any of
the other nonrelative relationships, but the offender is either well
known or a casual acquaintance. Enter the offender's relationship
to the respondent on the “Specify” screen,
SINGOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_28, such as the
respondent's barber or financial planner.
Once you have completed Item SINGOFFENDERRELATION,
continue with Item SINGOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-135
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Was the offender male or female?
1 Male
2 Female
3 Don't Know
SINGOFFENDERGENDER
SINGOFFENDER
GENDER
Item SINGOFFENDERGENDER is used to identify
whether the offender is male or female. Based on the
respondent's perception, enter Precode (1) for "Male," Precode (2)
for "Female," or Precode (3) if the respondent does not know the
offender's gender. The instrument then goes to Item
SINGOFFENDERAGE.
How old would you say the offender was?
1 Under 12
2 12-14
3 15-17
4 18-20
5 21-29
6 30 or older
7 Don't know
SINGOFFENDERAGE
SINGOFFENDERAGE
Item SINGOFFENDERAGE is used to identify the approximate
age of the offender based on the respondent's perception. If the
respondent seems unsure, ask the respondent to give you his/her
best estimate.
Each precode identifies a range of years, such as "Under 12" for
Precode (1), "12-14" for Precode (2), and so on. Enter the
appropriate precode based on the respondent's answer. If the
respondent is unable to give you even an estimated age for the
offender, enter Precode (7) for "Don't know." The instrument goes
to Item SINGOFFETHNICITY.
Incident Report Items
B4-136
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Was the offender Hispanic or Latino?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
SINGOFFETHNICITY
SINGOFFETHNICITY
SINGOFFETHNICITY asks whether the offender was Hispanic
or Latino. Enter Precode (1) for a “Yes” response; Precode (2) for
“No,” or Precode (3) for “Don’t know.” The instrument then goes
to Item SINGOFFRACE.
What race or races was the offender? You may mark more than one. Was the offender...
Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
1 White?
2 Black or African American?
3 American Indian or Alaska Native?
4 Asian?
5 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
6 Don’t know
SINGOFFRACE
SINGOFFRACE
Item SINGOFFRACE is used to record the offender’s race as
perceived by the respondent. Read the answer categories to the
respondent as part of the question. Do not read answer category
(6), “Don’t know.”
Enter Precode (1) for “White” and Precode (2) for “Black or
African American.” Enter Precode (3) for “American Indian or
Alaska Native.” Enter Precode (4) for “Asian.” Enter Precode (5)
for “Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.” Enter Precode (6)
“Don’t know,” if respondent cannot identify offender’s race.
After completing Item SINGOFFRACE, continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERGANG.
Incident Report Items
B4-137
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Was the offender a member of a street gang, or don't you know?
1 Yes (a member of a street gang)
2 No (not a member of a street gang)
3 Don't know (if a member of a street gang)
SINGOFFENDERGANG
SINGOFFENDERGANG
Item SINGOFFENDERGANG is used to determine whether or
not the offender is a member of a street gang based on the
respondent's perception. Consider a street gang as a group of
people who associate regularly with one another, generally have a
leader or group of leaders who issue orders and reap the rewards
of the gang's activities, and often engage in anti-social or deviant
behavior.
Some ways to identify gang members are their "colors," clothing,
tattoos, brands, or imprints of the gang's name, logo, or other
identifying marks on their bodies.
Enter the appropriate precode based on the respondent's answer–
Precode (1) for "Yes," Precode (2) for "No," or Precode (3) for
"Don't know." The instrument then goes to
SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG.
Was the offender drinking or on drugs, or don't you know?
1 Yes (drinking or on drugs)
2 No (not drinking/not on drugs)
3 Don't know (if drinking or on drugs)
SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
SINGOFFENDER
DRINKDRUG
Precode (1)
Item SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG is used to find out if the
offender was drinking alcoholic beverages or under the influence
of drugs during the incident. Enter the appropriate precode based
on what the respondent believes or knows.
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the offender was actively drinking or
under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-138
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the offender was not drinking or under
the influence of drugs or alcohol. After entering Precode (2),
continue with Item SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent could not tell if
the offender was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Which was it? (Drinking or on drugs)?
1 Drinking
2 On drugs
3 Both (drinking and on drugs)
4 Drinking or on drugs - could not tell which
SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG
SINGOFFENDERDRINK
ORDRUG
Item SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG is used to distinguish
between whether the offender was just drinking, just on drugs,
under the influence of BOTH alcohol and drugs, or perhaps the
respondent cannot distinguish between the two. After completing
Item SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG, continue with Item
SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Drinking," if the respondent thinks or knows
that the offender was under the influence of only alcohol during
the incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "On drugs," if the respondent thinks or knows
that the offender was under the influence of only drugs during the
incident.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Both," if the respondent thinks or knows that
the offender was under the influence of BOTH drugs and alcohol
during the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-139
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (4)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (4), "Drinking or on drugs," if the respondent thinks
or knows that the offender is under the influence of drugs or
alcohol, but cannot tell which one.
Was this the only time this offender committed a crime or made threats against you or your
household?
1 Yes (only time)
2 No (there were other times)
3 Don't know
SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME
SINGOFFENDER
ONLYTIME
Item SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME is used to determine
whether the offender has ever committed any type of crime or
threatened to physically harm the respondent or another
household member, other than the current incident. For this
question, do not limit the respondent to crimes committed only
during the 6-month reference period.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes (only time)," if the respondent tells you
that the current incident is the only crime this offender has
committed against his/her household. Make sure that the
respondent understands we are interested in crimes committed by
this offender at ANY time prior to this incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No (there were other times)," if the respondent
says that this offender did commit other crimes against the
respondent or other household members at ANY time prior to this
incident.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not really know whether
or not the offender has committed other crimes against the
household prior to this incident.
Once you have completed Item SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME,
continue with Item THEFT.
Incident Report Items
B4-140
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
HOWMANY
OFFENDERS
through
MULTOFFENDER
ONLYTIME
Part B, Chapter 4
Items HOWMANYOFFENDERS through
MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME are asked to collect the same
type of information for multiple offenders as Items
ONEORMOREOFFENDERS through
SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME collect for a single offender.
Notice that the age items for multiple offenders are handled
differently. For multiple offenders, the ages of the youngest and
oldest offenders are asked.
How many offenders?
● Enter number between 2-96
HOWMANYOFFENDERS
HOWMANY
OFFENDERS
Item HOWMANYOFFENDERS appears when the respondent
indicated in ONEORMOREOFFENDERS that there was more
than one offender. Enter the appropriate number as specified by
the respondent. The instrument then goes to
MULTOFFENDERKNEW.
Were any of the offenders known to you, or were they all strangers you had never seen before?
1 All known
2 Some known
3 All strangers
4 Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERKNEW
MULTOFFENDER
KNEW
Item MULTOFFENDERKNEW is used to determine whether the
respondent knew the offenders or had seen the offenders in the
past.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent knew or had seen all the
offenders at some time prior to the incident. After entering
Precode (1), continue with Item MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent knew or had seen some of the
offenders at some time prior to the incident. After entering
Precode (2), continue with Item MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL.
Incident Report Items
B4-141
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent did not know or had not seen
any of the offenders at some time prior to the incident. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERRECOG.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent does not know for sure
whether or not the offenders are someone he/she knows or are
strangers. The instrument continues with Item
MULTOFFENDERRECOG.
Would you be able to recognize any of them if you saw them?
1 Yes
2 Not sure (possible or probably)
3 No
MULTOFFENDERRECOG
MULTOFFENDER
RECOG
Item MULTOFFENDERRECOG is used to find out how certain
the respondent is that he/she could identify the offenders if the
respondent saw the offenders again.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent is fairly sure that he/she
would recognize the offenders if the respondent saw the offenders
again. After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when the respondent thinks he/she might
recognize the offenders if the respondent saw them again, but
is not really certain. After entering Precode (2), continue with
Item MULTOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent knows that he/she could
not recognize the offenders if the respondent saw the offenders
again. After entering Precode (3), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-142
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How well did you know the offenders – by sight only, casual acquaintance, or well known?
1 Sight only
2 Casual acquaintance
3 Well known
MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL
MULTOFFENDER
HOWWELL
After a respondent has indicated in Item
MULTOFFENDERKNEW that he/she knew or had seen the
offenders before the incident, then you ask the question in Item
MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL to find out how well the
respondent knew the offenders. If the respondent does not answer
with one of the suggested choices, probe by repeating the options.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent only remembers seeing the
offenders previously. After entering Precode (1), continue
with Item MULTOFFENDERSIGHT.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent knew the offenders somewhat
and felt comfortable saying "Hello," but did not necessarily know
the offenders’ names. After entering Precode (2), continue with
Item MULTOFFENDERRELATION.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent feels that he/she knew the
offenders very well. Let the respondent make this decision. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERRELATION.
Incident Report Items
B4-143
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Would you have been able to tell the police how they might find any of them, for instance,
where they lived, worked, went to school, or spent time?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Other - Specify
MULTOFFENDERSIGHT
MULTOFFENDERSIGHT
Item MULTOFFENDERSIGHT is used to determine whether the
respondent has any information which may help the police find the
offenders. The respondent's answer should be based on what
he/she knows about the offenders, and NOT necessarily on what
the respondent actually told the police.
Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, Precode (2) for a "No"
answer, and Precode (3), "Other," when you need to record more
than just a "Yes" or "No" answer. After entering Precode (3), make
sure to enter a description of the respondent's answer on the
MULTOFFENDERSIGHT_SPEC screen, which then appears.
When you complete Item MULTOFFENDERSIGHT,
continue with Item MULTOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-144
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How did you know them? For example, were they friends, cousins, etc.?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
RELATIVE:
11 Spouse at time of incident
12 Ex-spouse at time of incident
13 Parent or step-parent
14 Own child or step-child
15 Brother/sister
16 Other relative - specify
NONRELATIVE:
17 Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
18 Friend or ex-friend
19 Roommate, boarder
20 Schoolmate
21 Neighbor
22 Customer/client
23 Patient
24 Supervisor (current or former)
25 Employee (current or former)
26 Co-worker (current or former)
27 Teacher/school staff
28 Other nonrelative – Specify
MULTOFFENDERRELATION
MULTOFFENDER
RELATION
Item MULTOFFENDERRELATION is used to identify the
relationship between the respondent and the offenders, when the
respondent indicates in Item MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL
that he/she was a casual acquaintance of the offenders or knew
the offenders very well (Precode (2) or (3) entered in Item
MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL). Always ask BOTH questions
in Item MULTOFFENDERRELATION to ensure that the
respondent identifies all types of relationships, not just relatives.
Enter all that apply. Notice that the answer categories are divided
into two groups: Precodes (11) through (16) cover relatives of the
Incident Report Items
B4-145
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
respondent and Precodes (17) through (28) cover nonrelatives of
the respondent.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if any offender was the spouse of the
respondent (husband/wife) at the time of the incident, regardless
of whether they are currently married to each other.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if any offender was a former spouse
(husband/wife) of the respondent at the time of the incident.
Accept the respondent's answer and do not probe when the
respondent says "Ex-spouse" or "Former wife/husband."
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if any offender is the mother, father, stepmother, or step-father of the respondent. Precode (13) is not
intended for parents through marriage, which should be included
in Precode (16), "Other relative." After entering Precode (16),
indicate the type of other relative on the "Specify" screen, such as
"father-in-law" or "mother-in-law."
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if any offender is a child of the respondent by
birth, adoption, or marriage, such as a son, daughter, step-son, or
step-daughter. Precode (14) is not intended for foster children;
instead enter Precode (28), "Other nonrelative," and enter the
relationship on the "Specify" screen.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if any offender is a brother or sister of the
respondent or the child of a respondent's step-parent. Precode
(15) is not intended for "brothers-in-law" or "sisters-in-law." Instead
enter Precode (16), “Other,” and enter the relationship on the
"Specify" screen.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if any offender was the respondent's aunt,
uncle, cousin, grandparent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-inlaw, brother-in-law, or any offender who is related to the
respondent by blood or marriage and is not described in Precodes
(11) through (15). After entering Precode (16), always enter the
relationship on the "Specify" screen,
MULTOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_16.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if any offender is a nonrelative who has or has
had romantic connections to the respondent; for example, if the
offender and the respondent were dating at the time of the
incident or used to date before the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-146
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if any offender is a male or female friend or
past friend of the respondent AND there is no romantic connection
between the two persons.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if any offender is a person who is NOT related
to the respondent, but was living with the respondent at the time of
the incident, such as a boarder or roommate. Precode (19) is not
intended for "live-in" boyfriends/girlfriends; instead, enter Precode
(17) for these situations.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if any offender attended the same school as
the respondent at the time of the incident AND is not related to the
respondent.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if any offender lives close enough to the
respondent to be considered a neighbor AND is not related to the
respondent.
Precodes (22), (23),
(24), (25), or (26)
Enter the most appropriate precode from Precodes (22),
(23), (24), (25), and (26) if any offender is a nonrelative, but is
known by the respondent as a business client, patient, or a
supervisor, employee, or co-worker, including former supervisors,
employees, and co-workers.
Precode (27)
Enter Precode (27) if any offender is a teacher or a school staff
member at the respondent’s school. If the respondent works at the
school, use the appropriate precode (24), (25), or (26).
Precode (28)
Enter Precode (28) if the respondent's answer does not fit any of
the other nonrelative relationships, but any offender is either well
known or a casual acquaintance. Enter the offender's relationship
to the respondent on the "Specify" screen,
MULTOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_28, such as the
respondent's barber or financial planner.
Once you have completed Item MULTOFFENDERRELATION,
continue with Item MULTOFFENDERGENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-147
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Were they male or female?
1 All male
2 All female
3 Don’t know sex of any offenders
4 Both male and female
MULTOFFENDERGENDER
MULTOFFENDER
GENDER
Item MULTOFFENDERGENDER asks whether the offenders
are male, female, or a combination. Based on the respondent's
perception, enter Precode (1) for "All male," Precode (2) for
"All female," Precode (3) if the respondent does not know the
offenders’ gender, and Precode (4) if the offenders were both
male and female. If the respondent answers this question with
Precode (4) and there were more than two offenders, the
instrument goes to MULTOFFENDERMOSTGENDER. Otherwise,
the instrument goes to Item MULTOFFENDERYOUNG.
Were they mostly male or mostly female?
1 Mostly male
2 Mostly female
3 Evenly divided
4 Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERMOSTGENDER
MULTOFFENDER
MOSTGENDER
Item MULTOFFENDERMOSTGENDER appears when the
respondent answers MULTOFFENDERGENDER with Precode
(4) and indicates that there were more than two offenders. Based
on the respondent’s perception, enter Precode (1) for “Mostly
male,” Precode (2) for “Mostly female,” Precode (3) for “Evenly
divided,” or Precode (4) for “Don’t know.” The instrument goes to
Item MULTOFFENDERYOUNG.
Incident Report Items
B4-148
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How old would you say the youngest was?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Under 12
12-14
15-17
18-20
21-29
30 or older
Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERYOUNG
MULTOFFENDER
YOUNG
In Item MULTOFFENDERYOUNG, enter the precode for the
age of the youngest offender, according to the perception of the
respondent. Enter Precode (1) for “Under 12,” Precode (2) for “1214,” Precode (3) for “15-17,” Precode (4) for “18-20,” Precode (5)
for “21-29,” Precode (6) for “30 or older,” and Precode (7) for
“Don’t know.” The instrument then goes to
MULTOFFENDEROLD.
How old would you say the oldest was?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Under 12
12-14
15-17
18-20
21-29
30 or older
Don’t know
MULTOFFENDEROLD
MULTOFFENDEROLD
In Item MULTOFFENDEROLD, enter the precode for the age of
the oldest offender, according to the perception of the
respondent. Enter Precode (1) for “Under 12,” Precode (2) for “1214,” Precode (3) for “15-17,” Precode (4) for “18-20,” Precode (5)
for “21-29,” Precode (6) for “30 or older,” and Precode (7) for
“Don’t know.” The instrument then goes to
MULTOFFETHNICITY.
Incident Report Items
B4-149
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Were any of the offenders Hispanic or Latino?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
MULTOFFETHNICITY
MULTOFFETHNICITY
Item MULTOFFETHNICITY asks whether any of the offenders
were Hispanic or Latino. If you enter Precode (1) for a “Yes”
response, the instrument goes to
MULTOFFENDERMOSTTHNICITY. If you enter Precode (2)
for “No,” or Precode (3) for “Don’t know,” the instrument goes to
Item MULTOFFENDERRACE.
Were the offenders mostly Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic and nonHispanic?
1 Mostly Hispanic
2 Mostly non-Hispanic
3 Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
4 Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERMOSTETHNICITY
MULTOFFENDER
MOSTETHNICITY
Item MULTOFFENDERMOSTETHNICITY asks whether the
offenders were mostly Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal
number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic. It is asked when Precode
(1), “Yes,” is entered in Item MULTOFFETHNICITY. Enter
Precode (1) for “Mostly Hispanic,” Precode (2) for “Mostly nonHispanic,” Precode (3) for “Equal number of Hispanic and nonHispanic,” or Precode (4) for “Don’t know.” The instrument goes to
MULTOFFENDERRACE.
Incident Report Items
B4-150
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What race or races were the offenders? Were they…
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
1 White?
2 Black or African American?
3 American Indian or Alaska Native?
4 Asian?
5 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
6 Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERRACE
MULTOFFENDERRACE
Item MULTOFFENDERRACE is used to record the offenders’
race(s) as perceived by the respondent. Read the answer
categories to the respondent as part of the question. Do not read
answer category (6), “Don’t know.” Enter all that apply.
Enter Precode (1) for “White” and Precode (2) for “Black or African
American.” Enter Precode (3) for “American Indian or Alaska
Native.” Enter Precode (4) for “Asian.” Enter Precode (5) for
“Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.” Enter Precode (6)
“Don’t know,” if respondent cannot identify offenders’ race(s).
If two or more precodes are marked, the instrument goes to Item
MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST. Otherwise, it goes to
MULTOFFENDERGANG.
Incident Report Items
B4-151
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What race were most of the offenders?
1 Mostly White?
2 Mostly Black or African American?
3 Mostly American Indian or Alaska Native?
4 Mostly Asian?
5 Mostly Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
6 Equal number of each race
7 Don’t know
MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST
MULTOFFENDER
RACEMOST
Item MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST is asked when the
respondent indicates that the offenders were of more than one
race in Item MULTOFFENDERRACE. Enter the appropriate
precode for the race of the majority of the offenders, based on the
respondent’s perception. The instrument continues with Item
MULTOFFENDERGANG.
Were any of the offenders a member of a street gang, or don’t you know?
1 Yes (a member of a street gang)
2 No (not a member of a street gang)
3 Don't know (if a member of a street gang)
MULTOFFENDERGANG
MULTOFFENDERGANG
MULTOFFENDERGANG is used to determine whether or not any
of the offenders is a member of a street gang based on the
respondent's perception. Consider a street gang as a group of
people who associate regularly with one another, generally have a
leader or group of leaders who issue orders and reap the rewards
of the gang's activities, and often engage in anti-social or deviant
behavior.
Some ways to identify gang members are their "colors," clothing,
tattoos, brands, or imprints of the gang's name, logo, or other
identifying marks on their bodies.
Enter the appropriate precode based on the respondent's answer–
Precode (1) for "Yes," Precode (2) for "No," or Precode (3) for
Incident Report Items
B4-152
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
"Don't know." The instrument then goes to
MULTOFFENDERDRINKDRUG.
Were any of the offenders drinking or on drugs, or don’t you know?
1 Yes (drinking or on drugs)
2 No (not drinking/not on drugs)
3 Don't know (if drinking or on drugs)
MULTOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
MULTOFFENDER
DRINKDRUG
Item MULTOFFENDERDRINKDRUG is used to find out if the
offenders were drinking alcoholic beverages or under the
influence of drugs during the incident. Enter the appropriate
precode based on what the respondent believes or knows.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the offenders were actively drinking or
under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the offenders were not drinking or
under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After entering Precode (2),
continue with Item MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent could not tell if
the offenders were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After
entering Precode (3), continue with Item
MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-153
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Which was it? (Drinking or on drugs)?
1 Drinking
2 On drugs
3 Both (drinking and on drugs)
4 Drinking or on drugs - could not tell which
MULTOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG
MULTOFFENDER
DRINKORDRUG
Item MULTOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG is used to
distinguish between whether the offender(s) were just drinking,
just on drugs, under the influence of BOTH alcohol and drugs, or
perhaps the respondent cannot distinguish between the two. After
completing Item MULTOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG,
continue with Item MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Drinking," if the respondent thinks or knows
that the offenders were under the influence of only alcohol during
the incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "On drugs," if the respondent thinks or knows
that the offenders were under the influence of only drugs during
the incident.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Both," if the respondent thinks or knows that
the offenders were under the influence of BOTH drugs and alcohol
during the incident.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4), "Drinking or on drugs," if the respondent thinks
or knows that the offenders were under the influence of drugs or
alcohol, but cannot tell which one.
Incident Report Items
B4-154
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Was this the only time any of these offenders committed a crime against you or your household or
made threats against you or your household?
1 Yes (only time)
2 No (there were other times)
3 Don't know
MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME
MULTOFFENDER
ONLYTIME
Item MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME is used to determine
whether the offenders have ever committed any type of crime or
threatened to physically harm the respondent or another
household member, other than the current incident. For this
question, do not limit the respondent to crimes committed only
during the 6-month reference period.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes (only time)," if the respondent tells you
that the current incident is the only crime these offenders have
committed against his/her household. Make sure that the
respondent understands we are interested in crimes committed by
these offenders at ANY time prior to this incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No (there were other times)," if the respondent
says that these offenders committed other crimes against the
respondent or other household members at ANY time prior to this
incident.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not really know whether
or not the offenders have committed other crimes against the
household prior to this incident.
After completing Item MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME,
continue with Item THEFT.
Incident Report Items
B4-155
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
? [F1]
● Ask or verify:
Was something stolen or taken without permission that belonged to you or others in the
household?
Include anything stolen from the business operated from the respondent’s home.
● Include anything stolen from an unrecognizable business
● Do not include anything stolen from a recognizable business in respondent's home or another
business, such as merchandise or cash from a register
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
THEFT
THEFT
Item THEFT is used to determine whether the offender(s)
stole or took anything without permission, regardless of its
value, that was owned by the respondent or another
household member. This could include the personal
property of one household member or property that belongs
to the entire household. It could also include property stolen
during the 6-month reference period from a former
residence, IF the property was stolen from someone who is
a household member at the time of the interview.
If the respondent or other household members own an
unrecognizable business and items were stolen from that
business, those items need to be included when answering
this question. However, do NOT include items stolen or
taken without permission from a recognizable business,
unless they are personal items belonging to the respondent
or other household members.
(Refer to Part C, Chapter 2, Topic 4, for more
information about recognizable and unrecognizable
businesses.)
Incident Report Items
B4-156
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
You can verify the answer to this question without asking the
question if the respondent indicated the answer earlier in the
interview. Otherwise, ask the question in Item THEFT
exactly as it is worded.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when:
✓ Items were taken that belonged to any household
member, regardless of age, during a burglary or
household theft.
✓ During any other crime of theft, items were taken that
belonged to a household member who is 12 years of age
or older.
✓ Items were taken that belong to an unrecognizable
business owned by the respondent or another household
member.
✓ Items that belong to a household member were stolen
while in the possession of a friend, neighbor, co-worker,
and so on, who had borrowed them from the household
member. However, you would enter Precode (2), "No," if
the borrowed items were just never returned to the
household member, even if the household member
asked that the items be returned.
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when:
✓ The items taken belong to a recognizable business
owned by the respondent or another household member,
regardless of whether or not the business is located at
the sample address. However, enter Precode (1), "Yes,"
when the items stolen from a recognizable business are
personal ones belonging to the respondent or other
household members, such as a purse, watch, and so on.
✓ The items taken belong to the owner of the sample
address. However, the owner does not reside at the
sample address, because he/she rents the home to the
Incident Report Items
B4-157
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
respondent. In this case, the items do not belong to the
sample household, even though the items were stolen
from the sample address.
✓ The items taken belong to a nonhousehold member,
regardless of whether or not the person was at the
sample address.
✓ The items taken really belong to a nonhousehold
member because he/she lent the items to a household
member. This is true even if the household member
compensated the nonhousehold member for the
borrowed item(s).
✓ Items loaned to a friend, neighbor, co-worker, and so on,
and never returned. Do not consider these items as
stolen.
✓ Items taken belong to a household member who is
younger than 12 years old for any crime that did NOT
happen in the sample unit or on the property belonging
to the sample unit.
After entering Precode (2), "No," continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFT.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not know whether
any items were stolen or taken without permission that
belong to him/her or another household member. After
entering Precode (3), "Don't know," continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFT.
Items THEFT and ATTEMPTTHEFT both use the same
Help screen. Press the F1 key to access this Help screen,
which provides rules about what to include or exclude in
THEFT and ATTEMPTTHEFT.
Incident Report Items
B4-158
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
? [F1]
● Ask or verify:
Did the offender(s) ATTEMPT to take something that belonged to you or others in the household?
Include anything stolen from the business operated from the respondent’s home.
● Do not include anything the offender tried to steal from a recognizable business in respondent's
home or another business, such as merchandise or cash from a register
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
ATTEMPTTHEFT
ATTEMPTTHEFT
Item ATTEMPTTHEFT is used to determine whether the
offender(s) tried to take something that belonged to the
respondent or another household member. You will only ask
this question when Precode (2), “No,” or Precode (3), “Don’t
know,” is entered in Item THEFT.
You can verify the answer to this question without asking the
question if the respondent has indicated the answer earlier
in the interview. Otherwise, ask the question in Item
ATTEMPTTHEFT exactly as it is worded. Read the
instruction shown below the question to yourself so you
remember what types of items to exclude.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you continue
with Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT. However, if you enter
Precode (2) for "No" or Precode (3) for "Don't know," you
continue with Item DAMAGED.
Incident Report Items
B4-159
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What did the offender try to take?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Cash
Purse
Wallet
Credit cards, checks, bank cards
Car
Other motor vehicle
Part of a motor vehicle (tire, hubcap, attached car stereo or satellite radio,
attached CB radio, etc.)
Gasoline or oil
Bicycle or parts
TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other household appliances
Silver, china, art objects
Other household furnishings (furniture, rugs, etc.)
Personal effects (clothing, jewelry, toys, etc.)
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
Other - specify
Don't know
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT
Precode (11)
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT is used to identify the type of
item(s) that the respondent thinks the offender(s) attempted
to steal or take without permission. After asking the initial
question in Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT, continue asking,
"Anything else?" until you get a "No" response. Enter all
appropriate precodes based on the respondent’s answer.
After recording all of the respondent’s answers, press
“Enter” to move to the next item. Some of the answer
categories are self-explanatory, but the following categories
require additional clarification.
Enter Precode (11), "Cash," if the respondent thinks that the
offender(s) tried to take paper money and/or coins, such as
Incident Report Items
B4-160
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
$10, $20, or $50 dollar bills and/or nickels, dimes, or
quarters. Do not enter Precode (11) for checks or credit
cards, instead enter Precode (14). Also, do not enter
Precode (11) for coin collections, instead enter Precode
(23).
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), "Credit cards, checks, bank cards," if
the respondent thinks that the offender(s) tried to take items
that are of little or no value unless someone tries to use
them fraudulently. For example, an offender tried to steal the
respondent's gasoline credit card so he could fraudulently
purchase gasoline for his vehicle. Also enter Precode (14) if
the offender(s) tried to take Savings Bonds, bank books,
money orders, debit cards, traveler's checks, and phone
cards.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Other motor vehicle," if the offender(s)
tried to take without permission any type of truck, van, sport
utility vehicle (SUV), motorcycle, moped, motorized bicycle,
or any motor vehicle OTHER THAN a car that belonged to
the respondent, another household member, or an
unrecognizable business owned or operated by a household
member. If the "Other motor vehicle" was owned or operated
by a recognizable business, only enter Precode (16) if the
"Other motor vehicle" was also intended for personal use by
a household member.
DO NOT enter Precode (16) for the attempted theft of boats,
jet skis, airplanes, minibikes, or snowmobiles, instead enter
Precode (26) and identify the item(s) on the "Specify"
screen.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Part of motor vehicle," if the offender(s)
tried to take without permission anything that is ATTACHED
to a car, truck, van, SUV, or other motor vehicle owned by
the respondent or another household member. Here are
some examples of motor vehicle parts to include: Tires,
hubcaps or wheels, CD players, scanners, CB radios, car
telephones, antenna, license plates, motor parts, mirrors,
steering wheel, door handles, and so on.
DO NOT enter Precode (17) if the items were stored in the
glove compartment, left on a seat, or kept in the trunk of a
car or the bed of a truck, since we do not consider these
Incident Report Items
B4-161
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
items as attached to the motor vehicle.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), "Bicycle or parts," if the offender(s) tried
to take, without permission, NON-MOTORIZED bicycles or
bicycle parts owned by the respondent or another household
member.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20), "TV, stereo, DVD player, VCR, or other
household appliances," if the offender(s) tried to take without
permission items intended for the use of all or most of the
household members, such as a gas grill, kitchen stove,
freezer, VCR, CD player, personal computer, etc.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21), "Silver, china, art objects," if the
offender(s) tried to take without permission any type of
silver, china, or art object, regardless of its value.
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22), "Other household furnishings," if the
offender(s) tried to take without permission household
furnishings, such as furniture, rugs, lamps, mirrors, and so
on, that are intended for use by all or most of the household
members. Consider items such as a daughter's bedroom
furniture to be household furnishings, even though the
furniture is used primarily by one household member.
Precode (23)
Enter Precode (23), "Personal effects," if the offender(s)
tried to take without permission items that are intended for
the sole use of one household member, rather than by all or
most household members and are considered easily
movable or portable. For example, a household member's
watch, jewelry, cellular telephone, clothing, camera,
luggage, briefcase, sports or recreation equipment, toys,
makeup, hair dryers, keys, personal collections (Hummels,
coins, bears, dolls, stamps, and so on). Since the value of
"Personal effects" is not needed, do not probe to determine
their dollar value.
Precode (24)
Enter Precode (24), "Handgun," if the offender(s) tried to
take without permission any type of hand-held gun that is
intended to shoot bullets, regardless of its condition or
usage. For example, the handgun could be a mint condition
collector's item from World War II that is never shot by its
owner or a new handgun kept by the respondent for
protection.
Incident Report Items
B4-162
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Do NOT enter Precode (24) for guns that shoot pellets,
BB's, air, flares, or tear gas. Instead, enter Precode (26),
"Other," and identify the type of gun on the "Specify" screen.
Precode (25)
Enter Precode (25), "Other firearm," if the offender(s) tried to
take without permission any type of rifles or shotguns that
shoot bullets or shot, regardless of whether the rifle or
shotgun works or is used by the respondent. Do not enter
Precode (25) for handguns, instead enter Precode (24).
Also, do NOT enter Precode (25) for guns that shoot pellets,
BB's, air, flares, or tear gas. Instead, enter Precode (26),
"Other," and identify the type of gun on the "Specify" screen.
Precode (26)
Enter Precode (26), "Other," AND describe the item(s) on
the "Specify" screen, ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT_SPEC, if the
offender(s) tried to take any of the following types of items
without permission: food, drugs, food stamps, animals,
plants, guns that fire BB's or pellets, flares, tear gas, and
other items that do not fit the categories for Precodes (11)
through (25). Also enter Precode (26) for boats, airplanes,
minibikes, snowmobiles, etc.
Precode (27)
Enter Precode (27), "Don't know" if the respondent does not
know or is unsure about what the offender(s) tried to take
without permission.
After completing Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT, continue
with Item ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER.
Incident Report Items
B4-163
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did the (property/money) the offender tried to take belong to you personally, to someone else
in the household, or to both you and other household members?
1 Respondent only
2 Respondent and other household member(s)
3 Other household member(s) only
4 Nonhousehold member(s) only
5 Other - specify
ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER
ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER
Precode (1)
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER is used to identify the
owner(s) of the property/money that the offender(s)
attempted to steal during the incident. When we refer to
"household member(s)" in Precodes (2) and (3), we mean
household members at the time of the interview, NOT just at
the time of the incident.
Enter Precode (1) if the offender(s) attempted to steal
property/money that belongs SOLELY to the respondent.
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV.
Incident Report Items
B4-164
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (2)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (2) if the offender(s) attempted to steal
property/money that belongs to the respondent and other
household member(s) either jointly (for example, a car that
is jointly owned by the reference person and his/her spouse)
or partially (for example, a collection of music CDs of which
20 belong to the respondent and the remaining 30 CDs
belong to the respondent's son).
After entering Precode (2), Item ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS
appears. Use this item to identify by line number each
household member who owned some of the property/money
that the offender tried to steal.
● If not sure, ask:
Besides the respondent, which household member(s) owned
the property the offender tried to take?
● Enter appropriate line number(s).
1 Megan Moe
40 Household property
Enter Precode (40), “Household Property,” in Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS if the property/money belongs to the
entire household jointly or if more than three household
members own the property/money jointly with the
respondent. It is acceptable to enter one or more line
numbers and also enter Precode (40), since the offender(s)
may have tried to take both personal and household
property. After completing Item ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS,
continue with Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the offender(s) attempted to steal
property/money that belongs ONLY to other household
member(s) and NONE of the property/money belongs to the
respondent. After entering Precode (3), Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS appears, so you can identify by line
number each household member who owned some of the
property/money that the offender tried to steal.
Incident Report Items
B4-165
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the offender(s) attempted to steal
property/money that belongs ONLY to person(s) who are
NOT household members at the time of the interview. After
entering Precode (4), continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) if the offender(s) attempted to steal
property/money that belongs to two or more persons NOT
covered by Precodes (1) through (4), for example, if the
property/money belongs jointly to another household
member and a nonhousehold member. Use the "Specify"
screen ATTEMPTHEFTOWNER_SPEC to indicate who
owns the property/money (for example, L3 and a
nonhousehold member). After entering Precode (5) and
identifying the owners on the "Specify" screen, continue with
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV.
● Ask or verify:
Was the article IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle when the attempt was made to take it?
1 Yes
2 No
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV
ATTEMPTTHEFT
ITEMSINMV
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV is used to identify
whether the offender(s) tried to steal property/money that
was either:
✓ Inside a motor vehicle or
✓ Attached to a motor vehicle.
If you entered Precodes (15) or (16) in
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT, the instrument skips
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV.
For Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV, you can verify the
answer without asking the question if the respondent
previously indicated where the articles were when the
Incident Report Items
B4-166
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
offender(s) tried to steal them.
Otherwise, ask the question and enter Precode (1), "Yes," if
ANY of the articles were in or attached to a motor vehicle.
Only enter Precode (2), "No," if NONE of the articles were in
or attached to a motor vehicle.
After completing Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV,
continue with either:
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON if the offender tried
to take cash, a purse, or a wallet (Precodes (11), (12), or
(13) are entered in Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT).
OR
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON if the offender
tried to take anything other than cash, a purse, or a
wallet.
● Ask or verify:
Was the cash on your person, for instance, in a pocket or being held?
1 Yes
2 No
ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON
ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON is used to determine
whether the offender(s) tried to steal cash, a purse, or a
wallet directly from the respondent's hands, shoulder,
pocket, backpack, etc. For the NCVS, it makes a difference
whether the offender(s) attempted to steal cash, a purse, or
a wallet directly from the respondent, rather than from a
counter, car seat, floor of a subway car, or other places
where the respondent may have left cash, a purse, or a
wallet.
If the answer is obvious from information provided
previously by the respondent, verify the answer without
Incident Report Items
B4-167
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
asking the question. Otherwise, ask the question and enter
Precode (1) for "Yes;" Precode (2) for "No." After completing
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON, continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON.
● Ask or verify:
Was there anything else the offenders tried to take directly from you, for instance, from your
pocket or hands, or something that you were wearing?
● Exclude property not belonging to respondent or other household member.
1 Yes
2 No
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEM
ONPERSON
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON is used to
determine whether the offender(s) tried to take anything
OTHER THAN cash, a purse, or a wallet (such as a watch
they were wearing) directly from the respondent or another
current household member. Exclude attempted thefts of
items belonging to nonhousehold members.
It is acceptable to verify the answer for this question without
asking the question. The instrument automatically either
inserts or omits the word "else" in the question based on
what was entered in ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON. If you
entered Precode (2), “No, at ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON,
the word “else” is omitted from the question.
Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer and continue with Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS. Enter Precode (2) for a "No"
answer and continue with Item DAMAGED.
Incident Report Items
B4-168
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Check Item
OTHATTEMPTON
PERS_CK
Part B, Chapter 4
If you enter Precode (1), “Yes,” at
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON, but did not mark any
precodes (14) - (26) in Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT, edit
check OTHATTEMPTON PERS_CK appears:
The offender only tried to take cash/purse/wallet in
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT. If the offender tried to take something
else from victim, it must first be reported in
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT. If the offender only tried to take
cash/purse/wallet from victim, go to
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON and enter "No".
Close
Goto
OTHATTEMPTONPERS_CK
This is a hard edit. Click on “Close” or “Goto” to return to
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT and entering one or more
Precodes (14) - (26) or return to
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON and change the answer
to Precode (2), “No.”
Which items did the offenders try to take directly from you?
● Exclude property not belonging to respondent or other household member.
15
24
26
40
Car
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other - specify
All of the above
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS lists the property items
reported in Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT, OTHER THAN
cash/purse/wallet, that the offender(s) tried to take directly
from the respondent or another household member. Enter
the appropriate precodes from those listed in Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS to identify the items that the
offender(s) tried to take directly from the respondent or
another household member. If the offender(s) tried to take
everything directly from the respondent, enter Precode (40),
“All of the above,” and continue with item DAMAGED.
Incident Report Items
B4-169
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What was taken that belonged to you or others in the household?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
CASH/PURSE/WALLET/CREDIT CARDS:
11 Cash
12 Purse
13 Wallet
14 Credit cards, checks, bank cards
VEHICLE OR PARTS:
15 Car
16 Other motor vehicle
17 Part of a motor vehicle (tire, hubcap, attached car stereo or satellite radio, attached CB radio, etc.)
18 Unattached motor vehicle accessories or equipment (unattached CD player or satellite radio, etc.)
19 Gasoline or oil
20 Bicycle or parts
HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS:
21 TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other household appliances
22 Silver, china, art objects
23 Other household furnishings (furniture, rugs, etc.)
PERSONAL EFFECTS:
24 Portable electronic and photographic gear (Personal stereo, TV, cellphone, camera, etc.)
25 Clothing, furs, luggage, briefcase
26 Jewelry, watch, keys
27 Collection of stamps, coins, etc.
28 Toys, sports and recreational equipment (not listed above)
29 Other personal and portable objects
FIREARMS
30 Handgun (pistol, revolver)
31 Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
MISCELLANEOUS:
32 Tools, machines, office equipment
33 Farm or garden produce, plants, fruits, logs
34 Animals - pet or livestock
35 Food or liquor
36 Other – specify
37 Don’t know
WHATWASTAKEN
Incident Report Items
B4-170
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
WHATWASTAKEN
Part B, Chapter 4
Item WHATWASTAKEN is used to identify the types of
property/money that the offender(s) took without permission.
Continue asking, "Anything else?" until you get a "No"
response and enter all appropriate precodes, then press
“Enter” to go to the next screen.
Only include property/money that belonged to the
respondent or other household members. If the respondent
mentions that the stolen property was leased or rented by
the respondent or another household member for one
month or longer, consider the household member(s) as the
owner(s) of the stolen property for this item. If necessary,
ask the respondent how long the stolen property has been
leased or rented.
Notice that Item WHATWASTAKEN has several more
answer categories than Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT.
These categories are grouped together under six separate
headings:
✓ Cash/purse/wallet/credit cards
✓ Vehicle or Parts
✓ Household Furnishings
✓ Personal Effects
✓ Firearms
✓ Miscellaneous
Categories that are NOT self-explanatory are covered
below.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "Cash," when the offender(s) stole
money (bills or coins). After entering Precode (11), Item
AMOUNTCASHTAKEN appears when you press “Enter” to
leave Item WHATWASTAKEN.
If the respondent mentions that a credit card, bank card,
checks, or a coin collection were stolen, do NOT enter
Precode (11). Instead, enter Precode (14) for credit cards,
Incident Report Items
B4-171
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
bank cards, and checks, and enter Precode (27) for coin
collections.
Precodes (12) and (13)
Enter Precode (12) when the offender(s) stole a purse from
the respondent or another household member and enter
Precode (13) when the offender(s) stole a wallet from the
respondent or another household member. After entering
Precode (12) and/or (13), the instrument goes to Item
PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY, where you ask the
respondent if the purse and/or wallet contained any money
when it was stolen. If you get a "Yes" answer, the instrument
stores Precode (11) in Item WHATWASTAKEN so you can
access Item AMOUNTCASHTAKEN and enter the amount
of cash taken in whole dollars. Round up or down as
necessary (as instructed above for Precode (11)).
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) when the offender(s) stole a credit card,
bank card, checks, and so on, which are of little value
unless used fraudulently to obtain money and/or property.
Also enter Precode (14) for stolen Savings Bonds, bank
books, money orders, travelers checks, and phone cards.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) when the offender(s) stole a truck, van,
sport utility vehicle (SUV), motorcycle, moped, motorized
bicycle, or any motor vehicle OTHER THAN a car. If the
motor vehicle is owned by a recognizable business and is
never used for a household member's personal use, DO
NOT enter Precode (16).
Also, DO NOT enter Precode (16) for boats, jet skis,
airplanes, minibikes, or snowmobiles, instead enter Precode
(36), "Other," and identify the property on the "Specify"
screen, WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) when the offender(s) stole anything that
is ATTACHED to a car, truck, van, SUV, or other motor
vehicle owned by the respondent or another household
member. Some examples of items to include for Precode
(17) are tires, hubcaps or wheels, CD players, scanners, CB
radios, car telephones, antenna, license plates, motor parts,
mirrors, steering wheel, door handles, and so on.
DO NOT enter Precode (17) if the items were stored in the
glove compartment, left on a seat, or kept in the trunk of a
Incident Report Items
B4-172
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
car or the bed of a truck, since we do not consider these
items as attached to the motor vehicle.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) when the offender(s) stole motor vehicle
accessories or equipment that was NOT ATTACHED to the
motor vehicle, such as a spare tire, a detachable antenna on
the back seat, a removable CD player or changer in the
trunk, etc.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) when the offender(s) stole any type of
bicycle or bicycle parts that do not have a motor. Include
motorized bicycles in Precode (16).
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) when the offender(s) stole any type of
electrical or gas appliances, such as kitchen stoves,
freezers, dishwashers, CD players, VCRs, computers, FAX
machines, and so on.
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22) when the offender(s) stole any type of
silver, china, or art object, regardless of its value.
Precode (23)
Enter Precode (23) when the offender(s) stole any type of
household furnishings that are intended for the use of all or
most of the household members, even if the furnishings
belong to one or more household members. For example,
bedroom furniture, rugs, patio furniture, and so on.
If you are unsure whether the stolen items are household
furnishings or personal effects, base your decision on
whether the stolen items are considered portable or
movable. If the stolen items are not easily movable or
portable, consider them household furnishings. Otherwise,
enter the appropriate "Personal Effects" precodes from
Precodes (24) through (29) to identify a stolen item that is
intended for the use of a specific household member, rather
than all or most household members.
Precode (24)
Enter Precode (24) when the offender(s) stole any type of
portable electronic or photographic gear intended for the use
of a specific household member, such as personal electronic
devices, handheld computer games, video or audio
cassettes, cell phones, cameras, etc.
Incident Report Items
B4-173
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (25)
Enter Precode (25) when the offender(s) stole the following
types of personal items that belong to a specific household
member: hats, gloves, coats, shoes, jackets, briefcases,
luggage, etc.
Precode (26)
Enter Precode (26) when the offender(s) stole any of the
following types of personal items, regardless of their value:
house or car keys, rings, necklaces, bracelets, money clips,
cuff links, tie tacks, watches, etc.
Precode (27)
Enter Precode (27) when the offender(s) stole any type of
personal collection, regardless of its value, such as coins,
ceramic bears, dolls, stamps, books, baseball cards, etc.
Precode (28)
Enter Precode (28) when the offender(s) stole any type of
toy, sports, or recreation equipment that belongs to a
specific household member and is not covered in Precodes
(24) through (27). Examples of such items are bowling balls,
tennis rackets, BB guns, baby dolls, etc.
Precode (29)
Enter Precode (29) when the offender(s) stole any personal
objects that are easily movable, but do not fit the
descriptions in Precodes (24) through (28). For example,
these objects could include makeup, hair dryer, curling iron,
flare guns, books, etc.
Precode (30)
Enter Precode (30) when the offender(s) stole any type of
hand-held guns (for example, pistols, revolvers, and so on),
regardless of their condition or intended use (for example,
hunting, display, target practice, and so on). Precode (30) is
not intended for pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols, flare guns,
or tear gas guns. Instead, enter Precode (28) for pellet guns,
BB guns, and air pistols, and enter Precode (29) for flare
and tear gas guns.
Precode (31)
Enter Precode (31) when the offender(s) stole any type of
firearm OTHER THAN a handgun, regardless of its
condition or intended use. For example, you should enter
Precode (31) for stolen machine guns, rifles, shotguns, etc.
Precode (31) is NOT intended for pellet guns, BB guns, air
pistols, flare guns, or tear gas guns. Instead, enter Precode
(28) for pellet guns, BB guns, and air pistols, and enter
Precode (29) for flare and tear gas guns.
Incident Report Items
B4-174
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (32)
Enter Precode (32) when the offender(s) stole power or
hand tools, yard equipment (for example, lawn mowers, leaf
blowers, and so on) and any type of office equipment stolen
from an unrecognizable business (for example, file cabinets,
personal computers, printers, FAX machines, scanners, and
so on). However, if the stolen office equipment is electronic
(for example, computers, printers, FAX machines, scanners,
and so on) AND the electronic equipment is used primarily
for the personal use of a household member, enter Precode
(24).
Precode (33)
Enter Precode (33) when the offender(s) stole any produce,
fruit, firewood, straw, hay, or plants (flower or vegetable)
intended for sale and NOT for the personal use or
consumption of the household members. Enter Precode
(35) for any farm or garden produce intended for the
household's personal consumption.
Precode (34)
Enter Precode (34) when the offender(s) stole any type of
animals owned by the respondent or another household
member, regardless of whether or not the animal was a pet.
This category includes cats, dogs, parakeets, hamsters,
pigs, cows, horses, etc.
Precode (35)
Enter Precode (35) when the offender(s) stole any type of
edible food, nonalcoholic beverage, or liquor, unless the
stolen food is produce or fruit intended for sale. If stolen
produce or fruit was intended for sale by the household,
enter Precode (33).
Precode (36)
Enter Precode (36) when the offender(s) stole any items that
do not fit the descriptions for any of the previous categories.
After entering Precode (36), make sure to identify the item
on the "Specify" screen, WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC.
Examples of entries could include: cases of soda belonging
to an unrecognizable business or an airplane owned by the
respondent and intended for personal use only.
Precode (37)
Enter Precode (37) when the respondent does not know or
is unsure what the offender(s) took without permission. It is
acceptable to enter this precode for some stolen items and
still enter other precodes in Item WHATWASTAKEN for
items the respondent knows or feels sure were stolen during
Incident Report Items
B4-175
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
the incident.
After completing Item WHATWASTAKEN, continue with
Item PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY if Precodes (12) or (13)
were entered, otherwise continue with Item
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY.
Did the stolen (purse/wallet) contain any money?
1 Yes
2 No
PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY
PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY
Item PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY appears when Precodes
(12) or (13) are marked in WHATWASTAKEN. If you enter
Precode (1), the instrument goes to Item
AMOUNTCASHTAKEN. Otherwise, it goes to
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY.
If not sure, ask:
How much cash was taken?
Round to the nearest dollar
Enter a number between 1-999,996
AMOUNTCASHTAKEN
AMOUNTCASHTAKEN
Item AMOUNTCASHTAKEN appears when Precode (11)
was marked in Item WHATWASTAKEN or Precode (1) was
marked in PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY.
After determining the amount of cash taken, enter the whole
dollar amount. Round up or down as necessary. For
example, if the amount given is $150.50, round up to $151
and, if the amount given is $150.49, round down to $150. If
the respondent gives an amount that is less than $1, round
up to $1. When the respondent is unable to give an exact
Incident Report Items
B4-176
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
dollar amount, ask for his/her best estimate. Only enter “Ctrl”
+ “D” for “Don’t know” if the respondent truly has no idea of
the amount of cash taken.
Did the stolen property belong to you personally, to someone else in the household, or to both
you and other household members?
1
2
3
4
5
Respondent only
Respondent and other household member(s)
Other household member(s) only
Nonhousehold member(s) only
Other - specify
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
WHOOWNEDSTOLEN
PROPERTY
Precode (1)
Item WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY is used to identify
the owner(s) of the property/money that the offender(s) stole
during the incident. Enter only ONE precode for this item.
Also, when we refer to "household member(s)" in Precodes
(2) and (3), we mean household members at the time of the
interview, NOT just at the time of the incident. Keep in mind
that the property owner could be a current household
member whose property was stolen from a former residence
during the 6-month reference period.
Enter Precode (1) if the offender(s) stole property/money
that belongs SOLELY to the respondent. After entering
Precode (1), either:
Continue with Item PERMISSIONGIVEN if a car or other
motor vehicle was taken during the incident (Precode
(15) or (16) is entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
OR
Precode (2)
Continue with Item ARTICLEINCAR if the stolen
property was not a car or other motor vehicle.
Enter Precode (2) if the offender(s) stole property/money
that belongs to the respondent and other household
member(s) either jointly (for example, a video camera that is
jointly owned by the reference person and his/her spouse)
Incident Report Items
B4-177
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
or partially (for example, a collection of music CDs of which
20 belong to the respondent and the remaining 30 CDs
belong to the respondent's son). After entering Precode (2),
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY appears. Use
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY to identify by line
number each household member who owned some of the
property/money that the offender stole.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) in item
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY if the offender(s) stole
property/money that belongs ONLY to other household
member(s) and NONE of the property/money belongs to the
respondent. After entering Precode (3), Item
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY appears so you can
identify, by line number, each household member who owns
any portion of the property/money that the offender stole.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the offender(s) stole property/money
that belongs ONLY to person(s) who are NOT household
members at the time of the interview. After entering Precode
(4), either:
Continue with Item PERMISSIONGIVEN if a car or other
motor vehicle was taken during the incident (Precode
(15) or (16) is entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
OR
Precode (5)
Continue with Item ARTICLEINCAR if the stolen
property was not a car or other motor vehicle.
Enter Precode (5) if the offender(s) stole property/money that
belongs to two or more persons NOT described in Precodes
(1) through (4). For example, the property/money belongs
jointly to another household member and a nonhousehold
member. After entering Precode (5), use the "Specify"
screen, WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY_SPEC to
indicate who owns the property/money (for example, L3 and
a nonhousehold member). Continue to complete the incident
report items, regardless of what you enter on the "Specify"
screen.
Once you are done identifying the property/money owners,
either:
Incident Report Items
B4-178
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Continue with Item PERMISSIONGIVEN if a car or other
motor vehicle was taken during the incident (Precode
(15) or (16) is entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
OR
Continue with Item ARTICLEINCAR if the stolen
property was not a car or other motor vehicle.
● If not sure, ask:
Besides the respondent, which household member(s) owned the stolen money and property?
2 Ted Moe
3 Megan Moe
40 Household property
● Enter appropriate line number(s).
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
OTHERSOWNED
STOLENPROPERTY
Item OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY is used to
identify, by line number, each household member who
owned any part of the property/money that the offender took
without permission. Enter Precode (40), “Household
property,” if the property/money belongs to the entire
household jointly or if more than three household members
own the property/money jointly with the respondent. It is
acceptable to enter Precode (40) and also enter one or
more line numbers, since the offender(s) may have tried to
take both personal and household property.
Had permission to use the car ever been given to the offender(s)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
PERMISSIONGIVEN
Incident Report Items
B4-179
Part B, Chapter 4
PERMISSIONGIVEN
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item PERMISSIONGIVEN is used to determine whether the
owner of the stolen car or other motor vehicle EVER gave
the offender permission to use the vehicle.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent has EVER given
the offender permission to use the vehicle. Also enter
Precode (1) if permission can be assumed, such as in a
family situation. After entering Precode (1), continue with
Item RETURNCAR.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) "No," if the respondent NEVER gave the
offender prior permission to use the car or other motor
vehicle. After entering Precode (2):
Precode (3)
Continue with Item NUMBERHANDGUNS if you entered
Precode (30), “Handguns,” in Item WHAT WASTAKEN.
Continue with Item NUMBERFIREARMS if you entered
Precode (31), “Other firearm” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Continue with Item CASHONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet were taken (Precodes (11), (12), or
(13) are entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
Continue with Item OTHERONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet was NOT taken.
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent has no
idea whether the offender had permission to use the stolen
vehicle. This could occur when the offender has not been
identified. After entering Precode (3), either:
Continue with Item NUMBERHANDGUNS if you entered
Precode (30), “Handguns,” in Item WHAT WASTAKEN.
Continue with Item NUMBERFIREARMS if you entered
Precode (31), “Other firearm,” in Item WHAT
WASTAKEN.
Continue with Item CASHONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet were taken (Precodes (11), (12), or
(13) are entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
Incident Report Items
B4-180
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Continue with Item OTHERONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet was NOT taken.
Did the offender return the car (motor vehicle) this time?
1 Yes
2 No
RETURNCAR
RETURNCAR
Item RETURNCAR is used to find out if the offender
personally returned the motor vehicle that was taken during
the incident of his/her own free will.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the offender did return the motor
vehicle in person of his/her own free will.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if:
✓ The police returned the motor vehicle.
✓ The motor vehicle was recovered in a way OTHER
THAN by the offender or the police.
✓ The motor vehicle was never returned or recovered.
After completing Item RETURNCAR, either:
Continue with Item NUMBERHANDGUNS if you
entered Precode (30), “Handguns,” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Continue with Item NUMBERFIREARMS if you
entered Precode (31), “Other firearm” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Continue with Item CASHONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet were taken (Precodes (11), (12), or
(13) were entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
Incident Report Items
B4-181
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Continue with Item OTHERONPERSON when cash,
a purse, or a wallet was NOT taken.
● Ask or verify:
Was the article IN or ATTACHED to a motor vehicle when it was taken?
1 Yes
2 No
ARTICLEINCAR
ARTICLEINCAR
Item ARTICLEINCAR is used to find out if any articles that
the offender stole were either in or attached to a motor
vehicle during the incident. You can verify the answer to this
question without asking it if the respondent mentioned
earlier in the interview the location of the articles when they
were stolen.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if ANY articles stolen during the
incident were in or attached to a motor vehicle. Otherwise,
enter Precode (2).
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if NONE of the articles stolen
during the incident were in or attached to a motor vehicle.
After completing Item ARTICLEINCAR:
Continue with Item NUMBERHANDGUNS if you
entered Precode (30), “Handguns,” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Continue with Item NUMBERFIREARMS if you
entered Precode (31), “Other firearm” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Continue with Item CASHONPERSON when cash, a
purse, or a wallet were taken (Precodes (11), (12), or
(13) were entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN).
Continue with Item OTHERONPERSON when cash,
Incident Report Items
B4-182
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
a purse, or a wallet was NOT taken.
How many handguns were taken?
NUMBERHANDGUNS
NUMBERHANDGUNS
If a respondent indicated in Item WHATWASTAKEN of the
incident report section that one or more handguns were
stolen during the incident (Precode 30), then you will see
Item NUMBERHANDGUNS. Item NUMBERHANDGUNS is
asked to determine the number of handguns stolen during the
incident.
Enter either the total number of handguns stolen or Ctrl + D
to indicate that the respondent does not know the number of
handguns stolen during the incident. Before entering Ctrl + D,
attempt to get the respondent’s best estimate of the number
of handguns stolen.
Include any type of hand-held gun, such as a pistol or
revolver, regardless of the handguns condition or intended
use, such as for hunting, display, target practice, and so on.
Exclude pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols, flare guns, or tear
gas guns. If you discover at this point that Item
WHATWASTAKEN was answered incorrectly, return to that
screen and correct the entry(ies).
How many other types of firearms were taken?
● Enter 97 for Don’t know
NUMBERFIREARMS
NUMBERFIREARMS
If a respondent indicated in Item WHATWASTAKEN of the
incident report section that one or more “other types of
firearms” were stolen during the incident (Precode 31), then
you will see Item NUMBERFIREARMS. Item
NUMBERFIREARMS is asked to determine the number of
firearms (other than handguns) stolen during the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-183
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Include machine guns, rifles, shotguns, and so on,
regardless of their condition or intended use. You will enter
either the total number of firearms (other than handguns)
stolen or Ctrl + D to indicate that the respondent does not
know the number of other firearms stolen during the
incident. Before entering Ctrl + D, attempt to get the
respondent’s best estimate of the number of other types of
firearms stolen.
Exclude pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols, flare guns, or tear
gas guns. If you discover at this point that Item
WHATWASTAKEN was answered incorrectly, return to that
screen and correct the entry(ies).
● Ask or verify:
Was the cash or purse on your person, for instance, in a pocket or being held?
1 Yes
2 No
CASHONPERSON
CASHONPERSON
Item CASHONPERSON is used to determine whether the
cash, purse, or wallet was taken directly from the
respondent, such as from his/her hands, shoulder, pockets,
backpack, etc. The answer to this question is important in
classifying the crime accurately. For example, we are
interested in whether the cash was stolen directly from the
respondent (on their person) or whether it was stolen from a
counter, car seat, or other places where the respondent may
have left it.
If the respondent already indicated the answer to this
question, you can verify the answer without asking the
question. Otherwise, ask the question as worded on the
screen.
After completing Item CASHONPERSON, continue with
Item OTHERONPERSON.
Incident Report Items
B4-184
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● Ask or verify:
Was there anything else the offender took directly from you, for instance, from your pocket or
hands, or something that you were wearing?
● Exclude property not belonging to respondent or other household member.
1 Yes
2 No
OTHERONPERSON
OTHERONPERSON
Item OTHERONPERSON is used to determine whether
anything OTHER THAN cash, a purse, or a wallet were
taken directly from the respondent, such as a bracelet from
the respondent's wrist, a hat from the respondent's head, or
a computer game from the respondent's pocket. Only
include property stolen directly from the respondent or
another household member.
If the answer is obvious from the information already
provided, verify the answer without asking the question.
Otherwise, ask the question as worded on the screen.
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer, you will
continue with Item ITEMSTAKEN. After entering Precode
(2) for a "No" answer in Item OTHERONPERSON, continue
with either:
•
ALLPARTRECOVERED when ONLY Precodes (11)
and/or (14) are entered in Item WHATWASTAKEN.
OR
•
Check item
OTHERONPERSON_CK
Item PROPERTYVALUE when precodes OTHER THAN
Precodes (11) and (14) are entered in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.
Edit check OTHERONPERSON_CK appears when the
respondent reports that something other than cash, purse,
or wallet was stolen from their person, but only cash, purse,
Incident Report Items
B4-185
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
or wallet was reported stolen in WHATWASTAKEN.
• Only cash/purse/wallet reported as stolen in
WHATWASTAKEN. If something else was taken from
victim, it must first be reported in WHATWASTAKEN. If only
cash/purse/wallet was taken from victim, go to
OTHERONPERSON and enter "no".
Close Goto
OTHERONPERSON_CK
This is a hard edit, so click on “Close” or “Goto” to go back
and correct your entry in either WHATWASTAKEN or
OTHERONPERSON.
Which items did the offender(s) take directly from you?
● Exclude property not belonging to (respondent/victim) or other household member
ITEMS TAKEN:
20 Bicycle or parts
30 Hand gun
40 All of the above
ITEMSTAKEN
ITEMSTAKEN
Item ITEMSTAKEN is used to identify the property reported
in Item WHATWASTAKEN, OTHER THAN a
cash/purse/wallet, that the offender(s) took directly from the
respondent or household member. Enter the appropriate
precodes from those listed for Item ITEMSTAKEN.
If the offender(s) took everything directly from the
respondent, enter Precode (40), “All of the above,” and
continue with Item PROPERTYVALUE.
Incident Report Items
B4-186
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was taken? Include recovered property. (Exclude any
stolen cash, checks, credit cards. If jointly owned with a nonhousehold member(s), include only
share owned by household members.)
● Enter total dollar value for all items taken.
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
● If respondent is unsure, ask for an estimate
PROPERTYVALUE
PROPERTYVALUE
Item PROPERTYVALUE is used to identify the dollar
amount for the value of property stolen during the incident,
regardless of whether or not it was recovered. If only cash,
checks, or credit cards were stolen, you do not see Items
PROPERTYVALUE or DECIDEDVALUE.
Let the respondent arrive at this figure and, when
necessary, enter the respondent's best estimate of the value
of stolen property. Only include the dollar amount for stolen
property owned by the respondent or another current
household member.
To help the respondent decide the value of the stolen
property, you may remind the respondent of the articles
stolen. If the respondent gives you separate amounts for
each item, total the amounts and enter the sum in the space
provided.
After entering a dollar amount, you will continue with Item
DECIDEDVALUE. However, if you enter Control + D for
“Don’t know” or Control + R for “Refused” in
PROPERTYVALUE, you continue with Item
ALLPARTRECOVERED. Although these two precodes do
not appear on the screen, they are valid precodes for Item
PROPERTYVALUE.
Incident Report Items
B4-187
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
How did you decide the value of the property that was taken?
● Probe: Any other way?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11 Original cost
12 Replacement cost
13 Personal estimate of current value
14 Insurance report estimate
15 Police estimate
16 Don't know
17 Other - specify
DECIDEDVALUE
DECIDEDVALUE
Item DECIDEDVALUE is used to identify how the
respondent arrived at the dollar amount reported in Item
PROPERTYVALUE. Ask the question as worded and
continue asking, "Any other way?" until you get a "No"
answer. Enter precodes for all methods that the respondent
mentions.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) when one of the methods used to arrive
at the amount entered in Item PROPERTYVALUE was the
price originally paid for the item when it was purchased.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) when one of the methods used to arrive
at the amount entered in Item PROPERTYVALUE was the
price to replace the item, regardless of the original purchase
price.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) when one of the methods used to arrive
at the amount entered in Item PROPERTYVALUE was the
respondent's personal estimate of the stolen item's worth or
current value, which is not necessarily the same as the
item's replacement cost.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) when one of the methods used to arrive
at the amount in Item PROPERTYVALUE was the
insurance company’s statement of the stolen property's
Incident Report Items
B4-188
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
worth.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) when one of the methods used to arrive
at the amount entered in Item PROPERTYVALUE was the
police department's statement of the stolen property's worth.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Don't know," only after you have tried
to identify the method used by asking probing questions and
your probing was unsuccessful.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Other," if the respondent mentions a
method that does not fit the descriptions in Precodes (11)
through (15). After entering Precode (17), enter the method
used on the "Specify" screen DECIDEDVALUE_SPEC,
such as “a friend's estimate.” Also enter Precode (17) for
stolen food stamps and enter the "face value" of the food
stamps on the "Specify" screen.
Was all or part of the stolen property and money recovered, not counting anything received from
insurance?
1 All
2 Part
3 None
ALLPARTRECOVERED
ALLPARTRECOVERED
Item ALLPARTRECOVERED is used to find out whether
any or all of the stolen money and/or property was
recovered.
For stolen money, only include money returned by the
offender. Also include the actual stolen money that someone
other than the offender found or discovered and returned to
the owner. Do NOT include the reimbursement of money
from an insurance company, a relative, friend, or anyone
OTHER THAN the offender.
For stolen property, only include the return of the original
property that was stolen, NOT any replacement property
from any source (for example, an insurance company or the
Incident Report Items
B4-189
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
offender). Also include recovered stolen property that is
being held as evidence in a court case, even though the
property has not yet been returned to the owner.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when ALL the money and ALL the
property stolen during the incident was recovered. In other
words, everything that was stolen during the incident was or
will be returned to the owner. After entering Precode (1),
either:
Continue with Item RECOVEREDCASHVALUE when
property other than cash, checks, or credit cards was
recovered.
OR
Continue with Item RECOVEREDINSURANCE when the
only property recovered was cash, checks, or credit
cards.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when only a portion of the stolen money
and/or property was recovered and was or will be returned
to the owner. After entering Precode (2), you will continue
with Item WHATRECOVERED.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when NONE of the stolen money and/or
property was recovered. After entering Precode (3), you will
continue with Item RECOVEREDINSURANCE.
Incident Report Items
B4-190
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What was recovered?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1 Cash
2 Purse
3 Wallet
4 Credit cards, checks, bank cards
5 Car or other motor vehicle
6 Property other than the above
WHATRECOVERED
WHATRECOVERED
Item WHATRECOVERED is used to identify what PART of
the stolen money and/or property was recovered after the
incident. After asking the initial question, continue asking,
"Anything else?" until you get a "No" response and enter all
appropriate precodes.
For stolen money, only include money returned by the
offender or the actual stolen money that someone other than
the offender found or discovered and returned to the owner.
Do NOT include the reimbursement of money from an
insurance company, a relative, friend, or anyone OTHER
THAN the offender.
For stolen property, only include the return of the original
property that was stolen, NOT any replacement property from
any source (for example, an insurance company or the
offender). Also include recovered property that is being held
as evidence in a court case, even though the property has
not yet been returned to the owner.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if stolen cash was recovered. After
entering Precode (1), continue with Item
CASHRECOVERED.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the owner's stolen purse was recovered.
After entering Precode (2), continue with Item
Incident Report Items
B4-191
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
CONTAINMONEY, which asks, "Did the recovered purse
contain any money?"
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the owner's stolen wallet was recovered.
After entering Precode (3), continue with item
CONTAINMONEY.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the owner's stolen credit cards, checks,
bank cards, Savings Bonds, bank books, money orders, or
travelers checks were recovered.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) if the owner's stolen car or other motor
vehicle was recovered.
Precode (6)
Enter Precode (6) if some part of the owner's stolen property
was recovered and the recovered property does not fit any of
the descriptions in Precodes (2) through (5). This could
include recovered stolen property identified in Precodes (17)
through (36) in Item WHATWASTAKEN.
Check Item
WHAT_RECOVERED_CK
If something is marked as “recovered” in Item
WHATRECOVERED that was not reported as “stolen” in Item
WHATWASTAKEN, check item WHAT_RECOVERED_CK
appears:
Invalid entry. You reported something was recovered that was
not reported as stolen.
Close
Goto
WHAT_RECOVERED_CK
This is a hard edit check. Click on “Close” or “Goto” to return
to either WHATWASTAKEN or WHATRECOVERED to
correct the entry.
Incident Report Items
B4-192
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● If necessary: How much cash was recovered?
CASH REPORTED TAKEN: $124.00
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
CASHRECOVERED
CASHRECOVERED
Check Item CASH_CK
Use Item CASHRECOVERED to record the total amount of
stolen cash that was recovered in whole dollars. Round up or
down as necessary. For example, if the amount given is
$150.50, round up to $151 and, if the amount given is
$150.49, round down to $150. If the respondent gives an
amount that is less than $1, round up to $1. When the
respondent is unable to give an exact dollar amount, ask for
his/her best estimate.
If the amount of cash reported as recovered is greater than
the amount of cash reported stolen, check item CASH_CK
appears:
The amount of cash reported stolen, (amount) is less
than the amount of cash reported recovered, (amount).
Close
Goto
CASH_CK
Click on “Close” or “Goto” to return to either
AMOUNTOFCASHTAKEN or CASHRECOVERED to correct
the entry.
Incident Report Items
B4-193
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did the recovered purse/wallet contain any money?
1 Yes
2 No
CONTAINMONEY
CONTAINMONEY
If the recovered purse or wallet did contain money, enter
Precode (1) in Item CONTAINMONEY so you can record the
amount of stolen cash recovered at Item CASHRECOVERED
as shown above. Enter the whole dollar amount and round up
or down to the nearest dollar amount, as necessary.
Considering any damage, what was the value of the property after it was recovered?
Do not include recovered cash.
● If value of recovered property is the same as value of property taken then enter the amount
below
VALUE OF PROPERTY TAKEN: $550.00
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
RECOVEREDCASHVALUE
RECOVEREDCASHVALUE
Item RECOVEREDCASHVALUE is used to identify the dollar
value of stolen property that was recovered after allowing for
any damage done to the property since it was stolen. This
includes the value of all stolen property that was recovered,
regardless of whether or not it was damaged since it was
stolen.
Remind the respondent to exclude the following recovered
stolen property when determining the dollar value: cash,
credit cards, bank cards, Savings Bonds, bank books, money
orders, or travelers checks.
Also let the respondent use any means to arrive at this value.
Incident Report Items
B4-194
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
To help the respondent decide the value of the recovered
property, you may remind the respondent of the articles
individually. If the respondent gives you separate amounts for
each item, total the amounts and enter the sum in the answer
space.
Enter the amount in whole dollars. Round up or down as
necessary. For example, if the amount given is $150.50,
round up to $151 and, if the amount given is $150.49, round
down to $150. If the respondent gives an amount that is less
than $1, round up to $1. When the respondent is unable to
give an exact dollar amount, ask for his/her best estimate.
Check Item
PROPERTYVALUE_CK
If the value of the item(s) recovered is a higher dollar value
than the value of the item(s) stolen, a soft edit pop-up,
PROPERTYVALUE_CK appears:
The value of the property that was recovered, (amount), is
greater than the value of the property that was taken,(amount).
Suppress
Close
Goto
PROPERTYVALUE_CK
If you select “Goto,” return to Item
RECOVEREDCASHVALUE or PROPERTYVALUE and
correct your entries so that the recovered value is less than
or equal to the original property value. If the value of the
recovered property truly is greater than its original value (for
example some art and jewelry, etc., which can appreciate
over time), then select “Suppress” and proceed to
RECOVEREDINSURANCE.
Incident Report Items
B4-195
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Was the theft reported to an insurance company?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
4 Don’t have insurance
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
RECOVEREDINSURANCE
Item RECOVEREDINSURANCE is used to find out if anyone
reported the theft to an insurance company, regardless of
whether the insurance company made any payment for the
claim.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent, another household
member, or someone outside of the household reported the
theft to an insurance company.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the theft was not reported by anyone to
an insurance company.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent either does not know or
cannot remember whether anyone reported the theft to an
insurance company. Before entering Precode (3), ask a
probing question to help the respondent remember, such as
"Do you remember speaking to a claims adjuster or
reading any correspondence from your insurance
company about the theft?"
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the household was not covered by
insurance at the time of the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-196
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
?[F1]
Was anything that belonged to you or other members of the household damaged in this incident?
● Probe: For example, was (a lock or window broken/clothing damaged/damage done to a car), or
something else?
1 Yes
2 No
DAMAGED
DAMAGED
Item DAMAGED is used to find out if any other item was
damaged during the incident, excluding any stolen property.
This could be property owned by the respondent or any other
household member. If property was reported as stolen, the
instrument inserts the phrase, “Other than stolen property” at
the beginning of the question.
If the respondent seems unsure of how to answer this
question, also ask the probe question shown below the initial
question in Item DAMAGED. As you ask the probe question,
make sure to select the appropriate examples shown in
parentheses based on the circumstances of the theft.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if:
✓ Items were damaged during the incident, but they were
not stolen.
✓ These damaged items belonged to a household member
at the time of the incident or to an unrecognizable
business operated from the sample address.
✓ Any items damaged, but not stolen, during an act of
vandalism which occurred during the same incident as the
theft.
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
DAMAGEDREPAIRED.
Incident Report Items
B4-197
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (2)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if:
✓ The only items damaged during the incident were the
stolen items.
✓ The damaged items belonged to someone who was not a
household member at the time of the incident.
✓ The damaged items belonged to a recognizable business
operated from the sample address.
✓ The damaged items are commercial property, such as a
damaged apartment door to an apartment rented by the
respondent, even if the respondent paid for the repair or
replacement cost. In this example, the apartment door
does not belong to the respondent.
After entering Precode (2), continue with Item
POLICEINFORMED.
Was/Were the damaged item(s) repaired or replaced?
1 Yes, all
2 Yes, part
3 No, none
DAMAGEDREPAIRED
DAMAGEDREPAIRED
Item DAMAGEDREPAIRED is used to determine whether
any or all of the items damaged during the incident were
repaired or replaced, even if there was no cost involved. Also,
the person who repaired or replaced the damaged items
could be anyone, such as a household member, a friend, the
landlord, or anyone else. Only include damaged items that
were NOT stolen.
Enter the appropriate precode based on the respondent's
answer. After entering Precode (1) for “Yes, all,” or Precode
(2) for "Yes, part," continue with Item
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE. If you enter Precode (3) for
"No, none," continue with Item ESTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE.
Incident Report Items
B4-198
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
How much would it cost to repair or replace the damaged item(s)?
● Enter 0 for no cost
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
ESTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
ESTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
Item ESTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE is used to identify what
the cost would be to repair and/or replace any items
damaged, but not stolen, during the incident, if the
respondent decided to get the item(s) repaired or replaced. If
the respondent has difficulty giving you an exact amount, ask
for his/her best estimate.
Enter the amount in whole dollars in the dollar answer space.
Round up or down as necessary. For example, if the amount
given is $150.50, round up to $151 and, if the amount given
is $150.49, round down to $150. If the respondent gives an
amount that is less than $1, round up to $1.
Enter (0), (zero), if there would be no cost to repair and/or
replace the damaged items. If the respondent does not know
what the cost would be to repair and/or replace the damaged
items, enter Control + D to indicate “Don’t know.” Avoid “Don’t
know” answers when possible.
After entering a response (other than 0), continue with Item
PAIDREPAIRS. After entering (0), continue with Item
POLICEINFORMED.
Incident Report Items
B4-199
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
How much was the repair or replacement cost?
● Enter 0 for no cost
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
Item ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE is used to identify what
the cost was to repair and/or replace any items damaged, but
not stolen, during the incident. If the respondent has difficulty
giving you an exact amount, ask for his/her best estimate.
Enter the amount in whole dollars in the dollar answer space.
Round up or down as necessary. For example, if the amount
given is $150.50, round up to $151 and, if the amount given
is $150.49, round down to $150. If the respondent gives an
amount that is less than $1, round up to $1.
Enter (0), (zero), if there was no cost to repair and/or replace
the damaged items. If the respondent does not know what
the cost would be to repair and/or replace the damaged
items, enter Control + D to indicate “Don’t know.” Avoid “Don’t
know” answers when possible.
After entering a response (other than 0), continue with Item
PAIDREPAIRS. After entering (0), continue with Item
POLICEINFORMED.
Incident Report Items
B4-200
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Who (paid/will pay) for the repairs or replacement?
● Probe: Anyone else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas
1 Items will not be repaired or replaced
2 Household member
3 Landlord or landlord's insurance
4 Victim's (or household's) insurance
5 Offender
6 Other - specify
PAIDREPAIRS
PAIDREPAIRS
Item PAIDREPAIRS is used to identify who paid or will pay to
repair and/or replace items that were damaged, but not
stolen, during the incident. If you enter Precode (1) or (2) in
Item DAMAGEDREPAIRED, then ask the question in Item
PAIDREPAIRS using the word "paid." Ask the question in
Item PAIDREPAIRS using the words "will pay" if you entered
Precode (3) in Item DAMAGEDREPAIRED or the respondent
has told you that the items have been repaired and/or
replaced, but the repair and/or replacement bill has not yet
been paid.
Since more than one person or company may have paid for
the repairs and/or replacements, continue asking, "Anyone
else?" until you get a "No" response and then enter all
appropriate precodes.
Only enter Precode (1) if the respondent tells you that NONE
of the damaged items will be repaired or replaced. However,
do NOT enter Precode (1) if a person or company provided or
will provide money to repair and/or replace damaged item(s),
but the respondent does not intend to use the money for this
purpose. Instead, enter the appropriate precode to indicate
who provided or will provide the money.
Also, if a household member or someone else originally paid
for the repair and/or replacement costs and the total amount
Incident Report Items
B4-201
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
has been or will be reimbursed by insurance, only enter
Precode (3) or (4) to indicate whose insurance is reimbursing
the cost and do not enter the precode for who originally paid
the bill. However, if the insurance only paid a portion of the
costs and someone else paid the remainder of the costs, then
enter both precodes. For example, enter Precode (2) for a
household member and Precode (4) for the household
member's insurance.
If the respondent identifies a person, company, or
government agency that is not described in Precodes (2)
through (5), enter Precode (6), "Other," and enter the
respondent's answer on the "Specify" screen,
PAIDREPAIRS_SPEC (for example, relatives or friends of
the household, a government agency, a church, or a
community organization).
Were the police informed or did they find out about this incident in any way?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
POLICEINFORMED
POLICEINFORMED
Item POLICEINFORMED is used to determine whether the
police are aware that this incident took place, regardless of
how they found out about it.
Who Are Considered the
Police?
For the NCVS, consider the police to be all regular police
officers at the city, county, State, or Federal government
level, as well as officers who work for sheriff's departments.
Also include officers working for specialized police forces who
are authorized to make arrests in a special area or jurisdiction
(for example, campus police, park police, transit police,
harbor police, and airport police).
Exclude as Police
Officers
For the NCVS, exclude as police officers any security forces,
building guards, prison guards, fish and game wardens, fire
marshals, and all others who do not have the authority to
make police arrests.
Incident Report Items
B4-202
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Victim Is a Police Officer
When the victim/respondent is a police officer and answers
"Yes" to the question in Item POLICEINFORMED, probe to
find out if the respondent or another person filed an official
report or officially notified a police department about the
incident. Do not assume that an incident was reported to the
police just because the victim/respondent is a police officer.
For example, if the respondent who is a police officer was
threatened with physical harm by a crime suspect and he/she
only mentioned it to his/her partner at the station, but never
filed a report or officially notified the department, you would
enter Precode (2), "No."
Offender Is a Police
Officer
When the victim/respondent answers "Yes" to the question in
Item POLICEINFORMED and the offender is a police officer,
probe to find out if anyone filed an official report or
officially notified a police department about the incident.
Again, do not assume because a police officer was involved
in the incident that the police were officially notified. Enter
Precode (2), "No," if no one actually notified the police.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the incident was reported to the
police; continue with Item POLICEFINDOUT.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the incident was NOT reported to
the police; continue with Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent does not
know or cannot say for sure whether anyone reported the
incident to the police and you will continue with Item
AGENCYHELP. (Also see Part C, Chapter 3, Topic 21, for
more information about incidents involving police
officers.)
Incident Report Items
B4-203
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
How did the police find out about it?
● Enter first precode that applies
11 Respondent
12 Other household member
13 Someone official called police (guard, apt. manager, school official, etc.)
14 Someone else
15 Police were at scene
16 Offender was a police officer
17 Some other way - specify
POLICEFINDOUT
Special Instructions for Proxy
Interviews - Items
POLICEFINDOUT through
ANYTHINGFURTHER
Starting with Item POLICEFINDOUT and ending with Item
ANYTHINGFURTHER, do NOT follow the general rule for
asking questions during a proxy interview. Normally, you ask
the NCVS questions of the proxy respondent (who is usually
another household member) for the proxy person (the
household member who is unable to answer for
himself/herself). For example, when asking the question for
Item DAMAGED during a proxy interview, ask the question
this way:
"Other than any stolen property was anything that
belonged to Jeffrey Doe (the proxy person) or other
members of the household damaged in this incident?"
Since the questions for Items POLICEFINDOUT through
ANYTHINGFURTHER can apply to anyone in the sample
household who may have had contact with the police, ask
each of these questions of the proxy respondent, rather than
the proxy person.
For example, when you ask the proxy respondent in
POLICEFINDOUT, "How did the police find out about it?"
the proxy respondent says, "I told them." In this case, enter
Precode (11), "Respondent." However, if the proxy
respondent says that, "Jeffrey Doe (the proxy person) called
the police," enter Precode (12), "Other household member."
When conducting a proxy interview, the instrument displays
an interviewer instruction at this screen to remind you of this.
Incident Report Items
B4-204
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
POLICEFINDOUT
Part B, Chapter 4
Item POLICEFINDOUT is used to identify how the police
found out about the incident. Enter the first precode that
applies. For example, if the respondent tells you that he/she
called the police and a security guard also called the police,
enter Precode (11), "Respondent."
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the police found out about the incident
from the respondent. If you are taking a proxy interview, enter
Precode (11) if the proxy respondent informed the police.
After entering Precode (11), continue with Item
REASONREPORT.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the police found out about the incident
from a household member OTHER THAN the respondent. If
you are taking a proxy interview, enter Precode (12) if the
proxy person informed the police. After entering Precode
(12), continue with Item POLICEARRIVE.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the police found out about the incident
from some type of official, such as a security guard, an
apartment manager, a school principal, a store manager, and
so on. After entering Precode (13), you will continue with Item
POLICEARRIVE.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the police found out about the incident
from a person OTHER THAN a household member or
someone acting in an official capacity. For example, you
would enter Precode (14) if a neighbor called the police or a
relative who is not a household member called the police
(such as an uncle, aunt, brother-in-law, and so on). After
entering Precode (14), you will continue with Item
POLICEARRIVE.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the police found out about the incident
because they happened to be on the scene at the time of the
incident or came by while the incident was taking place. After
entering Precode (15), continue with Item POLICEACTION.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the police found out about the incident
because the offender was a police officer and he/she notified
the police. After entering Precode (16), continue with Item
POLICECONTACT.
Incident Report Items
B4-205
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (17)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (17) if the police found out about the incident
in a way other than those described in Precodes (11) through
(16). After entering Precode (17), explain how the police were
informed on the "Specify" screen, POLICEFINDOUT_SPEC,
then continue with Item POLICECONTACT.
Incident Report Items
B4-206
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
? [F1]
What was the reason it was not reported to the police?
● Probe: Can you tell me a little more? Any other reason?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
DEALT WITH ANOTHER WAY:
11 Reported to another official (guard, apt. manager, school official, etc.)
12 Private or personal matter or took care of it myself or informally; told offender’s parent
NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO RESPONDENT:
13 Minor or unsuccessful crime, small or no loss, recovered property
14 Child offender(s), "kid stuff"
15 Not clear that it was a crime or that harm was intended
INSURANCE WOULDN'T COVER:
16 No insurance, loss less than deductible, etc.
POLICE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING:
17 Didn't find out until too late
18 Could not recover or identify property
19 Could not find or identify offender, lack of proof
POLICE WOULDN'T HELP
20 Police wouldn't think it was important enough, wouldn’t want to be bothered or get involved
21 Police would be inefficient, ineffective (they’d arrive late or not at all, wouldn’t do a good job, etc.)
22 Police would be biased, would harass/insult respondent, cause respondent trouble, etc.)
23 Offender was a police officer
OTHER REASON:
24 Did not want to get offender in trouble with the law
25 Was advised not to report to police
26 Afraid of reprisal by offender or others
27 Did not want to or could not take time–too inconvenient
28 Other - Specify
29 Respondent not present or doesn't know why it wasn't reported
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
Incident Report Items
B4-207
Part B, Chapter 4
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
Probing for Item
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE is used to find out why no one
reported the incident to the police. This item consists of 19
categories, grouped together under six major headings to
help you locate the correct precode for the respondent's
answer. Since you must enter all appropriate precodes for a
respondent's answer, continue asking, "Any other reason?"
until you get a "No" response.
In some cases, a respondent's answer may seem to fit under
one of the major headings, but you are not sure which
precode to enter. In this situation, you need to ask a general
probe question. For example, a respondent answers that she
did not think the police would help her. You see the major
heading, "POLICE WOULDN'T HELP," but you are not sure
which precode to enter. You could ask, "Can you tell me a
little more?" If that probe question does not work, then you
could ask, "Why do you think that the police would not
help you?"
Since this item involves a respondent's feelings and
motivations, you must be extremely careful when asking
probe questions so you do not bias the respondent's answer.
Keep your initial probe questions general and neutral. Then
if the initial probe question does not work, ask a more specific
probe question.
Only ask the structured probe question (which can be
accessed using the F1 key) for Item
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE when:
✓ You have asked general probe questions and the
respondent's answer still does not fit under one of the
major headings.
✓ The respondent's answer is so vague and obscure that it
would not be appropriate to ask a general probe question.
Verifying Answers
To ensure that all appropriate precodes are entered in Item
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE, verify the answer categories for
which you entered precodes with the respondent BEFORE
pressing “Enter” to get to the next question. Here is an
example of how to verify the answers you entered with the
respondent: "I have entered (read descriptions for the
Incident Report Items
B4-208
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
entered precodes). Do these reasons cover why no one
reported the incident to the police?"
Answer Categories for
Item NOTREPORTED
POLICE
Since most of the answer categories in Item
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE are self-explanatory, descriptions
are provided below only for the categories that require special
attention.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), "Private or personal matter or took care
of it myself or informally; told offender's parent," when the
respondent tells you that: "It was a family matter," "He/she
wanted to catch the thief," "He/she called the person who did
it," "He/she thought it was his/her wife/husband," "The person
was a friend," and so on.
Precode (28)
Enter Precode (28), "Other," if you have tried asking both
general probe questions and the structured probe question
AND the respondent's reason still does not fit into one of the
reasons in Precodes (11) through (27). After entering
Precode (28), enter the reason on the "Specify" screen,
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE_SPEC.
Precode (29)
Enter Precode (29), "Respondent not present or doesn't know
why it wasn't reported," if the respondent really does not
know why the incident was not reported to the police.
(For example, the respondent was not present during a
burglary incident.)
Noting Distinctions
Pay close attention when a respondent tells you that the
incident is not important enough to report to the police.
Precodes (13) through (15) cover reasons why the
respondent feels that the incident was not important enough
to report to the police, while Precode (20) covers when the
respondent thinks that the police would not consider the
incident important.
Precode (27) also implies that the respondent did not feel
that the incident was important enough to report to the police,
but the primary motivation for not reporting the incident
was the respondent's lack of time and the level of
inconvenience to him/her.
After completing Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE, continue
with either:
Incident Report Items
B4-209
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item NOTREPORTIMPORTANT when more than one
reason is entered in Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE.
OR
Item AGENCYHELP when only one reason is entered in
Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE.
Which of these would you say was the most important reason why the incident was not reported
to the police?
Reasons not reported:
23 Offender was police officer
27 Did not want to or could not take time - too inconvenient
29 No one reason more important
NOTREPORTIMPORTANT
NOTREPORTIMPORTANT
Item NOTREPORTIMPORTANT is used to pinpoint which of
the reasons reported in Item NOTREPORTEDPOLICE the
respondent feels is the most important reason for not
reporting the incident to the police. If necessary, read the
reasons listed for Item NOTREPORTIMPORTANT.
Based on the respondent's answer, enter the appropriate
precode. If the respondent seems to have difficulty making up
his/her mind, ask the following probe question: "If you could
only give one reason, which one would it be?"
In Item NOTREPORTIMPORTANT, Precode (29), “No one
reason more important,” is also displayed. Use this precode if
the respondent tells you that each reason selected in Item
NOTREPORTEDPOLICE was equally important as to why
the incident was not reported to the police.
After completing Item NOTREPORTIMPORTANT, continue
with Item AGENCYHELP.
Incident Report Items
B4-210
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
? [F1]
Besides the fact that it was a crime, did YOU have any other reason for reporting this incident to
the police?
● Probe: Any other reason?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
● TO GET HELP WITH THIS INCIDENT
11 Stop or prevent THIS incident from happening
12 Needed help after incident due to injury, etc.
● TO RECOVER LOSS
13 To recover property
14 To collect insurance
● TO GET OFFENDER
15 To prevent further crimes against respondent/respondent's household by this offender
16 To stop this offender from committing other crimes against anyone
17 To punish offender
18 Catch or find offender - other reason or no reason given
● TO LET POLICE KNOW
19 To improve police surveillance of respondent's home, area, etc.
20 Duty to let police know about crime
● OTHER
21 Other reason - Specify
22 No other reason
REASONREPORT
REASONREPORT
Item REASONREPORT is used to identify why the
respondent reported the incident to the police.
There are 12 categories for Item REASONREPORT that are
grouped together under five major headings to help you locate
the correct precode to enter for the respondent's answer.
Since you need to enter all appropriate precodes for a
respondent's answer, continue asking, "Any other reason?"
Incident Report Items
B4-211
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
until you get a "No" response.
Since we are interested in the respondent's feelings at the
time of the incident (or the proxy respondent's feelings), be
sure to pause after reading the question to allow the
respondent time to recall his/her feelings. Do NOT read the
answer categories to the respondent BEFORE receiving the
respondent's answer.
Probing for Item
REASONREPORT
In some cases, a respondent's answer may seem to fit under
one of the major headings, but you are not sure which
precodes to enter. In this situation, you need to ask a general
probe question. For example, a respondent answers that he
thought the police should be aware of the incident. You see
the major heading, "TO LET POLICE KNOW," but you are not
sure which precode to enter. You could ask, "Can you be
more specific?" If the probe question does not work, then
you could ask, "Why did you feel that the police should be
notified?"
Since this item involves a respondent's feelings and
motivations, be extremely careful when asking probe
questions so you do not bias the respondent's answer. Keep
your initial probe question general and neutral. If the initial
probe question does not work, ask a more specific probe
question.
Only ask the structured probe question (which can be
accessed with the F1 key) for Item REASONREPORT when:
✓ You have asked general probe questions and the
respondent's answer still does not fit under one of the
major headings.
✓ The respondent's answer is so vague and obscure that it
would not be appropriate to ask a general probe question.
Verifying Answers
To ensure that all appropriate precodes are entered in Item
REASONREPORT, verify the answer categories that you
entered with the respondent BEFORE pressing “Enter” to
indicate that all responses have been entered. Here is an
example of how to verify the answers you entered with the
respondent: "I have entered (read descriptions for the
entered precodes). Do these reasons cover why you
Incident Report Items
B4-212
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
reported this incident to the police?"
Any precode entry/entries in Item REASONREPORT except
Precode (22) take(s) you to Item REPORTIMPORTANT. If
only Precode (22) is entered in Item REASONREPORT,
continue with Item POLICEARRIVE.
Answer Categories in Item
REASONREPORT
Since most of the answer categories in Item
REASONREPORT are self-explanatory, descriptions are
provided below only for the categories that require special
attention.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) ONLY when the respondent tells you that
he/she reported the incident to the police either at the time of
the incident or just prior to the incident in an effort to keep it
from happening. The respondent must have been present
during the incident in order to mark Precode (11).
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) when the respondent tells you that he/she
reported the incident to the police in an effort to get help
AFTER the incident, such as medical attention.
Do NOT enter Precode (12) if the incident was reported to:
✖ Recover property (Enter Precode (13)).
✖ Collect insurance money (Enter Precode (14)).
✖ Prevent the incident from happening again (Enter Precode
(15)).
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the respondent feels that he/she had a
legal or moral obligation to report the incident to the police.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if you have tried asking both general probe
questions and the structured probe question AND the
respondent’s reason still does not fit into one of the reasons in
Precodes (11) through (20). After entering Precode (21), enter
the reason on the “Specify” screen, Item
REASONREPORT_SPEC.
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22) if the respondent's only reason for
reporting the incident to the police was because it was a
Incident Report Items
B4-213
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
crime. If you enter Precode (22) along with other precodes,
Item REASONREPORT_CK appears as a pop-up. This is a
hard edit check:
Invalid entry. You cannot select answer category 22 “No other
reason” along with any other answer category in this item.
Questions involved
Value
Close
Goto
REASONREPORT_CK
Click on “Close” or “Goto” to return to REASONREPORT to
correct your entries.
Which of these would you say was the most important reason why the incident was reported to
the police?
12 Needed help due to injury, etc.
16 To stop off. from committing other crimes against anyone
22 Because it was a crime was most important
23 No one reason more important
REPORTIMPORTANT
REPORTIMPORTANT
Item REPORTIMPORTANT is used to identify which reason
from those reported in Item REASONREPORT the
respondent feels is the most important reason for reporting
the incident to the police. If necessary, read the reasons
displayed on the screen for Item REPORTIMPORTANT.
Based on the respondent's answer, enter the appropriate
precode. If the respondent seems to have difficulty making up
his/her mind, you could ask the following probe question: "If
you could only give one reason, which one would it be?"
The respondent may tell you that:
✓ His/her main reason for reporting the incident to the police
was that it was a crime. If so, enter Precode (22),
Incident Report Items
B4-214
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
"Because it was a crime was most important."
✓ Each reason is equally important. If so, enter Precode
(23), "No one reason more important."
After completing Item REPORTIMPORTANT, continue with
Item POLICEARRIVE.
Did the police come when they found out about the incident?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
4 Respondent went to police
POLICEARRIVE
POLICEARRIVE
Item POLICEARRIVE is the first of three questions intended
to find out what the police did after they were notified about
the incident. Item POLICEARRIVE is used to determine
whether the police actually came to talk in person with the
victimized person.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the police came to see and speak
to the victimized person either at the scene of the incident or
somewhere else. If the police only spoke to the victimized
person on the telephone, enter Precode (2), "No." After
entering Precode (1), continue with Item
TIMEPOLICEARRIVE.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the police were contacted and
never came to speak in person with the victimized person
and only communicated by telephone, mail, and so on. After
entering Precode (2), continue with Item POLICECONTACT.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent really does
not know whether the police came to speak in person with the
victimized person once they were notified. After entering
Precode (3), continue with Item POLICECONTACT.
Incident Report Items
B4-215
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (4)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (4), "Respondent went to police," if the
respondent went to notify the police in person about the
incident. After entering Precode (4), continue with Item
POLICEACTION.
How soon after the police found out did they respond?
Was it within 5 minutes, within 10 minutes, an hour, a day, or longer?
● Enter the code for the first answer category that the respondent is sure of.
1 Within 5 minutes
2 Within 10 minutes
3 Within an hour
4 Within a day
5 Longer than a day
6 Don't know how soon
TIMEPOLICEARRIVE
TIMEPOLICEARRIVE
Item TIMEPOLICEARRIVE is used to identify how much time
elapsed between the police being notified and the police
arriving in person to speak to the victimized person. Enter the
first category from Precodes (1) through (5) about which the
respondent feels sure.
Enter Precode (6) if the respondent really does not know how
soon after being contacted the police arrived to speak to the
victimized person, such as when someone else called the
police or the police went to the crime scene before coming to
speak to the victimized person.
After completing Item TIMEPOLICEARRIVE, continue with
Item POLICEACTION.
Incident Report Items
B4-216
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What did they do while they were there?
● Probe: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11 Took report
12 Searched/looked around
13 Took evidence (fingerprints, inventory, etc.)
14 Questioned witnesses or suspects
15 Promised surveillance
16 Promised to investigate
17 Made arrest
18 Other - specify
19 Don't know
POLICEACTION
POLICEACTION
Item POLICEACTION is used to determine what actions the
police took while they were with the victimized person during
their initial visit. Exclude any police actions taken after the
police left or during any subsequent visits with the victimized
person.
Since you need to enter all precodes that apply to the
respondent's answer, continue asking, "Anything else?"
until you get a "No" answer.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "Took report," if the police spoke to the
victimized person to find out what happened during the
incident.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), "Searched/looked around," if the police
searched the area of the incident for the offender(s) or for any
of the stolen property.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), "Took evidence," if the police took any
type of evidence that the offender(s) may have left at the
scene of the crime, such as fingerprints, a weapon, scraps of
clothing, a hair or blood sample, and so on.
Incident Report Items
B4-217
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), "Questioned witnesses or suspects," if
the police questioned any witnesses and suspects, as well as
potential witnesses and suspects (for example, neighbors,
co-workers, friends, and so on).
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), "Promised surveillance," if the police told
the victimized person that they will:
✓ Patrol the crime scene
OR
✓
Keep a lookout in the area where the victimized person
lives or works.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Promised to investigate," if the police
told the victimized person that they would do any of the
following things: question suspects, witnesses, or others,
pursue the offender(s), try to recover stolen property, etc.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Made arrest," if the respondent learned
that the police arrested a suspect(s) during the initial visit
from the police.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18), "Other," if the police took any actions
during their initial visit with the victimized person which are
not described in Precodes (11) through (17) and then fully
describe the action(s) taken on the "Specify" screen,
POLICEACTION_SPEC.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), "Don't know," if the respondent really
does not know what the police did during their initial visit with
the victimized person. For example, the respondent may not
have been present when the police made their visit.
After completing Item POLICEACTION, continue with Item
POLICECONTACT.
Incident Report Items
B4-218
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Did you (or anyone in your household) have any later contact with the police about the incident?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
POLICECONTACT
POLICECONTACT
Item POLICECONTACT is the first of four questions asking
about any subsequent contacts with the police about the
incident. Item POLICECONTACT is used to determine
whether the respondent or any other household member had
any later official contacts with the police about the incident.
For example, the police may have called the victimized
person or made another personal visit, or perhaps a
household member mailed a letter to the police inquiring
about the case.
Exclude any unofficial contacts with the police, such as a
casual conversation with a police officer who is a friend or
acquaintance.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," when:
✓ There was any contact between the household and the
police following the initial visit by the police, regardless of
who initiated the contact.
✓ The police did NOT make a personal visit when they were
originally contacted about the incident, but the police did
call or send a letter to the household after they were
contacted.
✓ The police did NOT make a personal visit when they were
originally contacted about the incident, but someone in
the household called or sent a letter to the police after
they initially notified the police.
After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
POLICEINTOUCH.
Incident Report Items
B4-219
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (2)
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (2), "No," when:
✓ There was no later contact between the household and
the police AFTER the initial visit by the police.
✓ There was no contact at all between the household and
the police after the police found out about the incident.
After entering Precode (2), continue with Item
SIGNCOMPLAINT.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," when the respondent does
not know whether there was any later contact with the police
about the incident. After entering Precode (3), continue with
Item SIGNCOMPLAINT.
Did the police get in touch with you or did you get in touch with them?
1 Police contacted respondent or other household member
2 Respondent or other household member contacted police
3 Both
4 Don’t know
5 Other - Specify
POLICEINTOUCH
POLICEINTOUCH
Item POLICEINTOUCH is used to determine who initiated the
later contact between the household and the police about the
incident. Enter the appropriate precode based on the
respondent's answer.
Precode (3)
Only enter Precode (3), "Both," if there was more than one
later contact and some were initiated by the police and others
were initiated by someone in the household.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent does not know who
initiated the contact.
Precode (5)
If you enter Precode (5), "Other," make sure to identify who
initiated the later contact(s) on the "Specify" screen,
POLICEINTOUCH_SPEC. Avoid entering Precode (5) if the
Incident Report Items
B4-220
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
respondent's answer fits Precode (1), (2), or (3).
After completing Item POLICEINTOUCH, continue with Item
HOWPOLICECONTACT.
Was that in person, by phone, or some other way?
1 In person
2 Not in person (by phone, mail, etc.)
3 Both in person and not in person
4 Don't know
HOWPOLICECONTACT
HOWPOLICECONTACT
Item HOWPOLICECONTACT is used to find out whether or
not the later contacts were made in person.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if ALL later contacts were made in person,
regardless of who initiated the contacts.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if ALL later contacts were made by some
means OTHER THAN IN PERSON, such as by telephone,
FAX, mail, electronic mail, and so on.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if there were two or more later contacts
AND at least one later contact was made in person AND at
least one later contact was made by some other means, such
as by phone.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if, after probing, the respondent does not
know whether the later contacts were made in person or by
some other means.
After completing Item HOWPOLICECONTACT, continue with
Item POLICEFOLLOWUP.
Incident Report Items
B4-221
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What did the police do in following up this incident?
● PROBE: Anything else?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
11 Took report
12 Questioned witnesses or suspects
13 Did or promised surveillance/investigation
14 Recovered property
15 Made arrest
16 Stayed in touch with respondent/household
17 Other - Specify
18 Nothing (to the respondent's knowledge)
19 Don't know
POLICEFOLLOWUP
POLICEFOLLOWUP
Item POLICEFOLLOWUP is used to determine what actions
the police took to follow up on the incident, EXCLUDING
actions that were already identified in Item POLICEACTION
and were only taken during the initial contact.
Since you need to enter all precodes that apply to the
respondent's answer, continue asking, "Anything else?" until
you get a "No" response.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11), "Took report," if the police filled out a
second report or spoke to the victimized person again since
their first contact after the incident.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12), "Questioned witnesses or suspects," if,
after the initial contact, the police questioned any witnesses
and suspects, as well as potential witnesses and suspects
(for example, neighbors, co-workers, friends, and so on).
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13), "Did or promised surveillance/
investigation," if, after initial contact, police investigated the
incident or told the respondent that they would investigate,
such as questioning suspects, witnesses, or others, pursuing
the offender(s), or trying to recover stolen property.
Incident Report Items
B4-222
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14), "Recovered property," if the police were
able to recover stolen property.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15), "Made arrest," if the respondent learned
that the police arrested a suspect(s) after their initial visit to
the household.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16), "Stayed in touch with respondent/
household," if the police stayed in contact with someone in
the household by any means, such as by phone, mail, etc.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17), "Other," if the police took a later action
that does not fit the descriptions for Precodes (11) through
(16). After entering Precode (17), make sure to identify the
action taken on the "Specify" screen,
POLICEFOLLOWUP_SPEC.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18), "Nothing," if the respondent thinks that
no actions were taken by the police following the initial visit
by the police.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19), "Don't know," if the respondent does not
know what actions were taken since the incident happened.
After completing Item POLICEFOLLOWUP, continue with
Item SIGNCOMPLAINT.
Did you or someone in your household sign a complaint against the offender(s) to the police
department or the authorities?
1 Yes
2 No
SIGNCOMPLAINT
SIGNCOMPLAINT
Item SIGNCOMPLAINT is used to determine whether anyone
in the household signed a complaint against the offender(s)
to the police department or another authority. The complaint
could be any type of official report signed by a household
member in which one or more persons are NAMED as the
offenders in the incident. The official report could be filed with
a police department or some other legal authority, such as
Incident Report Items
B4-223
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
the FBI, immigration officials, and so on.
After completing Item SIGNCOMPLAINT, continue with Item
ARRESTMADE.
Ask or verify:
As far as you know, was anyone arrested or were charges brought against anyone in connection
with this incident?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
ARRESTMADE
ARRESTMADE
Item ARRESTMADE is used to find out if anyone:
✓ Was arrested in connection with the incident
OR
✓ Had charges brought against him/her.
You may already know the answer to this question. If so,
verify the answer without asking the question.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent knows or has
heard that someone was arrested or had charges brought
against him/her in connection with the incident.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), “No,” if the person was only questioned
about the incident or held in custody and then released
without being charged.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent does not know whether
anyone was arrested or charged in connection with the
incident.
After completing Item ARRESTMADE, continue with Item
Incident Report Items
B4-224
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
AGENCYHELP.
Did you or someone in your household receive any help or advice from any office or agency other than the police -that deals with victims of crime?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
AGENCYHELP
AGENCYHELP
AGENCYHELP is the first of two items asking about any help
the household may have received from an office or agency
that deals with crime victims, excluding the police
department. Item AGENCYHELP is used to determine
whether the household received help or advice from an office
or agency which provides assistance to crime victims.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if anyone in the household received
help or advice as a direct result of the incident and this help
or advice was in the form of financial or legal advice,
counseling, preventing similar crimes in the future, and so on.
The help or advice could have come from any office or
agency that deals specifically with crime victims, with the
exception of the police department. After entering Precode
(1), continue with Item TYPEOFAGENCY.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if no one in the household received
any help or advice from an office or agency set up to assist
crime victims. Also enter Precode (2) if the only help received
by the household came from:
✓ The police department
OR
✓ Private individuals or a group that is not trained
specifically to handle crime victims, such as neighbors,
relatives, psychologists, a family doctor, a priest or
minister, and so on.
Incident Report Items
B4-225
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
After entering Precode (2), either:
Continue with Item CONTACTAUTHORITIES if the police
were informed about the incident (Precode (1) entered in
Item POLICEINFORMED.)
OR
Precode (3)
Continue with Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME if the police
were NOT informed about the incident (Precode (2) or (3)
entered in Item POLICEINFORMED.)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent really does
not know whether anyone in the household received help or
advice from an office or agency set up to assist crime victims.
After entering Precode (3):
Continue with Item CONTACTAUTHORITIES if the police
were informed about the incident (Precode (1) entered in
Item POLICEINFORMED.)
OR
Continue with Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME if the police
were NOT informed about the incident (Precode (2) or (3)
entered in Item POLICEINFORMED.)
Was that a government or a private agency?
1 Government
2 Private
3 Don't know
TYPEOFAGENCY
TYPEOFAGENCY
Precode (1)
Item TYPEOFAGENCY is used to identify whether the office
or agency who assisted the household was a government or
private agency.
Enter Precode (1) if the office or agency is supported by
Federal, state, or local government taxes.
Incident Report Items
B4-226
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the office or agency is supported by
private funds or charitable contributions.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if, after probing, the respondent really does
not know who supports the office or agency that provided
assistance to the household.
After completing Item TYPEOFAGENCY, either:
Continue with Item CONTACTAUTHORITIES if the police
were informed about the incident (Precode (1) entered in
Item POLICEINFORMED.)
OR
Continue with Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME if the police
were NOT informed about the incident (Precode (2) or (3)
entered in Item POLICEINFORMED.)
Have you (or someone in your household) had contact with any other authorities about this
incident, (such as a prosecutor, court, or juvenile officer)?
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
CONTACTAUTHORITIES
CONTACTAUTHORITIES
Item CONTACTAUTHORITIES is the first of two items used
to determine if anyone in the household has had contact with
an authority about the incident, OTHER THAN the police or
an agency identified in Item AGENCYHELP. By authority, we
mean a prosecutor, a court or juvenile officer, and so on.
If you enter Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item
AUTHORITIES. If you enter either Precode (2), "No," or
Precode (3), "Don't know," continue with Item
ANYTHINGFURTHER.
Incident Report Items
B4-227
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Which authorities?
● Probe: Any others?
● Enter all that apply, separate with commas.
1 Prosecutor, district attorney
2 Magistrate
3 Court
4 Juvenile, probation or parole officer
5 Other - specify
AUTHORITIES
AUTHORITIES
Item AUTHORITIES is used to identify which authorities a
household member has contacted about the incident. Since
more than one authority may have been contacted, continue
asking, "Any others?" until you get a "No" reply. If you enter
Precode (5), "Other," because the authority mentioned by the
respondent is not described in Precodes (1) through (4),
make sure to identify the authority on the "Specify" screen,
AUTHORITIES_SPEC. After completing Item
AUTHORITIES, continue with Item ANYTHINGFURTHER.
Do you expect the police, courts, or other authorities will be doing anything further in connection
with this incident?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
ANYTHINGFURTHER
ANYTHINGFURTHER
Item ANYTHINGFURTHER is used to find out if the
respondent knows or feels that any authority (police, courts,
and so on) will do anything further about the incident. This
could include bringing suspects to trial, questioning suspects,
offering a reward, investigating, or surveillance. Exclude any
counseling that could be provided because of this incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-228
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
If you enter Precode (1), "Yes," make sure to describe the
actions that the respondent knows or feels will be taken on
the “Specify” screen, ANYTHINGFURTHER_SPEC. After
completing Item ANYTHINGFURTHER, continue with Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-229
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 3. Screen Layout and Instructions for
Items DOINGATINCIDENTTIME Through SUMMARY
● Ask or verify:
What were you doing when this incident (happened/started)?
11 Working or on duty
12 On the way to or from work
13 On the way to or from school
14 On the way to or from other place
15 Shopping, errands
16 Attending school
17 Leisure activity away from home
18 Sleeping
19 Other activities at home
20 Other - Specify
21 Don't know
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME is used to identify what the
respondent or proxy person was doing when the incident
happened or started. It is not necessary for the respondent or
proxy person to have been at the crime scene to answer this
question. If the respondent or proxy person was not present
during the incident, the instrument displays the word
“happened” when asking this question. Otherwise, it displays
the word “started.”
Proxy Interviews
Starting with Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME, you will
again ask each question about the proxy person and not
of the proxy respondent. Only Items POLICEFINDOUT
through ANYTHINGFURTHER are asked directly of the proxy
respondent.
Answer Categories in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
Since most of the answer categories in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME are self-explanatory, descriptions
are provided below only for the categories that require special
attention.
Incident Report Items
B4-230
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precodes (11) and (12)
Part B, Chapter 4
Enter Precode (11) if the respondent or proxy person was
working or on duty for his/her job when the incident began or
happened. Enter Precode (12) if the respondent or proxy
person was commuting to or from work when the incident
began or happened. After entering Precode (11), continue
with Item EMPLOYERTYPE.
After entering Precode (12), either:
Continue with Item LOSTWORKTIME if the respondent
was injured in the incident (Precodes (12) - (21) entered
in Item INJURY.)
OR
Continue with Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME if the
respondent was NOT injured in the incident.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the respondent or proxy person was
traveling to or from school when the incident started.
However, if the incident started while the respondent or proxy
person was in class during the school day, enter Precode
(16).
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the respondent or proxy person was in
class during the school day when the incident started.
However, if the incident started while commuting to or from
school, enter Precode (13).
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) when the respondent or proxy person
was involved in an activity at his/her home when the incident
started and the activity is not described in a previous answer
category for Precodes (11) through (18).
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the respondent or proxy person was
doing something when the incident started that does not fit
any of the previous answer categories in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME. After entering Precode (20),
make sure to describe the activity on the "Specify" screen,
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME_SPEC.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if the respondent or proxy person really
does not know what he/she was doing when the incident
started. For instance, the respondent or proxy person could
Incident Report Items
B4-231
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
have been away from home on vacation when his/her house
was broken into and may not know exactly when the incident
took place and what he/she was doing.
● Ask or verify:
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
1 Yes
2 No
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT is used to determine whether or
not the respondent had a job or business at the time of the
incident. If you know the answer by this point in the interview,
just verify the answer without asking the question.
For the NCVS, consider the respondent as having a job or
business if:
✓ There is a definite arrangement to work for pay or profit
either full time or part time.
✓ The respondent was self-employed in his/her own
business/farm or partnership.
✓ The respondent was working without pay on a family farm
or in a family business.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if any of the conditions mentioned
above existed at the time of the incident, even if the
respondent was temporarily absent from the job due to a
vacation, illness, bad weather, strike, or temporary layoff.
After entering Precode (1), either:
Continue with Item LOSTWORKTIME if the respondent
was injured in the incident (Precodes (12) - (21) entered
in Item INJURY.)
OR
Incident Report Items
B4-232
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (2)
Continue with Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME if the
respondent was NOT injured in the incident.
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent did not have a job
or business at the time of the incident. After entering Precode
(2), continue with Item MAJORACTIVITY.
What was your major activity the week of the incident - were you looking for work, keeping
house, going to school, or doing something else?
1 Looking for work
2 Keeping house
3 Going to school
4 Unable to work
5 Retired
6 Other - Specify
MAJORACTIVITY
MAJORACTIVITY
Item MAJORACTIVITY is used to find out what the
respondent's major activity was during the week of the
incident, since he/she did not have a job or business. As you
ask this question, make sure to read each of the examples in
the question.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent was attempting to find a
job or trying to start a business or profession during the week
of the incident. Examples of "looking for work" include:
✓ Registration at an employment office.
✓ FAXing your resume to potential employers.
✓ Meeting and interviewing with prospective employers.
✓ Placing or answering advertisements in newspapers or on
the Internet.
✓ Gathering information about starting his/her own
Incident Report Items
B4-233
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
business.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent spent most of his/her
time during the week of the incident doing work around
his/her own home. Examples of "keeping house" include:
✓ Cooking, washing clothes, cleaning house, and so on.
✓ Caring for his/her own children, step-children, or foster
children, as well as children who are brothers, sisters, or
other relatives of the respondent.
✓ Overseeing the care of the home, even if the actual work
is done by a paid maid or housekeeper.
✓ Cutting the lawn, painting the house, working in the
garden (other than on a family farm), etc.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent spent the majority of the
week of the incident attending any kind of public or private
school, including trade or vocational schools. If the
respondent would normally be attending school that week,
but was out sick or on a short vacation, still enter Precode
(3).
Do NOT enter Precode (3) if the incident happened during
the respondent's summer vacation, unless the respondent
was attending summer school during the week of the
incident.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent was unable to do ANY
kind of work during the week of the incident because he/she
has a LONG-TERM physical or mental illness or disability.
However, if the respondent is only TEMPORARILY ILL or
disabled and is expected to be well enough to work at some
kind of gainful employment within 6 months after the incident,
enter Precode (6), "Other," and explain the situation on the
"Specify" screen, MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) if the respondent says that he/she was
retired during the week of the incident. However, if the
respondent has only cut back on the number of hours worked
or was semi-retired during the week of the incident, you
Incident Report Items
B4-234
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
should enter Precode (1) in Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT to
indicate that the respondent did have a job at the time of the
incident.
Precode (6)
Enter Precode (6) if the respondent mentions a major activity
during the week of the incident that is not covered in
Precodes (1) through (5). After entering Precode (6), make
sure to explain the activity on the "Specify" screen,
MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC, such as caring for a terminally ill
spouse, child, or parent, or on summer vacation from school.
After completing Item MAJORACTIVITY, continue with Item
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME to determine if any other
household members lost time from work due to the incident.
Now I have a few questions about the job at which you worked during the time of the incident.
Were you employed by -● Read each category - then enter appropriate code
1 A private company, business, or individual for wages?
2 The Federal government?
3 A State, county, or local government?
4 Yourself (Self-employed) in your own business, professional practice, or farm?
5 A private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization?
EMPLOYERTYPE
EMPLOYERTYPE
Items EMPLOYERTYPE through ISCURRENTJOB are
asked when Precode (11) is entered in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME. Notice that there is an
introductory statement printed above the question in Item
EMPLOYERTYPE. Make sure that you read this sentence to
the respondent BEFORE asking the question in Item
EMPLOYERTYPE. This statement lets the respondent know
that the following questions relate to the job at which he/she
was working during the time of the incident.
Each of the answer categories in Item EMPLOYERTYPE
signifies a different “Class of Worker” type. Ask the
Incident Report Items
B4-235
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
respondent about each category as a separate question. For
example: “Were you employed by a private company,
business, or individual for wages?” After asking this
question, wait for the respondent’s answer. If you get a “Yes”
answer, enter Precode (1) and you will continue with Item
INCORPORATED. If you get a “No” answer, ask the second
question, “Were you employed by the Federal
government?” Follow this procedure until you get a “Yes”
answer.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) when a respondent worked for a PRIVATE
employer for wages, salary, commission, tips, piece-rates, or
pay in kind. After entering Precode (1), continue with Item
INCORPORATED.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) when a respondent:
✓ Worked for any branch of the Federal government.
✓ Was elected to a paid Federal office.
✓ Was a member of the Armed Forces.
✓ Was employed by an international organization (for
example, the United Nations) or a foreign government.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) when a respondent worked in any branch
of a state, county, or local government. This also includes
respondents who were elected to paid state, county, or local
offices. After entering Precode (3), continue with Item
EMPLOYERNAME.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) when a respondent was self-employed for
profit or fees in his/her OWN business, farm, shop, office,
practice, etc. After entering Precode (4), continue with Item
INCORPORATED.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) when a respondent was employed for PAY
at the time of the incident by a church, union, or some other
type of private nonprofit organization. After entering Precode
(5), continue with Item INCORPORATED.
Incident Report Items
B4-236
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Is this business incorporated?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
INCORPORATED
INCORPORATED
If the respondent was working at the time of the incident for a
private company, his/her own private business, or for a
private, not-for-profit organization, you will continue with Item
INCORPORATED. Item INCORPORATED is used to
determine whether the business or organization is
incorporated.
The respondent should know whether or not his/her employer
is a legal corporation. Enter Precode (1) for a “Yes” answer or
Precode (2) for “No” answer. However, if the respondent
really does not know, enter Precode (3) for “Don’t know.”
What is the name of the company/agency/org for which you worked at the time of the incident?
EMPLOYERNAME
EMPLOYERNAME
Item EMPLOYERNAME is used to identify the name of the
respondent’s employer at the time of the incident. Census
Bureau coders working in the National Processing Center
need this key piece of information to assign the correct
industry code to the respondent’s employer. Record this
information accurately.
Even though a respondent may be reluctant to provide the
name of his/her employer, make every effort to collect this
information without badgering the respondent. In some
cases, you may succeed by just reassuring a respondent
that the information he/she provides is confidential.
Incident Report Items
B4-237
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What kind of business or industry is this?
● Read if necessary:
What do they make or do where you worked at the time of the incident?
TYPEBUSINESS
TYPEBUSINESS
Item TYPEBUSINESS is used to determine the kind of
business or industry that is transacted by the respondent’s
employer at the time of the incident. This is another key piece
of information needed to assign the correct industry code for
a respondent’s employer.
To ensure that our coders can assign an accurate industry
code, enter a clear and specific description of the kind of
business or industry:
What is the purpose of the business?
OR
What type of products are produced by the industry?
Structured Probe
If the respondent hesitates in giving you an answer to your
initial question in Item TYPEBUSINESS, also ask the
structured probe question: “What do they make or do
where you/name worked at the time of the incident?” This
probe question may help the respondent to understand what
type of description we want for this item.
Be Specific
Avoid entering descriptions that are too general, such as:
✖ “It’s a mining company.”
✖ “The business provides a repair service.”
✖ “It’s a computer-related business.”
✖ “It’s a retail store.”
Some examples of better descriptions:
Incident Report Items
B4-238
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
✓ “Mines/transports coal/byproducts”
✓ “Repairs small home appliances”
✓ “Designs/sells computer software”
✓ “Operates two large hardware stores”
Enter descriptions that are specific. Avoid using unnecessary
words that make descriptions too long. This item allows for 50
characters.
Is this mainly . . .
● Read answer categories
1
2
3
4
Manufacturing?
Retail trade?
Wholesale trade?
Something else?
BUSINESSSECTOR
BUSINESSSECTOR
Item BUSINESSSECTOR is used to identify the major type of
industry in which the respondent was working at the time of
the incident:
Manufacturing
Retail trade
Wholesale trade
Something else
Distinguishing between these types of industries is important.
If this item is marked incorrectly, coders will not be able to
assign an accurate industry code.
Start by asking, “Is this mainly manufacturing?” Wait for
the respondent’s answer. If you get a “Yes” answer, enter
Precode (1) and continue with Item OCCUPATIONDESC. If
you get a “No” answer, continue by asking, “Retail trade?”
Follow this procedure until you get a “Yes” answer.
Incident Report Items
B4-239
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), “Manufacturing,” if a respondent’s
employer makes and sells its products in large quantities or
lots to other manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), “Retail trade,” if a respondent’s employer
sells primarily to individual consumers or users, but seldom
makes products.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), “Wholesale trade,” if a respondent’s
employer buys, rather than makes, products in large
quantities or lots for resale to retailers, industrial users, or to
other wholesalers.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4), “Something else,” if a respondent’s
employer does not manufacture or sell products as a
wholesaler or a retailer. Examples of some employers that fit
into the “Something else” category are:
When To Probe
Car repair shops,
Accounting firms,
Medical centers,
Trucking companies, or
Banks.
Some firms are engaged in more than one type of business
or activity. When you encounter this situation, do some
additional probing to determine the most appropriate category
to enter in Item BUSINESSSECTOR.
If you discover that the respondent’s employer conducts
business at more than one location (for example, making
copy machines at one location and making chemicals used
by the copy machines at another location), collect data for the
location at which the respondent works.
If you discover that the respondent’s employer conducts a
variety of activities at the same location (for example, a
gasoline station that also sells groceries), probe to determine
which activity or product the respondent is most directly
involved with in his/her job. For example, if the respondent
primarily sells groceries at the gasoline station, enter Precode
(2), “Retail trade.” However, if the respondent primarily works
as a mechanic servicing motor vehicles at the gasoline
station, enter Precode (4), “Something else.”
Incident Report Items
B4-240
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
What kind of work did you do, that is, what was your occupation at the time of the incident?
● For example: plumber, typist, farmer
OCCUPATIONDESC
OCCUPATIONDESC
Item OCCUPATIONDESC asks about the kind of work or
occupation the respondent had at the time of the incident. In
addition to assigning an industry code for the respondent’s
employer, the coders also assign an occupation code for the
respondent’s job based on:
The kind of work described in Item OCCUPATIONDESC
and
The respondent’s most important activities or duties
described in Item USUALJOBDUTIES.
Enter complete and accurate descriptions for these items, so
coders can assign the correct occupation code.
Job Title vs. Kind of Work
The “kind of work” descriptions that our coders need must
clearly specify the type of work the respondent does on
his/her job, and this is not necessarily the respondent’s job
title. For some occupations, the common descriptions or
general job titles that a respondent provides are not sufficient
for coders to assign the correct occupation code.
Self-Employed Persons
When a respondent is self-employed, only enter “Manager”
as his/her occupation if the person actually spends most of
the workday managing his/her business. Otherwise, enter the
kind of work the respondent spends the majority of his/her
time doing, such as plumber, hair stylist, dentist, house
painter, and so on. Describe the respondent’s actual trade or
craft, when that is the kind of work that the respondent
spends most of his/her time doing for the business.
Avoid Entering
Department or
Work Place Titles
Avoid entering kind of work entries such as “Works in
shipping department” or “Works in the warehouse.” These
entries do not adequately describe the kind of work done by
the respondent. If the respondent inspects outgoing products
Incident Report Items
B4-241
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
for the shipping department, enter “Inspects outgoing
products for shipping dept.” If the respondent is a clerk who
monitors inventory in a warehouse, enter “Clerk monitoring
warehouse inventory.”
Apprentice vs. Trainee
There is a difference between someone who is an apprentice
and someone who is a trainee. An apprentice is under
contract during his/her training period, but a trainee is not. If a
respondent tells you that he/she is in an apprenticeship or
trainee program, make sure to enter both the person’s
occupation or kind of work, along with the term “apprentice”
or “trainee.” For example, you may need to enter “Apprentice
plumber” or “Buyer trainee.”
Machinist vs. Machine
Operator vs. Mechanic
Although all three titles sound similar, there are major
differences in the kind of work done by a machinist, a
machine operator, and a mechanic.
A machinist is a skilled craftsman who constructs metal
parts, tools, and machines through the use of blueprints,
machine and hand tools, and precise measuring instruments.
A machine operator runs a factory machine, such as a drill
press operator.
A mechanic inspects, services, repairs, or overhauls
machinery.
Secretary vs.
“Official Secretary”
The title secretary applies to someone who does secretarial
work in an office. The title official secretary applies to
someone who is an elected or appointed officer of a
business, union, or other organization.
Probing for Difficult to
Code Occupations
Avoid entering a one-word response, because it will usually
be too general for coders to assign the correct occupation
code. For these situations, we provide the following table
along with a suggested probe for each occupation. These
probes are written to encourage the respondent to provide a
more specific description of the kind of work he/she does on
the job. This table is also available as a separate job aid,
“Difficult to Code Occupations.”
Incident Report Items
B4-242
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Occupation
Part B, Chapter 4
Suggested Probe
Assembler
What do you assemble? For example, do you assemble
automobiles, electric motors, farm equipment, sheet metal, or
something else?
Clerk
What type of clerk are you? For example, do you handle
accounting, billing, filing, shipping, statistical data, sales, or
something else?
Engineer
What kind of engineer are you? For example, are you a civil,
electrical, mechanical, nuclear, chemical, train, stationary,
building, or some other type of engineer?
Inspector
What type of things do you inspect? For example, do you
inspect automobiles, restaurants, houses, buildings, meats, or
something else?
Manager
What type of manager are you? For example, do you manage a
bakery, garage, hotel, office, property, store, or something else?
Machinist
Do you set up AND operate machines?
Machine operator
How many machines do you operate? Also, what type of
machine do you operate primarily?
Mechanic
What type of mechanic are you? For example, do you service
and repair automobile bodies, engines, appliances, trucks,
valves, or something else?
Nurse
What type of nurse are you? For example, are you registered,
licensed, practical, vocational, a nursing aide, or some other
type of nurse?
Researcher
What is your field of research?
Sales Worker
What do you sell? For example, do you sell advertising, cars,
houses, insurance, shoes, tickets, or something else?
Supervisor
Who or what do you supervise? For example, do you supervise
clerical workers, counselors, laborers, field representatives, or
someone else?
Teacher
Do you teach at the preschool, elementary, high school, or
college level? Also, which subjects do you teach?
Incident Report Items
B4-243
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What were your usual activities or duties at this job?
USUALJOBDUTIES
USUALJOBDUTIES
Item USUALJOBDUTIES is used to describe the usual
activities or duties a respondent performs at his/her job. This
is the second key piece of information that our coders use to
assign an occupation code. What you enter in Item
USUALJOBDUTIES is especially useful when a simple job
title does not provide enough information to code the
occupation.
Some examples of entries you may need to enter in Item
USUALJOBDUTIES:
Keeping account books
Selling new and used motor vehicles
Laying bricks and stone
Typing and filing letters, reports, memos, etc.
If a respondent tells you that his/her job duties are classified,
do NOT probe. If this happens, enter “Information is
classified.”
While working at this job, did you work mostly in –
● Read each category - then enter appropriate precode
1
2
3
4
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
Combination of any of these?
JOBMSATYPE
JOBMSATYPE
Item JOBMSATYPE is asked to find out if the respondent
was working in a city, suburban area, rural area, or a
combination of any of these areas at the time of the
Incident Report Items
B4-244
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
incident. This type of information will help the survey’s
sponsor to determine if specific areas are more prone to
crime.
For Item JOBMSATYPE, read each answer category as part
of the question until you get a "Yes" response. Since most
respondents will know how to answer this question, let the
respondent select the type of area. When a respondent
worked for more than one employer, enter the precode for the
area in which he/she worked the greater number of hours.
Avoid entering Precode (4), "Combination of any of these?"
unless a respondent insists that the area he/she worked
MOST of the time was a combination of city, suburban, and
rural.
After completing Item JOBMSATYPE, continue with Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK.
● Ask or verify:
Did this incident happen at your work site?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don't know
4 Other - specify
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK
Precode (1)
Item INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK is used to determine
whether the incident happened at the respondent's work site
for any job held by the respondent at the time of the incident.
If you already know the answer to this question, you can
verify the answer without asking the question.
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the incident happened while the
respondent was at his/her work site, which is considered the
place where his/her USUAL day-to-day activities take place.
Some examples of work sites include in an office, hospital,
taxi cab, convenience store, beauty parlor, etc.
Incident Report Items
B4-245
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If the respondent works from an office or workshop in his/her
home and the incident occurred in the office or workshop,
also enter Precode (1), "Yes." However, do NOT enter
Precode (1) if the incident happened somewhere else in the
house, garage, or property OTHER THAN in the office or
workshop.
If the respondent has no usual work site, such as a traveling
salesperson, his/her work site is the place where he/she was
working when the incident occurred.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the incident happened at a location
OTHER THAN the respondent's work site, such as at a
meeting in another office building during working hours, out of
town on a business trip, and so on.
Also enter Precode (2) if the incident happened at the parking
lot at the respondent’s work site.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3), "Don't know," if the respondent really does
not know if the incident occurred at his/her work site. Only
enter Precode (3) as a last resort.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent's answer requires more
than just a "Yes" or "No" reply and then use the "Specify"
screen, INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK_SPEC, to answer this
question. After completing Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK, continue with Item
WORKDAYNIGHT.
Did you usually work days or nights?
1 Days
2 Nights
3 Both days and nights/rotating shifts
WORKDAYNIGHT
WORKDAYNIGHT
Item WORKDAYNIGHT is used to find out if the respondent
worked primarily days, nights, or rotating shifts at the time of
the incident. Enter Precode (1) for "Days," Precode (2) for
Incident Report Items
B4-246
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
"Nights," and Precode (3) for "Both days and nights/rotating
shifts." After completing Item WORKDAYNIGHT, continue
with Item ISCURRENTJOB.
Is this your current job?
1 Yes
2 No
ISCURRENTJOB
ISCURRENTJOB
Item ISCURRENTJOB is used to determine whether the
respondent’s job at the time of the incident is also his/her
current job at the time of the interview.
Continue with Item LOSTWORKTIME if the respondent
was injured in the incident (Precodes (12) - (21) entered
in Item INJURY.)
OR
Continue with Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME if the
respondent was NOT injured in the incident.
Did YOU lose time from work becauseof injuries you suffered in this incident?
1
2
Yes
No
LOSTWORKTIME
LOSTWORKTIME
Item LOSTWORKTIME is used to find out if the
respondent/victim of the incident lost time from work
because of his/her own injuries that were suffered during
the incident. Later in the interview, Items
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME and
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST are used to identify any
other household members who lost time from work
because of the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-247
Part B, Chapter 4
Defining Terms
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Work - For this item, work is considered a job or business
rather than housework, school, or other activities.
Time lost from work - For this item, time lost from work
could be time away from his/her job or business due to:
✓ Injuries suffered in the incident or
✓ Visits to a doctor or hospital to receive medical care
for injuries suffered during the incident.
Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer and then continue
with Item AMOUNTTIMELOST. Enter Precode (2) for a
"No" answer; continue with Item
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
How much time did you lose because of injuries?
● Enter 0 if time lost was less than one day.
● If over 200 days, enter 200.
AMOUNTTIMELOST
AMOUNTTIMELOST
Item AMOUNTTIMELOST is used to identify how much
time the respondent lost from work due to the injuries
he/she suffered from the incident. Include time lost from
work up to the day of the interview.
If the respondent lost one or more days from work, enter
the number of whole days in the answer space. If the
respondent answers in hours, always determine whether
the hours were missed all in one day or more than one
day. For example, if the respondent lost a few hours on
one day for physical therapy and a few hours on another
day to visit the doctor, enter "2" for the number of days,
even though the respondent was at work a portion of each
day. After entering the number of days missed from work,
continue with Item LOSTPAYNOMEDINS.
Incident Report Items
B4-248
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Don’t know
If the respondent is unable to give an answer, always ask
for his/her best estimate. If the respondent is still unable
to give an estimate, use “Ctrl + D” to indicate a “Don’t
know” response. Only enter “Ctrl + D” as a last resort. The
instrument goes to Item LOSTPAYNOMEDINS.
Precode (0)
Enter Precode (0) (zero) if the respondent lost less than
one workday due to his/her injuries from the incident.
After entering Precode (0), continue with Item
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
During these days, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment insurance, sick
leave, or some other source?
1 Yes
2 No
LOSTPAYNOMEDINS
LOSTPAYNOMEDINS
Defining Terms
Item LOSTPAYNOMEDINS is used to discover whether
the respondent lost any pay because the time lost from
work was not covered by unemployment insurance, sick
leave, or some other source.
Unemployment insurance - Includes any money
received from State unemployment insurance funds or
railroad unemployment benefits.
Sick leave - Includes continued payment of wages by
the respondent's employer while the respondent is
unable to work due to illness or injury.
Some other source - Includes any money received
from private insurance plans, worker's compensation,
and so on. Worker's compensation is periodic money
payments made to workers who are injured on the job
and in some states to workers with non-occupational
temporary disability or illness. Compensation checks
could come from the state, private insurance
companies, or from private businesses that insure
their own workers.
Incident Report Items
B4-249
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent lost pay
and was NOT compensated monetarily for the time
away from his/her job due to injuries from the incident.
Also enter Precode (1) for a self-employed respondent
who was paid for the time lost from work, but was
obligated to hire someone to take his/her place. After
entering Precode (1), continue with Item
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent was
compensated monetarily for the time lost from work
due to his/her injuries from the incident. After entering
Precode (2), continue with Item
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
About how much pay did you lose?
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED
Item AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED is used to
determine how much pay the respondent lost
because he/she was unable to work due to injuries
from the incident. Also, if a self-employed
respondent was compensated monetarily for
his/her pay, but was required to hire someone to
take his/her place, record the amount paid to the
replacement as lost pay.
Enter the amount of lost pay in whole dollars in the
answer space provided in Item
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED. Round the amount
up or down as necessary. For example, if the
amount given was $670.50, enter "671," and, if the
amount given was $670.49, enter "670." If the
amount was less than $1, enter "1."
If the respondent has difficulty giving you a dollar
Incident Report Items
B4-250
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
amount, ask for his/her best estimate. Only enter
“Ctrl + D” for “Don’t know” as a last resort.
After completing Item AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED,
continue with Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
Did YOU lose any (other) time from work because of this incident for such things as cooperating
with a police investigation, testifying in court, or repairing or replacing damaged or stolen
property?
● Probe: Any other reason?
● Enter all that apply, separated by commas
1 Police related activities
2 Court related activities
3 Repairing damaged property
4 Replacing stolen items
5 Other - specify
6 None (did not lose time from work for any of these reasons)
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
LOSTOTHERWORK TIME
Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME is used to find out if the
respondent lost time from work for purposes OTHER
THAN those related to his/her injuries suffered during
the incident.
If the respondent lost time from work due to their
injuries the instrument displays the word “other” in the
first line of the question as shown above; otherwise,
“other” is not shown.
As you ask the question, pause after each example
included in the question to allow the respondent time to
answer. Enter all precodes that relate to the
respondent’s answer, separating them with commas.
Continue asking “Any other reason?” until you get a
“No” response, then press “Enter” when you are done.
Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME relates specifically to
Incident Report Items
B4-251
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
time lost from work by the respondent only; that is, the
person who was victimized during the incident. Items
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME and
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST collect similar
information for other household members.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1) if the respondent lost time from work
due to police-related activities, such as cooperating
with an investigation by identifying suspects in a lineup,
helping to construct a composite drawing of the
offender, identifying stolen items, and so on.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2) if the respondent lost time from work
due to court-related activities, such as testifying in
court, attending a trial or hearing, talking to an attorney
(either the prosecutor, the defense attorney, or the
respondent's own lawyer), and so on.
Precode (3)
Enter Precode (3) if the respondent lost time from work
to repair property damaged during the incident, drop off
and pick up a damaged motor vehicle at a repair shop,
visit an optician to repair damaged eyeglasses, wait for
a locksmith, and so on.
Precode (4)
Enter Precode (4) if the respondent lost time from work
to replace stolen items, such as waiting for delivery
persons, getting a replacement driver's license, Social
Security card, credit card, checkbook, and so on.
Precode (5)
Enter Precode (5) if the respondent lost time from work
for a reason that is not covered in the descriptions for
Precodes (1) through (4). After entering Precode (5),
explain the reason on the "Specify" screen,
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME_SPEC.
For Precodes (1) through (5), continue with Item
DAYSLOSTWORK.
Precode (6)
Enter Precode (6) if the respondent did not lose any
time from work due to this incident, excluding any time
lost due to injuries from the incident. If you enter
Precode (6), do not enter any other precodes in Item
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME. After entering Precode (6),
continue with Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME when
Incident Report Items
B4-252
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
there are other household members listed on the
household roster. Otherwise, continue with:
Item TYPETRANSPORTATION when Precode (12)
(13) or (14) was entered at Item INCIDENTTIME
OR
Item SERIESNUMTIMES if the incident is part of a
series of crimes
OR
Item INCIDENTHATECRIME if the incident is NOT
part of a series of crimes
How much time did you lose altogether because of...
-- police related activities
● Enter 0 if time lost was less than one day
● If over 200 days, enter 200
DAYSLOSTWORK
DAYSLOSTWORK
Item DAYSLOSTWORK is used to identify how much
time the respondent lost from work to take care of
ALL of the tasks identified in
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME. As you ask the question
in Item DAYSLOSTWORK, read the reason(s) that
are listed on the screen, which are the precodes
selected in LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
Include time lost up to the day of the interview. If the
respondent lost one or more days from work, enter
the number of whole days in Item
DAYSLOSTWORK. If the respondent answers in
hours, always determine whether the hours were
missed all in one day or more than one day.
Incident Report Items
B4-253
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When calculating the number of days missed from
work, it is not necessary for the respondent to have
missed an entire workday. For example, the
respondent may have lost 4 hours one workday to
identify stolen property at the police station and on
another workday the respondent may have lost 3
hours to wait for a replacement television to be
delivered. In this example, enter "2" for the number of
days missed from work due to the incident. If a
respondent has missed more than 200 days from
work, enter “200.” If a respondent is unsure of the
number of days of work missed, ask for his/her best
estimate.
After entering the number of days missed from work
(between 1 and 200 days) in Item
DAYSLOSTWORK, continue with Item
LOSTPAYNOEMPINS.
Enter (0), (zero), if the respondent missed less than
one full workday due to the reason(s) shown in Item
DAYSLOSTWORK.
After entering (0), continue with Item
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME.
Don’t know
Before accepting a “Don’t know” answer, ask the
respondent to give you his/her best estimate. Only
enter “Control + D” for “Don’t know” as a last resort.
During these days, did you lose any pay that was not covered by unemployment insurance,
paid leave, or some other source?
1 Yes
2 No
LOSTPAYNOEMPINS
LOSTPAYNOEMPINS
Item LOSTPAYNOEMPINS is used to determine
whether the respondent lost any pay because the
time lost from work was not covered by
Incident Report Items
B4-254
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
unemployment insurance, paid leave, or some other
source.
Unemployment insurance - Includes any money
received from state unemployment insurance funds
or railroad unemployment benefits.
Defining Terms
Paid leave - Includes continued payment of wages
by the respondent's employer while the respondent is
not at work, such as "personal" or "annual" leave.
Some other source - Includes any money received
from private insurance plans, worker's compensation,
and so on. Compensation checks could come from
the state, private insurance companies, or from
private businesses that insure their own workers.
Precode (1)
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the respondent lost pay
and was NOT compensated monetarily for the time
away from his/her job due to the incident. Also enter
Precode (1) if a self-employed respondent was paid
for the time lost from work, but he/she was obligated
to hire someone to take his/her place. After entering
Precode (1), continue with
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOEMP.
Precode (2)
Enter Precode (2), "No," if the respondent was
compensated monetarily for the time lost from work
due to the incident. After entering Precode (2),
continue with Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME.
About how much pay did you lose?
● Round to the nearest dollar
● Enter a number between 1-999,996
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOEMP
Incident Report Items
B4-255
Part B, Chapter 4
AMOUNTLOSTPAY
NOEMP
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOEMP is used to determine
how much pay the respondent lost because he/she lost
time from work due to the reasons identified in Item
LOSTOTHERWORKTIME. Also, if a self-employed
respondent was compensated monetarily for his/her
lost pay, but was required to hire someone to take
his/her place, record the amount paid to the
replacement as the respondent’s lost pay.
Enter the amount of lost pay in whole dollars in Item
AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOEMP. Round the amount up or
down as necessary. For example, if the amount given
was $670.50, enter "671," and, if the amount given was
$670.49, enter "670." If the amount was less than $1,
enter "1." If the respondent has difficulty giving a dollar
amount, ask for his/her best estimate.
After completing Item AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOEMP,
continue with Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME.
Were there any (other) household members 16 years or older who lost time from work because of
this incident?
1 Yes
2 No
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME is used to find out whether
there were other household members who were at least 16
years of age and lost time from work due to the incident. If
the respondent lost time from work due to the incident, the
word "other" is displayed by the instrument as you ask the
question in Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME. Otherwise, ask
the question in Item HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME without the
word "other."
Let the respondent decide how to answer this question. The
time lost from work could be due to injuries suffered by
these household members or for any of the reasons
identified in Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-256
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (1)
If you enter Precode (1), "Yes," continue with Item
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST.
Precode (2)
If you enter Precode (2), "No," AND the respondent was on
the way to or from work, school, or some other place when
the incident either happened or started, continue with Item
TYPETRANSPORTATION. In other words, no household
members who were 16 years of age or older lost time from
work AND Precode (12), (13), or (14) was entered in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME.
If you enter Precode (2), “No,” AND the respondent was
NOT on the way to or from work, school, or some other
place when the incident either happened or started, either:
Continue with Item SERIESNUMTIMES if the incident is
part of a series of crimes
OR
Continue with Item INCIDENTHATECRIME if the
incident is NOT part of a series of crimes.
How much time did they lose altogether?
● Enter 0 if time lost was less than one day
● If over 200 days, enter 200
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST
Item AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST is used to
identify how much time household members
OTHER THAN the respondent lost from work
because of the incident.
Include time lost up to the day of the interview. If
the household member(s) lost one or more days
from work, enter the number of whole days in the
answer space provided in Item
Incident Report Items
B4-257
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST. If the time lost was
in hours, determine whether the hours were missed
all in one day or more than one day.
When calculating the number of days missed from
work, it is not necessary for the household
member(s) to have missed an entire workday. For
example, one household member may have lost 4
hours one workday to visit a doctor and on another
workday another household member may have lost
3 hours to wait for a replacement television to be
delivered. In this example, enter "2" for the number
of days missed from work due to the incident.
Enter (0), (zero), if the household member(s)
missed less than one full workday due to the
incident.
Don’t know
Before accepting a “Don’t know” answer, ask the
respondent to give you a best estimate. Enter
“Control + D” for “Don’t know” only as a last resort.
After completing Item
AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST, continue with Item
TYPETRANSPORTATION if the respondent was
on the way to or from work, school, or some other
place when the incident either happened or started
(Precode (12), (13), or (14) was entered in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME).
Otherwise, either:
Continue with Item SERIESNUMTIMES if the
incident is part of a series of crimes.
OR
Continue with Item INCIDENTHATECRIME if
the incident is NOT part of a series of crimes.
Incident Report Items
B4-258
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Ask or verify: You told me earlier you were on the way to/from work when the incident happened.
What means of transportation were you using?
11 Car, truck, or van
12 Motorcycle
13 Bicycle
14 On foot
15 School bus (private or public)
16 Bus or trolley
17 Subway or rapid transit
18 Train
19 Taxi
20 Other - specify
TYPETRANSPORTATION
TYPETRANSPORTATION
Item TYPETRANSPORTATION is used to determine which
means of transportation the respondent was using when the
incident started or took place.
If you know the answer to this question, you can verify the
answer with the respondent without asking the question.
The instrument automatically displays the words “Work,”
“School,” or “Some place” based on the entry in Item
DOINGATINCIDENTTIME.
If the respondent mentions a mode of transportation not
listed in Precodes (11) through (19), enter Precode (20),
"Other," and then enter the type of transportation on the
"Specify" screen, TYPETRANSPORTATION_SPEC.
After completing Item TYPETRANSPORTATION, either:
Continue with Item SERIESNUMTIMES if the incident is
part of a series of crimes.
OR
Continue with Item INCIDENTHATECRIME if the
incident is NOT part of a series of crimes.
Incident Report Items
B4-259
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
You have told me about the most recent incident. How many times did this kind of thing happen
to you during the last 6 months?
● Enter a number between 6-996.
SERIESNUMTIMES
SERIESNUMTIMES
Item SERIESNUMTIMES is used to verify how many
incidents are included in the series for the 6-month
reference period. Do NOT include an incident in the series
that happened before the first day of the reference period or
on the day of the interview. It is possible that a respondent
may give you a different number of incidents now that
he/she has provided details for the most recent incident.
Number of Incidents
Differs from Item
INCIDENTNUMBER
OFTIMES
If the respondent gives you a number that is different than
the number of incidents provided in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, enter the new number in
Item SERIESNUMTIMES. If the number of incidents is less
than six, the incidents do not qualify as a series. If the
number of incidents is six or more, the incidents still qualify
as a series. If the number given in Item SERIESNUMTIMES
is six or more incidents, do NOT change the number of
incidents entered in Item INCIDENTNUMBER OFTIMES,
even if they do not match.
Less Than Six Incidents
In most cases, this will not happen. However, if you
determine that there are less than six incidents, then this
incident is NOT part of a series of crimes and you must
correct the "Number of incidents" in Item
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, and:
✓ Complete a separate set of incident report items for each
incident that happened during the reference period.
Don't Know
If the respondent cannot give you the number of incidents in
the series of crimes, enter “Ctrl + D” for “Don’t know.” This
brings up Item SERIESDK.
After completing Item SERIESNUMTIMES, continue with
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1 when conducting interviews
Incident Report Items
B4-260
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
between January and September. Otherwise, continue with
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ2.
SERIESDK
Is that because there is no way of knowing, or because it
happened too many times, or is there some other reason?
1 No way of knowing
2 Happened too many times
3 Some other reason – specify
SERIESDK
Ask SERIESDK to find out why the respondent is unable to
give you the number of incidents. Based on the respondent's
answer:
✓
Enter Precode (1) when the respondent has no way of
knowing the number of incidents.
✓
Enter Precode (2) when the crime happened too many
times for the respondent to give you a number.
✓
Enter Precode (3) when the respondent gives you a
reason OTHER THAN those mentioned in Precodes
(1) or (2) and then explain the reason on the "Specify"
screen, SERIESDKSPEC.
After coding Item SERIESDK continue with:
●
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1 when you are
conducting an interview between January and
September;
●
Otherwise, continue with Item
SERIESWHICHMONTHQ2.
Incident Report Items
B4-261
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
In what month or months did these incidents take place?
● Probe: How many in (name months)?
● TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES: 7
● Enter 0 for none
2017: AUG SEP
SERIESWHICHMONTHQ3
SERIESWHICHMONTH
Q1-Q4
Items SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1-Q4 are used to
identify in which quarter(s) of the calendar year the
incidents in the series happened. Ask the initial
question to identify the month(s) in which these
incidents occurred.
These four screens are asked based on the interview
month:
●
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1 is asked when
conducting interviews from January through
September.
●
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ2 is asked when
conducting interviews from April through
December.
●
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ3 is asked when
conducting interviews from January through
March and July through December.
●
Item SERIESWHICHMONTHQ4 is asked when
conducting interviews from January through
June and October through December.
These screens also display information that can help
you in coding this item. In the third line, the display
shows “Total number of times.” This shows the
number of times that were reported in the beginning
Incident Report Items
B4-262
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
of the incident report. At the bottom of the
information pane the instrument displays the year
and the names of up to three months that are within
that quarter, as well as the respondent’s reference
period. In the screen as shown above, August and
September are part of the respondent’s reference
period within the third quarter of the year.
Respondent Has
Difficulty Answering
If the respondent has difficulty remembering how
many incidents took place by month or quarter:
✓ Do not rush the respondent; allow sufficient time
for him/her to recall these incidents.
✓ Use neutral probe questions to help the
respondent remember, such as "Did this type
of incident happen about an equal number of
times in July as it did in August and
September or did it happen more in August
and September than it did in July?"
✓ If your probing questions fail, ask the respondent
to give you his/her best estimate. For example,
"You told me this type of incident happened
(number entered in Item SERIESNUMTIMES).
Please give me your best estimate of how
many times the incident happened in July
and how many times in August and
September."
Recording Numbers in
Item
SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1Q4
Once you determine how many incidents from the
series happened in each quarter within the reference
period, enter the exact number in the appropriate
answer spaces for the quarter. You may need to add
together incidents by month to arrive at the total to
enter for a quarter. If no incidents in the series
happened during a particular quarter, enter Precode
(0) in the answer space for that quarter.
Only include incidents that happened after the first
day of the reference period and up to, but not
including, the day of interview. Probe as necessary
to get a precise number and do not enter a range of
Incident Report Items
B4-263
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
numbers. Only enter “Don’t know” (Ctrl + D) when
you have asked probing questions and the
respondent still cannot provide an answer.
The number of incidents in Items
INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, SERIESNUMTIMES,
and SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1-Q4 should be
independent. Do not attempt to reconcile any
differences for a series of incidents, as long as the
total number in each of these items is at least six
incidents. Also, do not change the date entered in
Item INCIDENTDATE or the answers to Items
INCIDENTSSIMILAR or RECALLDETAILS.
After completing Items SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1Q4, continue with Item SERIESLOCATION.
Did all, some, or none of these incidents occur in the same place?
1 All in the same place
2 Some in the same place
3 None in the same place
SERIESLOCATION
SERIESLOCATION
Item SERIESLOCATION is used to find out if the
incidents in the series all happened in the same
place, or if only some happened in the same place,
or if none of them happened in the same place or
location. Enter Precode (1) for "All in the same
place," Precode (2) for "Some in the same place,"
and Precode (3) for "None in the same place." Only
enter one precode in Item SERIESLOCATION.
After completing this item, you continue with Item
SERIESOFFENDER.
Incident Report Items
B4-264
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Were all, some, or none of these incidents done by the same person(s)?
1 All by same person
2 Some by same person
3 None by same person
4 Don't know
SERIESOFFENDER
SERIESOFFENDER
Item SERIESOFFENDER is asked to find out if the
offender(s) in all, some, or none of the incidents in
the series were the same person(s). Enter Precode
(1) if the offender(s) in ALL of the incidents were
the same person(s). Enter Precode (2) if the
offender(s) in SOME of the incidents were the
same person(s). Enter Precode (3) if the offender in
each of the incidents was a different person. Only
enter one precode in Item SERIESOFFENDER.
After entering Precode (1), (2), or (3), continue with
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION.
If the respondent is unable to answer this question,
enter Precode (4) and continue with Item
SAMETHINGEACHTIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-265
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What (was/were) the relationship(s) of the offender(s) to you?
For example, friend, spouse, schoolmate, etc.?
● Probe: Anything else?
RELATIVE:
11 Spouse at time of incident
12 Ex-spouse at time of incident
13 Parent or step-parent
14 Own child or step-child
15 Brother/sister
16 Other relative - Specify
NONRELATIVE:
17 Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
18 Friend or ex-friend
19 Roommate, boarder
20 Schoolmate
21 Neighbor
22 Customer/client
23 Patient
24 Supervisor (current or former)
25 Employee (current or former)
26 Co-worker (current or former)
27 Teacher/school staff
28 Other nonrelative - Specify
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION
SERIESOFFENDER
RELATION
Item SERIESOFFENDERRELATION is used to
identify the relationship of each offender involved in
the series of crimes to the respondent at the time
of the incident. If there was more than one offender,
enter all appropriate precodes. Continue asking
“Anything else?” until you get a “No” reply. Make
sure the respondent understands that we are
interested only in the relationship of each offender
to the respondent, and NOT any relationships
between one offender and another offender.
Incident Report Items
B4-266
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
The relationships are separated into two groups–
Precodes (11) through (16) are grouped under the
heading "Relative" and Precodes (17) through (28)
are grouped under the heading "Nonrelative."
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) if the offender was either the
husband or wife of the respondent at the time of the
incident, regardless of whether or not they are still
married at the time of the interview.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) if the offender was an exspouse (ex-husband or ex-wife) of the respondent
at the time of the incident. Accept the respondent's
answer without probing to determine whether they
are divorced or separated.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) if the offender was a father,
mother, stepfather, or stepmother to the
respondent. Do not enter Precode (13) if the
offender was a mother-in-law or father-in-law,
instead enter Precode (16), “Other relative,” and
then enter the relationship to the respondent at the
time of the incident on the “Specify” screen,
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION14SPEC.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) if the offender is a child of the
respondent by birth, adoption, or marriage, such as
a son, daughter, step-son, or step-daughter.
Precode (14) is not intended for foster children;
instead enter Precode (28), "Other nonrelative,"
and enter the relationship on the "Specify" screen,
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION26SPEC
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the offender is a brother or
sister of the respondent or the child of a
respondent's step-parent. Precode (15) is not
intended for "brother-in-laws" or "sister-in-laws;"
instead enter Precode (16), “Other,” and enter the
relationship on the "Specify" screen,
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION14SPEC.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the offender is a relative of
the respondent OTHER THAN the relationships
described in Precodes (11) through (14). Enter
Incident Report Items
B4-267
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (16) if the offender is a child, aunt, uncle,
cousin, grandparent, in-law, or other relative of the
respondent by blood or marriage that is not covered
in Precodes (11) through (15).
After entering Precode (16), always enter the
relationship on the "Specify" screen,
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION14SPEC.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the offender is a nonrelative
who has or has had romantic connections to the
respondent. For example, the offender and the
respondent were dating at the time of the incident
or used to date prior to the incident.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the offender is a male or
female friend or past friend of the respondent AND
there is no romantic connection between the two
persons.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the offender was not related
to the respondent by blood or marriage and lived
with the respondent as a roommate or boarder at
the time of the incident. Precode (19) is not
intended for “live-in” boyfriends/girlfriends; instead,
enter Precode (17) for those situations.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the offender was not related
to the respondent by blood or marriage and
attended the same school as the respondent at the
time of the incident.
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if the offender was not related
to the respondent by blood or marriage and was
living close enough to the respondent at the time of
the incident to be considered a neighbor.
Precode (22), (23), (24),
(25), (26)
Enter the most appropriate precode(s) from
Precodes (22), (23), (24), (25), and (26) if the
offenders are nonrelatives, but are known by the
respondent as business clients, patients, or
supervisors, employees, or co-workers, including
former supervisors, employees, or co-workers.
Incident Report Items
B4-268
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Precode (27)
Enter Precode (27) if the offender is teacher or a
school staff member at the respondent’s school. If
the respondent works at the school, use the
appropriate precode (24), (25), or (26).
Precode (28)
Enter Precode (28) if the offender was not related
to the respondent by blood or marriage and the
nonrelative offender does not fit any of the
descriptions in Precodes (17) through (27). After
entering Precode (28), always enter the relationship
to the respondent on the "Specify" screen,
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION26SPEC, such as
the respondent's barber, electrician, and so on.
After completing Item
SERIESOFFENDERRELATION, continue with Item
SAMETHINGEACHTIME.
Did the same thing happen each time?
1 Yes
2 No
SAMETHINGEACHTIME
SAMETHINGEACHTIME
Item SAMETHINGEACHTIME is used to identify
how the incidents in the series may be different
from one another. If the respondent answers "Yes"
to this question, enter Precode (1), then continue
with TROUBLEONGOING. However, if the
respondent answers "No," enter Precode (2) and
then ask Item HOWINCIDENTSDIFFER (“How did
the incidents differ?”) to determine how they
were different.
For example, the offender may have vandalized the
shed in one of the incidents or perhaps the offender
used a weapon in two of the incidents. Make sure
to explain clearly what made the incidents different
on the “Specify” screen that will appear after
entering Precode (2). After completing Item
SAMETHINGEACHTIME and
Incident Report Items
B4-269
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
HOWINCIDENTSDIFFER, continue with Item
TROUBLEONGOING.
Is the trouble still going on?
1 Yes
2 No
TROUBLEONGOING
TROUBLEONGOING
Item TROUBLEONGOING is used to find out
whether the type of problem that was recurring in
the series of crimes is still continuing or has ended.
Enter Precode (1), "Yes," if the incidents are still
happening and continue with
SERIESCONTACTORNOT. If the respondent
answers "No," the instrument continues to
WHATENDEDIT (which asks, “What ended it?) to
determine what terminated these incidents.
If the problem or incidents in the series of crimes
has stopped, ask the question in WHATENDEDIT
and enter a description in the “Specify” space. For
example, the offender may have been arrested, the
respondent may have moved to another house, the
respondent may have changed schools, and so on.
Make sure to explain clearly what brought these
incidents to an end in the answer space. After
completing Item WHATENDEDIT, continue with
Item SERIESCONTACTORNOT.
Incident Report Items
B4-270
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
● Do not read to respondent
● Enter precode that best describes this series of crimes. If more than one category describes this
series, enter the appropriate precode with the lowest number
● Contact crimes:
11 Completed or threatened violence in the course of the victim's job (police officer, security
guard, psychiatric social worker, etc.)
12 Completed or threatened violence between spouses, other relatives, friends, neighbors, etc.
13 Completed or threatened violence at school or on school property
14 Other contact crimes (other violence, pocket picking, purse snatching, - Specify
● Non-contact crimes:
15 Theft or attempted theft of motor vehicles
16 Theft or attempted theft of motor vehicle parts (tire, hubcap, battery, attached car stereo,
etc.)
17 Theft or attempted theft of contents of motor vehicle, including unattached parts
18 Theft or attempted theft at school or on school property
19 Illegal entry of, or attempt to enter, victim's home, other building on property, second home,
hotel, motel
20 Theft or attempted theft from victim's home or vicinity by person(s) KNOWN to victim
(roommate, babysitter, etc.)
21 Theft or attempted theft from victim's home or vicinity by person(s) UNKNOWN to victim
22 Other theft or attempted theft (at work, while shopping, etc.) - Specify
SERIESCONTACTORNOT
SERIESCONTACTORNOT
Items SERIESCONTACTORNOT is used to help
classify the series of crimes as ONE type of crime.
It is very important that you enter the most accurate
precode to identify this series of crimes.
Based on the facts gathered to this point in the
interview, select and enter the first or lowest
numbered precode that best describes what
happened during this series of crimes. Since a
contact crime is always more serious than a noncontact crime, always enter the lowest precode
when more than one category describes this series
of crimes.
Incident Report Items
B4-271
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precodes (11) through (14) are grouped together
under the heading “Contact crimes.” Contact
crimes involve an actual or threatened face-to-face
physical confrontation between the offender and
the respondent. Precodes (15) through (22) are
grouped together under the heading “Non-contact
crimes.” Non-contact crimes do NOT involve an
actual or threatened physical confrontation between
the offender and the respondent.
Precode (11)
Enter Precode (11) when all incidents in the series
involve the offender physically attacking or
threatening to physically attack the respondent in
the course of the respondent's job. Only enter
Precode (11) if the incidents relate somehow to the
respondent's job. For example, a prison guard
reports eight incidents in which prisoners
threatened to physically harm her or an attendant at
a parking garage reports seven incidents in which
he was physically attacked and robbed while on the
job.
Precode (12)
Enter Precode (12) when all incidents in the series
involve completed or attempted violence between
spouses, other relatives, friends, neighbors, and so
on. For example, a respondent's nephew has
threatened to kill her on several occasions if she
does not give him money or a respondent's exspouse physically attacked her on several
occasions because she would not take him back.
Precode (13)
Enter Precode (13) when all incidents in the series
involve completed or threatened violence at school
or on school property. For example, a student
threatened to attack the respondent on several
occasions in the school parking lot.
Precode (14)
Enter Precode (14) when all incidents in the series
involve some type of physical violence or threat of
physical violence between the offender and the
respondent OTHER THAN those types described in
Precodes (11) through (13). After entering Precode
(14), make sure to explain clearly the type of violent
contact or threat of violent contact on the "Specify"
Incident Report Items
B4-272
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
screen, SERIESCONTACTORNOT14SPEC. For
example, someone grabbed respondent's purse
from her shoulder, knocked her down on the
ground, and ran with the purse on multiple
occasions.
Precode (15)
Enter Precode (15) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft of motor
vehicles AND there was no contact between the
offender and the respondent.
Precode (16)
Enter Precode (16) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft of parts
ATTACHED to a motor vehicle, such as hubcaps,
wheels, CD players, batteries, gasoline, attached
car stereos, and so on AND there was no contact
between the offender and the respondent.
Precode (17)
Enter Precode (17) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft of items left
inside a motor vehicle that are NOT ATTACHED to
the motor vehicle, such as a bowling ball, cellular
phone, golf clubs, wallet, tools, clothes, and so on
AND there was no contact between the offender
and the respondent.
Precode (18)
Enter Precode (18) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft of items
belonging to the respondent at school or on school
property AND there was no contact between the
offender and the respondent.
Precode (19)
Enter Precode (19) if the series of incidents
involves the illegal entry or attempted illegal entry
into the respondent's home, other building on
his/her property, a second home, or a motel or
hotel room where he/she is staying AND there was
no contact between the offender and the
respondent.
Precode (20)
Enter Precode (20) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft from the
respondent's home or the property surrounding the
home by someone the respondent knows, such as
Incident Report Items
B4-273
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
a roommate, babysitter, or some other person
known to the respondent and this person did NOT
illegally enter the home or property. Do not enter
Precode (20) if there was any contact between the
offender and the respondent, instead enter the
appropriate precode from the contact crimes in
Precodes (11) through (14).
Precode (21)
Enter Precode (21) if the series of incidents
involves the theft or attempted theft from the
respondent's home or the property surrounding the
home by someone the respondent does NOT know,
such as an appliance repair person or traveling
sales person and this person did NOT illegally enter
the home or property. Do not enter Precode (21) if
there was any contact between the offender and
the respondent, instead enter the appropriate
precode from the contact crimes, Precodes (11)
through (14).
Precode (22)
Enter Precode (22) if the series of incidents
involves a theft or attempted theft and the
circumstances do not fit the descriptions in
Precodes (15) through (21). After entering Precode
(22), make sure to clearly explain the type of theft
or attempted theft on the "Specify" screen,
SERIESCONTACTORNOT22SPEC. Do not enter
Precode (22) if there was any contact between the
offender and the respondent, instead enter the
appropriate precode from the contact crimes,
Precodes (11) through (14).
After completing Item SERIESCONTACTORNOT,
continue with Item INCIDENTHATECRIME.
Incident Report Items
B4-274
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry occur when (an offender/offenders) target(s) people
because of one or more of their characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you have any reason to suspect the incident just discussed was a hate crime or crime of
prejudice or bigotry?
1 Yes
2 No
INCIDENTHATECRIME
INCIDENTHATECRIME
Item INCIDENTHATECRIME is used to determine
whether the respondent has any reason to suspect
that the incident was a hate crime or crime of
prejudice or bigotry. Since Item
INCIDENTHATECRIME is the first in a series of
"hate crime" questions that continue through Item
TELLPOLICEHATECRIME, make sure to read the
lead-in statement and then continue by asking the
question in Item INCIDENTHATECRIME. As you
read the lead-in statement, choose the correct
wording based on whether there was one offender
or multiple offenders.
It is very important to read the lead-in statement
and ask the question exactly as it is worded on the
screen. This wording has been tested and analyzed
thoroughly and changing the wording during an
interview could jeopardize the results.
Explaining "Hate Crimes or
Crimes of Prejudice or
Bigotry"
If a respondent asks what you mean by the phrase
"hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry," you
can tell the respondent that it is a crime in which an
offender targets one or more persons out of hatred
towards certain characteristics associated with a
group. For example, because an offender hates all
persons of the Jewish faith, he spray painted a
swastika on the garage door of each household on
Main Street whose name on the mailbox sounded
Jewish to the offender.
Incident Report Items
B4-275
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
However, if a respondent claims that a classmate
keeps picking fights with her because she is jealous
of the respondent, this type of incident is NOT
considered a "hate crime" or a "crime of prejudice
or bigotry."
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer,
continue with Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_RACE. After
entering Precode (2) for a "No" answer, continue
with Item Summary.
An offender/Offenders can target people for a variety of reasons, but we are only going to ask you
about a few today. Do you suspect the offender(s) targeted you because of...
Your race?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_RACE
Your religion?
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_RELIGION
Your ethnic background or national origin (for example, people of Hispanic origin?)
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_ETHNICITY
Any disability (by this I mean physical, mental, or developmental disabilities) you may have?
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_DISABILITY
Incident Report Items
B4-276
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Your gender?
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_GENDER
Your sexual orientation?
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_SEXUAL
INCIDENTHATE
TARGETREASONS:
_RACE, _RELIGION,
_ETHNICITY, _DISABILITY,
_GENDER,_SEXUAL
The INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS items are
used to identify the type of prejudice that the
respondent suspects motivated the offender to
commit the crime. Notice that the
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS items start
with a lead-in statement and then continues with six
separate questions on race, religion, ethnic
background/national origin, disability, gender, and
sexual orientation.
Always read the lead-in statement and then ask the
first question:
"Do you suspect the offender(s) targeted you
because of your race?"
After asking this question, pause to let the
respondent answer. Enter Precode (1) for a "Yes"
answer, and Precode (2) for a "No" answer, and (3)
for “Don’t know.” Unless you get interrupted, you do
not need to ask the entire question for the
remaining questions. For example, just ask "Your
religion?"
Understanding "Race"
When we use the term "race," we mean whether the
person is White, Black/African American, American
Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander. "Spanish, Hispanic or Latino"
relates to a person's ethnic background or national
origin, NOT to his/her race.
Reading Examples
Items
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_ETHNICITY
Incident Report Items
B4-277
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
and
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_DISABILITY
have examples in parentheses as part of the
question. These examples are included to help
avoid any misinterpretation of what we mean by
"ethnic background or national origin" and
"disabilities." Make sure to always include these
examples as you ask the question.
Understanding
“Sexual Orientation”
Most responents will probably understand what we
mean by “sexual orientation,” but,if someone seems
unsure, you can direct them to the FAQs.
After reading this statement, a respondent may tell you
that he/she meant something different. If this happens,
correct your entry for question
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_SEXUAL.
Understanding "Gender"
Most respondents will probably understand what we
mean by "gender," but, if someone seems unsure, you
can direct them to the FAQs.
After completing the
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS items, continue
with Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW.
Some offenders target people because they associate with certain people or the (offender
perceives/offenders perceive) them as having certain characteristics or religious beliefs.
Do you suspect you were targeted because of...
Your association with people who have certain characteristics or religious beliefs (for example, a
multiracial couple)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW
Incident Report Items
B4-278
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
INCIDENTHATE
TARGETWHO
YOUKNOW
Part B, Chapter 4
After completing Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS, read the
lead-in statement first in Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW and
then ask the question to determine if the
respondent feels that the offender targeted
him/her due to the respondent's association with
persons who have specific characteristics,
such as being Asian, Catholic, Hispanic, physically
disabled, male or female, homosexual, and so on.
Here is an example: An offender is prejudiced
against homosexuals and believes that the
respondent is homosexual because she lives with
a woman who is known to be homosexual.
After entering Precode (1) for “Yes,” use the
“Specify” screen to enter a brief description of
WHY the respondent suspects that he/she was
targeted due to his/her association with people
who have certain characteristics or religious
beliefs. Enter Precode (2) for a “No” response.
After completing Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW,
continue with Item
INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION.
Do you suspect you were targeted because of...
The offender(s)'s perception of your characteristics or religious beliefs (for example, the
offender(s) thought you were Jewish because you went into a synagogue)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION
INCIDENTHATE
TARGETRELIGION
Item INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION is asked to
determine if the respondent feels that the offender
targeted him/her due to the offender's perception of
the respondent's characteristics or religious beliefs.
Incident Report Items
B4-279
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Here is an example: An offender is prejudiced against
persons of Italian ancestry. This offender believes that
Tina Martino is Italian because of her personal
characteristics and her name.
After entering Precode (1) for “Yes,” use the “Specify”
screen, INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION_SPEC to
enter a brief description of WHY the respondent
suspects that he/she was targeted due to the offender(s)
perception of his/her characteristics or religious beliefs.
Enter Precode (2) for a “No” response. After completing
Item INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION, continue with
either:
Item INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE if you
entered at least ONE Precode (1), “Yes,” in any of
the six INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS items,
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOU KNOW, or
INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION.
OR
Item SUMMARY if you entered all Precode (2), “No”
or Precode (3), “Don’t know” answers in the six
INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS items,
INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW, or
INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION.
Do you have any evidence that this incident was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or bigotry?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE
INCIDENTHAVE
EVIDENCEHATE
Item INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE is designed
to find out if the respondent has any evidence that
the reported incident was a hate crime or a crime of
prejudice or bigotry.
Incident Report Items
B4-280
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
After entering Precode (1) for a "Yes" answer,
continue with Item
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_MAKEFUN to
determine what type of evidence the respondent
has.
After entering Precode (2) for a "No" answer or
Precode (3) for a "Don't know" answer, continue
with
INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE_SUGGEST.
Did the offender(s) say something, write anything, or leave anything behind at the crime scene
that would suggest you were targeted because of your characteristics or religious beliefs?
INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE_SUGGEST
INCIDENTHAVE
EVIDENCEHATE _SUGGEST
INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE_SUGGEST is
designed to help ensure that we get an accurate
answer concerning evidence of a hate crime.
If the probe question results in a "Yes" answer,
enter Precode (1) and continue with Item
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_MAKEFUN. If the
probe question results in a “No” answer, enter
Precode (2) and continue with Item SUMMARY.
Incident Report Items
B4-281
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The next questions ask about the evidence you have that makes you suspect this incident was a hate
crime or a crime of prejudice or bigotry. As I read the following questions, please tell me if any of
the following happened:
Did the offender(s) make fun of you, make negative comments, use slang, hurtful words, or abusive
language?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_MAKEFUN
Were any hate symbols present at the crime scene to indicate the offender(s) targeted you for a
particular reason (for example, a swastika, graffiti on the walls of a temple, a burning cross, or
written words)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_SYMBOLS
Did a police investigation confirm the offender(s) targeted you (for example, did the offender(s)
confess a motive, or did the police find books, journals, or pictures that indicated the offender(s)
(was/were) prejudiced against people with certain characteristics or religious beliefs)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_POLICETARGET
Incident Report Items
B4-282
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
Do you know if the offender(s) (has/have) committed similar hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or
bigotry in the past?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_OFFENDERDIDSAME
Did the incident occur on or hear a holiday, event, location, gathering place, or building commonly
associated with a specific group (for example, at the Gay Pride March or at a synagogue, Korean
church, or gay bar)?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_NEARHOLIDAY
Have other hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry happened to you or in your
area/neighborhood where people have been targeted?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_OTHERLIKECRIMES
I INCIDENTEVIDENCE
H HATE_MAKEFUN,
_ _SYMBOLS, _POLICETARGET,
_OFFENDERDIDSAME,
_ _NEARHOLIDAY,
_OTHERLIKECRIMES
Items INCIDENTEVIDENCE HATE_MAKEFUN
through
INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_OTHERLIKECRIMES
ask about specific evidence that a crime was a
hate crime.
Incident Report Items
B4-283
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The next questions ask about the evidence you have that makes you suspect this incident was a hate
crime or a crime of prejudice or bigotry. As I read the following questions, please tell me if any of
the following happened:
Do your feelings, instincts, or perception lead you to suspect this incident was a hate crime or crime
of prejudice or bigotry, but you do not have enough evidence to know for sure?
1 Yes
2 No
3 Don’t know
INCIDENTHATE_FELT_BELIEVED
INCIDENTHATE_FELT_BELIEVED
Item INCIDENTHATE_FELT_BELIEVED is
designed to pinpoint the type of evidence
that leads the respondent to suspect that the
reported incident was a hate crime or a
crime of prejudice or bigotry.
After completing Item
INCIDENTHATE_FELT_BELIEVED,
continue with Item
TELLPOLICEHATECRIME.
At any time, did you tell the police that you believed the incident was a hate crime or crime of
prejudice or bigotry?
1 Yes
2 No
TELLPOLICEHATECRIME
TELLPOLICEHATE
CRIME
Item TELLPOLICEHATECRIME is the last "hate
crime" question in the incident report items and is
used to determine if the respondent told the police
that he/she believed the incident was motivated by
the offender's hatred, prejudice, or bigotry.
After entering Precode (1) for "Yes" or Precode (2)
for "No" continue with the summary for the incident.
Incident Report Items
B4-284
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
PERSON: JOHN DOE
Part B, Chapter 4
SOURCE: SQTHEFT MONTH: October
NOTES: L1's bike stolen from carport
WHERE: Own yard/sidewalk/driveway/carport/unenclosed porch.
Respondent and other household member(s) were not present.
WEAPON: No weapon present
Not attacked and Not threatened
STOLE: Bicycle
Summarize this incident. Also include any details about the incident that were not asked about in
the incident report that might help clarify the incident.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The SUMMARY screen is designed for you to
summarize all of the pertinent facts surrounding a
reported crime incident. Write each summary report
so that anyone reading it can get a clear, welldefined picture of how the respondent was
victimized.
Include in the summary report any details that you
feel are not evident from the answers in the incident
report items. This is very important, because before
sending a case for processing, editors often need
more specific details than they can get from other
entries for the incident report items. When this
happens, they must rely on what is written in your
summary report.
As you write your summary report, be careful not to
use misleading words, phrases, or vague terms that
may raise more questions about the incident,
instead of clarifying what really happened.
For example:
When you ask if the offender threatened the
respondent with harm in any way, the respondent
answers "No." Also, the respondent tells you in
Item WHATHAPPEN that her husband was
Incident Report Items
B4-285
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
harassing her and using abusive language.
However, in the summary report, you use the
phrase "verbally threatened her." Be careful that
the words and phrases you use in summary reports
help explain the situation, instead of adding
confusion.
Key Points to Cover
Use these key words to jog your memory when
writing a summary report--who, what, where,
when, and how.
Who - Using the person's line number (L1, L2, and
so on) from the household roster, identify all
household members who were involved in the
incident, even if the member was a noninterview.
Also include any nonhousehold members who were
involved in the incident. In the summary report,
identify that they are nonhousehold members and
use specific descriptions, such as "friend,"
"neighbor," or "co-worker" to show their relationship
to the respondent. Avoid using pronouns to
describe persons involved in an incident.
Reminder:
If other current household members who are at
least 12 years old were also victims of a personal
crime with contact, you need to complete a
separate set of incident report items for each of
these persons who you are able to interview.
What - Explain the type of crime and any pertinent
details related to the crime incident--purse stolen &
offender threatened to stab L1 while she was
washing her hands.
Where - Explain where the crime took place--in a
restaurant restroom.
When - Explain when the incident took place–At
8:30 p.m. on December 21.
How - Explain how the crime was executed-offender yanked purse from L1's shoulder & ran/no
injury to L1/reported to police/property not
Incident Report Items
B4-286
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
recovered.
Weapons Used
Item WEAPONPRESENT - Did the offender have
a weapon such as a gun or knife, or something
to use as a weapon, such as a bottle or
wrench?
Item WEAPON - What was the weapon?
Anything else?
If a respondent tells you at Items
WEAPONPRESENT and WEAPON that an
offender had a weapon other than any type of gun,
rifle, shotgun, or knife, your summary report needs
to explain if and how this object was used as a
weapon OR if the offender threatened to use this
object as a weapon. Since guns, rifles, shotguns,
and knives are obviously weapons, it is not
necessary to explain if and how any of these
weapons were used as a weapon in the summary
report.
For example:
L1 was arguing with neighbor/neighbor picked up
rock/threw it at L1 & hit L1 in head/L1 treated at
hospital emergency room & got 4 stitches for the
cut.
Thrown objects are only considered weapons if
they hit and seriously injure the respondent. BB
guns and tear gas guns are only considered
weapons if they are used as clubs.
The following objects are NEVER considered
weapons:
✖ Animals
✖ Parts of the body (for example: hands, feet,
etc.)
✖ Small empty cans
✖ Mace or pepper spray
✖ Tear gas
✖ Chloroform
✖ Rings
Incident Report Items
B4-287
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
✖ Casts
Sex-Related Crimes
Since sex-related crimes are rare compared to
other types of crimes, include as many details as
the respondent is willing to provide. This is
important so that we can classify any sex-related
crimes into the correct category--rape, attempted
rape, sexual assault, or unwanted sexual contact.
Avoid using phrases like "made sexually explicit
comments," "unwanted sexual contact," or
"unwanted sexual advances." These phrases do
not provide us with enough information to
determine what actually happened. We need to
know what was actually said, what parts of the
body were touched, whether or not force was used,
and so on.
Even though we want all the pertinent facts, do not
probe beyond the structured probes that are
provided for Items WHATHAPPEN,
HOWTRYATTACK, HOWTHREATEN,
HOWATTACK, and INJURY. For example, here is
the structured probe question for Item
WHATHAPPEN, which appears in Item
SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1: "You mentioned
some type of unwanted sexual contact with
force. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual
intercourse including attempts?"
Threats
In the summary, describe the specific nature of the
threat, for example, “Threatened to hurt
respondent,” “Threatened to rape respondent,”
“Threatened to kill respondent,” “Threatened to
beat up the respondent.”
The threat must be in person. Threats over the
phone, by email, text message, or on the internet
do not count as threats for the NCVS.
Stolen Property
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER - "Did the
(property/money) the offender tried to take
belong to you personally, to someone else in
the household, or to both you and other
Incident Report Items
B4-288
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
household members?"
Item WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY - "Did
the stolen (property/money) belong to you
personally, to someone else in the household,
or to both you and other household members?"
Items ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER and
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY relate to
ownership of property and/or money that an
offender tried to steal or stole. If property and/or
money involved in the incident belongs to the
respondent AND other household members OR just
to other household members, make sure to
specifically identify these persons by their line
numbers (L1, L2, and so on).
If property and/or money involved in the incident
belongs to nonhousehold members, mention that
they are nonhousehold members, along with a
specific description of their relationship to the
respondent, such as co-worker, friend, cousin, and
so on.
Also, if multiple items that were jointly owned by
household and nonhousehold members were
stolen or attempted to be stolen, record which items
belonged to nonhousehold members.
Item PROPERTYVALUE - "What was the value
of the PROPERTY that was taken? Include
recovered property. (Exclude any stolen cash,
checks, or credit cards. If jointly owned with a
nonhousehold member(s), include only the
share owned by household members.)"
When completing Item PROPERTYVALUE,
please note: If stolen property is jointly owned by
one or more household members together with one
or more nonhousehold members, only include the
dollar amount for the portion that was owned by the
household members.
When identifying the value of stolen property that
Incident Report Items
B4-289
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
was owned jointly by a household member and a
nonhousehold member, show a separate dollar
amount in your summary report to differentiate
between the share owned by the household
member and the share owned by the nonhousehold
member. Do not use names in your summary
report; instead, use line numbers for household
members and relationships to the respondent for
nonhousehold members.
Offender is a Police Officer
Whenever an offender is a police officer, there are
specific facts that we need to have in your
summary report. Include as many of these facts as
you can gather. Be diplomatic and ask for the
following facts in a way that does not aggravate the
respondent:
✓ Get a complete description of both the officer's
and the victim's actions.
✓ Find out if the officer used or attempted to use
his/her gun or billy club.
✓ Determine if the victim signed a complaint and,
if so, include any additional details (for
example, victim was arrested).
✓ Ascertain whether any property was confiscated
by the police. If so, find out what was done with
the confiscated property--was it returned, kept
as evidence, and so on.
Commercial Establishment
If a crime incident occurred at a business or
commercial establishment, include in your
summary report as many facts as possible to
provide a complete picture of what took place. Also,
make sure to mention whether the business is
recognizable or unrecognizable.
For example:
L2 was shot in arm during clothing store robbery
(recognizable business)/Off. shot L2 with small
handgun as L2 reached under register to set off
Incident Report Items
B4-290
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
burglar alarm/L2 treated @ emergency room/Store
clothing & displays damaged/store closed for 2
days/Est. $50k in stolen money, damages & lost
sales to store/Off. arrested.
Although the NCVS is not interested in the theft of
property or cash belonging to a recognizable
business, we do want this information in the
summary report when it helps in describing a
situation in which:
✓ Personal property was also stolen from a
household member.
✓ A household member received a face-to-face
threat of physical harm, was attacked, or an
attempt was made to attack the household
member.
✓ Someone illegally entered, broke into, or
attempted to break into the sample housing
unit.
Series of Crimes
When writing a summary report for series of crimes,
start by providing a GENERAL description of the
entire series of incidents. For the last or most
recent incident in the series, provide a DETAILED
description of the incident following the who, what,
where, when, and how format.
Verifying Summary Reports
Once you have completed the summary report,
ALWAYS read it back to the respondent. This gives the
respondent a final opportunity to either change or add
any facts that may provide a clearer picture of the crime
incident.
Lengthy Summary Reports
The SUMMARY screen allows for a summary
description of up to 300 characters. If you need more
space, you may add information about an incident in the
Case Level Notes. The Case Level Notes can be
accessed at the SUMMARY screen, as well as
throughout the instrument by pressing the “Ctrl” + “F7”
keys.
Incident Report Items
B4-291
Part B, Chapter 4
Things to Avoid
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When writing summary reports for crime incidents, avoid
the following bad habits:
✖ Using very general or vague statements or any
unnecessary words or phrases. Write the facts in
short, concise sentences.
✖ Using the exact wording from the answer categories
in the instrument.
✖ Using pronouns (she, he, him, her, they, their, and so
on), instead of line numbers.
✖ Using abbreviations that most editors would not
understand. If you must abbreviate, use the
abbreviations list in the NCVS instrument by entering
Shift + F11 at the SUMMARY screen. Lists of
standard abbreviations can also be found in the
NCVS-554 “Field Representative Information Card
Booklet,” and Part B, Chapter 5 of this manual.
✖ Omitting pertinent facts that could help clarify details
of an incident.
Examples of Good Summary
Reports
Some examples of good summary reports:
☺ At 10 p.m. on Aug. 4, L1's drunken ex-spouse
(nonhousehold member) was arguing & using
abusive language while in L1's home/ex-spouse
refused to leave & threatened to burn down the
house if L1 didn't take him back/police arrested exspouse/no injury to L1/lamp broken valued @ $40.
☺ At 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, L1 (school teacher) had
$10 stolen from desk drawer in classroom while
eating lunch in school cafeteria/police not notified/off.
never caught/$10 not returned.
☺ At 4 p.m. on Feb. 3, L2 (apt. mgr.) was shot in the
arm by angry evicted tenant in L2's office/small hand
gun used/police notified & off. arrested/L2
hospitalized overnight.
Incident Report Items
B4-292
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 4
☺ At 2 a.m. on Dec. 12, off. attempted to break into
L1's home/no one present/security alarm scared off.
& off. ran away/damage to door & lock valued @
$50/police notified/off. not found.
☺ At 11 a.m. on May 5, L2's antique shop robbed at
gunpoint by two off./$1,500 taken from shop
register/$50 taken from L2/gold necklace & purse
taken from customer/no injuries or store
damage/police notified/off. caught & prosecuted.
☺ At 9 p.m. on July 10, off. threatened to rape L2 at
gunpoint/siren from passing police car scared off./L2
got free & ran to drug store for help/L2 bruised/police
notified/off. never found.
☺ At 5 p.m. on Aug. 4, off. forcibly grabbed L2/kissed
L2 against L2's will/ran his hands up & down L2's
buttocks/L2 kneed off. in his groin & got away/no
police report/no injuries to L2.
Examples of Bad
Summary Reports
Some examples of bad summary reports:
☹ There was unwanted sexual contact between off. and
L2 with no injuries.
☹ Sam was threatened by his co-worker in an office
building. There were no injuries.
☹ Rsp. sd she was shot at while walking down the
street/offenders were arrested.
☹ Rsp. was involved in a car jacking/threatened to
shoot/not far from home/police notified.
☹ Was on way to school/music compact discs
stolen/$75/no police.
☹ Garage broken into/HH sleeping at time/bike
stolen/no police/no injuries.
☹ Same as before.
Incident Report Items
B4-293
Part B, Chapter 4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NOTES
Incident Report Items
B4-294
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Middle Section of the NCVS Instrument:
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
Table of Topics
Topic
1 Screen Layout and Instructions for the Additional
Incident Items
2 Screen Layout and Instructions for the
Unduplication Items
3 Help Screens and Abbreviations
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-1
Page
B5-2
B5-7
B5-11
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Screen Layout and Instructions for the
Additional Incidents Items
Importance of Completing
Incident Report Items
The incident report items are designed to gather detailed
information about each time an incident or victimization
occurred during the reference period.
It is your responsibility to:
Collect accurate information as you screen respondents
making sure to enter the "number of times" count
correctly for reported incidents, and
Complete a separate set of incident report items for
each "time" that an incident or victimization happened
during the reference period, regardless of how minor the
incident may seem.
Ideally, once all interviews are completed for a sample
household, the case should show the identical number of:
No Incident is Too Minor
Incidents reported in the screening section of the
instrument and
Sets of incident report items for the household.
Your main task is to gather as much information as possible
about each crime incident that occurred during the
reference period by asking all appropriate questions from
the NCVS instrument. It is not your responsibility to
determine whether or not a reported incident is important
enough to require completion of the Incident Report
questions. Leave that responsibility to the survey’s data
processing staff. They take all of the detailed information
you collect and use it to determine which reported incidents
classify as crimes.
Cutting corners to save time or appease a reluctant
respondent can jeopardize the value of the data that you
collect. Do not delete crime incidents for the wrong
reasons.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
Here are a few examples of what NOT to do:
Example 1:
When an interviewer asked a respondent the question for
Item SQATTACKWHERE (attacks, threats, and stolen
items), the respondent replied that some of his money was
stolen from his bowling bag on two different nights while he
was bowling with his bowling league. Since the two reported
incidents sounded basically the same, the interviewer only
completed one set of incident report items. WRONG!
Even though the circumstances seem to be the same, the
respondent reported two distinct incidents and the
interviewer must complete two separate sets of incident
report items.
Example 2:
After an interviewer asked the question at Item SQSEXUAL
(forced or unwanted sexual acts), the young female
respondent answered "Yes." However, she told the
interviewer that she really did not want to discuss any
details about what happened to her. The interviewer
entered a "No" reply to this screen question, because the
interviewer didn't think he could persuade the respondent to
complete the incident report items. WRONG!
The interviewer must record the "Yes" answer given by the
respondent, and make every effort to persuade the
respondent to answer the incident report questions. If he
can't persuade the respondent to complete the incident
report items for an incident, then the interviewer must
classify the respondent as a refusal and the respondent's
interview is considered incomplete.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-3
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Did the respondent mention additional incidents for the household or himself not already
Covered that were within the last 6 months, that is between:
July 01, 2015 AND January 01, 2016
1 Yes: another incident needed for this person
2 No: NONE to add
INCIDENTTOADD
INCIDENTTOADD
The INCIDENTTOADD screen always appears following
the SUMMARY screen after ALL incidents reported in the
screener section have been completed. You can use the
INCIDENTTOADD screen to:
Add an incident for a household member.
Record that there are no additional incidents for the
household member.
When Precode (1), “Yes: another incident needed for this
person” is selected the instrument goes to
INCIDENTNUMTOADD. Otherwise, it goes to
CRIME_END.
INCIDENTNUMTOADD
How many incidents do you want to add?
Enter a number between 1-25
INCIDENTNUMTOADD
Use this screen to enter the number of additional incidents
you have discovered for this respondent. After recording the
number of incidents that you need to add, continue with item
INCIDENTTOADDWHY.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
INCIDENTTOADDWHY
Explain why incidents were added (i.e. what happened)
INCIDENT TOADDWHY
Use the INCIDENTTOADDWHY screen to describe the
additional incident(s), similar to the descriptions entered in
the screener section of the instrument, such as in item
SQTHEFTSPEC. After entering your explanation, continue
to complete the incident report items for the first incident
that you added. Complete a separate incident report for
each incident that you added, starting at the
INCIDENT_INTRO screen.
If you enter Precode (2), “No,” at the INCIDENTTOADD
screen, continue with the CRIME_END screen.
All incident reports completed for: James Boe
NO
NAME
SOURCE
STATUS
_________________________________________________________________________________
1
James Boe
SQTHEFT
One REGULAR
incident
CRIME_END
CRIME_END
CRIME_END marks the end of the incident report section
and lets you know that you have completed all reported
incidents for the household member.
If multiple incidents were reported by the respondent or
multiple incidents for the household (that is, other
respondents also reported incidents) the instrument
continues to INTRO_UNDUP in the unduplication section.
The instrument also continues with the unduplication
section when there were incidents recorded during the last
enumeration, even if there was only one incident reported
for the household during this enumeration. If there is only
one incident report and no incidents reported in the last
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-5
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
enumeration, the instrument continues to the
sociodemographic section.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
Topic 2. Screen Layout and Instructions for the
Unduplication Items
Now it will just take me a minute to review the crime incidents I have
recorded from you during this interview at your household.
Enter 1 to continue
INTRO_UNDUP
INTRO_UNDUP
The unduplication process starts with the INTRO_UNDUP
screen. Unduplicating or bounding interviews is an NCVS
process to ensure that each reported incident is not a
duplicate of another incident already reported for the
respondent or the sample household in the current and
previous enumerations periods. (If an incident is
identified as a duplicate, it is then omitted from any further
duplicate checking.)
The unduplication process is designed to avoid listing
duplicate incidents. This could occur when:
The incident actually happened and was reported in a
previous enumeration period and did not occur again
during the current enumeration period, but was reported
again during the current enumeration period.
The incident was reported already by another
household member during the current enumeration
period, such as a household break-in and robbery in
which no household members were threatened,
attacked, or personally victimized during the incident.
However, if any household members were personally
victimized during a crime incident, complete a separate
incident report for each household member who was
personally victimized during the incident.
This quality assurance measure is designed so that we can
provide a more accurate measure of criminal victimization in
the United States.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-7
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Read the statement at INTRO_UNDUP to let the
respondent know what you are doing for the next few
minutes of the interview. After reading this statement to the
respondent, enter Precode (1) to move to the next screen
and begin the unduplication process. When there are
multiple incidents reported by the respondent and/or other
respondents in the household, the instrument goes to item
UNDUP_CURINC. However, if there is only one incident
reported by the current respondent and no other incidents
reported by other respondents the instrument continues
with item UNDUP_OLD.
During the unduplication process, DO NOT discuss with the
respondent the incidents you are comparing, even to verify
that they are the same or different incidents. This tool is
provided because the respondent may have given you
information that is not readily available to staff who review
the data after it is collected.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
UNDUP_CURINC
Part B, Chapter 5
The UNDUP_CURINC screen, shown above, provides you
with pertinent facts about the current incident that you use to
compare this incident against other reported incidents, both
from the same respondent and from other respondents in
the same household. The UNDUP_CURINC screen
provides you with the following types of information about
the current incident: the enumeration period in which the
incident was reported, respondent's line number, month
incident occurred, where incident occurred, who was
present, weapon information, information on threats and
attacks, stolen items, and summary report information.
UNDUP_CURINC directs you to compare the two incidents
shown and determine whether the incident on the left is a
duplicate of the incident shown on the right. “Duplicate”
does not mean “similar.” Determine if the incident on the left
is the same incident that is displayed on the right side of the
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-9
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
screen. If it is a duplicate, enter precode (1) for “Yes.” If it is
not a duplicate, enter precode (2) for “No.”
This continues as all potential duplicate incidents are shown
for your review. When all incidents are reviewed, the
instrument takes you to UNDUP_OLDINC if there are
incidents from previous interviews to review for
unduplication. If there are no incidents from previous
interviews, the instrument takes you to UNDUP_DONE.
UNDUP_OLDINC
UNDUP_OLDINC looks similar to UNDUP_CURINC, but is
used for comparing and unduplicating current reported
incidents against up to four incidents reported in past
interviews. It instructs you to compare the two incidents
shown and determine whether the incident on the left
(currently reported incident) is a duplicate of the incident on
the right (previously reported incident). If it is a duplicate,
enter Precode (1) for “Yes.” If it is not a duplicate, enter
Precode (2) for “No.” When all old incidents have been
compared to current incidents, the instrument takes you to
UNDUP_DONE.
UNDUP_DONE
THIS PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY MORE
INCIDENTS TO REVIEW, CONTINUE WITH THE
INTERVIEW.
Enter 1 to continue
UNDUP_DONE
When incident review and unduplication is complete, the
UNDUP_DONE screen appears as shown above. Enter
Precode (1) to continue with the interview.
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
Topic 3. Help Screens and Abbreviations
Introduction
As part of the NCVS instrument, several screens link to
“Help” screens which provide concept definitions and other
information relevant to the specific screen. If a “Help” screen
is available for a particular screen, a question mark icon
appears in the upper left corner of the info pane.
The NCVS instrument also has an abbreviation pop-up help
screen, which you can access at any time by pressing Shift
+ F11. In an effort to promote uniformity, you may use these
abbreviations to help save time and space and make it
easier for you to fit the summary report and any notes about
the case in the allotted space. However, avoid using
abbrevations unless it is necessary.
Listed below are the “Help” screens available for
specific NCVS items within the instrument:
SCREEN NAME--
SCREEN TEXT--
H_ABBREV
List of abbreviations interviewers can use to shorten the
SUMMARY and various notes.
H_STATE
Lists two-letter state abbreviations; can be accessed from
Items NEWADDSTATE, NEWMAIL STATE,
NEWADDSTATE_CP, NEWMAILSTATE _CP, and
INCIDENTSTATE.
H_PRESENCE
TO BE CONSIDERED PRESENT
a household member must be at the immediate scene of
the crime incident and there is an opportunity for the
offender to attack or threaten to physically harm a
household member or to take something directly from a
household member.
H_WEAPON
Objects that are NEVER considered weapons include
animals, parts of the body, small empty cans, mace or
pepper spray, tear gas, chloroform, rings, and casts.
BB guns and tear gas are only considered weapons when
used as clubs. Include these latter two items in Category 5:
"Blunt Object". If any object that is typically considered a
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-11
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
weapon such as a knife or club is used only as a tool, it will
not be considered a weapon.
H_THEFT
What to Include/Exclude as Theft/Attempted Theft
INCLUDE:
- items belonging to any member of the household,
regardless of age, taken in a burglary or household theft.
- items belonging to any member of the household 12 years
of age or older.
- items regardless of value (for example, accept theft of
"worthless" and "priceless" items)
- items that are personal property of an individual
household member
- items that belong to the entire household
- items that belong to an unrecognizable business
EXCLUDE:
- items that belong to a recognizable business in the sample
unit, even if the business is owned by a household
member.
- items that belong to some other commercial
establishment, even if the business is owned by a
household member.
- items belonging to the owner of a house, apartment, or
room that a household member was renting at the time of
the incident.
- items belonging to a nonhousehold member
- items that the respondent or another household member
had borrowed from a nonhousehold member.
- items loaned to a friend, neighbor, etc., and not
returned. (However, if someone stole the items from the
friend, neighbor, etc., INCLUDE the items)
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 5
- items belonging to a household member under age 12,
taken in any type of crime other than a burglary or
household theft.
H_DAMAGED
Include only items that were damaged but not stolen.
Include damaged items that belonged to an unrecognizable
business but exclude damaged items belonging to a
recognizable business.
H_POLICEINFORMED
'POLICE' refers to all regular police and sheriff departments
at the city, county, State, or Federal level of government. If
the victim or the offender was a police officer, probe to
determine if an official report was filed or if the police
department was notified.
H_NOTREPORTED
Structured Probe: Was the reason because you dealt with
it another way, it wasn't important enough to you, insurance
wouldn't cover it, police couldn't do anything, police
wouldn't help, or was there some other reason?
(This help screen is also available in Spanish.)
H_WHYREPORTED
Structured Probe: Did you report it to get help with this
incident, to recover your loss, to stop or punish the offender,
to let the police know about it, or was there some other
reason?
(This help screen is also available in Spanish.)
H_INTROLETTER
Includes the text that appears on the NCVS-572(L),
Introductory Letter.
H_NONINT
Type A/B/C noninterview reasons:
Type A Noninterviews
Language problems
No one home
Temporarily absent - Specify
Refused
Other occupied -Specify
Type B Noninterviews
Vacant - regular
Vacant - storage of household furniture
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-13
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
Unfit or to be demolished
Under construction, not ready
Converted to temporary business or storage
Unoccupied site for mobile home, trailer, or tent
Permit granted, construction not started
Other - Specify
Type C Noninterviews
Demolished
House or trailer moved
Outside segment
Converted to permanent business or storage
Merged
Condemned
Unused line of listing sheet
Other- Specify
Unlocatable Sample Address
Unit does not exist or is out of scope
Permit abandoned
Listed below are the abbreviations found on the help screen that can be accessed by pressing
Shift + F11. In addition to using these abbreviations when preparing your summary report for an
incident, you can also use them when entering any other written entries or notes in the NCVS
instrument.
Additional, ADL
Address, ADR
Agendum, AG
Again, AGN
Answering Machine or Morning, AM
Answering Machine Message Left, AMML
Answering Machine No Message Left, AMNML
Answer, ANS
Appointment, APPT
Apartment, APT
Association, ASSN
Assessor, ASSR
Assistant, Assist, ASST
Avenue, AVE
Available, AVL
Building, BLDG
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Block, BLK
Boulevard, BLVD
Broken, BRKN
Best Time, BT
Battery, BTRY
CallBack, CB
Could Not, CDNT
Central Daylight Time, CDT
Circle, CIR
Called, CLD
Closed, CLSD
Completed Interview, CMPINT
Count, CNT
Contact, CNTC
County, CNTY
Company, CO
Complete, COMP
Continue, CONT
Cooperate, COOP
Contact Person, CP
Court, CT
Central Standard Time, CST
Directory Assistance, DA
Daughter, DAU
Disconnected, DISC
Drive, DR
Descriptive Address, DSC ADR
Duplicate, DUP
East, E
Eastern Daylight Time, EDT
Exact Match, EM
Eastern Standard Time, EST
Female, F
Fast Data, FD
Find/Found, FND
Field Representative, FR
Front, FRNT
Friday, FRI
Foot/Feet (Distance), FT
Follow-up, FU
Forward, FWD
Gender Identity, GI
Guess Call Back, GCB
Group, Group Home, GRP
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-15
Part B, Chapter 5
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Hard Call Back, HCB
Hang Up, HGUP
Household, HH
Household Member, HHM
History, HIST
Hawaiian Standard Time, HST
Housing Unit, HU
Highway, HWY
Identification, ID
Immediate, IMMD
Include, INCL
Income, INCM
Internet, INTRNT
Information, INFO
Inside, INSD
Interview/Interviewer, INT
Line Number, LN
Language Problem, LNG PRB
Laptop Computer, LPTP
Large, LRG
Listing Sheet, LS
Left, LT
Letter, LTR
Leave, LV
Male, M
Member, MBR
Mountain Daylight Time, MDT
Manager, MGR
Mobile Home Park, MHP
Mile(s), MI
Message Left, ML
Month, MO
Monday, MON
Missed Appointment, MSD APPT
Message, MSG
Mountain Standard Time, MST
Multiple Units, MU
Move, Moved, MV(D)
North, N
Not Available/Not Applicable, NA
Northeast, NE
Not in Service, NIS
No Message Left, NML
No One Home, NOH
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Noninterview, NO INT
Nearby, NRBY
Number, #
Northwest, NW
Organization, ORG
Original Sample Person, OSP
Other, OTH
Outside, OTSD
Pacific Daylight Time, PDT
Person, PER
Phone, Phone Number, PH
Park, PRK
Parkway, PKY
Place, PL
Afternoon/Evening, PM
Property Manager, PMGR
Place of Business, POB
P.O. Box, PO BX
Place of Employment, POE
Possible, POS
Previous, PREV
Property, PROP
Partial Interview, PRT INT
Provide, PRVD
Pacific Standard Time, PST
Public Library, PUB LIB
Personal Visit, PV
Proxy, PXY
Question, QST
Questionnaire, QSTNR
Road/Rural Delivery, RD
Received, RECD
Refused, REF
Reference Person, REF PER
Request, REQ
Rooming House, RH
Reluctant, RLCT
Roommate, RM
Ring No Answer, RNA
Rural Route, RR
Rural Route Delivery, RRD
Respondent, RESP
Right, RT
Route, RTE
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-17
Part B, Chapter 5
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
South, S
Sample Address, SA
Sample Person, SP
Sample Unit, SU
Saturday, SAT
Sexual Orientation, SO
Soft Call Back, SCB
Screen (computer), SCRN
Said, SD
Southeast, SE
Senior Field Representative, SFR
Signal, SGNL
Sheet#, Line#, S_L_
Small, SM
Spoke With, SP/W
Spanish Speaking, SS
Spanish Speaking Household, SSHH
Social Security Number, SSN
Street, ST
Status, STAT
Sunday, SUN
Supervisor, SUP
Southwest, SW
Temporarily Absent, TA
Terrace, TER
Thursday, THUR
Talk(ed), TLK(D)
Tomorrow, TOMO
Turnpike, TPK
Trail, TR
Trailer, TRLR
Trailer Park, TRLR PRK
Transmission/Transmitted, TRNSM
Transfer, TRSFR
Tuesday, TUE
Tax Assessor, TX AS
Unable to Locate, UTL
Vacant, VAC
Visited, VST(D)
West, W
Wednesday, WED
Within, W/IN
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Week, WK
Without, W/OUT
Wrong, WRG
World Wide Web/Internet, WWW
Time, Two Times, Three Times, etc., X, 2X, 3X, etc.
Extra, XTR
Yukon Daylight Time, YDT
Year(s), YR(S)
Yukon Standard Time, YST
Additional Incidents, Unduplication, and Help Screens
B5-19
Part B, Chapter 5
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Introduction
B6-2
2 Screen Layout and Instructions
B6-3
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-1
Part B, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Introduction
Wrapping Up the NCVS
Interview
The Back Section of the NCVS instrument includes screens
used to:
Make appointments to call back a sample household;
Thank each sample household member for his/her time
and participation in the NCVS;
Code any language issues encountered while trying to
interview the household; and
Verify and/or update the telephone numbers that have
been collected, or add up to three additional telephone
numbers for the household.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 6
Topic 2. Screen Layout and Instructions
Did this interview end because of a refusal, a callback was needed, a breakoff occurred,
or some other problem?
1 Refusal
2 Callback
3 Breakoff
4 Language or other problem (refer to supervisor)
REFCBBREAK_CP
REFCBBREAK_CP
REFCBBREAK_CP records the incomplete status of a
household respondent or individual respondent’s interview
in CAPI. Precodes (1) and (3) take you to Item VERIFY;
Precode (2) takes you to Item APPT when interviewing the
household respondent and to item PERSAPPT for
individual respondents, and Precode (4) takes you to Item
LANGUAGEPROBLEM_CP.
Enter a time to recontact the household.
I would like to schedule a date and time to complete the interview.
What date and time would be best?
Today is 1/15/2017
APPT
APPT
The APPT screen is the first screen that you access to set a
future telephone contact with a household respondent who
still needs to be interviewed. This item is a text field, so you
can enter a date, for example “9/1/17,” or a day and time, for
example, “Monday at 7 PM.” The entry at this item appears
in the appointment box in laptop case management. Also
enter the household respondent appointment information in
the case level notes.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-3
Part B, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What is the telephone number of the phone where you would like to be called?
Record new number
Enter 0 for no telephone number
TELEPH
TELEPH
Item TELEPH is used to record the telephone number.
Enter the telephone number, or enter “0” (zero) if there is no
telephone number.
What type of phone is this (for example, a home, office, or cell phone)?
1 Home
2 Work/office
3 Cell/digital
4 Beeper/pager/answering service
5 Pay phone
6 Toll free
7 Other
8 Fax
TELEPHTYPE
TELEPHTYPE
Item TELEPHTYPE is used to record the telephone type
(Home, work/office, cellular or digital,
beeper/pager/answering service, public pay phone, toll free,
or other).
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 6
Thank you for your help.
I will call back at the time suggested.
CALLBACK: Friday October 19, 2:00 PM
THANKCB_CP
THANKCB_CP
The THANKCB_CP screen is the thank-you screen to thank
the respondent and tell him/her that we will call back at the
suggested time. Notice that the scheduled callback date
and time are shown on this screen. After reading this
statement to the respondent, press (1) to continue to Item
VERIFY.
Press Control+F7 to enter appointment information for this person in Case Level Notes.
PERSAPPT
PERSAPPT
Because laptop case management is not set up to store
callback information for individual respondents, PERSAPPT
prompts you to enter any respondent callback information in
the Case Level Notes, which may be accessed here by
pressing “Ctrl” and “F7” simultaneously. After entering
callback information, press “1” to continue to
THANKYOU_INDIV.
Thank you. I'll call back at the time suggested.
THANKYOU_INDIV
THANKYOU_INDIV
THANKYOU_INDIV is the thank-you screen for individual
respondents after recording callback information in Case
Level Notes. Pressing “1” to continue takes you to Item
VERIFY.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-5
Part B, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Record the language spoken by the respondent or enter 28 if respondent is hard of hearing.
11 Spanish
12 Arabic
13 Chinese
14 French
15 German
16 Greek
17 Italian
18 Japanese
19 Korean
20 Polish
21 Portuguese
22 Russian
23 Tagalog
24 Urdu
25 Vietnamese
26 Other - Specify
27 Unknown language
28 Other problem - hard of hearing
LANGUAGEPROBLEM_CP
LANGUAGE PROBLEM_CP
LANGUAGEPROBLEM_CP allows you to record the fact
that a language problem (or other related problem; for
example, a person who is hard of hearing) exists for a
respondent. An entry of 26 takes you to LANGUAGE
PROBLEM_SPEC_CP. Otherwise, the instrument goes to
Item VERIFY.
Record the language spoken by the respondent.
LANGUAGEPROBLEM_SPEC_CP
LANGUAGE
PROBLEM_SPEC_CP
Use the LANGUAGEPROBLEM_SPEC_CP screen to
record the specific language spoken by the respondent.
This question is asked only of the household respondent.
After entering this information, the instrument proceeds to
Item VERIFY.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 6
Read if necessary
Thank you for your time.
THANKYOU_CP
THANKYOU_CP
THANKYOU_CP is the thank-you screen used after the
household is completed. The instrument fills in the screen
text to be read to the respondent based on the situation.
For noninterview households you are prompted to thank
the contact person, when appropriate, as shown above.
For completed interviews, the question text is based on
the time in sample (TIS) of the case.
Verifying Telephone
Information
For TIS 1-6, item THANKYOU_CP reads: "Six months
from now we will be contacting you again. Thank you
for your time. You've been very helpful."
For TIS 7 cases, item THANKYOU_CP reads: "This is
the last regularly scheduled interview for this
household, for the National Crime Victimization Survey.
Thank you for your participation in this survey."
The next set of screens is for the purpose of verifying and
updating previously collected telephone information. These
include:
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-7
Part B, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Review information listed below
Do you need to make any changes?
Press “Control T” to review/update interview time preference
TELEPHONEOK: Yes
Telephone (1) - Extn. Type:
Telephone (2) - Extn. Type:
Telephone (3) - Extn. Type:
VERIFY
VERIFY
VERIFY displays the telephone information that has been
collected to date. If no changes to this information are
needed, enter Precode (2), “No,” to exit the instrument and
proceed to the Case Level Notes. If changes are necessary,
enter Precode (1), “Yes,” and the instrument takes you to
VER_TELEPHONEACCEPTABLE.
Is a telephone interview acceptable?
Previous answer: Yes
1 Yes
2 No
VER_TELEPHONEACCEPTABLE
VER_TELEPHONE
ACCEPTABLE
Item VER_TELEPHONEACCEPTABLE allows you to
update whether or not a telephone interview is acceptable
for the household. Entering Precode (1), Yes,” takes you to
VER_PHONE. Entering Precode (2), “No,” takes you out of
the instrument and into the Case Level Notes.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part B, Chapter 6
What is the telephone number of the phone where you would like to be called?
VER_PHONE1, 2, 3
VER_PHONE1, 2, 3
Items VER_PHONE1, 2, 3 allow you to enter or update
phone numbers for the first, second, and third household
contacts. If no update needs to be made to the first phone
number, press “Enter” to continue to VER_PHONETYPE,
which will keep the previous phone number. If you do not
need to update any other information from VER_PHONE
through VER_PHONETYPE, then enter “0” (zero) which
takes you out of the instrument and to the Case Level
Notes.
However, if you do not need to change the first number but
do need to change or update the second or third phone
number, do not enter “0,” as that will take you out of the
instrument. Instead, press “Enter” until you reach the screen
that needs to be updated. Note that if there is not a number
in VER_PHONE, you cannot press “Enter” to go to the
second phone number. You must collect the first number in
order to collect the second, and so on.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-9
Part B, Chapter 6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
What type of phone is this (for example, a home, office, or cell phone)?
1 Home
2 Work/office
3 Cell/digital
4 Beeper/page/answering service
5 Pay phone
6 Toll free
7 Other
8 Fax
VER_PHONETYPE1, 2, 3
VER_PHONETYPE
1, 2, 3
Item VER_PHONETYPE1, 2, 3 allows you to enter or
update the type of phone for the first, second, and third
household contact numbers. After completing the VERIFY
section the instrument proceeds to the Case Level Notes.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
CASE NOTE EDITOR
Part B, Chapter 6
The CASE NOTE EDITOR (see illustration above) screen
appears after you exit the case, to enter any final notes
about the case which may be helpful for future contacts with
the household. You may also access the CASE NOTE
EDITOR by pressing Control + F7 at any time during the
interview.
Note: The CASE NOTE EDITOR is where you record any
callbacks necessary for individual respondents.
The instrument automatically fills in a CAPI indicator, time,
date, and your FR code. If any notes were recorded from a
previous CAPI interview, the window also displays the
previous notes. You may add to the notes or only view them.
Here are some examples of things that should be entered in
the CASE NOTE EDITOR:
Explaining why you are unable to interview an eligible
household member.
Explaining any difficulties interviewing because of a
speech or hearing disability, a particularly difficult
respondent, language difficulties, etc.
Instructions about a disabled person who requires extra
time to answer his/her telephone.
For partial interviews, noting where the interview left off.
When you finish entering your notes or if no notes are
necessary, press F10 to exit NOTES. If you added a new
note, the instrument prompts you to save the new entry.
Back Section of the NCVS Instrument
B6-11
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Overview of Chapter 1
C1-2
2 Reference Period
C1-3
3 Household Membership
C1-5
4 Reference Person
C1-11
5 Household and Individual
Respondents
C1-14
6 Proxy Interview
C1-18
7 Unduplicating/Bounding Interviews
C1-24
8 Out-of-Scope Incident
C1-28
9 Overview of the NCVS Process
C1-29
10 Replacement Households
C1-32
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-1
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Overview of Chapter 1
Purpose
The primary purpose of the National Crime Victimization
Survey (NCVS) is to obtain, from respondents who are 12
years of age and older, an accurate and up-to-date measure
of the amount and kinds of crime committed during a
specific 6-month reference period. When you are assigned
an NCVS case for the first interview, you are given a sample
address to visit and interview, but are not provided with any
respondent names.
Your responsibilities
During your initial contact with a sample address, your
responsibility as a CAPI interviewer is to identify:
The household members who usually reside at the
sample address (household membership);
The relationship of each household member to a
reference person;
A household respondent who will provide specific
information about the household; and
All household members who are eligible as individual
respondents for an NCVS interview.
Each eligible respondent is expected to respond for himself
or herself. However, under specific circumstances, another
household member can respond for an eligible respondent
and give a proxy interview.
To avoid duplicate incidents, you will go through an
unduplicating/bounding process to ensure that duplicate
incidents are not processed. When a reported incident falls
outside of the NCVS survey limits, you delete the incident
because it is considered an out-of-scope incident.
Chapter 1 defines all of these highlighted concepts in more
detail.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Topic 2. Reference Period
Definition
A reference period is a time interval for which we want to
collect information from a respondent. The NCVS reference
period covers the 6 months prior to the interview date. When
conducting interviews, we are interested only in crime
incidents that happened during a household member's
specific 6-month reference period.
The type of reference period that we use for the NCVS is
often referred to as a floating reference period or
period-to-period recounting. By using this type of a
reference period, we can compile a continuous record of a
household's experiences throughout the entire 3 years that
the household is in the NCVS sample.
First Enumeration Period
Interviews
Although the reference period is calculated automatically by
the NCVS CAPI instrument, it is still important for you to
understand the reference period. For the first enumeration
period, each household member’s reference period starts
on the first day of the month 6 months before the interview
month, and ends on the day before the interview date.
Household respondent example:
If a household respondent’s first enumeration period
interview is conducted on July 2, 2017, the current
reference period for the household respondent is
January 1, 2017 to July 1, 2017.
Individual respondent example:
If the remaining household members are interviewed for the
first enumeration period on July 3, 2017, the current
reference period for each household member is
January 1, 2017 to July 2, 2017.
Second Through Seventh
Enumeration Period
Interviews
After the first enumeration period, reference periods for all
remaining enumeration periods start on the date of the
household member's last interview and end on the day
before the household member's interview date. Unlike the
first enumeration period, each household member could
have a different reference period start date for the second
through seventh enumeration periods based on the
member's last interview date.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-3
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Incidents Outside of the
Reference Period
While interviewing, it is important to keep reminding the
respondent of the starting and ending dates for his/her
reference period. If a respondent seems to be having
difficulty keeping track of the reference period dates, try
adding the actual dates after reading "in the last 6 months."
This will help the respondent to stay focused on the correct
time frame for the interview.
Only complete the incident report section of the instrument
for incidents that happened during the reference period for
the respondent's current interview. (If the incident happened
on the day of the interview, collect the information as usual.
These incidents are reviewed during post-collection data
processing and either categorized as “in scope” or “out of
scope.” These incidents are used for comparison purposes
during unduplication in the next interview period.) If you
discover that the incident is outside of the respondent's
reference period (at Item INCIDENTDATE), the instrument
does not prompt you to collect information for that incident.
(See Topic 8 of this chapter for out-of-scope incidents.)
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Topic 3. Household Membership
Definition
For a person to be considered a member of a sample
household, he/she must be:
Using the sample address as his/her usual place of
residence at the time of the current interview, even if
he/she is temporarily absent at the time of interview,
OR
Staying temporarily at the sample address at the time of
the current interview AND not have a USUAL PLACE
OF RESIDENCE ELSEWHERE. This category could
include recent immigrants, persons trying to find
permanent living quarters, and persons who have no
other home of their own. This category could also
include entire households with no usual place of
residence elsewhere, because they are renting or
lending their usual living quarters to others and have no
other home of their own.
(See “Determining Usual Place of Residence” on the
next page for a definition of “Usual place of
residence.”)
Non-family persons may be considered household
members if the sample address is their usual place of
residence. These non-family household members could be
lodgers, servants, farmhands, or other employees, as long
as they:
Live at the sample address
AND
Claim the sample address as their usual place of
residence.
Household membership is not limited to sample housing
units and can also include residents of non-institutional
group quarters selected for the NCVS sample, such as
college dormitories, homes for unwed mothers, dormitories
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-5
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
for student nurses and doctors, and so forth.
Determining Usual Place of
Residence
A person's usual place of residence is a specific living
quarters, either a housing unit or a non-institutional group
quarters unit, where he/she lives and sleeps most of the
time and is free to return to at any time. Do not consider a
mailing address that does not identify a living quarters as a
usual place of residence. For example, if a person has mail
delivered to a box in a post office, that person’s mailing
address does not identify a living quarters.
Also, do not consider a person's living quarters as his/her
usual place of residence when the person:
Is not residing at the living quarters AND is renting or
lending the living quarters to someone else who is
residing there in his/her absence,
OR
Families With Two or
More Homes
Is not residing at the living quarters AND the vacant
living quarters is offered for sale or rent.
If a household owns more than one housing unit and spends
time in both homes, only ONE of the housing units can be
considered the usual place of residence for these
household members. Consider the home where they spend
most of the calendar year as their usual place of residence.
If the household spends an equal amount of the calendar
year at each home, consider the family to be household
members at the address where they reside at the time of the
interview.
Here are some examples for handling this type of situation:
The Moe family owns two housing units--one in the suburbs
of Detroit, the other a cabin in a mountain resort area. They
spend about 11 months of the year in their suburban Detroit
home. The Moe family does not rent out either home in their
absence.
If the Moes were residing at their suburban Detroit home
when you attempt to interview at that residence, you
would interview all eligible household members. Since
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
this is the Moes’ usual place of residence, all family
member's who usually live at the address and are 12
years of age and older are considered eligible
household members at this address.
When you attempt to interview at the cabin address, you
discover that the Moes are residing at the address.
Since the cabin is not their usual place of residence, you
would not interview them as household members at the
cabin address.
Foster Children
Always consider foster children in the household at the time
of your interview as household members at the sample
address, regardless of how long they are expected to stay
with the family.
Crew Member on a
Sailing Vessel
Never consider a sailing vessel to be a usual place of
residence for its crew members. This is true even when the
crew member is on the sailing vessel at the time of your
interview AND is on the vessel for long periods of time.
Household Members
Who Are Temporarily
Absent
Listed below are circumstances in which persons claiming
the sample address as their usual place of residence are
considered to be household members, even though they
are temporarily absent from the address at the time of
interview:
Foreign Citizens
Temporarily Staying
in the United States
Business travelers,
Crew members on sailing vessels,
Railroad personnel,
Long haul truck drivers,
Bus drivers, and
Persons who are away visiting relatives or friends, on
vacation, or temporarily in general (noninstitutional)
hospitals.
Only consider citizens of foreign countries as household
members at a sample address when:
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-7
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
They are temporarily living (not visiting or traveling) in
the United States,
The sample address is not an Embassy, Consulate,
Chancellery, or any other type of office for a foreign
country,
AND
Members of the
Armed Forces
The sample address is their usual place of residence
while residing in the United States.
Men and women who are Armed Forces members can be
considered household members at a sample housing unit if:
They usually sleep at the sample housing unit and
They are stationed in the same locality as the sample
housing unit.
Do not consider Armed Forces members to be household
members at a sample housing unit if:
They are stationed in a different locality than the sample
housing unit and
They are only staying at the sample housing unit while
on leave to visit family or friends.
Students
When you interview at a sample housing unit and discover
that a student is residing away from the family residence
while attending school (boarding, college, trade, or
commercial school in the United States or overseas), do not
consider the student to be a household member at the
family residence. While attending school, the student is
considered a household member at his/her school
residence, and is interviewed at that residence if it falls into
the NCVS sample.
However, students are considered household members at
their family residence when they are:
Living at the family residence while attending school,
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Living at the family residence at the time of interview
because they are on a short holiday (for example,
Thanksgiving or spring break) or home on summer
vacation,
AND
Student Nurses
Claiming the family residence as their usual place of
residence.
At the time of interview, consider a student nurse’s usual
place of residence to be the hospital, nurse’s home, or other
place where he/she resides while receiving nurse’s training.
For example:
Before entering nursing school, David lived with his parents
at 101 Railroad Drive, Any Town, AK. David is now
attending nursing school and living at 102 Maple Avenue,
Any Town, CO. While attending nurse’s training, David’s
usual place of residence is the 102 Maple Avenue address.
Persons Working
Overseas
Do not consider persons who are absent from the sample
address at the time of interview because they are working
and residing overseas for more than 6 months out of the
year to be household members at the sample address.
Persons With
Concurrent
Residences
You may find that some persons reside part of the week at
one address and the rest of the week at another address. In
this situation, count the person as a household member at
the address where he/she resides the greater part of the
week. If the person spends an equal amount of the week at
each address, consider the person as a household member
at the address where he/she is residing at the time of your
interview.
Persons in Vacation
Homes, Tourist
Cabins, and Trailers
If persons are residing in vacation homes, tourist cabins,
and trailers and do NOT have any other usual place of
residence at the time of interview, consider these persons
as household members where they are residing at the time
of your interview. However, if these persons do have a usual
residence elsewhere, do not consider them as household
members at the vacation homes, tourist cabins, and trailers
where they are staying at the time of the interview.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-9
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Inmates and Patients
in Institutional Group
Quarters
Inmates and patients in institutional group quarters are not
considered household members at the sample address
while they are residing in the institutional group quarters.
These inmates and patients could reside in the following
types of institutional group quarters:
Correctional Institutions
Nursing, Convalescent, and Rest Homes
Hospitals
Institutions for the Disabled
Institutions for the Mentally Ill/Retarded
Juvenile Institutions.
Remember that persons in institutional group quarters are
not free to come and go without permission. Also, persons
residing in institutional group quarters are not eligible for
NCVS interviewing, even if the group quarters is in the
NCVS sample. Do not take proxy interviews for
institutionalized persons, because they are not considered
household members while residing in an institution.
(See the Listing and Coverage Manual for Field
Representatives, Form 11-922, for more details about
group quarters.)
When You Are Still Unsure
About Household
Membership
If you have read all the household membership procedures
and still are unsure whether or not to include someone as a
household member, it is better to:
Include the person
AND
Explain the situation in either an “F7 Note” by using
Control + F7 Case Level notes screen.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Topic 4. Reference Person
Definition
We want the household's reference person to be a
responsible adult household member who is not likely
to permanently leave the household.
To meet this goal, the reference person must:
Qualify as a household member at the sample address,
Be one of the owners or renters of the sample housing
unit, and
Be at least 18 years of age (in most cases).
Since one of the owners or renters of the sample housing
unit is normally the most responsible and knowledgeable
household member, we prefer that the reference person
also be the household respondent. However, a household
respondent does not have to be one of the household
members who owns or rents the sample housing unit.
During your initial interview with a household you must
designate one of the household members who meets the
above criteria to be the reference person.
(See Topic 5 of this chapter for more details about
household respondents.)
Special Situations
When identifying a reference person for a sample
household, you may encounter one of the following
situations:
Housing Unit Rented
Without Cash
Payment
If a sample housing unit is occupied without payment of
cash rent, then any household member who is at least 18
years of age can qualify as the reference person. (Also see
"When Can a Reference Person Be Under 18 Years of
Age?" shown below.)
Housing Unit Jointly
Owned or Rented
If a sample housing unit is owned or rented jointly, then the
instrument automatically designates as the reference
person the first owner/renter who is listed on the household
roster. This person also must be a household member at the
sample address and must be at least 18 years of age. (Also
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-11
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
see "When Can a Reference Person Be Under 18 Years
of Age?" shown below.)
When Can a
Reference Person Be
Under 18 Years of
Age?
There are two situations when the household’s reference
person can be a household member who is under 18 years
of age. These situations include:
Sample households in which ALL household members
are 17 years of age. The reference person should be
one of the 17-year-old household members who owns
or rents the sample housing unit.
Sample households in which the owners/renters are
married and one or both of them are 17 years of age.
The reference person can be either person.
NOTE: If you encounter a household in which ALL
household members are under 17 years of age, tell your
supervisor. They will discuss this situation with HQ staff and
let you know how to handle the case.
Changing the Reference
Person
You may encounter situations in subsequent interviews
when you may need to identify a different person from the
household roster as the reference person. This could
happen when the reference person from the previous
enumeration period is no longer a household member
because he/she has:
Died or
Moved out of the sample address permanently.
You may discover this at Item NAMECHECK, which
displays the household roster and asks if it is correct. If you
answer “No,” then Item REFPERSTILLLIVE appears and
asks, “Does (name of person) still live at this address?” If
you answer “No,” Item NEWREFPER appears.
At the NEWREFPER screen, you ask the following question
to identify a new reference person for the sample
household, “What is the name of the person (or one of
the persons) who owns or rents that home? Would that
be you?” Enter the line number of the new reference
person at this screen; enter "31" if the new reference person
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
is new to the household and must be added to the roster.
The instrument then follows with prompts to add the new
person to the household roster.
After selecting or adding a new reference person, item
MEMBERCHANGES appears and asks you to enter the
reason(s) for changes in the household roster.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-13
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 5. Household and Individual Respondents
Definition
A household respondent is the household member that is
selected to be the first household member interviewed
and is almost always a self-response interview. The
household respondent must be able to provide information
for all persons in the sample household, as well as for
herself/himself. For example, the household respondent
must be able to:
Update demographic information on the household
information tables in the front section (“Control Card”
section) of the NCVS instrument.
Complete the household respondent's screening section
of the instrument.
Complete the incident report section of the instrument
for all incidents reported by herself/himself.
An individual respondent is any household member who
is at least 12 years of age and is not selected as the
household respondent. In most cases, you will interview
each individual respondent by self-response.
Who Qualifies as a
Household Respondent?
In most cases, the household respondent must be:
A household member,
At least 18 years of age, and
Knowledgeable enough about the household to provide
the necessary information for the Control Card screens,
and, if necessary, the incident report screens for each
incident he/she reports.
Normally, the best candidate for the household respondent
is the reference person or another household member
who owns or rents the housing unit. However, unlike the
requirements for a reference person, the household
respondent does not have to be one of the owners or
renters of the housing unit.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
(See Topic 4 of this chapter for information about
reference persons.)
During your initial interview with a household, you select a
household member who meets the household respondent
requirements. In subsequent interviews, the NCVS
instrument prompts you to ask to speak to the household
respondent from the previous enumeration period.
However, if this is not possible, make sure that the
household member you select for the current interview
period meets the requirements for a household respondent
and is knowledgeable about the household.
Exceptions to the Rule
Is it acceptable for a household respondent to be under
18 years of age?
If the reference person and/or the spouse of the reference
person is 17 years of age, either the reference person or the
spouse of the reference person can be the household
respondent. For example, a sample household is comprised
of a married couple ages 28 and 17. Because they are
married, either person qualifies as a household respondent,
even though one person is 17 years old.
If ALL household members are 17 years of age, select the
household member who appears to know the most about
the sample household. For example, three 17-year-old
friends rent an apartment together while attending college.
Try to select the household member who is most likely to
provide accurate information about household matters.
If you discover a household comprised of at least one
17-year-old and the remaining persons are all under 17
years of age, select the 17-year-old household member as
the household respondent.
NOTE: If you encounter a household in which ALL
household members are under 17 years of age, tell your
supervisor, who will discuss this situation with HQ staff and
let you know how to handle the case. Also, make a note of
the situation in the case notes.
However, if the household consists of two or more
unmarried individuals AND at least one of the individuals is
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-15
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
18 years of age or older, then the household respondent
must be one of the members who is at least 18 years old.
For example, Joe, Terry, and Frank rent a house together.
Joe is 17 years old, Terry is 19 years old, and Frank is 20
years old. In this example, Terry and Frank are eligible to be
the household respondent, but Joe is NOT eligible because
of his age.
When can a household respondent be a non-household
member?
A non-household member can ONLY be a household
respondent WHEN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS EXIST:
ALL eligible household members are physically and/or
mentally unable to be interviewed,
ALL eligible household members have been under the
care of the non-household member for the entire
reference period,
AND
None of the eligible household members were able to
leave the sample address during the entire reference
period, unless they were accompanied by the
non-household member.
If any of the eligible household members are capable of
being interviewed, select a capable household member as
the household respondent, instead of selecting the
non-household member.
Changing Household
Respondents During an
Interview
There may be instances when you need to change
household respondents after starting an interview.
This could happen if:
You ask to speak to the previous household respondent
and discover that he/she is no longer considered a
household member.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
You discover that the previous household respondent is
unable to answer many of the questions about the
household. (However, this situation should seldom
occur.)
Under these circumstances, stop interviewing the current
household respondent and find a current household
member who is more knowledgeable about the household.
Use the “New HHR” tab at the top left of the NCVS interview
screen. The screen that appears, Item NEW_HHR, allows
you to select a different household respondent. At
NEW_HHR, select the line number of the new household
respondent.
Once you have selected a new household respondent, start
the household respondent's interview from the beginning.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-17
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 6. Proxy Interview
Definition
A proxy interview is one in which someone other than the
intended household member answers the interview
questions for another eligible household member.
The person who is authorized to answer for the intended
household member is referred to as the proxy
respondent.
The intended household member who is unable to
answer the interview for himself/herself is referred to as
the proxy person.
Since a proxy respondent is more likely to omit an incident
or leave out some of the details about a reported incident,
we discourage proxy interviews, except as a last resort.
Acceptable Reasons for
Proxy Interviews
Only THREE conditions allow you to take a proxy interview
for a household member. These conditions are:
A parent will not allow you to speak to his/her 12- or
13-year-old child to conduct the interview. In this
situation, any household member who is at least 18
years of age can be the proxy respondent for the child.
However, one of the child's parents would be the best
proxy respondent.
An eligible household member is temporarily absent
during the entire interview period, such as a household
member who will be out of town for the entire interview
month caring for a sick relative. Before accepting a
proxy interview for this situation, make sure that the
absent person still qualifies as a household member. If
the absent person is still a household member, you can
accept a proxy interview from an eligible household
member.
(See "Who Qualifies as a Proxy Respondent?" later
in this topic. Also see Topic 3 of this chapter for
more information about household membership.)
An eligible household member is physically or mentally
incapacitated continuously throughout the entire
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
interview period, due to health or mental illness
problems. For example, a household may have a family
member who is too hard of hearing to complete a
telephone interview for himself/herself or a household
may have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease
who cannot respond for herself/himself.
The following problems do not constitute being
physically or mentally incapacitated and cannot be
accepted as reasons for taking a proxy interview: old
age (by itself), colds or flu, drunkenness, under the
influence of drugs, or any problems that might be
aggravated because a respondent feels that some
NCVS questions are upsetting (such as the NCVS
questions related to rape and sexual assault).
Proxy Interviews for
Household Respondents
There is ONLY ONE ACCEPTABLE REASON for taking a
proxy interview for a household respondent - when a
non-household member is a proxy respondent for an
ENTIRE household. This should happen only occasionally,
but when it does, the non-household member must be the
proxy respondent for the household respondent AND all
other household members who are eligible for the NCVS
interview.
If at least one eligible household member is capable of
being interviewed by self-response, then that person must
be the household respondent and the proxy respondent for
the remaining household members who are eligible for
interview. Always complete the household respondent's
interview BEFORE interviewing any other eligible
household members.(Also see "Accepting a
Non-household Member as a Proxy Respondent" later
in this topic.)
Here are some scenarios:
Both members of the Coe household suffer from
Alzheimer’s disease and a nurse cares for them on a
daily basis. The nurse is over 18 years of age, caring for
Roy and Mary Coe for the past 2 years. In this situation,
the nurse qualifies as a proxy respondent for Roy and
Mary. The nurse would be the proxy respondent for the
household respondent and the individual respondent.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-19
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Unacceptable Reasons for
Proxy Interviews
The Moe household includes the reference person,
Megan Moe, and her 78-year-old mother, Jane Voe.
When you call the Moe household, only Jane Voe is at
home. Since both Megan and Jane are eligible to be the
household respondent. You should make Jane the
household respondent, take her NCVS interview, and
recontact the household later to interview Megan as an
individual respondent.
When you contact the Coe household, the only
household member who meets the requirements for a
household respondent is away on a business trip and
will not return before closeout. However, his 16-year-old
son, Colin, is available when you call the household. In
this situation, you cannot take a proxy interview for
Colin's father and Colin cannot be the household
respondent. Since you must always interview the
household respondent first, you would not be able to
interview this household and the case is considered a
Type A noninterview.
To reinforce the fact that proxy interviews must only be
taken as a "last resort," several situations are listed below in
which you may be tempted to take a proxy interview for an
individual respondent, but must NOT. If you experience any
of these situations, you will not be able to interview the
household member.
You make several attempts to contact a household
member during the interview period, but are never
successful in reaching him/her at home. A good
example of this would be a student who lives at home,
but is engaged in so many activities during the day and
evening that you are unable to set up an interview
before closeout.
A household member refuses to be interviewed even
after you try to persuade him/her to cooperate, but tells
you to get the information from another household
member.
You are unable to interview an eligible household
member, because another household member refuses
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
to let you conduct the interview. A good example of this
is a parent who refuses to let you interview his/her
15-year-old child.
Who Qualifies as a Proxy
Respondent?
If you must take a proxy interview for an acceptable reason,
your first choice for a proxy respondent would be:
A household member who is at least 18 years old,
Very knowledgeable of the proxy person, and
Has already completed his/her own NCVS interview by
self-response.
Two exceptions to the age requirement for a proxy
respondent are when:
Accepting a
Non-household Member as
a Proxy Respondent
The household's reference person or one of the other
persons who owns or rents the home is under 18 years
of age or
All household members are under 18 years of age.
On rare occasions, a non-household member can be a
proxy respondent. However, several requirements must be
met before you can allow a non-household member to be a
proxy respondent.
ALL of the following conditions must exist before accepting
a non-household proxy respondent:
Due to physical or mental illness problems, you are
unable to interview ALL eligible household members
by self-response.
During the entire reference period (6 months prior to
the interview date), ALL eligible household members at
the sample address were unable to leave the sample
address, unless they were accompanied by the
non-household person who cares for them.
The non-household caretaker must be the proxy
respondent for the entire household, including the
household respondent. This is the only situation in
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-21
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
which a household respondent's interview can be a
proxy interview.
The non-household proxy respondent must be at least
18 years old.
The non-household proxy respondent must have cared
for all eligible household members during the entire
reference period. If the non-household member did not
care for some or all of the household members for more
than a few days during the reference period, this
person does NOT qualify as a proxy respondent.
If you do not feel comfortable or are unsure about a
non-household member as a proxy respondent, check with
your supervisor before conducting the proxy interview.
Protecting
Confidentiality
When you conduct a proxy interview for the entire
household with a non-household member, you must enter a
description of the situation and explain who the proxy
respondent is in the “Case Level Notes.”
We have such strict requirements for accepting a
non-household proxy respondent because we want to
ensure each sample household member's confidentiality.
When talking to a proxy respondent who is not a household
member, you need to be especially careful not to mention
any information provided in a previous enumeration period.
This includes the following types of information -- household
composition, marital status, education, income, and so
forth.
Keeping Proxy Interviews
to a Minimum
Whenever possible, we want eligible respondents
(household members who are at least 12 years of age) to
answer the interview questions for themselves. By allowing
a proxy respondent to answer for a household member, you
run the risk of:
Missing incidents and/or
Not getting sufficient details about reported incidents.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
(Also see pages A2-12 through A2-17 for proxy
respondent procedures.)
Problems Conducting a
Proxy Interview
You may encounter situations in which a proxy interview is
acceptable, but cannot be done because:
You are unable to identify an acceptable proxy
respondent
OR
An acceptable proxy respondent refuses to give you an
interview for a household member.
When this happens, you will not be able to conduct an
NCVS interview for the household member.
In the following situation, you will not be able to interview a
sample household and the case will be considered a Type A
noninterview:
All household members are unable to be interviewed by
self-response due to health or mental illness problems,
AND
The entire household is under the care of a
non-household member caretaker,
AND
The non-household caretaker refuses to give a proxy
interview for at least the household respondent.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-23
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 7. Unduplicating/Bounding Interviews
Definition
Unduplicating or reviewing bounding incidents is an NCVS
process to ensure that only one set of incident report
questions is completed for each incident or personal
victimization reported in the screen questions.
This process is designed to avoid duplicate incidents that
could occur when:
The incident actually occurred in a previous enumeration
period and did not occur again during the current
enumeration period.
The incident was reported already by another household
member during the current enumeration period, such as
a household break-in and robbery in which no
household members were threatened, attacked, or
personally victimized during the incident. However, if
any household members were personally victimized
during a crime incident, complete the incident report
questions for each household member who was
victimized during the incident.
This quality assurance measure is designed so that we can
provide a more accurate measure of criminal victimization in
the United States.
Unduplication Section of
the NCVS Instrument
After completing all incident reports with an eligible
household member (all screens covering the screen
questions and the incident report questions), the instrument
checks to see if there are any other incidents reported for
household members (including the current respondent)
either during the current interview month or during the
previous interview month. If there are other incidents
reported for the respondent or the household, then you go
through a set of unduplication screens in the NCVS
instrument.
As you go through this section of the instrument, compare
each incident reported by a respondent during the current
interview month against:
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
All other incidents reported during the current interview
month
AND
Up to four incidents reported in the previous interview
month.
The NCVS instrument skips you over the unduplication
section if:
The respondent did not report any incidents during the
current interview month,
OR
The respondent only reported one incident and there are
no other incidents reported in either the current or
previous interview with the sample household.
If you need to go through the unduplication section of the
NCVS instrument, some or all of the following screens
appear:
INTRO_UNDUP
Purpose of screen:
To let the respondent know what you are doing for the next
few minutes of the interview.
Text read to respondent:
"Now it will just take me a minute to review the crime
incidents I have recorded from you during this
interview at your household."
Instructions to you:
None
Precodes:
(1) Enter 1 to continue (This precode takes you to
UNDUP_CURINC if there is more than one incident
reported in the current interview.)
UNDUP_CURINC
Purpose:
Provides you with pertinent facts about the current incident
that you use to compare it against other reported incidents
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-25
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
in the same interview. Instrument provides the following
information about the current incident: enumeration period
in which the incident was reported, respondent's line
number, incident number, month incident occurred, where
incident occurred, weapon information, presence, theft, and
attack information, and summary report information.
Text read to respondent:
None
Instructions to you:
Compare the incident data below. Is the incident on the left
a duplicate of the incident on the right?
Precodes:
(1) Yes
(2) No
Precode (1) codes the incident on the left as a duplicate
incident.
If there were no incidents reported for the household from a
previous interview month, then you go from the
UNDUP_CURINC screen to the JOBLASTWEEK screen.
UNDUP_OLDINC
Purpose:
Provide you with key facts for up to four incidents reported
during a previous interview month, so you can compare
each one against the incident described on the left of the
screen.
Text read to respondent:
None
Instructions to you:
Compare the incident data below. Is the incident on the left
a duplicate of the incident on the right?
Precodes:
(1) Yes
(2) No
Precode (1) codes the incident on the left as a duplicate
incident.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
UNDUP_DONE
Part C, Chapter 1
Purpose:
To let you know that your review of reported incidents is
complete and you can continue with the interview.
Text read to respondent:
None
Instructions to you:
THIS PERSON DOES NOT HAVE ANY MORE INCIDENTS
TO REVIEW, CONTINUE WITH THE INTERVIEW.
Precodes:
(1) To continue. After pressing “1” the instrument proceeds
to JOBLASTWEEK when the respondent is 16 or older. If
the respondent is between ages 12-15, the instrument
proceeds to the NEXTPERSON screen.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-27
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 8. Out-of-Scope Incident
Definition
An "out-of-scope" incident is one that falls outside of the
limits defined for this survey. The BJS has specific reasons
for wanting to exclude certain types of incidents from our
crime victimization data.
Outside Reference Period
Once you start completing the incident report section of the
NCVS instrument, there is only ONE reason for stopping
before the end of the section. If you discover at the
INCIDENTDATE screen that the incident occurred either
before the reference period start date, a popup screen
INCIDENTDATE_OK: appears, prompting you to confirm
the date: “Did you say (month)?” Click the “suppress”
button on the popup screen to confirm that the date is
outside the reference period and keep any more questions
from being asked about the incident.
To change the date of the incident, click the “Close” or
“Goto” button to return to INCIDENTDATE.
OSINCNOTNEEDED
If the incident is outside the reference period, the next
screen that appears is OSINCNOTNEEDED:
“We are only asking about crimes that happened
during the last 6 months. We will not collect
information on this incident.”
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Topic 9. Overview of the NCVS Process
NCVS Sample
The NCVS sample is made up of households from
across the country that are selected every 10 years
based on the results from the Decennial Census. The
NCVS sample is split into six rotation groups which
are interviewed twice a year for a total of seven
interviews. This format provides households to be
interviewed each month throughout the year.
Before Interviewing Starts
Each month your Regional Office (RO) splits up that
month’s sample cases among all of the Field
Representatives (FRs) and then releases your
monthly assignment to you.
Data Collection
Starting on the first of the month, you use your
survey-specific and general FR training to go out and
do your best to finish all your interviews in the most
complete and timely manner possible. As you
complete and transmit your monthly assignments,
each RO ensures that all assigned sample cases are
accounted for and all data have been received. At the
end of the month, that month’s survey closes out. This
ends the data collection phase of the NCVS for that
month.
Editing/Coding Operation
Data from all of the ROs are combined and a database
containing all cases that have at least one incident
report is created. That database is then sent to the
Census Bureau’s National Processing Center (NPC) in
Jeffersonville, Indiana. In this next phase of data
preparation, the data are clerically reviewed and
edited. This operation in the NPC is the first look we get
at the incident reports collected each month. During
this process, the data are reviewed to ensure they
meet the NCVS guidelines and inconsistent data are
corrected.
The database (created with all cases that have at least
one incident) contains on average about 1,000 cases.
Each case can have multiple incidents, so the number
of incidents reviewed is even larger.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-29
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The edits range from minor corrections such as
recoding an “Other - Specify” entry to major
modifications that change how the incident classifies.
NPC staff members review incident reports to ensure
data quality, by reviewing such items as
“Other-Specify” write-in entries to determine whether
those entries can be recoded to a precoded category.
For example, if the location of the incident was
classified as “Other” and the write-in entry is “inside the
restaurant where respondent works,” it is reclassified
to the precoded category “Inside restaurant, bar,
nightclub.”
The NPC staff also compares the crime incident report
data to the data entered at the SUMMARY screen, the
description of the incident in the screener question,
and any case level notes and edit the data to make the
incident report is consistent with the other information.
If the summary or other notes are vague or incomplete,
NPC and Headquarters staff may not be able to recode
the incident to match what actually happened.
Although the entire incident report is reviewed,
particular attention is paid to the questions regarding
location, presence, and theft since they are main
factors used to determine how to classify an incident.
Incidents that cannot be corrected are referred to
another unit of editors at Headquarters. Approximately
300 of the 1,000 cases that make up the NPC’s
workload each month are referred to Headquarters
staff for further review.
The editing and coding process ensures that the best
quality data are provided to the BJS and data users.
Incorrectly coding the location, presence, or theft
questions can have a large impact on the data. Since
each household interviewed represents about 3,500
households, that means those incidents, when applied
to the national population, equate to thousands of
incidents that would have been miscoded if we had not
recoded them during the editing and coding operation.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Once the referral process is completed, certain
incidents go through industry and occupation coding
and/or geographic location coding. The review and
coding operations take two months to complete, at
which point computer processing is started.
Processing the data
During the processing stage, the data are edited for
consistency, missing values are estimated, estimates
are produced, and final tabulations prepared. The
data are used to produce data files to be released to
the public.
Releasing the data
Twice a year the NCVS data are sent to the
Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social
Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan, where
our data are accessible for data users. We also send
annual data in the form of statistical tables to the BJS,
which publishes them in both paper reports and on its
web site.
The usefulness and accuracy of the published data
depends in large part upon how well you, the field
representatives, do your job. You are an essential,
extremely important part of this process.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-31
Part C, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 10. Replacement Households
NCVS Sample
The NCVS is a sample of addresses. The sample size
for the NCVS consists of approximately 78,000
addresses throughout the United States. These
addresses are scientifically selected so that
characteristics of the people who reside at these
addresses are representative of the entire population.
When Household Members
Change
Always interview the current household members at an
assigned sample address. If one or more of the
occupants from the previous interview still live at the
sample address, interview them using the current
case. If some of the respondents from the last interview
moved out, but at least one respondent from the
previous enumeration still lives at the address,
interview them using the current case.
If all of the occupants of a sample address change,
interview the people who currently live at the address
and consider the address to be their usual place of
residence. This is done by creating a replacement
household case within the NCVS instrument.
When you create a replacement household, the roster
and data from the old case are deleted and a new case
starts. You must collect a household roster and control
card information for the new residents of the sample
address.
Procedures for Phone
Interviews
If you attempt to conduct a telephone interview with a
returning household and find that the household has
moved you must attempt a personal visit to verify the
current status of the sample address. During the
personal visit follow-up, determine whether the sample
address: 1) has been vacated by the prior respondents
and 2) is occupied (new household members have
moved into the sample address) and therefore is a
replacement household. If unoccupied (new
respondents have NOT moved into the sample
address), the original case is coded as a Type B
noninterview.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 1
Procedures for Personal
Visits
During a personal visit, if you discover that the
respondents from the previous enumeration no longer
live at the sample address, find out whether the sample
address is now occupied (new household members
have moved into the sample address) and therefore, is
a replacement household. If unoccupied (new
respondents have NOT moved into the sample
address), the original case is coded as a Type B
noninterview.
Coding Replacement
Households
At Item HHNUM_VR_CP, the instrument asks, “Is this
a replacement household?” If this is a replacement
household, answer Precode (1), “Yes.” Item
CK_REPLACE_CP appears; “A replacement
household means that there are no members of the
original household living at this address. Are you sure
this is a replacement household?” Enter Precode (1),
“Yes.”
A soft error CK_REPLACE_CP: Verify Replacement
then appears: “This is the last screen before the roster
and all incoming data is deleted and must be
re-entered. You are about to start a new case and this
action cannot be undone without the case being
restarted. If “Yes,” click suppress.”
If this is in fact a replacement case, suppress the error.
Continue with the case as if it were a new case.
Basic National Crime Victimization Survey Concepts
C1-33
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Screening for Crimes
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Overview of Chapter 2
C2-2
2 Crimes Measured by the NCVS
C2-3
3 Threats
C2-7
4 Recognizable/Unrecognizable Businesses
C2-9
5 Ownership of Motor Vehicles
C2-16
6 Months/Years Living at Address
C2-18
7 Frequency of Household Moves
C2-21
Screening for Crimes
C2-1
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Overview of Chapter 2
You use the Screen Section of the NCVS instrument to determine if any eligible
household members have been victimized during the reference period. As you use this
section of the NCVS instrument to screen for crimes, you ask a series of detailed
questions about various types of victimizations, including situations in which crimes
could occur. However, not all crimes reported by respondents are measured by the
NCVS. Topic 2 covers crimes measured by the NCVS.
As you screen for crime incidents, you need to understand the concepts that are
associated with NCVS crimes. For example, a respondent may report that he or she
was threatened over the telephone, but the NCVS only includes face-to-face threats
made directly by the offender to the respondent. Topic 3 covers threats.
When respondents report thefts from their businesses, it is important to determine
whether these businesses are recognizable or unrecognizable. Not all thefts from
businesses owned by eligible respondents are measured by the NCVS. Only thefts
from businesses that are NOT advertised to the general public with signs or other
visible indicators of a business are included in the NCVS. Topic 4 covers
recognizable/unrecognizable businesses. When respondents report motor vehicle
thefts, the NCVS measures these thefts if they happened during the reference period
and the vehicles were owned by eligible household members at the time of each
incident. If a stolen vehicle is recovered and then sold before the interview date, the
NCVS still includes the theft. Topic 5 covers ownership of motor vehicles.
Besides screening for crimes, you also ask questions about the sample household, such
as questions about a household's mobility. Topic 6 covers months/years living at
address, and Topic 7 covers frequency of household moves.
Screening for Crimes
C2-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Topic 2. Crimes Measured by the NCVS
NCVS Crime Categories
and Types
The NCVS incidents reported by sample household
members can be separated into two main crime categories:
personal crimes and property crimes.
Personal Crimes
Personal crimes include attempted and completed
crimes that involve direct contact between the victim and
the offender(s). Personal crimes can fall under one of the
following subcategories:
Violent crimes
Listed below are the types of personal crimes that are
considered violent crimes whether they are attempted
or completed:
Rape
Sexual assault
Personal robbery
Assault
Verbal threats of rape, sexual assault, personal
robbery, and assault
Personal theft
Listed below are the types of personal crimes that are
considered crimes of theft if they are attempted or
completed:
Purse snatching
Pocket picking
A personal theft crime involves an offender taking or
attempting to take property or cash directly from the
victim by stealth, without force or threat of force.
Property Crimes
Property crimes include attempted and completed crimes
that do not involve any direct contact with a sample
household member. Listed below are the types of crimes
that are considered property crimes:
Forcible entry
Burglary, with forcible entry
Burglary, with illegal entry and no force
Motor vehicle theft
Screening for Crimes
C2-3
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Personal Crimes vs.
Property Crimes
Theft
Personal crimes involve direct contact between offenders
and eligible household members during an incident,
whether or not the crimes were completed. If more than one
eligible household member was attacked, verbally
threatened, or had property or cash taken directly from them
during the same incident, you must complete the incident
report screens of the NCVS instrument, for each eligible
household member who was personally victimized during
the incident.
For example:
The Doe brothers, L1 (line number 1) and L2 (line number 2)
are both eligible household members. While they were
waiting together in a movie line, someone threatened to
stab both of them if they did not hand over their wallets.
Since both household members were threatened with
physical harm, you must complete the incident report
screens when interviewing both household members, L1
and L2.
Since property crimes do not involve any personal contact
between a household member and an offender, you only
need to keep one set of incident report screens for a
property crime incident. For example, if two household
members report the same property crime incident, you
delete one incident report during the unduplication process.
For example:
During the reference period, the Moe’s house was illegally
entered and burglarized while they were away. John and
Ellen Moe both reported this incident, but you only need to
keep the incident report screens for the incident from one of
their interviews.
Suppose you complete the incident report screens for the
property crime described above, one for L1 (John Moe) and
another for L2 (Ellen Moe), and then discover that you
completed two sets of incident report screens for the same
property crime incident.
If this happens, only keep one incident report, usually the
one reported by the household respondent, who is L1 in the
Screening for Crimes
C2-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
example above, and delete the duplicate incident reported
in L2's interview during the unduplication process.
(Also see Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 7, for information on
“Unduplicating/Bounding Interviews.”)
Crimes Not Measured by
the NCVS
The NCVS does not collect information about the following
types of crimes:
Murder (because there is no victim to interview)
Kidnaping
Any crimes against recognizable businesses,
regardless of whether the business is or is not operated
from a sample address
Con games and fraud, such as credit card and
computer-related
Blackmail
The following crimes against society also are excluded from
the NCVS:
Public drunkenness
Drug abuse
Prostitution
Illegal gambling
If a respondent reports a crime not measured by the NCVS,
complete the incident report screens so that we do not miss
any other crime that is measured by the NCVS and could
have been committed during the same incident.
Classifying NCVS Crimes
After the following tasks are completed, a computer
program is used at Headquarters to classify each incident
into a specific type of NCVS crime:
All out-of-scope incidents for the NCVS have been
deleted,
Any editing discrepancies have been resolved, and
Specified NCVS data have been keyed.
Using a computer program designed to classify incidents by
type of crime ensures a consistent and standardized
Screening for Crimes
C2-5
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
classification of incidents. Keeping errors to a minimum and
reporting all important facts about a reported incident at the
SUMMARY screen helps ensure that each incident
classifies as the correct type of crime.
Screening for Crimes
C2-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Topic 3. Threats
Definition
A threat must meet the following conditions to be acceptable
as a threat for the NCVS:
The threat must be delivered verbally and face-to-face
between the offender and the respondent.
AND
The threat must involve the potential for physical harm
to the respondent.
Examples of Acceptable
Threats
The following examples are acceptable threats for the
NCVS:
Example 1:
Julie was withdrawing money at an ATM when an offender
walked up behind her, threatened her with a knife, and told
her to give him the money she withdrew or he would stab
her.
Example 2:
David and Bobby were arguing in the school parking lot.
During the argument, David threatened to break Bobby’s
arm.
Example 3:
Ted heard a noise outside his front door. He went to the
door and asked, “Who’s there?” The woman outside
answered, “Let me in or I’ll kill you.”
Not Included for the NCVS
The following types of threats are not threats for the NCVS:
Threats to physically harm the respondent delivered
over the telephone or a FAX machine,
Threats to physically harm the respondent delivered in a
letter or an "email" message,
Threats to physically harm the respondent delivered by
someone else for an offender,
Screening for Crimes
C2-7
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Threats to physically harm a household member who is
under 12 years of age,
Threats to steal something from a household member or
damage something belonging to a household member,
without a threat to physically harm the household
member,
Threats to physically harm household pets without a
threat to physically harm a household member
(including thefts of household pets), and
Incidents in which a household member felt threatened,
but an offender did not verbally threaten to physically
harm the household member.
Threats made on social media, such as Twitter or
Facebook.
Examples of Unacceptable
Threats
The following are examples of unacceptable threats for the
NCVS:
Example 1:
Frank and Mike are friends. Mike asked Frank to deliver a
threat to his (Mike’s) ex-girlfriend, Diane, for him. Frank met
Diane at her office and passed on Mike’s threat to beat her
up if she continued dating her new boyfriend Tony.
Example 2:
Barbara was driving at night on the highway when she
noticed a truck tailing her. The truck driver honked, flashed
his headlights, then sped past her. Barbara says she felt
threatened during the incident, even though she exchanged
no words with the other driver.
Example 3:
Nick sent an e-mail message to Sam warning him to stop
parking in his parking space or Nick would break Sam’s
arm.
Screening for Crimes
C2-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Topic 4. Recognizable/Unrecognizable Businesses
Definitions
When a business is operated from a sample address, we
only collect information about reported incidents involving
the business, such as a theft of business property, when the
business is considered unrecognizable. For this reason, it is
important that you understand the differences between an
unrecognizable and a recognizable business.
For the NCVS, an unrecognizable business must meet
ALL of the following criteria:
It must be an establishment selling products or providing
services for a fee that is operated by a household
member from the sample address.
There must be NO indication or sign announcing the
business to anyone from outside the sample address,
such as on a front door, window, garage door, mail box,
or a free standing sign in the front yard.
For the NCVS, a recognizable business must meet ALL of
the following criteria:
It must be a commercial establishment operated by a
household member either at the sample address or in
another structure from which products are sold or
services are provided for a fee.
The business has a sign announcing its existence and
the sign is clearly visible to the general public from
OUTSIDE of the business.
When the business is operated from the sample
address, the sign announcing the business must be
located on the sample household's property, such as a
sign on a front door, window, garage door, mailbox, or a
free standing sign in the front yard.
Any crimes committed against a recognizable business,
such as an attempted or actual illegal entry of a
recognizable business or an attempted or actual theft of
property belonging to a recognizable business, are NOT
included in the NCVS. However, we do include in the NCVS
Screening for Crimes
C2-9
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
incidents in which a household member was verbally
threatened or harmed in some way or had personal property
taken while at a recognizable business.
Here are some examples of incidents that require the
incident report screens be completed, because a household
member was verbally threatened or harmed in some way or
had personal property taken while at a recognizable
business:
Example 1:
A robbery took place while Jessica was buying milk at a
convenience store. During the robbery, the offender
threatened to kill her if she did not give him her purse. She
gave him the purse without saying anything.
Example 2:
While Dave was picking up a prescription at the pharmacy,
someone stole his wallet from his jacket pocket.
Example 3:
John operates a recognizable insurance agency from his
home. Last week, someone broke a window, entered the
home, and stole property belonging to the business and
property belonging to John personally.
Identifying Businesses
Operated From the Sample
Address
There are two questions in the Screen Section of the NCVS
instrument that are asked only of the household respondent
to determine if:
Anyone in the household operates a business from the
sample address (Item BUSINESS) and, if the answer is
"Yes,"
Whether there is a sign on the premises or some other
indication to the general public that a business is
operated from the sample address (Item
BUSINESSSIGN).
A "Yes" answer for Item BUSINESSSIGN indicates that a
recognizable business is operated from the sample
address. A "No" answer for Item BUSINESSSIGN indicates
that an unrecognizable business is operated from the
sample address.
Screening for Crimes
C2-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Unacceptable Signs of a
Recognizable Business
Part C, Chapter 2
Do not consider the following indicators as proof that a
recognizable business is operated from a sample address:
A business advertisement appearing on the Internet or
in a newspaper or telephone book.
Any form of motor vehicle that has a business logo
painted on it, such as a car, van, or truck parked either in
the driveway or on the street outside the sample
address.
Special Situations
Farms and ranches:
Consider a farm or ranch a recognizable business when
either of these conditions exist:
A sample address is on a farm or ranch AND there is a
sign somewhere on the property that identifies the farm
or ranch by a specific name, such as "Desert Creek
Dude Ranch."
A sample address is on a farm or ranch that has a
produce stand by the roadside of the property.
If the household respondent tells you at Item BUSINESS
that someone in the household operates a business from
the sample address, but the farm or ranch does not have a
sign or roadside produce stand on the property, enter
Precode (2), "No," at Item BUSINESSSIGN and consider
the business unrecognizable.
Apartments:
When a household member manages an apartment
complex in which he/she resides, consider this as a
business operated from the sample address. If the following
conditions exist, consider the business to be recognizable:
A sign is present outside the apartment of a resident
manager, resident owner, or apartment superintendent
stating his/her job.
OR
Screening for Crimes
C2-11
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
A sign is visible somewhere in the complex directing
people to this person's specific apartment because of
his/her job.
If either situation exists, exclude any incidents involving
thefts of property owned only by the apartment complex,
such as furnishings from a furnished apartment or any hall
decorations. However, you would complete the incident
report screens if any personal items belonging to the
respondent or other household members were stolen.
When no visible sign exists in the apartment complex or
outside the resident manager's apartment identifying his/her
position, enter Precode (2), "No," at Item BUSINESSSIGN
indicating an unrecognizable business. In this situation,
include any reported crime incidents involving property
owned by the apartment complex and reported by the
property's owner, such as furnishings stolen from a
furnished apartment.
Motor Vehicles:
Item SQTOTALVEHICLES is asked only of the household
respondent and the question asks:
"What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any other member of this household during the last 6
months? Include those you no longer own."
When a respondent operates a recognizable business from
the sample address and has a business vehicle, only
include the business vehicle in the count for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES, if the vehicle is also used for
personal use. If the vehicle is used only for the recognizable
business, do NOT include it in the count for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES.
If the respondent operates an unrecognizable business
from the sample address and has a business vehicle, the
business vehicle would be included in the count for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES, regardless of whether the vehicle
was used for business or personal reasons.
Screening for Crimes
C2-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Identifying Ownership of
Stolen Property
Part C, Chapter 2
It is possible that a respondent could report a crime incident
in which property was stolen that belonged to the
household, a household member, and an unrecognizable
business operated from the sample address. When writing
the incident summary at the SUMMARY screen, it is
important to identify separately who owned the stolen items.
For example, during one incident:
A television valued at $800 belonging to the entire
household was stolen,
Three rings valued at $2,000 belonging to the wife of the
reference person were stolen, and
Five watches were stolen that were valued at $1,250
and belonged to the unrecognizable jewelry repair
business operated from the sample address.
When describing the type and value of stolen property, do
not add together stolen property that belongs to the
respondent or his/her household with stolen property
belonging to the respondent's business. If the stolen
property belongs to a respondent's unrecognizable
business, describe the type and value of the business
property separately from the stolen property belonging to
the respondent or his/her household. Make sure to state
clearly that the stolen property belongs to an
unrecognizable business.
Handling Crime Incidents
Involving Businesses
The following examples show when to report incidents
involving businesses, as well as which parts of incidents
should not be reported in the incident report section of the
NCVS instrument:
A respondent owns a recognizable candy store that is
not operated from the sample address. A theft occurred
at the candy store in which $100 was taken from the
register and $30 was taken from the respondent's
wallet.
DO--Accept the incident when asking the screen
questions and complete the incident report questions for
the $30 theft from the respondent's wallet. However, do
Screening for Crimes
C2-13
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NOT include information about the theft from the
register when completing the incident report questions.
A respondent works at a recognizable department store
that was robbed. During the course of the robbery, the
respondent was shot in the arm with a handgun and
$500 was stolen from the register at which she was
working.
DO--Accept the incident when asking the screen
questions and complete the incident report questions for
the personal injury to the respondent. However, do NOT
include information about the theft from the register
when completing the incident report questions.
A respondent owns a recognizable hair salon and also
operates part of the business from her home (which
appears to be unrecognizable). Someone broke into her
home at the sample address and stole merchandise
belonging to the business.
DO--Accept the incident when asking the screen
questions and complete the incident report screens for
the household break in. Do NOT include information
about the theft, because the stolen property belongs to a
recognizable business.
A respondent operates a recognizable lawn mower
repair service from his home. When he and his family
were on vacation, someone broke into their home and
stole some household items, as well as business tools
and a few lawn mowers from his business.
DO--Accept the incident when asking the screen
questions. When you complete the incident report
questions, only include information about the household
break in and the stolen household items. Do NOT
include information about the stolen business tools and
lawn mowers from the recognizable business.
Screening for Crimes
C2-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Someone broke into the respondent's recognizable
shoe store after it was closed for the day and stole
several shoes, boots, and purses. The respondent did
not discover the incident until the next morning when
she opened the store.
DO NOT accept the incident and do NOT complete the
incident report questions, because the stolen property
belongs to a recognizable business and no sample
household members were threatened or injured during
the incident.
A respondent operates a recognizable apartment house
at a beach resort that contains beach rental units. The
respondent reported that someone broke into and
vandalized two apartments, during the off season when
the apartment house was vacant. The offender(s) also
stole electronic equipment and appliances.
DO NOT accept the incident and do NOT complete the
incident report questions. Since this is a recognizable
business, do NOT keep the break in and theft
information. Also, since no sample household members
were threatened or injured during the incident, you do
not need to complete the incident report questions.
Screening for Crimes
C2-15
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 5. Ownership of Motor Vehicles
Definition
Item SQTOTALVEHICLES
For the NCVS, motor vehicles owned by household
members are any vehicles that:
Can be legally tagged, registered, and used as a means
of transportation on most roads and highways (such as
cars, trucks, motorcycles, and recreation vehicles/motor
homes) and
Were owned by a sample household member during the
6 months prior to the interview (reference period),
regardless of whether the vehicle was sold, given away,
junked, stolen, or abandoned before the interview date.
Item SQTOTALVEHICLES is asked only of the household
respondent as part of his/her screening interview. The
question at Item SQTOTALVEHICLES reads as follows:
"What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks,
motorcycles, or other motor vehicles owned by you or
any other member of this household during the last 6
months? Include those you no longer own."
If the household respondent answers "None," you skip over
Item SQMVTHEFT, which asks about any incidents
involving motor vehicles owned by the sample household.
Household Respondent
Refuses
If a household respondent refuses to tell you the number of
vehicles owned by the household, tell the respondent that
we ask this question so we know whether or not to ask
about any crime incidents involving household vehicles.
If the household respondent still refuses to answer your
question, enter Control + R, “Refused.” Item SQMVTHEFT
appears next, asking about any crime incidents involving
household vehicles.
Screening for Crimes
C2-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Which Vehicles Do You
Include?
Part C, Chapter 2
Under the following circumstances, INCLUDE a motor
vehicle in the count of motor vehicles at Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES:
Vehicles used for private and/or business purposes if
the vehicles are owned by a household member who
also operates an unrecognizable business from the
sample address.
Vehicles used partially for private purposes if the
vehicles are owned by a household member who also
operates a recognizable business. You may need to
ask the household respondent whether or not a vehicle
is used only for business purposes when you are unsure
about its usage.
Vehicles that are leased by a household member for
more than one month AND for which a household
member is responsible in case of theft.
Which Vehicles Do You
Exclude?
Under the following circumstances, EXCLUDE a motor
vehicle from the count of motor vehicles for Item
SQTOTALVEHICLES:
Vehicles that are used SOLELY for a recognizable
business operated by a household member.
Vehicles that are loaned to a household member from
someone who is not a household member or from a
business owned by someone who is not a sample
household member.
Vehicles that are kept at school and used by students
living away from the sample address while attending
school, even if the parents of the students own the
vehicles.
Vehicles that are rented or leased by a household
member for a short period of time (less than one month).
Screening for Crimes
C2-17
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 6. Months/Years Living at Address
Definition
For the NCVS, “Months/years living at address” means the
most current continuous length of time the household
member has lived at the sample address.
For example:
John and Cindy lived at the sample address for a year
before their trial separation. While they were separated for
two months, John left the sample address and lived with his
brother at another address. After the two-month separation
ended, John moved back into the sample address and has
now lived there continuously for the last four years. In this
situation, we consider John to have lived at the sample
address for four years.
Items Using This Concept
Item TIMEATADDRESS asks:
How long have you lived at this address?
When to Probe
Notice that in the top right corner of the screen text appears
that shows the “last reported as” address. The instrument
fills in the months and years the respondent answered
during the last enumeration. You can use that information if
you verify it with the respondent.
For most NCVS interviews, accept the answer given by the
respondent without probing after you ask, "How long have
you lived at this address?" However, if a respondent does
ask you to explain this question or the answer given seems
incorrect, probe by telling him/her that we want to know how
many months or years he/she has resided continuously as
a household member at the sample address.
If a respondent's answer is either too vague or given to you
in a range of years or months, probe for a more precise
answer.
If a respondent answers:
"Heavens, I've lived here for years and years."
Use this probe:
"Is it more than 5 years or less than 5 years?"
Screening for Crimes
C2-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
If a respondent answers:
"It's been about 5 to 10 years."
Use this probe:
"Can you give me your best estimate of the number of
years?"
If a respondent answers:
"Oh, I haven't lived here very long, less than a year."
Use this probe:
"Have you lived here less than 6 months or more than 6
months?"
Is a "Don't Know" Entry
Acceptable?
If you have probed for an answer and the respondent really
doesn't know and is unable to give you an estimate, you can
enter "Don't know" by pressing “Ctrl” + “D.” The instrument
then takes you to Item TIMEATADDRESSPROBE.
Interpreting a
Respondent's Answer
There may be instances when you cannot enter exactly
what the respondent answers and you need to convert the
respondent ‘s answer to an acceptable form for entry. Here
are some examples for TIMEATADDRESS:
Respondent answers:
Enter:
"Half a year"
"It's been 2 1/2 years."
"I've lived here 1 year, 3 months,
and 10 days."
"11 and 1/2 months"
"All my life"
Precode 0
3 years
"Just 5 days"
"11 weeks"
"11 months and 1 week"
1 year
1 year
Respondent's age from the HHROSTER tab
by pressing “Shift” and “F1" simultaneously, or
clicking on the tab
Precode 0
Precode 0
Precode 0
Screening for Crimes
C2-19
Part C, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If a respondent has lived at a sample address for less than
one year (1 to 11 months), enter Precode (0) and then
enter the number of months at the MONTHSATADDRESS
screen. If a respondent has lived at a sample address 12
months or more, enter the number of years at the
TIMEATADDRESS screen.
When a respondent gives an answer in fractions of a
month or in the number of weeks, always convert weeks to
one or more months and either round up to the next month
or down to the previous month. If a respondent answers
less than a month, enter "1 month." If a respondent
answers with a number of years, plus a number of months,
either:
Round up to the next year when the number of months
given is 6 or more (7 years and 8 months converts to 8
years).
When the number of months given is 5 or less, ignore
the number of months and simply enter the number of
years (7 years and 2 months converts to 7 years).
Screening for Crimes
C2-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 2
Topic 7. Frequency of Household Moves
Definition
For the NCVS, we consider a move to be each time a
household member changes his/her usual place of
residence, regardless of whether the usual place of
residence was inside or outside of the United States. A
usual place of residence is the specific living quarters where
a household member usually lives and sleeps the majority
of each week or year.
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS
If a household member has lived at the sample address for
less than 5 years, you ask the following question at
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS:
"Altogether, how many times have you moved in the
last 5 years, that is, since (month of interview) , (year 5
years prior to interview year)?"
The NCVS instrument will fill the correct information for the
“month of interview” and “year 5 years prior to interview
year.” If an eligible household member has lived
continuously at the sample address for 5 or more years prior
to the interview, the instrument skips over
TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS.
Acceptable Answers
Acceptable answers at TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS are:
One number that is a total of all moves made by the
respondent during the past 5 years, including the
household member's move to the sample address. If a
respondent answers with a range of times moved, you
need to probe for a single number.
An estimated number when a respondent cannot
provide the exact number of moves.
Enter “Ctrl” + “D,” “Don‘t know,” only as a last resort
when a respondent cannot provide even an estimated
number of times moved.
Screening for Crimes
C2-21
Part C, Chapter 2
Probing for an Accurate
Answer
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Some respondents may have difficulty remembering how
many times they have moved in the last 5 years, while
others may not understand what we mean by "moved." Be
prepared to explain what the number of times moved should
include whenever a respondent appears confused or asks
you a question about TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS.
When you need to probe for an accurate count to enter at
Item TIMESMOVEDIN5YEARS, try asking the respondent
where he/she was living just before moving to the sample
address and how long he/she stayed at that address.
Repeat this type of questioning until you have covered the
respondent's moves within the past 5 years.
College Students
When interviewing a college student, you may need to
explain that we want to know each time he/she has moved
between his/her dormitory and parents' home during the
past 5 years. These students may not consider these
changes in their usual place of residence as moves, but we
do for the NCVS.
College students who live away from home during the
months of the year when school is in session should
consider the place where they are living as their usual place
of residence. However, if they return to their parents' home
to live during long vacation periods, their parents' home
would be considered their usual place of residence at that
time.
Screening for Crimes
C2-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Reporting Crime Incidents
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1
Overview of Chapter 3
C3-2
2
Series of Crimes
C3-3
3
Right to Legally Enter Home/Lodging
C3-7
4
Restricted Areas/Areas Open to the Public
C3-10
5
Illegal Entry (With or Without Force)
C3-12
6
Presence During an Incident
C3-16
7
Weapons
C3-22
8
Rape/Unwanted Sexual Conduct
C3-29
9 Theft/Attempted Theft of Cash/Property
10 Value of Stolen Property/Method Used to
Determine Value
C3-36
11 Property Ownership
C3-47
12 Recovered Money and/or Property
C3-51
13 Medical Care
C3-55
14 Medical Expenses
C3-57
15 Race of Offenders
C3-59
16 Other Victimized Household Members
C3-62
17 Damage to Property During an Incident
C3-65
18 Job/Business at Time of Incident
C3-70
19 Major Activity During Week of Incident
C3-71
20 Incident Occurred at Work Site
C3-74
21 Incidents Involving a Police Officer
C3-76
22 Writing Summary Reports
C3-78
23 Type of Industry and Occupation
C3-85
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-1
C3-44
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Overview of Chapter 3
Use the incident report section of the NCVS instrument to report crime incidents.
Each time an incident or personal victimization occurred during the reference period,
complete the incident report screens to collect detailed information about the
incident or personal victimization. Complete the incident report section for each
household member who reports a personal victimization during an incident (an
attack, attempt to attack, or threat of physical harm). However, only keep one set of
incident report questions for each reported incident of a property crime in which none
of the household members were personally victimized (an illegal entry, something
taken without permission, and so forth).
As you collect data about crime incidents, there are several concepts that you need to
understand. Following this overview, definitions and examples are provided for
important concepts associated with the incident report module of the NCVS instrument.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 2. Series of Crimes
Definition
For the NCVS, a series of crimes consists of six or more
separate incidents that:
ALL occurred during the 6-month reference period,
Were ALL reported in the same screen question,
Are ALL very similar in nature,
AND
Cannot be described separately in enough detail so that
you can complete most screens in the incident report
section of the NCVS instrument.
All of these conditions must be met before you can
complete only one set of incident report questions for
multiple incidents.
Whenever possible, attempt to complete a separate
incident report section for each reported incident.
Classify six or more similar incidents as a "series" only
as a last resort, since the NCVS will be losing detailed
information for all but the most recent incident.
Five or Less Similar
Incidents
If a respondent reports that five or less similar incidents
happened during the reference period, then you must
complete a separate set of incident report questions for
EACH reported incident. The instrument leads you
automatically through the correct number of incident
reports.
Classify an individual respondent as a noninterview if:
The respondent reports five or less similar incidents,
BUT
The respondent is unable to recall enough individual
details to complete a separate set of incident report
questions for each of these similar incidents.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-3
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If this situation happens while interviewing a household
respondent, first try to select a new household respondent.
If you are able to do this but cannot complete the original
household respondent’s (who is now an individual
respondent) interview, classify the original household
respondent as a Type Z noninterview. However, if you are
not able to interview a household respondent, then classify
the entire household as a Type A – “Other” noninterview
and describe the situation in item TYPEA_SPEC6.
Verifying a Series of
Crimes
INCIDENTNUMBER
OFTIMES,
INCIDENTSSIMILAR,
and RECALLDETAILS
At the beginning of the incident report questions, there are
three screens to verify whether or not six or more similar
incidents meet the criteria for a series of crimes.
Screens INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES,
INCIDENTSSIMILAR, and RECALLDETAILS help
determine whether the multiple incidents meet the criteria
for reporting them as a series of crimes. If the multiple
incidents qualify as a series of crimes, then complete only
ONE set of incident report questions for the MOST
RECENT incident in the series.
At screen INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, ask:
“Altogether, how many times did this type of incident
happen during the last 6 months?”
At screen INCIDENTSSIMILAR, ask:
“Are these incidents similar to each other in detail or
are they for different types of crimes?”
At screen RECALLDETAILS, ask:
“Can you recall enough details of each incident to
distinguish them from each other?”
If you enter the following answers to these three questions,
then the similar incidents will qualify as a series of crimes:
At INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES, enter:
The number 6 or a number higher than 6.
At INCIDENTSSIMILAR, enter: Precode (1),
"Similar."
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
At RECALLDETAILS, enter: Precode (2), "No."
If you enter a different answer for any one of these three
screens, the instrument skips to Item INCIDENTTIME,
because the multiple incidents do not qualify as a series of
similar incidents. In this instance, you complete a separate
set of incident report questions for each of the multiple
incidents.
Details for the Most Recent
Incident
Statement at Item
INCIDENTTIME
Examples of Incidents That
Qualify as a Series of
Crimes
Once you have determined that the multiple incidents
qualify as a series of crimes, for most of the incident
questions you only ask about the MOST RECENT
INCIDENT in the series of crimes.
ALWAYS read the "lead-in" statement above the question in
Item INCIDENTTIME BEFORE asking the question. This
statement says: “The following questions refer only to
the most recent incident.” With the exception of Item
SERIESNUMTIMES through SERIESCONTACTORNOT,
do not include information about any earlier incidents in the
series when completing the incident report questions.
Listed below are two examples of reported incidents that
qualify as a series of crimes:
Example 1:
Interview date: August 2
Reference period: February 1 through August 1
Tammy reported that money was stolen from her desk at
work on seven different occasions between February and
April. She never found out who stole the money and each
time, the circumstances were so similar that she cannot
differentiate one incident from another. The incidents
stopped in April, because Tammy stopped leaving money in
her desk.
Example 2:
Interview date: March 1
Reference period: September 3 through February 28
Dennis reported that the shed in his yard was broken into
and a variety of small garden tools were stolen on six
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-5
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
different occasions between October and November. He
can’t remember enough details about each incident to
report them separately. The series of incidents ended when
the offender was caught.
Examples of Incidents that
Do NOT Qualify as a Series
of Crimes
Listed below are two examples of reported incidents that do
NOT qualify as a series of crimes:
Example 1:
Interview date: September 1
Reference period: March 1 through August 31
Bridget reported that a male co-worker kissed her against
her will on four different occasions in July. She was so upset
that she remembers the circumstances of each incident
very well.
In this situation, the crimes do NOT qualify as a series of
crimes because the respondent reported less than six
similar incidents, regardless of whether or not the
respondent remembers enough details to report each
incident separately.
Example 2:
Interview date: April 2
Reference period: October 2 through April 1
Tim reported that his ex-girlfriend threatened to shoot him
on seven different occasions between November and
January. He was so frightened that he remembers the
details of each incident clearly.
In this situation, the crimes do NOT qualify as a series of
crimes, even though there were more than six, because the
respondent remembers the details of each situation well
enough to differentiate between them to complete the
incident report questions.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 3. Right to Legally Enter Home/Lodging
Definition
For the NCVS, we consider that an offender has a legal right
to enter a respondent's home or lodging when the offender:
Was living or staying with the respondent at the time of
the incident,
OR
OFFENDERLIVE
Had the right to be in the home or lodging or had
permission at the time the incident took place to be
inside the home or lodging, such as a maid from a
cleaning service or a hotel maid, a babysitter, nurse,
salesperson, meter reader, maintenance person, friend,
or relative.
When a respondent tells you at Item
LOCATION_IN_HOME that an incident happened in his/her
own home, in a detached building on his/her property, in a
vacation or second home, or in his/her hotel/motel room and
you enter a precode from (11) through (14) or a “Don’t
know” or “Refused” response, the instrument skips you to
OFFENDERLIVE next. At Item OFFENDERLIVE, you ask:
“Did the offender live there or have a right to be there,
for instance, as a guest or a repair person?”
This question is intended to determine whether or not the
offender had a legal right to enter the respondent's home or
lodging.
No Legal Right to Enter
Under the following circumstances, an offender does NOT
have a legal right to enter a respondent's home or lodging:
The offender misrepresented himself/herself as a
policeman, repairperson, and so forth, and fraudulently
gained permission to enter the respondent's home or
lodging.
The offender was let in by a child or neighbor when the
homeowners would not have allowed the offender to
enter their home.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-7
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The offender forced his/her way into the respondent's
home or lodging as the respondent answered the door.
The offender broke a door lock or window or cut a
screen to enter the respondent's home or lodging.
Offender Not Known,
But Suspected
Examples of Having a Legal
Right to Enter Home/
Lodging
If a respondent is not certain who the offender was, ask the
respondent if the person "suspected" of being the offender:
Was living or staying with the respondent at the time of
the incident.
Had the right to be in the home or lodging or had
permission at the time that the incident took place to be
inside the home or lodging, such as a maid, babysitter,
nurse, salesperson, meter reader, maintenance person,
friend, or relative.
Listed below are two examples of an offender who has a
legal right to enter the respondent’s home/lodging:
Example 1:
Sara, who is 14 years old, reported that during a recent
slumber party one of her guests stole a ring that belonged to
her mother from the kitchen table. Another guest saw her
steal it and told Sara the next morning.
In this situation, the offender was a guest in the
respondent’s home and had permission at the time of the
incident to be inside Sara’s home.
Example 2:
Paul reported that his cell phone was stolen from the kitchen
table by an appliance repair person who was working on his
kitchen stove.
In this situation, the offender had permission at the time of
the incident to be inside Paul’s house.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Examples of Not Having a
Legal Right to Enter Home/
Lodging
Part C, Chapter 3
Listed below are two examples of an offender who does
NOT have a legal right to enter the respondent’s
home/lodging:
Example 1:
Jack reported that someone who misrepresented himself as
a police officer entered his home, tied him up, and stole
cash and jewelry from him.
In this situation, the offender did not have a legal right to
enter Jack’s home. If Jack had known that the offender was
not a police officer, he would not have allowed him to enter
the home.
Example 2:
Tony has a restraining order against his brother, which
prohibits his brother from coming onto Tony’s property.
While Tony was out of town, his neighbor was housesitting
for him. The neighbor was not aware of the restraining order
and let the brother into Tony’s house. While the brother was
in the house, he stole Tony’s coin collection.
In this situation, the offender did not have a legal right to
enter Tony’s home.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-9
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. Restricted Areas/Areas Open to the Public
Definition
For the NCVS, we consider a "restricted area" one in
which:
Only certain people are allowed to enter without being
considered trespassers.
Persons found in the area OTHER THAN the
"acceptable persons" are considered trespassers.
We consider an area "open to the public" at the time of the
incident if anyone has a right to enter the place.
RESTRICTEDAREA
When you determine at Item LOCATION_GENERAL that
an incident happened in a commercial place, parking lots or
garages, at school, or in a place identified in the "Other"
category, the instrument goes to Item RESTRICTEDAREA,
which asks:
"Did the incident happen in an area restricted to certain
people or was it open to the public at the time?"
For this question, you have the option of either asking the
question or verifying the answer before entering a precode.
The answer categories include:
Precode (1) - Open to the public
Precode (2) - Restricted to certain people (or nobody
had a right to be there)
Precode (3) - Don’t know
Precode (4) - Other - Specify
Areas Open to the
Public
The following places are examples of areas USUALLY open
to the public:
Public areas in commercial establishments, such as in
department stores, convenience stores, barber shops,
restaurants, and so forth.
Public sidewalks and parks
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Areas Restricted to
Certain People
Part C, Chapter 3
Public buildings, such as local libraries, Social Security
offices, motor vehicle administration offices, and so
forth.
Parking lots that do not charge a fee, such as most
shopping center parking lots
Apartment yards
The following places are examples of areas USUALLY
restricted to certain people:
School buildings and school grounds
Private yards
Employee's lounges, back rooms, storage areas,
kitchens, and so forth, in commercial establishments
Private clubs, such as country clubs and swim clubs
Military bases
Public areas of commercial establishments when not
open for business
Other (Specify)
Enter Precode (4), "Other (Specify)," when a respondent's
answer at Item RESTRICTEDAREA does not fit any of the
preceding categories. After entering Precode (4), the
instrument prompts you to enter a description of the area
and the special circumstances.
Don’t know
Enter Precode (3), “Don’t know,” when a respondent is not
sure if the area was open to the public when the incident
happened. This could be the case if the respondent does
not know when the incident took place.
For example:
Susan left her jacket at the library where she had been
studying. She returned the next day to get it, but no one
knew where it was. In this case, she does not know whether
an offender stole her jacket while the library was open to the
public or after the library was closed for the night.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-11
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 5. Illegal Entry (With or Without Force)
Definition
For the NCVS, illegal entry happens when a person who
has no legal right to be on the premises enters, with or
without force, a residence or lodging that is owned or rented
by the sample household during the reference period. The
NCVS is also interested in collecting data on unsuccessful
attempts to illegally enter a sample household's residence
or lodging.
Since most illegal entries result in the theft of household
property, the NCVS is not only interested in actual or
attempted illegal entries at the sample address, but also at
any residences, vacation homes, recreation vehicles, and
so forth, that are occupied by the sample household at the
time of the incident.
Examples of Illegal Entries
Without Force
Here are two examples of incidents involving illegal entries
without force:
Example 1:
While Pat was watering his garden in the backyard, he left
the front door unlocked. As he entered his house from the
back door, he heard noises in the living room. Just as he
entered the living room, he saw someone running out the
front door. He then noticed that his cell phone was missing
from the hall table.
Example 2:
While Frank and Amy were renting a summer cottage, they
left the door unlocked and went for a walk. When they
returned, they found a stranger in the kitchen helping herself
to food from the refrigerator. The stranger said that since the
door was open, she let herself in.
Examples of Illegal Entries
With Force
Here are two examples of incidents involving illegal entries
with force:
Example 1:
John returned home from the movies and discovered that
the glass in his garage window was broken. As he entered
the garage, he found that several tools were gone and the
side door to the garage was left open.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Example 2:
When Dave and Becky returned home from shopping, they
discovered that the porch screen was cut and all of their
outdoor furniture had been stolen.
Item SQBREAKIN
Item SQBREAKIN is the only screen question that
specifically asks about any attempted or actual illegal
entries that occurred during the 6-month reference period
and this screen question is asked only of the household
respondent.
Make sure to include illegal entries or attempted illegal
entries:
At a household respondent's previous residence if
he/she is in the process of relocating to the sample
address and still owns the previous residence during the
reference period.
At the sample address if the current household owned
the residence during the reference period, but had not
yet moved into residence at the time of the incident.
Into a garage, shed, or storage room at the sample
address if the household respondent owned or rented
the property during the reference period.
Into a hotel or motel room, vacation home, second
home, or recreation vehicle in which the respondent or
other household members were staying when the
incident took place.
Into a vacation home owned by the respondent, but
unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Even though Item SQBREAKIN is the only screen question
that specifically asks about illegal entries, you may
discover other incidents involving an illegal entry as you ask
other screen questions. Always enter incident information at
the screen question where the respondent mentions them,
including illegal entry incidents.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-13
Part C, Chapter 3
Items in the Incident Report
Section
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
There are five items in the incident report section of the
NCVS instrument that are used to collect information about
illegal entriesBItems OFFENDERINSIDE, OFFENDERTRY,
OFFENDERGETIN, FORCEDENTRY, and EVIDENCE. At
the SUMMARY screen, include details (not already entered
in the incident report) about an illegal entry as you
summarize the reported incident.
Other items in the incident report section that mention illegal
entry or attempted illegal entry in their answer categories
are Items WHATHAPPEN and HAPPEN. However, these
two screens are not actually used during post data
collection processing to classify incidents as an illegal entry.
OFFENDERINSIDE
When a respondent tells you at Item
LOCATION_IN_HOME that the incident occurred in his/her
home or lodging (and the answer to OFFENDERLIVE is
“No” or “Don’t know”), then you ask the question at Item
OFFENDERINSIDE to determine whether the offender
actually entered or got inside the respondent's home or
lodging. For example, an offender may have entered a large
apartment building, but never actually entered the
respondent's apartment unit.
OFFENDERTRY
If a respondent tells you at Item OFFENDERINSIDE that an
offender did not get inside the respondent's home or lodging
or a respondent gives you a "Don't know" answer, then ask
the question at Item OFFENDERTRY to determine whether
the offender tried to get inside the home or lodging.
A "No" answer at Items OFFENDERINSIDE and
OFFENDERTRY indicates that the offender did NOT get
inside or try to get inside the respondent's home or lodging.
If OFFENDERLIVE, OFFENDERINSIDE, or
OFFENDERTRY are all answered “No,” the hard error
pop-up box ENTRY_CK appears. This edit check appears
when you entered precodes indicating that the incident
happened inside the respondent’s home or lodging, but the
offender did not have a right to be inside, nor did they get
inside or try to get inside. Therefore, the incident could not
have happened inside. Use the “Close” or “Goto” button to
navigate to the correct screen to fix the inconsistency.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
FORCEDENTRY and
EVIDENCE
Part C, Chapter 3
Items FORCEDENTRY and EVIDENCE are used to
determine whether there was any visible evidence (and
what the evidence was) that an offender used force to
illegally enter or try to illegally enter a respondent's home or
lodging.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-15
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 6. Presence During an Incident
Definition
For the NCVS, "presence" during an incident is intended to
determine whether any sample household member at the
time of interview:
Was at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident
AND
Was in a place that was reachable by the offender, so
that the offender could have or did attack, threaten to
attack, or steal something directly from the household
member.
Understanding whether or not a respondent was "present"
during an incident and entering the correct information at
Items HHMEMBERPRESENT and WHICHMEMBER is a
very important part of the incident report section of the
NCVS instrument. Whenever a respondent was "present"
during an incident, you will ask additional questions to
determine if the offender attacked the respondent,
attempted to attack the respondent, threatened the
respondent, or injured the respondent. Getting an accurate
and complete picture of everything that transpired during
the incident will help later to classify the incident into the
proper type of crime category during post data collection
processing.
When an Attack, Robbery,
or Threat Has Occurred
Consider the respondent or any other current household
member to be “present” if you determine that:
They were attacked or someone attempted to attack
them.
They had something taken directly from them or an
attempt was made to take something from them.
They were personally threatened with physical harm by
the offender, even when the offender delivers the threat
from the other side of a closed door.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Do NOT include threats received by telephone, postal mail,
electronic mail, social media, or facsimile machines. Also
exclude any threats delivered indirectly from someone other
than the person who intended to physically harm the
respondent.
HHMEMBERPRESENT and
WHICHMEMBER
The question at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT asks:
"Were you or any other member of this household
present when this incident occurred?"
(Note that there is a HELP screen for this item; press F1 to
access it.) You must ask or verify this information before
entering an answer at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT. Only
verify the answer when you are ABSOLUTELY SURE of the
answer based on what the respondent has already told you
about the incident. If the only persons who were present at
the time of the incident are not household members at the
time of your interview, then enter Precode (2), "No."
The question at Item WHICHMEMBER asks:
"Which household members were present?"
This screen is designed to identify which household
members were present during the incident--the respondent
(victim) only, the respondent (victim) and other household
members, or only other household members. If you
mistakenly enter Precode (3), "Only other household
member(s), not respondent," the respondent will not have
an opportunity to provide us with any information about
possible attacks, attempted attacks, threats, or injuries
associated with the incident. (If you mistakenly enter
Precode (3) at WHICHMEMBER, be sure to correct your
answer.)
For proxy interviews, enter Precode (1) if the proxy person,
NOT the proxy respondent, was present. However, if the
proxy person and other household members (including the
proxy respondent) were present during the incident, enter
Precode (2), “Respondent and other household members.”
You may discover that a respondent was present during an
incident after entering a "No" answer at Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT. If this happens, back up to Item
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-17
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
HHMEMBERPRESENT with the “Up Arrow” key and
change the "No" answer to a "Yes" answer by entering
Precode (1). Then, ask the subsequent questions as the
appropriate screens appear based on a “Yes” response at
Item HHMEMBERPRESENT.
You must complete a separate set of incident report
questions for EACH household member who is 12 years of
age or older at the time of interview and who was
personally victimized during a crime incident. This is true
even if more than one household member was victimized
during the SAME incident.
When and How to Probe for
HHMEMBERPRESENT
If you sense that a respondent does not grasp the intent of
the question at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT, then you
should probe to assist the respondent in giving an accurate
answer. Here are some probes you might want to try:
"Were you at the immediate scene of the crime?"
"Were you inside the house when the offender broke
into your basement?"
"Were you inside the house when your party guest
stole your jewelry?"
"Were you inside the house when the offender
attempted to break into your attached garage?"
"Were you and the offender both in your yard when the
bicycle was stolen from the driveway?"
A "Yes" answer to any of these probes indicates that the
respondent was present during the incident.
"Did you go outside when you saw the offender
tampering with your car parked in your driveway, or did
you watch from inside your house?"
If the respondent went outside during the incident and the
offender had not fled the scene, then the respondent was
present during the incident. Consider the respondent
present in this situation because he/she was at the
immediate scene of the crime during the incident AND was
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
in a place that was reachable by the offender. Therefore, the
offender could have attacked, threatened to attack, or stolen
something directly from the respondent. However, if the
respondent watched the offender from inside the house,
then the respondent was NOT present during the incident.
If probing still does not help to confirm whether anyone in
the household was present during the incident, enter
Precode (1), "Yes," at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT. Only
enter Precode (2), "No," when you are sure that NONE
of the household members were present during the
incident.
Examples of When It Is
Correct to Enter
Precode (1), "Yes," at
HHMEMBER
PRESENT
For each of the following situations, enter Precode (1),
"Yes," at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT:
Respondent was reading in the den while the offender
broke into her attached garage and stole some tools,
even if there was no entrance leading directly from the
attached garage into the home.
Respondent was sewing in an upstairs room while the
offender broke into her enclosed porch and stole her
gas grill.
Respondent and his family were all asleep on the
second floor of their home while the offender broke in
through the basement door and stole some stereo
equipment from the basement.
While respondent was sleeping on his beach blanket,
someone stole his watch and wallet from the blanket.
While respondent was getting into her car in a parking
garage, the offender pointed a gun at her and stole her
purse.
A student punched the respondent in the stomach in the
school cafeteria.
While the respondent was on a business trip, the
offender picked his pocket and stole his wallet.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-19
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
While at a house party, an offender threatened to break
down the door and knock the respondent unconscious if
he did not unlock the door and let his girlfriend out of the
bedroom.
During a party at the respondent's home, the
respondent was in his family room while a party guest
stole money from the bedroom dresser.
Examples of When It Is
Correct to Enter
Precode (2), “No,” at
HHMEMBER
PRESENT
For each of the following situations, enter Precode (2), "No,"
at Item HHMEMBERPRESENT:
The home/apartment at a sample address was broken
into while the respondent and all other household
members were shopping at a mall.
The respondent and all other household members were
sleeping in their bedrooms when someone stole the
respondent's car from his driveway.
The respondent was at a restaurant when her leather
coat was stolen from the coatroom in the restaurant
lobby.
Respondent looked out her kitchen window and saw
someone steal her son's bicycle from the backyard.
(Even though the respondent saw the incident happen,
she was not present -- because she was inside while the
incident happened outside.)
Someone stole a rocking chair from a respondent’s
unenclosed front porch while the respondent was
baking in her kitchen.
Someone stole an air compressor from a respondent’s
detached garage while the respondent was working in
his home office.
ANYONEPRESENT
Item ANYONEPRESENT asks, "Was anyone present
during the incident besides you and the offender?
(Other than children under age 12.)" The same
guidelines on presence that you just read for Item
HHMEMBERPRESENT also apply to Item
ANYONEPRESENT.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
As you ask the questions at Items ANYONEPRESENT
through HHMEMHARMED in the incident report section,
you may discover that current household members were
either harmed, threatened with harm, robbed by force or by
threat of harm. If this happens, you need to complete a
separate set of incident report questions for each household
member who:
Is at least 12 years of age,
Was present during the incident,
Considers herself/himself to be a victim of a crime, and
Have not yet completed their NCVS interview.
Be careful not to assume that other household members
were victims of a crime just because they were present
during a crime incident.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-21
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 7. Weapons
Definition
For the NCVS, most guns and knives are always considered
weapons. However, BB guns and tear gas guns are only
considered weapons when offenders use them as clubs to
attack or threaten to attack respondents. Before any other
type of blunt or sharp object can be considered a weapon,
the offender must have used or threatened to use the object
to inflict physical harm upon a respondent.
Example of an object used as a weapon:
As Ben entered the stockroom where he worked, he
discovered an offender who cut Ben’s throat with a
screwdriver. In this incident, the screwdriver is a weapon.
Example of an object NOT used as a weapon:
An offender tried to break into a respondent’s house using a
screwdriver to break the door lock, but was unsuccessful. In
this incident, the screwdriver is NOT a weapon.
If an offender throws an object at a respondent AND the
object hits and seriously injures the respondent, then the
thrown object can be considered a weapon.
A motor vehicle can be considered a weapon if:
The respondent knows the offender and the offender
deliberately used a motor vehicle to try to run into the
respondent's vehicle or a vehicle in which the
respondent is riding.
The respondent believes that the offender deliberately
struck or tried to hit him/her with a motor vehicle while
the respondent was on foot, a bicycle, in a motor
vehicle, and so forth. The respondent's belief could be
based on words spoken by the offender or facts known
about the offender.
However, the offender's vehicle is NOT a weapon if the
respondent does not know the offender and there was
NO verbal threat of physical harm to the respondent
when:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
The offender cut in front of a vehicle driven by the
respondent.
The offender cut in front of a vehicle in which the
respondent was a passenger.
The offender and the respondent were involved in
some type of traffic accident or incidence of road
rage.
The following objects are never considered weapons:
Animals
Parts of the body (for example, hands, feet, and so forth)
Small empty cans
Mace or pepper spray
Tear gas
Chloroform
Rings
Casts
Press “F1” at Item WEAPON to access a “Help” screen
which shows a list of objects that are never considered
weapons for the NCVS.
WEAPONPRESENT and
WEAPON
Item WEAPONPRESENT is used to determine whether or
not the offender had a weapon or something he/she
intended to use as a weapon during the incident. The
question at Item WEAPONPRESENT asks:
"Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun or
knife, or something to use as a weapon, such as a
bottle or wrench?"
If you get a "Yes" response, ask the question at Item
WEAPON next, so that you can identify the weapon(s) used
during the incident. The answer categories for Item
WEAPON are:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-23
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode:
(1) Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
(2) Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
(3) Knife
(4) Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe, etc.)
(5) Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
(6) Other - Specify
Since Item WEAPON allows for multiple entries, continue
asking "Anything else?" until you get a "No" response.
Remember the following points for Item WEAPON:
If an offender had a blunt or sharp object, other than a
gun or knife, and he/she did not use or threaten to use
the object to inflict physical harm upon the respondent,
the object is NOT a weapon. If no other weapon was
mentioned, go back to Item WEAPONPRESENT and
change the answer to "No" by entering Precode (2) at
Item WEAPONPRESENT.
If an offender used either a BB gun or a tear gas gun as
a club to hit or threaten to hit the respondent, enter
Precode (5), "Blunt object," at Item WEAPON.
If an offender made a deliberate attempt to hit the
respondent with a motor vehicle or to cause an accident
and physically harm the respondent in some way with a
motor vehicle (within the guidelines listed on Page
C3-22), enter Precode (6), "Other," and enter "motor
vehicle" in the "Specify" space at Item
WEAPON_SPEC.
Whenever you enter Precodes (4), (5), or (6) at Item
WEAPON, make sure to explain at the SUMMARY
screen what the object was and how the offender either
used or threatened to use the object as a weapon to
physically harm the respondent.
When a respondent tells you that an offender had a weapon
at Item WEAPONPRESENT and then the respondent
identifies one or more weapons at Item WEAPON, the
respondent should answer “Yes” in at least one of the
following items:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
HOWTRYATTACK and
HOWTHREATEN
ATTACK -- “Did the offender hit you, knock you
down, or actually attack you in any way?”
TRYATTACK --“Did the offender try to attack you?”
THREATEN --“Did the offender threaten you with
harm in any way?”
Whenever a respondent says that an offender either tried to
attack or threatened to attack him/her, ask the question at
Item HOWTRYATTACK for "tried to attack" OR the
question at Item HOWTHREATEN for "threatened to
attack." The answer categories for both items are identical
and the following categories involve the use of a weapon:
Precode:
(17) Weapon present or threatened with weapon
(18) Shot at (but missed)
(19) Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
(20) Attempted attack with weapon other than
gun/knife/sharp weapon
Remember these points for Items HOWTRYATTACK and
HOWTHREATEN:
Enter Precode (17) when a weapon was present during
the incident or if the offender threatened to physically
harm the respondent with the weapon. However, if the
respondent was injured by the weapon, enter a “Yes”
answer in Item ATTACK; you skip to Item
HOWATTACK.
Enter Precode (18) when an offender discharged a gun
in the direction of the respondent, but the respondent
was not hit. However, if the respondent was injured by
gun fire, enter a “Yes” answer in Item ATTACK ; you
skip to Item HOWATTACK.
If an offender attempted to attack the respondent with a
knife or another sharp object, such as scissors or an ice
pick, enter Precode (19).
If an offender attempted to attack the respondent with
an object such as a rock, club, or blackjack, enter
Precode (20).
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-25
Part C, Chapter 3
HOWATTACK
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When the respondent tells you at Item ATTACK that the
offender hit, knocked down, or actually attacked him/her in
any way, you skip to Item HOWATTACK to determine how
the respondent was attacked. The following answer
categories for Item HOWATTACK involve the use of a
weapon:
Precode:
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
Shot
Shot at (but missed)
Hit with gun held in hand
Stabbed/cut with knife/sharp object
Attempted attack with weapon (other than gun)
held in hand
Hit by object (other than gun) held in hand
Hit by thrown object
Attempted attack with weapon other than
gun/knife/sharp weapon.
Since Item HOWATTACK allows for multiple entries,
continue asking "Anything else?" until you get a "No"
response.
Remember the following points for Item HOWATTACK:
If you discover that the respondent was not attacked
and there was no physical contact between the offender
and the respondent, go back to Item ATTACK and enter
a "No" answer by entering Precode (2) at Item
ATTACK.
If you enter Precodes (15), (18), or (21) at Item
HOWATTACK and no physical attack with contact took
place during the incident, then the respondent was not
attacked. In this situation, go back to Item ATTACK and
enter a "No" answer by entering Precode (2) at Item
ATTACK.
INJURY
If the respondent was attacked in any way during the
incident, you ask the question at Item INJURY to determine:
If the respondent sustained any injuries AND
If so, what type of injuries the respondent suffered from
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
the attack.
The following two answer categories for Item INJURY relate
directly to injuries sustained from a weapon:
Precode:
(15)
Knife or stab wounds
(16)
Gun shot, bullet wounds.
Since Item INJURY allows for multiple entries, continue
asking "Anything else?" until you get a "No" response.
Remember the following points for Item INJURY:
INJURYNOTGUN and
FIRSTINJURY
Do not consider "mental or emotional suffering" to be an
injury. If only mental or emotional suffering is mentioned
by the respondent, enter Precode (11), "None."
Do not enter Precode (16) if the respondent tells you
that he/she was injured from being shot with a BB gun or
a tear gas gun. Instead, enter Precode (21), “Other Specify” and describe clearly what type of injuries were
sustained in the “Specify” space in INJURY_SPEC.
Item INJURYNOTGUN is used to determine whether any of
the injuries mentioned at Item INJURY were caused by a
weapon other than a gun or knife. You have the option of
either verifying the answer or asking the question before
marking the answer for this item.
If you enter Precode (1), "Yes," at Item INJURYNOTGUN,
ask the following question at Item FIRSTINJURY:
"Which injuries were caused by a weapon other than a
gun or knife?"
Since Precodes (15) and (16) for Item INJURY describe
injuries caused by a gun or a knife, these two precodes are
omitted from the answer categories for Item FIRST
INJURY. (Item FIRSTINJURY is not asked if only Precode
(15), only Precode (16) or only Precodes (15) and (16) are
marked in Item INJURY.)
ACTIONSDURINGINC
If the respondent tells you at Item PROTECTSELF or
DURINGINCIDENT that he/she did or tried to do something
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-27
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
about the incident while it was happening, ask the question
at Item ACTIONSDURINGINC next. Item
ACTIONSDURINGINC is used to determine what actions
the respondent took during the incident. Under the first
heading, "USED PHYSICAL FORCE TOWARD
OFFENDER," the following four categories identify actions
involving a weapon:
Precode:
(11)
(12)
(14)
(15)
Attacked offender with gun; fired gun
Attacked with other weapon
Threatened offender with gun
Threatened offender with other weapon
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 8. Rape/Unwanted Sexual Contact
Definition
For the NCVS, rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse
including both psychological coercion, as well as physical
force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or
oral penetration by the offender(s). This category also
includes incidents where the penetration is from a foreign
object, such as a bottle. A rape victim can be either female
or male and the rape can be heterosexual or homosexual.
The NCVS also obtains information on attempted rapes and
verbal threats of rape and sexual assault. An attempted
rape is an incident in which the offender intends to force the
victim to have sexual intercourse, but the offender does not
penetrate the victim.
Unwanted sexual contact is separate from rape or
attempted rape. Unwanted sexual contact may or may not
involve force and includes such things as grabbing and
fondling without the consent of the victim.
Rape, attempted rape, sexual assaults, and threats of rape
and sexual assault are all considered to be personal crimes
of violence.
WHATHAPPEN
Item WHATHAPPEN is used to determine what actually
happened during a reported incident when a respondent
answers "No" to all three of the following questions:
“Did the offender hit you, knock you down, or
actually attack you in any way?” (Item ATTACK)
“Did the offender try to attack you?” (Item
TRYATTACK)
“Did the offender threaten you with harm in any
way?” (Item THREATEN)
Item WHATHAPPEN allows for multiple answers. Two of
the answer categories are:
Precode (14) - Unwanted sexual contact with force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Precode (15) - Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-29
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
These two answer categories are intended for respondents
who do not perceive that the offender attacked, tried to
attack, or threatened them in any way during the unwanted
sexual contact. Since these two categories can encompass
a broad range of sexual acts, it may not always be clear
which precode to enter. Base your decision on the
degree of force used in the incident.
Generally, if the incident involved grabbing and other acts of
force, enter Precode (14). However, if the incident involved
only touching and/or fondling with no mention of force, enter
Precode (15). When you are unsure, always go with the
respondent's perception of whether or not the offender used
force.
Probing to Identify Rape
or Attempted Rape
Each time you enter Precode (14), "Unwanted sexual
contact with force," for Item WHATHAPPEN, you must ask
the probing question at Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1
which asks:
"You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual contact
with force. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual
intercourse including attempts?"
If you get a "Yes" answer to this probing question, you will
skip to Item HOWATTACK next.
HOWTRYATTACK and
HOWTHREATEN
If a respondent tells you at Item TRYATTACK that the
offender tried to attack him/her, then you will ask the
question at Item HOWTRYATTACK to determine how the
offender tried to attack the respondent. If a respondent tells
you at Item THREATEN that the offender threatened
him/her with harm in any way, then you will ask the question
at Item HOWTHREATEN to determine how the offender
threatened the respondent.
Both of these questions allow for multiple answers. Two of
the answer categories that might require further clarification
are:
Precode (15) - Unwanted sexual contact with force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Precode (16) - Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Since these two categories can encompass a broad range
of sexual acts, it may not always be clear which precode to
enter. Base your decision on the degree of force used in
the incident.
Generally, if the incident involved grabbing and other acts of
force, enter Precode (15). However, if the incident involved
only touching and/or fondling with no mention of force, enter
Precode (16). When you are unsure, always go with the
respondent's perception of whether or not the offender used
force.
Probing to Identify Rape
or Attempted Rape
After entering Precode (15), "Unwanted sexual contact with
force (grabbing, fondling, etc.)," at Item HOWTRYATTACK
or HOWTHREATEN, the instrument shows the following
probe question SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2 that you must
ask:
"You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual contact
with force. Do you mean forced or coerced sexual
intercourse including attempts?"
If you get a "Yes" answer to this probing question, the
instrument automatically fills a Precode (1), “Yes” answer to
item ATTACK and skips to Item HOWATTACK next.
HOWATTACK
Ask the question at Item HOWATTACK to determine how
the respondent was attacked. This item allows for multiple
answers. Three of the answer categories are:
Precode (11) - Raped
Precode (12) - Tried to rape
Precode (13) - Sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape.
If a respondent tells you that the offender either raped or
tried to rape her/him, then you need to ask one of the
following probe questions to ensure that you are entering
the correct precode:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-31
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
When you enter Precode (11), "Raped," the
RAPE_CK1 probe asks:
"You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or coerced
sexual intercourse?"
If you get a "No" answer, also ask the following question so
you can determine what the respondent means when using
the term “rape”:
"What do you mean?"
When you enter Precode (12), "Tried to rape," the
ATTRAPE_CK1 probe asks:
"You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean
attempted forced or coerced sexual intercourse?"
If you get a "No" answer, also ask the following question so
you can determine what the respondent means when using
the term "tried to rape":
"What do you mean?"
These probe questions are used to ensure that the
respondent's interpretation of the term "rape" is the same as
the definition used for the NCVS. After asking "What do
you mean?" for either probe question, do not ask any other
probing questions related to rape or attempted rape. Make
sure that you enter the correct precodes for Item
HOWATTACK.
PRETHREATEN
After determining how a respondent was attacked at Item
HOWATTACK, you will ask the question at Item
PRETHREATEN to determine if the offender threatened to
hurt the respondent before actually attacking her/him.
At the time of the incident and prior to the rape or attempted
rape, it is possible that the offender may have verbally
threatened to hurt the respondent in one of the ways
mentioned at Item HOWATTACK, even though none of
these precodes were entered at Item HOWATTACK. If a
"Yes" or "No" answer does not adequately cover the
respondent's answer for PRETHREATEN, enter Precode
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
(3), "Other - (Specify)" and enter a note explaining the
situation in the “Specify” space in PRETHREATEN_SPEC.
INJURY
When a respondent has been attacked during an incident,
you will ask the question at Item INJURY to determine what
type of physical or bodily injuries the respondent may have
received during the attack. The question at Item INJURY
asks:
"What were the injuries you suffered, if any?"
Do not consider mental or emotional suffering, such as
depression or the need for counseling after a rape, as an
injury. If the respondent did not suffer any physical injuries
from the incident, enter Precode (11), "None."
If a respondent tells you at Item INJURY that her/his injury
was the rape or attempted rape AND you did not enter the
precode for "Raped" or "Tried to rape" at Item
HOWATTACK, then ask one of the following probe
questions:
When Precode (12), "Raped," is entered at Item INJURY
and Precode (11), "Raped," is NOT entered at
Item HOWATTACK, ask the following probe question in
RAPE_CK2:
"You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or coerced
sexual intercourse?"
If you get a "No" answer, also ask the following question so
you can determine what the respondent means when using
the term "raped":
"What do you mean?"
When Precode (13), "Attempted rape," is entered at
Item INJURY and Precode (12), "Tried to rape," is NOT
entered at Item HOWATTACK, ask the following probe
question in Item ATTRAPE_CK:
"You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean
attempted forced or coerced sexual intercourse?"
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-33
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you get a "No" answer, also ask the following question so
you can determine what the respondent means when using
the term "attempted rape":
"What do you mean?"
These probe questions are used to ensure that the
respondent's interpretation of the term "rape" or “attempted
rape” is the same as the definition used for the NCVS and to
distinguish between rape and other types of sexual
assaults. If your probing questions verify that the offender
did rape or tried to rape the respondent, then use the up
arrow to back up and enter the appropriate precodes at Item
HOWATTACK. If prompted to ask "What do you mean?" for
either question, do not ask any other probing questions
related to rape or attempted rape.
"Raped" Entered at Item
HOWATTACK
If a respondent said that he/she was raped at Item
HOWATTACK, always enter Precode (12), "Raped" at Item
INJURY, even if the respondent does not report
"Raped" as an injury. This is the only precode that you
would enter at Item INJURY without being told to do so by
the respondent. Once you have asked the probe questions
at Item HOWATTACK, do not ask them again at Item
INJURY.
"Tried to Rape" Entered
at Item HOWATTACK
Do NOT automatically enter Precode (13), "Attempted
rape," as an injury at Item INJURY when you entered
Precode (12), "Tried to Rape," at Item HOWATTACK. Only
enter Precode (13), "Attempted rape," at Item INJURY
when the respondent specifically mentions it as an injury
from the incident. Also, if a respondent only mentions
"Attempted rape" at Item INJURY, make sure that there
were no other injuries from the incident by asking,
"Anything else?".
"Sexual Assault Other
Than Rape or
Attempted Rape"
Entered at Item
HOWATTACK
Do NOT automatically enter Precode (14), "Sexual assault
other than rape or attempted rape," as in injury at Item
INJURY when you enter Precode (13) as the type of attack
at Item HOWATTACK. Only mark it as an injury at Item
INJURY when the respondent specifically mentions it as an
injury from the incident. Also, if a respondent only mentions
"Sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape" at Item
INJURY, make sure that there were no other injuries from
the incident by asking, "Anything else?".
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Completing the SUMMARY
Screen
Part C, Chapter 3
Since sex-related crimes are rare compared to other types
of crimes, include as many details as the respondent is
willing to provide. This is important so that we can classify
any sex-related crimes into the correct category--rape,
attempted rape, sexual assault, or unwanted sexual
contact.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-35
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 9. Theft/Attempted Theft of Cash/Property
Definition
For the NCVS, completed or attempted theft of cash and/or
property is defined differently depending on whether or not
the incident involved direct contact between a sample
household member and an offender. When there was no
direct contact between the offender and a household
member during the theft or attempted theft, then the incident
is considered a property crime. If the incident of theft or
attempted theft involved any direct contact between the
offender and a household member, such as an attack,
threat, robbery by force or threat, purse snatching or pocket
picking, the incident is considered a personal crime.
Property Crime
When an incident involves a theft or attempted theft in which
there was no direct contact between an eligible household
member and an offender, the incident is considered a
property crime.
A property crime of theft or attempted theft can fall into one
of the following categories:
Burglary,
Theft, or
Motor vehicle theft.
Complete ONLY ONE set of incident report questions for
each property crime of theft or attempted theft in which the
offender did NOT attack, attempt to attack, or threaten to
physically harm a household member.
Burglary
The property crime of burglary usually involves a theft or
attempted theft, but always involves the unlawful or forcible
entry or attempted entry of a sample address.
Example of burglary:
Harry returned home and his door was open and the lock
broken. However, nothing appeared to have been stolen.
Theft
Theft is the successful or unsuccessful attempt to take cash
and/or property from within the sample address or its
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
immediate vicinity by someone who has a legal right to be in
the residence at the sample address, such as a maid, guest,
or delivery person.
Theft can also include the successful or unsuccessful
attempt to take property and/or cash from a place other than
the sample address or its immediate vicinity when the
property and/or cash belongs to one or more eligible
household members and there was no direct contact
between the offender and an eligible household member.
Example of theft:
Jenny invited two of her co-workers to spend the night at her
house. After they left the next morning, she discovered that
her watch was missing from the bathroom. She is pretty
sure that one of her co-workers stole the watch.
Example of attempted theft:
While in a movie theater, Jay threw his leather coat over the
empty seat beside him. He noticed that someone was
pulling on the coat, trying to steal it. He grabbed the coat,
and the person who was trying to take it got up and ran out
of the theater.
Motor Vehicle Theft
Motor vehicle theft is defined as stealing or unauthorized
taking of a motor vehicle that belongs to one or more eligible
household members. Motor vehicle theft also includes failed
attempts to steal or take a motor vehicle without
authorization from the owner(s).
Example of motor vehicle theft:
Brian left his car running with the keys in it to warm up on a
cold morning. When he went back outside, the car was
gone.
Example of attempted motor vehicle theft:
Diane caught her 15-year-old nephew trying to start her car
and take it out for a ride. She was able to stop him before he
left in the vehicle.
Personal Crime
A completed or attempted theft of cash and/or property is
considered to be a personal crime when:
There was direct contact between an eligible
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-37
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
household member and an offender, such as a personal
attack or threat of physical harm, or
Cash, a purse or wallet was taken directly from an
eligible household member without the use of force or
threat of physical harm.
Example of theft with direct contact:
As Margaret was leaving the shopping mall and walking to
her car, a man took her purse. He knocked her to the ground
and ran away with the purse.
Purse Snatching and
Pocket Picking
Thefts from Unrecognizable
Businesses
Purse snatching and pocket picking are the successful
and/or unsuccessful attempts to take cash, a purse, or
wallet directly from an eligible household member without
the use of force or threat of physical harm.
The NCVS is interested in collecting information for
incidents involving thefts from a business when:
An eligible household member operates an
unrecognizable business from the sample address.
AND
Cash and/or property belonging to the unrecognizable
business is stolen either from the sample address or
from another location where the business is still
unrecognizable.
Example of theft from an unrecognizable business:
Frank repairs lawn mowers in his garage as a side
business, but there is no sign on the premises advertising
lawn mower repair. While Frank was away, someone broke
into his garage and stole tools and lawn mowers belonging
to the business.
The NCVS is not interested in collecting information for
incidents involving thefts from a recognizable business,
regardless of whether or not it is operated from the sample
address. In general terms, a recognizable business is one
that has a sign on the premises or some other indication to
the general public that a business is operated from the
address.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
(Also refer to Part C, Chapter 2, for a detailed explanation of
recognizable and unrecognizable businesses.)
Example of theft from a recognizable business:
Cindy runs a ceramics class and retail shop from her home
and she has a sign on the premises advertising the
business. While she was on vacation, someone broke into
her home and stole several finished ceramic pieces that
were for sale.
Thefts From Children Under
12 Years of Age
The NCVS is interested in collecting information for
incidents involving thefts from a sample household member
who is under 12 years of age ONLY when:
The thefts took place at the sample address (inside the
home or in the immediate vicinity of the home), or at a
vacation/second home or hotel/motel where the family is
staying temporarily.
AND
The child was not attacked or threatened with physical
harm during the incident.
Example of acceptable theft from a child under 12:
While interviewing the household respondent, she reported
that her 5-year-old son’s wagon was stolen from the front
yard of their home. She and her son were inside eating
lunch when the wagon was stolen.
The NCVS is NOT interested in collecting information for
incidents involving thefts from a sample household member
who is under 12 years of age when:
The theft took place at a location other than the family’s
home and its immediate vicinity or at a place other than
any lodging and immediate vicinity where the family is
staying temporarily, such as from a friend’s yard.
OR
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-39
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The child was attacked or threatened with physical harm
during the incident, regardless of where the theft took
place.
Example of unacceptable theft from a child under 12:
While interviewing the parent of a 10-year-old boy, the
parent reported that his son was injured by an older boy
while playing in the park near their home. During the
incident, the older boy stole the son’s remote control race
car.
THEFT and ATTEMPTTHEFT
Item THEFT determines whether or not something was
stolen or taken without permission that belonged to the
respondent or another household member. Item
ATTEMPTTHEFT determines whether or not an
unsuccessful attempt was made to steal or take without
permission items belonging to the respondent or another
household member.
If a respondent indicated earlier in the interview that items
were taken without permission or an unsuccessful attempt
was made to take items belonging to the respondent or
another household member, you have the option to either
ask the question or verify the answer before entering the
appropriate precode to answer Item THEFT or
ATTEMPTTHEFT.
Do not consider the cash and/or property as stolen if any of
the following conditions exist:
The items belong to a recognizable business operated
from the sample address or any other location where the
business is recognizable.
The items belong to someone who is not a sample
household member, such as the owner of a rental
home/apartment or a neighbor/friend who left the items
at the respondent's home or allowed the respondent to
borrow the items.
The items belong to the respondent and were loaned to
someone who never returned the items.
The items belong to a household member under 12
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
years of age who was attacked and/or threatened with
physical harm during the incident.
The items belong jointly to a legally separated husband
and wife who are not yet divorced and the offender is
one of the spouses.
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT will identify what items the
respondent thinks that the offender was trying to steal.
Since this item allows for multiple entries, continue asking,
"Anything else?" until you get a "No" reply.
Remember the following for Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT:
For Precode:
(11) Cash
Do not enter this precode for checks, credit cards, or
coin collections. Enter Precode (14) for checks and
credit cards, and Precode (23) for coin collections.
(14)
Credit cards, checks, bank cards
In addition to the items mentioned, also enter
Precode (14) for other items which have little or no
value unless used fraudulently, such as Savings
Bonds, bank books, money orders, and traveler's
checks.
(16)
Other motor vehicle
Enter Precode (16) for any type of truck, van, sport
utility vehicle (SUV), motorcycle, or moped. Precode
(16) is NOT intended for boats, airplanes, minibikes,
or snowmobiles; instead, enter Precode (26)
"Other," and identify the type of transportation in the
"Specify" space in Item
ATTEMPTHEFTWHAT_SPEC. Also, if the motor
vehicle was owned and operated exclusively for a
recognizable business, do not enter Precode (16) at
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-41
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For Precode:
(17) Part of motor vehicle
Do not enter Precode (17) for any items stored in the
glove compartment, left on the seat, or kept in the
trunk, since they are not considered part of the motor
vehicle.
WHATWASTAKEN
(23)
Personal effects
Enter Precode (23) for items used by a specific
household member, rather than by most or all
household members. Some examples include:
watches, jewelry, personal luggage, clothing,
cameras, books, stamp or coin collections, compact
discs, and so forth.
(24)
Handgun
Enter Precode (24) for all "hand-held" guns,
regardless of how they are used. Precode (24) is not
intended for pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols, flare
guns, or tear gas guns; instead, enter Precode (26)
for these types of guns and identify the type of gun in
the "Specify" space in Item
ATTEMPTHEFTWHAT_SPEC. .
(25)
Other firearm
Enter Precode (25) for all rifles and shotguns,
regardless of how they are used, but do not enter
Precode (25) for pellet guns, BB guns, air pistols,
flare guns, or tear gas guns; instead, enter Precode
(26) for these types of guns and identify the type of
gun in the "Specify" space in Item
ATTEMPTHEFTWHAT_SPEC. .
Item WHATWASTAKEN is asked to identify what items
were taken from the respondent or other household
members during the incident. This item has 27 answer
categories from which to choose, as compared to only 17
answer categories in Item ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT for
attempted thefts. Item WHATWASTAKEN also allows for
multiple entries, so continue asking, “Anything else?” until
you get a “No” reply.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Only include property/money that belonged to the
respondent or other household members. If the respondent
mentions that the stolen property was leased or rented by
the respondent or another household member for one
month or longer, consider the household member(s) as
the owner(s) of the stolen property for this item. If
necessary, ask the respondent how long the stolen property
has been leased or rented.
(Refer to Part B, Chapter 4, for detailed instructions
about specific answer categories in Item
WHATWASTAKEN.)
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-43
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 10. Value of Stolen Property/Methods Used to Determine Value
Definition
For the NCVS, the value of stolen property should be the
respondent's best estimate of the dollar value:
Excluding any stolen cash, checks, or credit cards
AND
Excluding any portion of the dollar amount that covers
the stolen property owned by a nonhousehold member.
Respondents can use any method they choose to arrive at a
dollar value for the stolen property that belonged to sample
household members.
PROPERTYVALUE
When items other than cash/checks/credit cards were
stolen during an incident, you will ask the respondent the
following question at Item PROPERTYVALUE:
"What was the value of the PROPERTY that was taken?
Include recovered property. (Exclude any stolen
cash/checks/credit cards. If jointly owned with a
nonhousehold member(s), include only share owned
by household members.)"
As you ask this question:
Only include the dollar amount for stolen property or the
portion of the stolen property that is owned by sample
household members.
If the stolen property was owned jointly by one or more
household members and a nonhousehold member, only
include the dollar amount for the portion of the property
owned by household member(s).
Although you do not want to suggest a method for
arriving at the dollar amount, you can mention the stolen
items individually to the respondent. If the respondent
finds it easier to give you separate dollar amounts for
each stolen item, then just total the separate amounts
(you can use the F11 key to bring up an onscreen
calculator) and enter the total in PROPERTYVALUE.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
If one of the stolen items is food stamps, ask the
respondent for the "face value" of the food stamps.
Enter the value of the stolen property in whole dollars
rounding up or down as necessary.
DECIDEDVALUE
Item DECIDEDVALUE is used to determine how the
respondent arrived at the amount given for the value of the
stolen property provided at Item PROPERTYVALUE. Ask
the question exactly as it is worded on the screen:
"How did you decide the value of the property that was
taken?"
Since this screen allows for multiple entries, continue asking
"Any other way?" until you get a "No" reply. Avoid reading
the answer categories to the respondent, except as a last
resort.
Methods Used to
Decide
Precode (11), Original cost
The price paid for the item when the respondent first bought
it.
Precode (12), Replacement cost
If the stolen property has been replaced already, it would be
the price paid at that time. Otherwise, it would be the cost to
replace the stolen property at the time of interview. When
using the replacement cost, do NOT consider the original
purchase price.
Precode (13), Personal estimate of current value
Current value is not the same as the property's replacement
cost. A personal estimate of current value is the
respondent's idea of what the stolen property was worth at
the time of the incident.
Precode (14), Insurance report estimate
This is the amount that an insurance company estimates the
stolen property to be worth.
Precode (15), Police estimate
This is the amount that the police estimate the stolen
property to be worth.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-45
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (17), Other (Specify)
Use this category when the respondent gives you a definite
way in which he/she arrived at the value, but it is not one of
the categories listed in Precodes (11) through (15) of Item
DECIDEDVALUE. After entering Precode (17), always
enter what the method was in the “Specify” space in
DECIDEDVALUE_SPEC, such as "a friend's estimate,"
"appraisal from an antique dealer," or "face value" (for
stolen food stamps).
Precode (16), Don't know
By entering Precode (16), you are indicating that the
respondent does not know how he/she decided on the
amount given as the value of the stolen property at Item
PROPERTYVALUE. Always probe to get a more precise
answer before entering Precode (16) for “Don’t know.”
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 11. Property Ownership
Definition
The NCVS is interested in obtaining information about
attempted or actual thefts of property or money only when
the property or money is owned by persons who are
eligible sample household members at the time of
interview. As you complete the incident report section of
the NCVS instrument for an attempted or actual theft, you
determine whether the property is owned by:
The respondent only
The respondent and other household member(s)
Other household member(s) only
Nonhousehold member(s) only
Jointly by a household member and a nonhousehold
member.
Theft Incidents From
Former Residences
You may encounter incidents where an attempted or actual
theft occurred during the reference period while the sample
household resided at an address other than the sample
address. As long as the property that the offender stole or
attempted to steal is owned by a person who is a household
member at the sample address at the time of interview, you
keep the attempted or actual theft report for the NCVS.
However, if the attempted or actual theft involved property
owned SOLELY by a person who is NOT a household
member at the sample address at the time of interview,
continue to collect information for that incident.
Theft Incidents From
a Legally Separated
Spouse
If a husband and wife are legally separated and not yet
divorced, any property that they owned jointly while married
is still considered jointly owned during their legal separation.
ATTEMPTTHEFT
OWNER and
WHOOWNEDSTOLEN
PROPERTY
When you determine at Items ATTEMPTTHEFT and
ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT that a reported incident involves
an attempted theft, you ask the respondent Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER:
"Did the (property/money) the offender tried to take
belong to you personally, to someone else in the
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-47
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
household, or to both you and other household
members?"
When you determine at Items THEFT and
WHATWASTAKEN that a reported incident involves an
actual theft, you will ask the respondent the following
question at Item WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY:
"Did the stolen (property/money) belong to you
personally, to someone else in the household, or to
both you and other household members?"
Both of these items are designed to determine whether the
owner is:
The respondent only
The respondent and other household member(s)
Other household member(s) only
Nonhousehold member(s) only
Other "Specify" (For example, property or money owned
jointly by a household member and a nonhousehold
member.)
Here are a few situations in which you enter Precode (5)
"Other" at Items ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER or
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY:
Owners of the property/money are the respondent and a
nonhousehold member.
OR
Nonhousehold Member
at Time of Interview
Owners of the property/money are another household
member and a nonhousehold member.
When a reported incident of theft or attempted theft involves
property belonging to a person who is NOT a sample
household member at the time of interview, the incident will
be kept for the NCVS. If you discover at
ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER or
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-48
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY that the property/
money belongs only to a person who is a nonhousehold
member at the time of interview, you still must finish
completing the incident report section of the instrument. By
completing the incident report section, you may discover
other facts about the incident that are within the scope of the
survey.
(See Part C, Chapter 1, Topic 8, for more information
about out-of-scope incidents.)
ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS and
OTHERSOWNED
STOLENPROPERTY
When the property/money involved in a theft or attempted
theft incident is owned by the respondent AND other sample
household members, you will identify by line number at
either Item ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS or Item
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY which household
members other than the respondent own the property.
For an attempted theft, enter the line number(s) at
ATTEMPTTHEFTLNS. For an actual theft, enter the line
number(s) at OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY.
Consider the property to belong to the ENTIRE sample
household and enter Precode (40), "Household property" if:
The respondent tells you that the property belongs to
ALL household members
OR
The respondent tells you that the property belongs
jointly to himself/herself AND more than two other
household members.
Depending on the circumstances, it is acceptable to enter
line number(s) for the theft of personal property and also
enter Precode (40), "Household property."
The SUMMARY Screen
When property from an attempted or actual theft incident is
owned by two or more persons, you need to identify at the
SUMMARY screen which persons own which items and,
when necessary, which items are household property. For
example, if you enter Precode (2) at Item
ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER or
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY, identify by line number
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-49
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
in your summary report which items belong to the
respondent and which items belong to the other household
member(s).
It is not necessary to do this when the property/money:
Belongs only to the respondent
OR
Is considered to be entirely household property.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-50
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 12. Recovered Money and/or Property
Definition
ALLPARTRECOVERED
For the NCVS, "recovered money and/or property" means:
For stolen money: Any money stolen during the
reported incident that has either been found and
returned to the respondent OR that the offender has
reimbursed to the respondent for all or part of the stolen
money.
For stolen property: All or part of the original stolen
property was returned to the respondent or is being held
as evidence for a court case.
Item ALLPARTRECOVERED is one of the questions that
you will ask the respondent when money and/or property
was stolen during a reported incident. The question at Item
ALLPARTRECOVERED asks:
"Was all or part of the stolen (money/property)
recovered, not counting anything received from
insurance?"
The information recorded at Item WHATWASTAKEN will
indicate whether you will ask about the recovery of stolen
money, property, or both at Item ALLPARTRECOVERED.
For the NCVS, we want to determine whether all, part, or
none of the stolen money and/or property was recovered.
Do Not Include as
Recovered
Under the following circumstances, do NOT consider the
stolen money and/or property to be recovered:
An insurance company replaced the stolen property or
provided money to replace the stolen property.
The offender replaced the stolen property or provided
money to replace the stolen property.
Anyone other than the offender reimbursed the
respondent for the money that was stolen, such as an
insurance company or a relative.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-51
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
For the NCVS, we are only interested in the original
property/money, not property/money that was given to the
owner as a replacement or reimbursement.
WHATRECOVERED
If a respondent tells you at Item ALLPARTRECOVERED
that only part of the stolen money and/or property was
recovered, then you determine at Item WHATRECOVERED
how much of the stolen money and/or property was
recovered.
Cash Was Recovered
When stolen cash was recovered, enter Precode (1),
"Cash," and then enter the amount in whole dollars
(rounding up or down as necessary) in the "Amount of cash
recovered" space at Item CASHRECOVERED. An
estimated dollar amount is acceptable when the respondent
is unable to give you an exact amount.
Only Property Was
Recovered
When stolen property was recovered, there are five
separate "Property" answer categories in
WHATRECOVERED:
Precode (2), "Purse"
Precode (3), "Wallet"
Precode (4), "Credit cards, checks, bank cards"
Precode (5), "Car or other motor vehicle"
Precode (6), "Property other than the above"
Based on the respondent's answer, enter precodes for all
property categories that apply. Any time a respondent
answers "Purse" or "Wallet," Item CONTAINMONEY
appears next, which asks: "Did it contain any money?"
This additional question is to ensure that we document any
stolen cash that may have been recovered. If you get a
"Yes" answer, make sure to enter the dollar amount in the
"Amount of cash recovered" space in Item
CASHRECOVERED.
Enter Precode (6), "Property other than the above" when:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-52
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
The respondent mentions recovered property not
described in any of the other four property categories at
Item WHATRECOVERED.
OR
The respondent does not know or is unsure about which
stolen property items were recovered.
Both Cash and Property
Were Recovered
RECOVEREDCASH
VALUE
When both stolen money and property were recovered:
Enter Precode (1) and then enter the amount in whole
dollars (rounding up or down as necessary) in the
"Amount of cash recovered" space, and
Enter precodes for all appropriate "property" categories
from Precodes (2) through (6) based on the
respondent's answer.
When the stolen property recovered was something other
than cash, checks, or credit cards, then you will ask the
question at Item RECOVEREDCASHVALUE to determine
the value of the recovered stolen property. The question at
Item RECOVEREDCASHVALUE asks:
"Considering any damage, what was the value of the
property after it was recovered? (Do not include
recovered cash, checks, or credit cards.)"
For Item RECOVEREDCASHVALUE:
Include the value of a recovered purse and/or wallet, but
do not include the value of recovered cash, checks, or
credit cards that may have been in the purse or wallet.
Damage to stolen property before it is recovered may
cause its value to decrease from what it was before the
theft.
Include the total whole dollar amount (rounding up or
down as necessary) for all recovered property both
damaged and undamaged (other than cash, checks,
and credit cards).
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-53
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
It is acceptable to mention recovered items individually
to a respondent and allow the respondent to use any
means he/she wishes to arrive at the item's value. Then,
total the individual amounts (You can use the F11
Calculator function here if desired.) and enter the total in
the "Value of property recovered" space at Item
RECOVEREDCASHVALUE.
POLICEFOLLOWUP
Item POLICEFOLLOWUP is one of a series of questions
inquiring as to how the police responded when notified
about an incident. The question at Item
POLICEFOLLOWUP asks:
"What did the police do in following up this incident?"
This question allows you to enter more than one precode.
"Recovered property" is one of the answer categories to
identify what the police followed up on for the incident.
Before entering Precode (14), "Recovered property," make
sure that the stolen property is considered "recovered" by
the NCVS definition provided earlier in this topic.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-54
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 13. Medical Care
Definition
For the NCVS, medical care is any care or treatment that a
respondent received for physical injuries suffered during
the incident, regardless of:
Who administered the care or
Where the care was administered.
Medical care can range from something as simple as
applying an ice pack to something as complicated as major
surgery. The person administering the medical care does
not need to be anyone with medical training. In fact, it could
even be the respondent treating his/her own injuries. The
location where treatment is provided can be anywhere--at
the crime scene, at home, in an ambulance, or at a hospital.
MEDICALCARE
When a respondent tells you that he/she was injured during
the incident, you will ask the following question at Item
MEDICALCARE:
"Were you injured to the extent that you received any
medical care, including self treatment?"
Item INJURY will actually identify what type of injuries were
suffered, if any. If the respondent suffered injuries during an
incident, but did not receive any care or treatment for those
injuries, enter Precode (2) "No" at Item MEDICALCARE
and the instrument skips to Item PREGATTIMEOFINC if
you are speaking to a female respondent age 18 to 49,
otherwise the instrument continues with Item
PROTECTSELF.
A "Yes" answer at Item MEDICALCARE takes you through
Items RECEIVECAREWHERE through
CAREDAYHOSPIT, so you can determine:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-55
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Where the respondent received medical care for his/her
injuries (Item RECEIVECAREWHERE). Item
RECEIVECAREWHERE contains seven different
answer categories identifying where medical care could
have been provided to the respondent. Since you can
enter more than one precode at Item RECEIVE
CAREWHERE, continue asking "Anywhere else?" until
you get a "No" response.
Whether the respondent stayed at the hospital
overnight, when care was administered at a hospital
(Item CAREOVERNIGHT).
How many days the respondent stayed at the hospital,
when the respondent stayed overnight at a hospital
(Item CAREDAYHOSPIT).
If you determine that medical care was not provided at a
hospital, then you will skip to Item MEDICALINSURANCE
after completing Item RECEIVECAREWHERE, so you can
inquire about medical insurance.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-56
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 14. Medical Expenses
Definition
MEDICALEXPENSES
For the NCVS, medical expenses are intended to include all
costs incurred directly as a result of treatment received for
any injuries that the respondent experienced during the
incident, regardless of who paid these costs. Consider the
following costs as medical expenses if they are related
directly to the respondent's injuries from the incident:
Services provided by doctors, surgeons, and hospitals,
Ambulance service and emergency room fees,
Physical therapist and dentist fees,
Any costs for medicine or special devices, such as
braces, wheelchairs, dentures, and so forth.
Item MEDICALEXPENSES is used to determine what the
total dollar amount was for medical expenses resulting from
the incident. The question at Item MEDICALEXPENSES
reads as follows:
"What was the total amount of your medical expenses
resulting from this incident (INCLUDING anything paid
by insurance)? Include hospital and doctor bills,
medicine, therapy, braces, and any other injury-related
expenses."
Make sure to read the statement following the question so
that the respondent understands fully what to include when
providing you with a total amount. If the respondent told you
at Item MEDICALINSURANCE that he/she was covered by
medical insurance or another type of health benefits
program at the time of the incident, make sure to read the
statement within parentheses, "(INCLUDING anything
paid by insurance)" as you ask the question at Item
MEDICALEXPENSES.
If the respondent is unable to provide an exact amount, take
the respondent's best estimate of the total dollar amount for
medical expenses. In some cases, a respondent may still be
undergoing treatment for his/her injuries at the time of
interview. If so, try to get a projected estimate for the total
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-57
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
cost of medical expenses resulting from the incident. When
a respondent is unable to provide even an estimated
amount, enter “Ctrl” + “D” for "Don't know."
Enter “0” (Zero) for “No cost" at Item MEDICALEXPENSES
for instances when medical care was provided at no cost to
the respondent or his/her medical insurance.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-58
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 15. Race of Offenders
Definition: Ethnicity
Ethnicity or ethnic origin is a person’s heritage, nationality, lineage,
or country of birth of the person him/herself or of his/her ancestors.
“Ethnicity” does not have the same meaning as “race” even though
respondents may use the terms interchangeably. People who
report their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any
race.
SINGOFFETHNICITY
When a respondent tells you that the crime was committed by one
offender, you ask a series of questions in the incident report section
of the instrument to gather information about the offender. One of
these questions is Item SINGOFFETHNICITY, which asks, “Was
the offender Hispanic or Latino?” Enter Precode (1) for “Yes,” (2) for
“No,” or (3) for “Don’t know.”
MULTOFFETHNICITY
When a respondent tells you that the crime was committed by more
than one offender, you also ask item MULTOFFETHNICITY, “Were
any of the offenders Hispanic or Latino?” Enter Precode (1) for
“Yes,” (2) for “No,” or (3) for “Don’t know.”
MULTOFFENDERMOST
ETHNICITY
When the respondent indicates that at least one of the offenders
was Hispanic or Latino, you ask item
MULTOFFENDERMOSTETHNICITY, “Were the offenders mostly
Hispanic, mostly non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic and
non-Hispanic?” Enter the answer as indicated by the respondent.
Definition: Race
For the NCVS, we use the following race categories at Items
SINGOFFRACE and MULTOFFENDERRACE to identify an
offender’s race – “White,” “Black or African American,” “American
Indian or Alaska Native,” “Asian” (for example, Japanese, Chinese,
Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian, Vietnamese), and “Native Hawaiian
or Other Pacific Islander.”
SINGOFFRACE
When a respondent tells you that the crime was committed by just
one offender, you ask him/her a series of questions to gather
information about the offender. One of these questions is Item
SINGOFFRACE, which asks about the offender's race. The answer
categories for this item are “White,” “Black or African American,”
“American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Asian,” and “Native Hawaiian
or Other Pacific Islander.”
Since an offender could be of more than one race, you can enter
more than one precode at Item SINGOFFRACE to identify the
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-59
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
races of each offender. The answer categories for Item
SINGOFFRACE are:
Precode (1), White
Precode (2), Black or African American
Precode (3), American Indian or Alaska Native
Precode (4), Asian
Precode (5), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Precode (6), Don't know
When reading the question at Item SINGOFFRACE you will read
answer categories 1-5 as part of the question. However, do not
read category 6, “Don’t know” to the respondent.
A person's ethnic origin is NOT the same as a person's race. If
a respondent answers the offender’s race question with
“Spanish, Hispanic, Latino” or another ethnic origin, such as
“French” or “German,” enter Precode (1), “White.”
MULTOFFENDERRACE
and
MULTOFFENDERRACE
MOST
When a respondent tells you that the crime was committed by more
than one offender, you ask the respondent a series of questions in
the incident report section to gather information about these
offenders. Two of these questions are at Items
MULTOFFENDERRACE and MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST. The
question at Item MULTOFFENDERRACE asks: “What race or
races were the offenders? Were they …” Since the offenders could
be of more than one race, you can enter more than one precode at
Item MULTOFFENDERRACE to identify the races of each
offender. The answer categories for Item MULTOFFENDERRACE
are:
Precode (1), White
Precode (2), Black or African American
Precode (3), American Indian or Alaska Native
Precode (4), Asian
Precode (5), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Precode (6), Don't know
When reading the question at Item MULTOFFENDERRACE you
will read answer categories 1-5 as part of the question. However,
do not read category 6, “Don’t know” to the respondent.
A person's ethnic origin is NOT the same as a person's race. If
a respondent answers the offender’s race question with
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-60
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
“Spanish, Hispanic, Latino” or another ethnic origin, such as
“French” or “German,” enter Precode (1), “White.”
The question at Item MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST asks: “What
race were most of the offenders?” When two or more precodes are
entered at Item MULTOFFENDERRACE, ask the question at Item
MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST to determine the race of MOST of
the offenders. Only enter ONE of the following precodes at Item
MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Precode (1), Mostly White
Precode (2), Mostly Black or African American
Precode (3), Mostly American Indian or Alaska Native
Precode (4), Mostly Asian
Precode (5), Mostly Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Precode (6), Equal number of each race
Precode (7), Don't know
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-61
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 16. Other Victimized Household Members
Definition
For the NCVS, "Other victimized household members"
consist of sample household members who are:
Also victims in an incident reported by the household
member you are currently interviewing,
Household members at the time of interview, and
At least 12 years of age at the time of the incident.
Consider a household member to be a "victim" if the
offender did any of the following things to an eligible
household member:
Hit, knocked down, or actually attacked the household
member.
Tried to attack the household member.
Threatened to physically harm the household member.
Since it is important that we get a complete picture of each
household member's victimization, you must complete a
separate set of incident report questions for each eligible
household member at the time of interview who was
personally victimized during an incident.
PERSONSHARMED
Through HHMEMHARMED
Item PERSONSHARMED is used to determine if any
persons who were present during the incident, other than
the respondent, the offender, and any children under 12
years of age were victimized. If you get a "Yes" answer at
Item PERSONSHARMED, then, at Item
PERSONSHARMEDNUM, document the number of
victimized persons excluding the respondent, the offender,
and any children under 12 years of age.
Item HHMEMHARMED is used to determine if any of the
persons present during the incident who were victimized are
eligible household members at the time of interview and, if
so, to identify the household members by line number. The
question at Item HHMEMHARMED asks:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-62
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
"How many of these persons are members of your
household now? Do not include yourself, the offender,
or children under 12 years of age."
Victimized Member Not
Yet Interviewed
If a household member identified at Item
HHMEMHARMED_NAMES does not mention that he/she
was personally victimized during his/her interview, remind
the respondent about the incident reported by the other
household member. There may be instances when the
respondent contradicts what the other household member
told you.
Victimized Member
Already Interviewed
At Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES you enter the line
numbers of the household members who were personally
victimized during this incident. If you have already
interviewed a household member who was identified at Item
HHMEMHARMED_NAMES and the household member did
not mention that he/she was personally victimized in the
incident, you will not be able to complete an incident report
for that person. If you come across this situation, be sure to
document it in the “Case Level Notes.”
Victimized Person No
Longer a Household
Member
Do NOT enter a previous household member's line number
at Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES if the person is NOT a
household member at the time of the incident.
Victimized Person Is a
Proxy Respondent
If you are conducting a proxy interview, the question and
statement at Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES is worded
differently so that you ask about the proxy person, NOT the
proxy respondent.
Make sure to enter the proxy respondent's line number at
Item HHMEMHARMED_NAMES if the proxy respondent:
Is a household member at the time of interview
AND
Was personally victimized during the reported incident.
If you confirm that a proxy respondent was personally
victimized, make sure to document it in the “Case Level
Notes.”
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-63
Part C, Chapter 3
Victimized Person Is a
Noninterview
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you have already tried and are unable to interview a
household member and another household member tells
you that this noninterviewed person was also personally
victimized during an incident, do not attempt to re-contact
the noninterviewed person about the victimization.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-64
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 17. Damage to Property During an Incident
Definition
The NCVS measures "damage to property" when the
property is:
Owned by someone who was a household member at
the time of the incident,
OR
Owned by an unrecognizable business that is operated
from the sample address,
AND
The property was damaged or vandalized during the
incident.
When to Exclude Damaged
Property
Under the following circumstances, EXCLUDE information
about damaged property for the NCVS:
The damaged property belonged to someone who was
not a sample household member at the time of the
incident and at the time of the interview.
The damaged property belonged to a recognizable
business operated by a household member.
The damaged property is commercial property that does
not belong to a household member.
Incident Report Screens
WHATHAPPEN
There are several screens in the incident report section that
are used to collect information about property damage
during a reported crime incidentBItems WHATHAPPEN,
HAPPEN, and DAMAGED through PAIDREPAIRS. At the
SUMMARY screen, include details about damaged property
as you summarize the reported incident.
Item WHATHAPPEN is used to determine what actually
happened during the incident and it allows for multiple
answers. Ask the question at Item WHATHAPPEN when
the respondent was present during the incident and
answered "No" when asked if the offender:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-65
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Hit, knocked down, or actually attacked the respondent
in any way (Item ATTACK);
Tried to attack the respondent (Item TRYATTACK); and
Threatened to physically harm the respondent in any
way (Item THREATEN).
Two of the answer categories for Item WHATHAPPEN deal
with damage to property:
Precode (18), Damaged or destroyed property, and
Precode (19), Attempted or threatened to damage or
destroy property.
HAPPEN
Item HAPPEN is also used to determine what actually
happened during the incident and this screen allows you to
enter more than one precode. You will see Item HAPPEN
when only household members, other than the respondent,
were present during the incident.
Item HAPPEN includes two answer categories that deal
with damage to property:
Precode (16), Damaged or destroyed property, and
Precode (17), Attempted or threatened to damage or
destroy property.
DAMAGED
Item DAMAGED determines whether any property owned
by a household member at the time of the incident (other
than stolen property) was damaged during the incident.
Since Item DAMAGED excludes damage done to property
stolen during an incident, make sure to read the lead-in
statement Other than any stolen property, whenever an
incident involves stolen property. If the incident does not
involve stolen property, then the instrument does not display
the lead-in statement. If you entered Precodes (12) through
(36) in Item WHATWASTAKEN, then you should read the
lead-in statement when asking the question Item
DAMAGED.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-66
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
If a respondent appears to be confused, ask the probe
question shown below the question at Item DAMAGED to
give the respondent some examples. The probe reads: "For
example, was (a lock or window broken/clothing
damaged/damage done to a car), or something else?"
Based on the type of incident reported, decide which phrase
within the parentheses is most appropriate to read for the
probe question.
DAMAGEDREPAIRED
ESTCOSTTOREPAIR
REPLACE and
ACTCOSTREPAIR
REPLACE
When you enter Precode (1), "Yes," at Item DAMAGED,
continue with Item DAMAGEDREPAIRED to determine
whether any or all of the items that were damaged during an
incident were either repaired or replaced. A "Yes" answer
(Precode (1), “Yes, all,” or (2), “Yes, part”) is acceptable at
Item DAMAGEDREPAIRED regardless of:
Who repaired or replaced the damaged items or
What the repair or replacement cost may have been,
even if the repair or replacement was done at no charge.
If a respondent tells you that the damaged items were not
repaired or replaced, ask the question at Item
ESTCOSTTOREPAIRREPLACE to determine what it
would cost to repair or replace the damaged items.
If a respondent tells you that all or part of the damaged
items were repaired or replaced, ask the question at Item
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE to determine what it did cost
to repair or replace the damaged items. For Items
ESTCOSTTOREPAIRREPLACE and
ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE, enter the amount in whole
dollars, rounding up or down as necessary. If a respondent
is having difficulty giving you an amount, probe to help
him/her decide on an accurate answer. It is acceptable to
enter the respondent's best estimate when an exact amount
is not readily available or remembered. Only enter Control +
D for "Don't know," when you are unable to even get an
estimated cost after probing. If the household did not incur
any cost to repair or replace the damaged property, then
enter Precode “0” (zero), "No cost."
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-67
Part C, Chapter 3
PAIDREPAIRS
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item PAIDREPAIRS determines who either paid or would
pay the cost to repair or replace any items damaged during
a reported incident. When asking the question at Item
PAIDREPAIRS, make sure to use the appropriate words
based on the answers you received at Items DAMAGED
through ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE. Since the repair or
replacement costs could be paid by more than one person
or organization, Item PAIDREPAIRS allows you to enter
more than one precode. Continue asking "Anyone else?"
until you get a "No" answer.
When recording answers at Item PAIDREPAIRS,
remember the following points:
Precode (1) "Items will not be repaired or replaced":
Only enter Precode (1) when NONE of the damaged
property will be repaired or replaced. However, if money
was paid by insurance or another source to the respondent
for the purpose of repairing or replacing the damaged
property and the respondent decided not to use it for that
purpose, do NOT enter Precode (1). Instead, enter
Precodes (3) through (6), as appropriate. Here are a few
examples:
The victim's insurance paid to repair some furniture that
was damaged during a household theft and the victim
decided to give the damaged furniture away and use the
insurance money for some other purpose. In this
example, enter Precode (4), "Victim's (or household's)
insurance," even though the furniture was not repaired.
The respondent's neighbor gave the respondent money
to replace a lamp that the neighbor broke while arguing
and physically assaulting the respondent during a party
at the respondent's home. The respondent did not use
the money to replace the lamp. In this example, enter
Precode (5), "Offender."
Any time money is given to a respondent for the purpose of
repairing or replacing a damaged item, enter the
appropriate precodes to show who gave the money,
regardless of whether or not the money was used for that
purpose.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-68
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Precode (3), "Landlord or landlord's insurance," and
Precode (4), "Victim's (or household's) insurance":
Any time the cost to repair or replace a damaged item is
paid for by someone other than an insurance company and
that person is later reimbursed by an insurance company,
you would enter Precode (3) and/or Precode (4) depending
on whose insurance reimbursed the person. If the
household member had to pay a deductible and the
insurance company paid the balance, enter Precode (2),
"Household member," AND Precode (4), "Victim's (or
household's) insurance."
Precode (6), "Other":
If the money to repair or replace the damaged property
came from a source not covered in Precodes (1) through
(5), enter Precode (6) and describe the type of person or
organization in the “Specify” space in Item
PAIDREPAIRS_SPEC. Some examples are: a relative,
friend, government agency, church, or community
organization.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-69
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 18. Job/Business at Time of the Incident
Definition
For the NCVS, a job or business at the time of the incident
means that the respondent:
Had a definite arrangement to work for pay or profit on a
part-time or full-time basis at the time of the incident.
Was self-employed in his/her own business/farm or
partnership at the time of the incident.
Was working without pay on a family farm or in a family
business at the time of the incident.
If a respondent meets one of the conditions stated above
and is temporarily absent from work because of an illness,
vacation, bad weather, strike, or temporary layoff, you
would still consider him/her to have a job at the time of the
incident.
Do NOT consider a respondent to have a job at the time of
the incident, if the respondent was:
Doing volunteer work without pay.
Keeping house without pay.
Receiving money from a scholarship.
JOBDURINGINCIDENT
The question at Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT can be either
asked or verified and it asks: "Did you have a job at the
time of the incident?" A "Yes" answer to this question
takes you to Item LOSTOTHERWORKTIME, if the
respondent was not injured. However, if the respondent was
injured and answers “Yes” at Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT,
continue with Screen LOSTWORKTIME. A “No” answer
takes you to Item MAJORACTIVITY.
The employment questions in the screening section of the
instrument ask about the respondent's job or business held
for at least two consecutive weeks in the 6 months before
the interview and Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT asks about
the respondent’s job or business at the time of the incident.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-70
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 19. Major Activity During Week of the Incident
Definition
For the NCVS, major activity during the week of the incident
is intended to identify the one activity at which the
respondent spent the majority of his/her time during the
week that the incident occurred. Whenever a respondent
says at Item JOBDURINGINCIDENT that he/she did not
have a job or business at the time of the incident, you ask
the question at Item MAJORACTIVITY to determine how
the respondent spent most of his/her time during the week
of the incident.
MAJORACTIVITY
When a respondent tells you at Item
JOBDURINGINCIDENT that he/she did not have a job or
business at the time of the incident, continue with the
question at Item MAJORACTIVITY to find out whether the
person was:
Precode (1), Looking for work
Precode (2), Keeping house
Precode (3), Going to school
Precode (4), Unable to work
Precode (5), Retired
Precode (6), Other - Specify
Make sure that you read the entire question, so the
respondent has a better idea of the question's purpose and
only enter ONE precode.
The question at Item MAJORACTIVITY asks:
"What was your major activity the week of the incident
-were you looking for work, keeping house, going to
school, or doing something else?"
Looking for Work
The following activities constitute "Looking for work,"
Precode (1):
Registering at an employment office,
Meeting with prospective employers,
Placing or answering job advertisements, and
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-71
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Investigating the possibility of starting a business or
professional practice.
Keeping House
Precode (2), "Keeping house," is intended for respondents
whose primary responsibility during the week of the incident
involved housework within their own home. "Keeping
house" includes the following activities:
Cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning house,
Caring for their own children, foster children, or children
of relatives, such as brothers, sisters, cousins, and so
forth,
Overseeing the care of their home, even if someone
else actually does the labor, and
Maintaining their yard and house, such as cutting the
grass, painting the house, and caring for vegetable and
flower gardens (other than on a family farm).
Consider a respondent as having a job at the time of the
incident if the respondent is paid to keep house, such as a
maid. If this happens, go back to Item
JOBDURINGINCIDENT and change the “No” answer to a
“Yes” answer.
Going to School
Precode (3), "Going to school," is intended for respondents
who spent the major part of the incident week attending any
kind of public or private school, including a trade or
vocational school. When a respondent was not at school
due to an illness or short vacation, you still enter Precode
(3), "Going to school."
However, a student's summer vacation is treated differently.
If the respondent was on summer vacation when the
incident occurred and he/she was not attending summer
school during that week, enter one of the other categories,
NOT Precode (3), "Going to school."
For example, if the household member was:
Looking for work, enter Precode (1),
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-72
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
OR
"Babysitting brother and sister" or "Doing volunteer work
without pay," enter Precode (6), "Other," and enter the
activity in the "Specify" space in Item
MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC.
Unable to Work
Precode (4), "Unable to work," is intended for respondents
who are unable to do any kind of work either permanently or
for more than 6 months from the time of the incident due to a
long-term physical/mental illness or disability. This category
is NOT intended for respondents who are only ill or disabled
temporarily and will be able to do some type of work within 6
months following the incident. For a temporary illness or
disability that keeps a respondent from working, you may
need to enter Precode (6), "Other," and enter a description
of the major activity in Item MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC.
Retired
Precode (5), "Retired," is intended for respondents who
have discontinued working permanently from their jobs. If a
respondent has retired from one job, but was working at
least part of the incident week, consider the person as
having a job at the time of the incident, go back to Item
JOBDURINGINCIDENT and change the answer to “Yes.”
Other
Enter Precode (6), "Other, specify" when the respondent's
major activity during the incident week does not fit any other
category from Precodes (1) through (5) for Item
MAJORACTIVITY. Whenever you enter Precode (6), you
must enter a written description of the major activity, such
as recuperating from surgery, caring for a sick relative, and
so on in Item MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-73
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 20. Incident Occurred at Work Site
Definition
For the NCVS, a work site is the area in which the
respondent usually conducts his/her day-to-day job-related
tasks for all jobs held by the respondent at the time of the
incident.
INCIDENTHAPPENAT
WORK
If you determine at Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME that the
incident happened while the respondent was working or on
duty, then you ask a series of questions about the
respondent's job and employer. Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK is part of this series of
questions and is asked to find out if the incident happened
at the respondent's work site. You can either verify the
answer or ask the question before entering the appropriate
precode.
Here are some situations in which you must enter Precode
(1), "Yes," at Item INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK:
Example 1:
As a taxi cab driver was driving a customer to the airport, the
customer threatened to stab him with a knife if he did not
turn over his money and watch.
Example 2:
While working at a construction site, a bricklayer was
physically attacked by a coworker.
Example 3:
An insurance agent was sexually assaulted in her office
while working late one evening. However, if this incident had
occurred while meeting with a potential client in a
restaurant, then the incident did not happen at the
respondent's work site; enter Precode (2), "No," at Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK.
Example 4:
A traveling salesperson was physically assaulted by a
potential customer while he was in the customer's home
trying to make a sale.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-74
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Example 5:
An accountant who works out of her unrecognizable home
office reported that her office was broken into, vandalized,
and computer and other electronic equipment were stolen
during the incident. However, if the only items stolen
belonged to the respondent personally and not to the
unrecognizable business, enter Precode (2), "No," at Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-75
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 21. Incidents Involving a Police Officer
Definition
Police officers can be involved in crime incidents as either
victims or offenders. The NCVS is interested in all incidents
involving police officers, regardless of whether the officers
are victims or offenders or on duty or off duty. Due to the
nature of their job, police officers present special issues for
the NCVS.
An assault, a threat of physical harm, or any other type of
NCVS crime in which a police officer has been victimized is
no less of a crime because of his/her line of work. However,
due to a police officer's job, he/she is more likely to report a
greater number of incidents than the average NCVS
respondent.
Even though a police officer in the line of duty sometimes
has the right to use necessary physical force to make an
arrest or to keep the peace, a police officer while either on or
off duty can still be an offender in a crime incident. If a
respondent claims that an offender is a police officer, do
NOT attempt to determine whether the police officer was or
was not acting in the line of duty.
Headquarters staff reviews all incident reports involving
offenders who are police officers and determines whether
each incident:
Should be kept because the police officer acted beyond
the line of duty
OR
POLICEINFORMED
Should be deleted because the police officer acted
within the line of duty.
When completing the incident report questions for an
incident in which a police officer is either the victim or the
offender, do not assume that the police department was
informed and an official report was filed.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-76
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
The question at Item POLICEINFORMED asks:
"Were the police informed or did they find out about
this incident in any way?"
Ask this question of the respondent and, if necessary, probe
by asking whether or not an official report was filed for the
incident. If a report was not filed, enter Precode (2), "No."
The SUMMARY Screen
When a police officer is reported as the offender in an
incident, Headquarters staff rely heavily on the facts that
you enter at the SUMMARY screen. Since this information
helps determine whether or not the incident falls out of
scope for the NCVS, you need to provide as many facts as
possible to answer the following questions:
Was the victim/respondent arrested?
Did the victim/respondent press charges against the
police officer?
Did the police confiscate any property? If so, was the
property returned, kept as evidence, and so forth?
Was the police officer on or off duty?
Did the police officer have a hand gun or billy club? If so,
did the police officer draw or use either the gun or billy
club?
Probe to get a complete description of the police officer's
actions AND the victim's actions during the incident without
offending the respondent.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-77
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 22. Writing Summary Reports
Definition
The Summary Report, which you enter at Item SUMMARY
is intended for you to summarize all of the pertinent facts
involving a reported crime incident. Each summary report
should be written so that anyone reading it can get a clear,
well-defined picture of how the respondent was victimized
during the reported incident.
Include in the summary report any details that you feel are
not evident from the answers in the incident report section of
the interview. This is very important because, before
sending a case for processing, editors often need more
specific details than they can get from other entries in the
NCVS interview. When this happens, they must rely on what
is written in your summary report.
As you write your summary report, be careful not to use
nonspecific or misleading words or phrases that may raise
more questions about the incident, instead of clarifying what
really happened.
For example:
When you ask if the offender threatened the respondent
with harm in any way, the respondent answers "No." Also,
the respondent tells you at Item WHATHAPPEN that her
husband was harassing her and using abusive language.
However, in the summary report, you use the phrase
"verbally threatened her." Be careful that the words and
phrases you use in summary reports help explain the
situation, instead of adding more confusion to the situation.
Key Points to Cover
Use these key words to jog your memory when writing a
summary report--who, what, where, when, and how.
Who - Using the person's line number (L1, L2, etc.) from
the household roster, identify all household members who
were involved in the incident, even if the member was a
noninterview. Include any nonhousehold members who
were involved in the incident. In the summary, identify that
they are nonhousehold members and use specific
descriptions, such as "friend," "neighbor," or "co-worker" to
show their relationship to the respondent. Avoid using
pronouns to describe persons involved in an incident.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-78
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Reminder:
If other current household members who are at least 12
years old were also victims of a personal crime with contact,
you need to complete a separate set of incident report
questions for each of these persons who you are able to
interview.
What - Explain the type of crime and any pertinent details
related to the crime incident--purse stolen & offender
threatened to stab L1 while she was washing her hands.
Where - Explain where the crime took place--in a restaurant
restroom.
When - Explain when the incident took place--At 8:30 p.m.
on December 21.
How - Explain how the crime was executed--offender
yanked purse from L1's shoulder & ran/no injury to
L1/reported to police/property not recovered.
Weapons Used
Item WEAPONPRESENT - Did the offender have a
weapon such as a gun or knife, or something to use as
a weapon, such as a bottle or wrench?
Item WEAPON - What was the weapon?
If a respondent tells you at Items WEAPONPRESENT and
WEAPON that an offender had a weapon other than any
type of gun, rifle, shotgun, or knife, your summary report
needs to explain if and how this object was used as a
weapon. Since guns, rifles, shotguns, and knives are
obviously weapons, it is not necessary to explain if and how
any of these weapons were used as a weapon in the
summary report.
For example:
L1 was arguing with neighbor/neighbor picked up
rock/threw it at L1 & hit L1 in head/L1 treated at hospital
emergency room & got 4 stitches for the cut.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-79
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Thrown objects are only considered weapons if they hit and
seriously injure the respondent. BB guns and tear gas guns
are only considered weapons if they are used as clubs.
The following objects are NEVER considered weapons:
Sex-Related Crimes
Animals
Pellet guns
Chloroform
Mace or pepper spray
Parts of the body
Small empty cans
Tear gas
Water balloons
Since sex-related crimes are rare compared to other types
of crimes, include as many details as the respondent is
willing to provide. This is important so that we can classify
any sex-related crimes into the correct category--rape,
attempted rape, sexual assault, or unwanted sexual
contact.
Avoid using phrases like "made sexually explicit
comments," "unwanted sexual contact," or "unwanted
sexual advances." These phrases do not provide us with
enough information to determine what actually happened.
We need to know what was actually said, what parts of the
body were touched, whether or not force was used, and so
forth.
Even though we want all the pertinent facts, do not probe
beyond the structured probes that are provided for Items
WHATHAPPEN, HOWTRYATTACK, HOWATTACK, and
INJURY. For example, the structured probe question for
Item SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1 is "Do you mean forced
or coerced sexual intercourse including attempts?"
Stolen Property
Item ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER - "Did the
(property/money) the offender tried to take belong to
you personally, to someone else in the household, or to
both you and other household members?"
Item WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY - "Did the stolen
(property/money) belong to you personally, to
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-80
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
someone else in the household, or to both you and
other household members?"
Items ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER and
WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY relate to ownership of
property and/or money that an offender tried to steal or
stole. If property and/or money involved in the incident
belongs to the respondent AND other household members
OR just to other household members, make sure to
specifically identify these persons by their line numbers (L1,
L2, and so forth).
If property and/or money involved in the incident belongs to
nonhousehold members, mention that they are
nonhousehold members, along with a specific description of
their relationship to the respondent, such as co-worker,
friend, cousin, and so forth.
Item PROPERTYVALUE - "What was the value of the
PROPERTY that was taken? Include recovered
property. (Exclude any stolen cash/checks/credit
cards. If jointly owned with a nonhousehold member(s),
include only share owned by household members.)"
When completing Item PROPERTYVALUE, please note:
If stolen property is jointly owned by one or more household
members together with one or more nonhousehold
members, only include the dollar amount for the portion that
was owned by the household members.
When identifying the value of stolen property that was
owned jointly by a household member and a nonhousehold
member, show a separate dollar amount in your summary
report to differentiate between the share owned by the
household member and the share owned by the
nonhousehold member. Do not use names in your summary
report; instead, use line numbers for household members
and relationships to the respondent for nonhousehold
members.
Offender is a Police
Officer
Whenever an offender is a police officer, there are specific
facts that we need to have in your summary report. Include
as many of these facts as you can gather. Be diplomatic and
ask for the following facts in a tactful manner:
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-81
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Get a complete description of both the officer's and the
victim's actions.
Find out if the officer used or attempted to use his/her
gun or billy club.
Determine if the victim signed a complaint and, if so,
include any additional details (for example, victim was
arrested).
Ascertain whether any property was confiscated by the
police. If so, find out what was done with the confiscated
property -- whether it was returned, kept as evidence,
etc.
Commercial
Establishment
If a crime incident occurred at a business or commercial
establishment, include in your summary report as many
facts as possible to provide a complete picture of what took
place. Also, make sure to mention whether the business is
recognizable or unrecognizable.
For example:
L2 was shot in arm during clothing store robbery
(recognizable business)/Off. shot L2 with small handgun as
L2 reached under register to set off burglar alarm/L2 treated
emergency room/Store clothing & displays damaged/store
closed for 2 days/Est. $50k in stolen money, damages & lost
sales to store/Off. arrested.
Although the NCVS is not interested in the theft of property
or cash belonging to a recognizable business, we do want
this information in the summary report when it helps in
describing a situation in which:
Personal property was also stolen from a household
member.
A household member received a face-to-face threat of
physical harm, was attacked, or an attempt was made to
attack the household member.
Series Crimes
Someone illegally entered, broke into, or attempted to
break into the sample housing unit.
When writing a summary report for series of crimes, start by
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-82
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
providing a GENERAL description of the entire series of
incidents. For the last or most recent incident in the
series, provide a DETAILED description of the incident
following the who, what, where, when, and how format.
Things to Avoid
When writing summary reports for crime incidents, avoid:
Using very general or vague statements or any
unnecessary words or phrases. Instead, write the facts
in short, concise sentences.
Using the exact wording from the answer categories in
the instrument.
Using pronouns (she, he, him, her, they, their, and so
forth).
Using abbreviations that most editors would not
understand. Instead, access and use the abbreviations
list in the NCVS instrument by using Shift + F11 or the
F1 Help key at the SUMMARY screen.
Omitting pertinent facts that could help clarify details of
an incident.
Examples of Good
Summary Reports
Here are some examples of good summary reports:
At 10 p.m. on Aug. 4, L1's drunken ex-spouse
(nonhousehold member) was arguing & using abusive
language while in L1's home/ex-spouse refused to leave
& threatened to burn down the house if L1 didn't take
him back/police arrested ex-spouse/no injury to L1/lamp
broken valued @ $40.
At 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, L1 (school teacher) had $10
stolen from desk drawer in classroom while eating lunch
in school cafeteria/police not notified/off. never
caught/$10 not returned.
At 4 p.m. on Feb. 3, L2 (apt. mgr.) was shot in the arm by
angry evicted tenant in L2's office/small hand gun
used/police notified & off. arrested/L2 hospitalized
overnight.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-83
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
At 2 a.m. on Dec. 12, off. attempted to break into L1's
home/no one present/security alarm scared off. & off.
ran away/damage to door & lock valued “ $50/police
notified/off. not found.
At 11 a.m. on May 5, L2's antique shop robbed at
gunpoint by two off./$1,500 taken from shop
register/$50 taken from L2/gold necklace & purse taken
from customer/no injuries or store damage/ police
notified/off. caught & prosecuted.
At 9 p.m. on July 10, off. threatened to rape L2 at
gunpoint/siren from passing police car scared off./L2 got
free & ran to drug store for help/L2 bruised/police
notified/off. never found.
At 5 p.m. on Aug. 4, off. forcibly grabbed L2/kissed L2
against L2's will/ran his hands up & down L2's
buttocks/L2 kneed off. in his groin & got away/no police
report/no injuries to L2.
Examples of Bad Summary
Reports
The following are examples of bad summary reports:
Unwanted sexual contact between off. and L2 with no
injuries.
Sam was threatened by his co-worker in an office
building. There were no injuries.
Rsp. sd she was shot at while walking down the
street/offenders were arrested.
Rsp. was involved in a car jacking/threatened to
shoot/not far from home/police notified.
Was on way to school/music compact discs
stolen/$75/no police.
Garage broken into/HH sleeping at time/bike stolen/ no
police/no injuries.
Lawnmower stolen from premises/hh on vacation.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-84
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Topic 23. Type of Industry and Occupation
Definition
Specific questions in the incident report section of the
instrument, ask about various aspects of a respondent’s job
at the time of the incident. The information collected about
the respondent’s employer, kind of business, and kind of
work done at the time of the incident are used to assign
industry and occupation codes that uniquely identify the
respondent’s job by type of industry and occupation.
The aggregated data from these industry and occupation
items allow users to analyze crime data by different types of
industries and occupations.
Conditions for Asking the
Industry and Occupation
Questions
The only time you ask a respondent the industry and
occupation questions is when the respondent reports that
he/she was working or on duty when the incident
happened/started. In other words, Precode (11), “Working
or on duty,” is entered at Item DOINGATINCIDENTTIME.
Screens Covering the
Industry and Occupation
Questions
The industry and occupation questions are Items
EMPLOYERTYPE through ISCURRENTJOB.
EMPLOYERTYPE
Item EMPLOYERTYPE is used to identify into which “Class
of Worker” type the respondent’s employer fits. The “Class
of Worker” categories include:
Precode (1)
Precode (2)
Precode (3)
Precode (4)
Precode (5)
INCORPORATED
A private company, business, or individual
for wages.
The Federal government.
A State, county, or local government.
Yourself (Self-employed) in your own
business, professional practice, or farm.
A private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or
charitable organization.
Item INCORPORATED is used to determine whether the
business at which the respondent worked at the time of the
incident is incorporated. Only ask this question if you
entered Precode (1), (4), or (5) at Item EMPLOYERTYPE.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-85
Part C, Chapter 3
EMPLOYERNAME
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item EMPLOYERNAME is used to identify the name of the
respondent’s employer at the time of the incident. Since
Census Bureau coders working in the National Processing
Center need this key piece of information to assign the
correct industry code, make sure that you record this
information accurately.
Even though a respondent may be reluctant to provide the
name of his/her employer, make every effort to collect this
information without badgering the respondent. In some
cases, you may succeed by just reassuring a respondent
that the information he/she provides is held strictly
confidential.
TYPEBUSINESS
Item TYPEBUSINESS is used to determine the kind of
business or industry that is transacted by the respondent’s
employer at the time of the incident. This is another key
piece of information needed to assign the correct industry
code for a respondent’s employer.
To ensure that our coders can assign an accurate industry
code, enter a clear and specific description of the
employer’s kind of business or industry:
What is the purpose of the business?
OR
What type of products are produced by this industry?
Structured Probe
If the respondent hesitates in giving you an answer to your
initial question at Item TYPEBUSINESS, also ask the
structured probe question printed below the initial question.
This question may help the respondent to understand what
type of description we want at this screen.
Be Specific
Make sure that you avoid entering descriptions that are too
general, such as:
“It’s a mining company.”
“The business provides a repair service.”
“It’s a computer-related business.”
“It’s a retail store.”
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-86
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Here are some examples of better descriptions:
“Mines & transports coal & coal byproducts.”
“Repairs small home appliances.”
“Designs & sells computer software.”
“Operates two large hardware stores.”
Enter descriptions that are specific, but avoid using
unnecessary words that make the descriptions too long.
Keep your descriptions under 50 characters, since this is
the maximum number of characters allotted for keying this
information. This is true for each industry and occupation
item requiring a write-in entry.
BUSINESSSECTOR
Item BUSINESSSECTOR is used to identify the major type
of industry in which the respondent was working at the time
of the incident. The four options to choose from are:
Manufacturing
Retail trade
Wholesale trade
Something else
Distinguishing between these types of industries is very
important, because type of industry also plays an essential
role in assigning the correct industry code. If this question is
answered incorrectly, the coders will not be able to assign
an accurate industry code for the respondent’s employer.
Precode (1),
Manufacturing
If a respondent’s employer makes and sells its products in
large quantities or lots to other manufacturers, wholesalers,
or retailers, the respondent’s employer is probably a
manufacturing company.
Precode (2), Retail
Trade
If a respondent’s employer sells primarily to individual
consumers or users, but seldom makes products, the
respondent’s employer is probably a retail establishment.
Precode (3),
Wholesale Trade
If a respondent’s employer buys, rather than makes,
products in large quantities or lots for resale to retailers,
industrial users, or to other wholesalers, the respondent’s
employer is probably a wholesale establishment.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-87
Part C, Chapter 3
Precode (4),
Something Else
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If a respondent’s employer does not manufacture or sell
products as a wholesaler or a retailer, then enter Precode
(4), “Something Else.” Examples of some employers that fit
into the “Something Else” category are:
When To Probe
Car repair shops,
Accounting firms,
Medical centers,
Trucking companies, or
Banks.
Some firms are engaged in more than one type of business
or activity. When you encounter this situation, probe to
determine the most appropriate precode to enter at Item
BUSINESSSECTOR.
If you discover that the respondent’s employer conducts
business at more than one location (for example, making
copy machines at one location and making chemicals used
by the copy machines at another location), collect data for
the location at which the respondent works.
If you discover that the respondent’s employer conducts a
variety of activities at the same location (for example, a
gasoline station that also sells groceries), probe to
determine which activity or product the respondent is most
directly involved with in his/her job. For example, if the
respondent primarily sells groceries at the gasoline station,
enter Precode (2). However, if the respondent primarily
works as a mechanic servicing motor vehicles at the
gasoline station, enter Precode (4).
OCCUPATIONDESC
Item OCCUPATIONDESC is used to determine the kind of
work or occupation the respondent had at the time of the
incident. In addition to assigning an industry code for the
respondent’s employer, the coders also assign an
occupation code for the respondent’s job based on:
The kind of work described at Item
OCCUPATIONDESC and
The respondent’s most important activities or duties
described at Item USUALJOBDUTIES.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-88
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Make sure that you enter complete and accurate
descriptions for both of these items, so that the coders can
assign the correct occupation code.
Job Title vs. Kind of
Work
The “kind of work” descriptions that our coders need must
clearly specify the type of work the respondent does on
his/her job, and this is not necessarily the respondent’s job
title. For some occupations, the common descriptions or
general job titles that a respondent provides will not be
sufficient for the coders to assign the correct occupation
code.
Self-Employed
Persons
When a respondent is self-employed, only enter “Manager”
as his/her occupation if the person actually spends most of
the workday managing his/her business. Otherwise, we
want you to enter the kind of work the respondent spends
the majority of his/her time doing, such as plumber, hair
stylist, dentist, house painter, and so forth. In other words,
describe the respondent’s actual trade or craft, when that is
the kind of work that the respondent spends most of his/her
time doing for the business.
Avoid Entering
Department or Work
Place Titles
Avoid entering kind of work entries such as “Works in
shipping department” or “Works in the warehouse.” These
entries do not adequately describe the kind of work done by
the respondent. If the respondent inspects outgoing
products from the shipping department, enter “Inspects
products leaving shipping department.” If the respondent is
a clerk who monitors inventory in a warehouse, enter “Clerk
monitoring warehouse inventory.”
Apprentice vs.
Trainee
There is a difference between someone who is an
apprentice and someone who is a trainee. An apprentice is
under contract during his/her training period, but a trainee is
not. If a respondent tells you that he/she is in an
apprenticeship or trainee program, make sure to enter both
the person’s occupation or kind of work, along with the term
“apprentice” or “trainee.” For example, you may need to
enter “Apprentice plumber” or “Buyer trainee.”
Machinist vs. Machine
Operator vs.
Mechanic
There are major differences in the kind of work done by a
machinist, a machine operator, and a mechanic.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-89
Part C, Chapter 3
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Machinist: skilled craftsman who constructs metal parts,
tools, and machines through the use of blueprints, machine
and hand tools, and precise measuring instruments.
Machine operator: runs a factory machine, such as a drill
press operator.
Mechanic: inspects, services, repairs, or overhauls
machinery.
Secretary vs. “Official
Secretary”
The title secretary applies to someone who does
secretarial work in an office. The title official secretary
applies to someone who is an elected or appointed officer of
a business, union, or other organization.
Probing for Difficult to
Code Occupations
For Item OCCUPATIONDESC, avoid entering a one word
response, because it will usually be too general for our
coders to assign the correct occupation code.
For these situations, refer to the table on the next page. It
provides some difficult to code, one word occupations,
along with a suggested probe for each occupation. These
probes are written to encourage the respondent to provide a
more specific description of the kind of work he/she does on
the job.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-90
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Occupation
Part C, Chapter 3
Suggested Probe
Assembler
What do you assemble? For example, do you assemble automobiles,
electric motors, farm equipment, sheet metal, or something else?
Clerk
What type of clerk are you? For example, do you handle accounting,
billing, filing, shipping, statistical data, sales, or something else?
Engineer
What kind of engineer are you? For example, are you a civil, electrical,
mechanical, nuclear, chemical, train, stationary, building, or some other
type of engineer?
Inspector
What type of things do you inspect? For example, do you inspect
automobiles, restaurants, houses, buildings, meats, or something else?
Manager
What type of manager are you? For example, do you manage a bakery,
garage, hotel, office, property, store, or something else?
Machinist
Do you set up AND operate machines?
Machine operator
How many machines do you operate? Also, what type of machine do
you operate primarily?
Mechanic
What type of mechanic are you? For example, do you service and
repair automobile bodies, engines, appliances, trucks, valves, or
something else?
Nurse
What type of nurse are you? For example, are you registered, licensed,
practical, vocational, a nursing aide, or some other type of nurse?
Researcher
What is your field of research?
Sales Worker
What do you sell? For example, do you sell advertising, cars, houses,
insurance, shoes, tickets, or something else?
Supervisor
Who or what do you supervise? For example, do you supervise clerical
workers, counselors, laborers, field representatives, or someone else?
Teacher
Do you teach at the preschool, elementary, high school, or college
level? Also, which subjects do you teach?
Truck Driver
What type of truck do you operate? What type of cargo do you
transport?
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-91
Part C, Chapter 3
USUALJOBDUTIES
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item USUALJOBDUTIES is used to describe the usual
activities or duties a respondent performs at his/her job.
This is the second key piece of information that our coders
use to assign an occupation code. What you enter at Item
USUALJOBDUTIES is especially useful when a simple job
title does not provide enough information to code the
occupation.
Here are some examples of entries you may need to enter
at Item USUALJOBDUTIES:
Keeping account books
Selling new and used motor vehicles
Laying bricks and stone
Typing and filing letters, reports, memos, etc.
If a respondent tells you that his/her job duties are
classified, do NOT probe. In this situation, enter
“Information is classified.”
JOBMSATYPE
Item JOBMSATYPE is used to find out if the respondent
was working in a city, suburban area, rural area, or a
combination of any of these areas at the time of the incident.
This type of information helps our sponsor, the BJS, in
determining if specific areas are more prone to crime.
When a respondent worked for more than one employer at
the time of the incident, enter the precode for the area in
which he/she worked the greater number of hours. Avoid
entering Precode (4), “Combination of any of these?”,
unless a respondent insists that the area he/she worked
MOST of the time was a combination of city, suburban, and
rural.
INCIDENTHAPPEN
ATWORK
Item INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK is used to determine
whether the incident happened at the respondent’s work
site for any job held by the respondent at the time of the
incident. If you already know the answer to this question,
you can verify the answer without asking this question.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-92
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part C, Chapter 3
Incident Happened at
Work Site
Consider a respondent’s work site to be the place where
his/her USUAL day-to-day activities take place. Some
examples of work sites include: office, hospital, taxi cab,
convenience store, beauty parlor, and so on.
Work Site at Sample
Address
If a respondent works out of an office or workshop in his/her
home and the incident occurred in the office or workshop,
consider the incident as happening at the respondent’s work
site. However, if the incident happened somewhere else in
the house, garage, or property OTHER THAN in the office
or workshop, then the incident did not happen at the
respondent’s work site.
Not at Usual Work Site
Do not consider the incident as happening at a respondent’s
work site if it occurred while the respondent was on the job,
but not at his/her usual work site. Some examples include
attending a meeting in another office building during
working hours or attending a business meeting out of town.
Last Resort Answer
Only enter Precode (3), “Don’t know,” when a respondent
really does not know if the incident happened at his/her
work site.
Explanation Required
Enter Precode (4), “Other,” if a respondent’s answer
requires more than just a “Yes” or “No” answer and then use
the “Specify” space at Item
INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK_SPEC to answer this
question.
WORKDAYNIGHT
Item WORKDAYNIGHT is used to find out if the respondent
worked primarily days, nights, or rotating shifts at the time of
the incident.
ISCURRENTJOB
Item ISCURRENTJOB is used to determine whether the
respondent’s job at the time of the incident is also his/her
current job at the time of the interview.
Reporting Crime Incidents
C3-93
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
Chapter 1
NCVS Case Management
Table of Topics
Topic
Page
1 Getting into Case Management
D1-2
2 Transmissions
D1-14
NCVS Case Management
D1-1
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Getting Into Case Management
Introduction
This document outlines procedures for the NCVS CAPI
Case Management System used by field staff to manage
the NCVS assignments in the field.
Case Management helps you organize and manage your
assignments and is an important part of interview planning.
Case Management provides a list of all sample units in
your assignment, along with additional information such as
respondent names, telephone numbers, scheduled
appointments, etc.
Although some of the sign in screens and the case list
screen will be from the new Mobile Case Management,
once you select a case from the case list screen, the
previous version of Case Management will appear on the
screen.
Logging onto Laptop
The first screen that appears when you turn on the
computer is the swirly multi-color screen used for Mobile
Case Management. It will have the time, and a few other
items. Follow the instructions at the top of the screen.
They are:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete or use the Windows Security button
to unlock.
The Unlock the PC screen appears.
Enter you user name (jBond ID) and password.
The black screen with icons on it appears.
Two CISCO AnyConnect pop-ups may appear. The
Mobility Client pop-up will indicate that VPN is awaiting
user input.
The CAPI-DATA pop-up will display your username
(jBond ID) and a place to enter you Passcode.
Enter you passcode (eight-digit number + RSA token
number)
NCVS Case Management
D1-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
Then click the Mobile Case Management icon
At the gray warning screen, click OK.
This brings you to the Mobile Case Management Case
List screen.
A pop-up may suggest you can transmit. If you have a
good connection, and want to transmit, click the
Yes,Transmit Now button. If not, click the No, I Will
Transmit Later button.
Notice from this Mobile Case Management Case List
Screen, in the top right corner are links to the
Training/Manuals (purple), Support (green), and My Apps
(blue).
Use these links to get to these areas.
Training/Manuals (purple) has two sections
Training includes LCM and LIMA Training
1. NCVS Initial and Refresher Training
Resources includes Manuals, CBTs and the Census
Learning Center (CLC)
2, NCVS Manuals, Self-studies, and CLCs
Support (green) has
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
LCM Log Viewer
Folder link
Bongar Remote Support
Enterprise Password Reset
Enterprise Security (Update Security Questions)
Update User Settings (for TAC only)
NCVS Case Management
D1-3
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
MY Apps has two sections – Apps and Web Apps
1. Apps has
a. FR Survey
b. LIMA Standalone
2. WebApps has
a. WebFred (payroll)
b. Internet Explorer (IE)
c. Outlook Web App (e-mail)
d. CHRIS
To Get back to the Mobile Case Management Home Page
that has the Case List, click on Home on the top left of the
screen.
When you click on an NCVS Case in the Case List in the
Current Cases section on the left side of the window, you
will leave Mobile Case Management, and enter the
previous Case Management (black & white).,
Getting into Case
Management
Menu Bar
General Information
The Menu Bar is at the top of the screen. It is labeled as
follows:
File - selections include:
Edit
View
Actions
Help
In Windows Case Management, there are some
functions that can only be accomplished through use of
menus (that is, there is no Function key assigned for
that function).
All actions that may be performed with a Function or
shortcut key may also be performed through the
menus.
Accessing a Menu
NCVS Case Management
D1-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
To access a menu, position the cursor over the
selection on the menu bar and left click, and a dropdown menu appears.
The selections for the menu appear. Each has Function
or shortcut keys that perform the same action.
To make a selection there are two options:
Use the arrow keys to highlight your selection and
press “ENTER,” OR
Press the key combination.
Tool Bar and
Function Keys
General Information
The tool bar contains icons (or symbols) labeled with
the function key names. The icons remind you of what
the function keys do.
You can also use your mouse or touchpad to click on
these to perform the same function as pressing the
corresponding function key.
F1 - Help
Displays the Help information about the active window.
In Case Management, information about various topics
such as sorting cases, adding cases, outcome codes,
etc. is provided.
F2- Interview
Opens the selected case so you can interview the
respondent.
Displays the control number, eight character case ID,
house number, house number suffix, street name, unit
designation, physical description, place, state, and ZIP
code (ZIP and ZIP + 4).
If you chose the correct case, click “OK” or press
“ENTER.”
NCVS Case Management
D1-5
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you chose the wrong case, click “Cancel” or highlight
“Cancel” using the “TAB” key and press “ENTER.”
F3 - Next Tab
Controls the display at the bottom half of the Case
Management screen by moving you from tab to tab.
F4 - Go Detail / Case List
Activates the Details (bottom) pane. Toggles to Case
List, to let you return to the Case List (top) pane.
F4 was chosen because it is the function key in the
instrument that “jumps.”
Use this function key when you need to edit something
in one of the tabs.
The tool bar toggles between “Go Detail” and “Case
List” depending on which pane is active.
F5 - Reports
Displays the Case Management Report Selection dialog
box, where you choose the report(s) you want.
Select the report you would like to display with either
the mouse or arrow keys. Select “OK” and press
“ENTER.”
F7 - Notes
Displays the Notes field for the selected case. You may
edit your notes.
Multiple pages of notes may be entered. Notes can
handle up to 10,000 characters.
Case Management and the NCVS instrument use the
same application for editing notes. Notes entered in
Case Management are displayed in the survey
NCVS Case Management
D1-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
instrument and case level notes entered in the
instrument can be viewed in Case Management.
The notes application automatically fills in a CAPI
indicator, date, time, and your FR code, so that notes
may be tracked if a case is transferred to another FR.
Enter “F10” to exit the notes application.
Select “Yes” and press “ENTER” to save the note.
F8 - View
Activates the “Display category selection” dialog box, in
which you choose the category of cases you want to
see. This lets you look at a shorter list of cases - only
those which fall into the category you choose - or at a
list of all your cases.
Categories are:
All
Not started
Open
Partial
Interviewed
Type A
Type B
Type C
CATI
Deleted
Missing Data
Observed
Transmitted
Received in HQ
When you select an option, the program lists only the
cases that match that criteria. The display will be just
like the main display, but with a label to identify which
set of cases you selected.
Use F8 again to select a different category.
NCVS Case Management
D1-7
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Use Shift + F8 to return to the main Case Management
screen.
F9 - Sort
Allows you to rearrange the listed cases according to
your criteria.
Select the sort you want by highlighting a category in
the left of the pop-up box and holding down the left
mouse button. You then move the mouse to the right
until an arrow appears on the right of the pop-up box.
Cases will be sorted first by the top category, then the
second category from the top, etc., and lastly by
bottom category
You may select as many columns as you like.
F10 - Exit
Exits/closes Case Management and returns to the
Windows desktop.
F12 – Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
Opens the Person Level Contact History Instrument
also known as pCHI. See Part D, Chapter 2 for more
details.
Other Functions
Windows Case Management uses function keys in
combination with other keys on the keyboard to allow you
to perform other operations. These include:
Shift + F1 - Displays Welcome, the first help topic
Alt + F4 - Closes the active window or exits the
program
NCVS Case Management
D1-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
Shift + F8 - Returns you to the main Case Management
screen from the Display Categories screen
Control + K - Accesses the list of shortcut keys
Control + Home - Moves you to the first case on the list
Control + End - Moves you to the last case on the list
Case List Pane
General Information
The case list pane is in the top half of the screen and
shows the list of cases you still have to complete.
Completed cases do not appear on this list.
The case list pane differs from survey to survey.
Use the vertical scroll bar area on the right hand side of
the case list to move up and down in the case list (click
on the up and down arrows that appear at the bottom
and top of the scroll bar).
Columns
For the NCVS the following columns appear:
Control Number - PSU, segment, sample, serial
number, household number (for 2000 sample design
cases) OR survey code, PSU state and county codes,
frame, sample designation, sequence numbers 1-2,
time of interview code (for 2010 sample design cases).
* (Asterisk) - a case is flagged with an asterisk if there is
something special about it, for example, Reassigned
cases that are , confirmed refusals and Dangerous
Address Database (DAD) Cases. If an asterisk appears
for a case, one or more small icons will appear in the
upper right corner of each tab in the Details pane
Case Address - House number, house number suffix,
street name, unit designation, GQ unit designation,
non-city address, physical description. There is a
space between each field. Address is truncated to fit
the screen. If truncated, a “~” should appear in the last
NCVS Case Management
D1-9
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
space to indicate continuation. (Note: If house number,
house number suffix, and street name are blank, then
the physical description will be displayed.)
Place Name/City - City, town, or designated place
where address is located.
ZIP - ZIP code.
Appointment - This field is filled with an appointment or
the best time to contact a household. If no specific
appointment has been made with a household, this
field is filled with BESTTIME. BESTTIME is the time
range the respondent in the previous interview said
was the best time to reach them. In the first interview
month, this field is blank. Best time values are listed
below:
00 - Special restriction; supervisor sets appointment
01 - 9 am - 12 noon
02 - 11 am - 1 pm
03 - 12 noon - 4 pm
04 - 4 pm - 7 pm
05 - 6 pm - 9 pm
06 - 9 am - 9 pm
07 - 7 pm - 9 pm
08 - 9 am - 4 pm
09 - After 5 pm
P/T - Indicates whether the case is to be completed by
personal interview (P) or by telephone (T).
Status - interview status codes. Status codes include:
O - Case has been opened
P - Partial interview completed
I - Completed interview
A - Type A noninterview
B - Type B noninterview
C - Type C noninterview
X - Bad case, missing data
R - case has been reassigned to another FR
T - Transmitted
TR - Case has been Transmitted and Received by HQ
NCVS Case Management
D1-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
Telephone number – Household’s phone number.
Int # - Number of interview (1-7).
Rte - Allows you to enter the order or route in which you
plan to visit your cases. You can then sort (F9) your
cases so that they are displayed in the order you want
to work that day.
Details Pane
General Information
The details pane is the area in the bottom half of the
screen.
The information displayed in the details pane
corresponds to whichever case is highlighted in the
Case List pane.
The Details pane contains eleven tabs/sections
(Assignment, HH Roster, Additional Information, Notes,
Contacts, Letter Mgmt, History, Contact History,
Returning Contact History, Interview Time
Preference, and Bldg Mgmt). These tabs act as folders
to store information about a particular case. The
selected tab will be displayed with its title bolded.
If you are in a detail pane, the title appears in red.
The F3 key changes the tab that is displayed.
Fields with a white background may be edited. Shift + S
saves any changes you enter.
Assignment Tab
The assignment tab is the main tab and contains
information about the control number, assignment
period, interview number, household respondent name,
home addresses, GPS coordinates, GQ building ID
(where applicable), separate mailing addresses, refusal
information, languages spoken, telephone numbers,
appointments, and more.
HH Roster Tab
NCVS Case Management
D1-11
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
The HH Roster tab displays the household roster - line
number, name, age, birthdate, and sex of all household
members. It also identifies the household respondent.
The roster is updated when you exit a case in the
instrument.
You cannot update the roster in Case Management;
you can only view it.
Additional Information Tab
This tab provides additional information about cases
that are in group quarters.
Notes Tab
Allows you to view the notes for the case.
For more information see Tool Bar Icons / Function
Keys, F7 - Notes.
Contacts Tab
Contains contact information for the case.
Letter Mgmt Tab
Shows a history of letters that have been sent to the
sample address.
History Tab
Contains the history of all previous interviews for the
case.
Contains a record of all the times the case has been
accessed in the current month.
Contact History Tab
NCVS Case Management
D1-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 1
Contains a record of contact history for the household
for the current interview period. (See Part D, Chapter 2
for more information.)
Returning Contact History Tab
Contains a record of contact history for the household
for past interview periods. (See Part D, Chapter 2 for
more information.)
Interview Time Preferences Tab
Displays the interview time preferences of the sample
household, if any have been collected.
Building Mgmt Tab
Displays building management contact information for
multi-unit buildings from the Building Management
Contact (BMC) database. If information from this tab is
needed by FRs, and this tab has no data in obsolete,
FRs can enter new data, or replace obsolete. The
new and changed data is sent to the RO when it is
reviewed. Once a new case or update is Accepted, it
is put on the server for all FRs who have cases in the
building.
NCVS Case Management
D1-13
Part D, Chapter 1
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 2. Transmissions
General Information
You will need to make a transmission every day that
you work. Making transmissions is very simple on your
Field Representative laptop. Before completing a
transmission, you must be connected to the internet and
VPN. Once you have internet and VPN connections,
follow the instructions below
Completing a Transmission
and Accessing MCM
To access MCM you need to be at the desktop screen of
your laptop. There is an icon on your desktop that reads
Mobile Case Management
1. Using the touchscreen, double tap your finger on the
MCM icon on the desktop.
2. Once you select the MCM icon, if there are any
software updates, the MCM Update Manager will
appear and start to update the application. Click
Update. This update shouldn’t take more than a few
minutes.
After all updates are finished, a Warning screen
appears notifying you that all data contained within the
Census Bureau computer system are owned by the
Census Bureau, and that use of this computer without
authorization or for unauthorized purposes is a violation
of federal law.
3.
Click OK to acknowledge the warning. You will then
see the MCM home screen, shown below.
When you are connected to the VPN, a dialog box will
prompt you to transmit each time you enter MCM.
4.
Click the green Yes, Transmit Now button.
If the dialog box does not appear when you enter
MCM, you can initiate the transmission.
5.
Click the green Transmit button.
If you are not connected to the VPN, a pop up message
will appear notifying you that a VPN connection is
NCVS Case Management
D1-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Completing a Transmission
and Accessing MCM (cont.)
Part D, Chapter 1
required to complete a transmission, shown below. Click
OK.
If you lose your VPN connection during the transmission,
an error message will appear. Click OK.
You will need to complete the steps again to establish a
VPN connection and transmit again.
If you are working on DAAL, you will receive a message
once your transmission is complete. Click OK.
If you are not working on DAAL, you can check the log
under the support page. On the upper right ribbon on
your screen is where you will access the support page.
Click on Support.
This is where you will access your LCM Log Viewer.
Click on the LCM log viewer link.
This is where you will see if your transmission was
successful.
NCVS Case Management
D1-15
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
Topic
Table of Topics
Page
1 Overview of the pCHI
D2-2
2 The pCHI and Case Management
D2-4
3 The pCHI and Households Without a
Roster
4 The pCHI and Households With a Roster
5
D2-13
D2-28
How to Code the pCHI in Specific
Situations
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-1
D2-46
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 1. Overview of the Person Level Contact History Instrument
(pCHI)
What are the CHI (Contact
History Instrument) and the
Person Level Contact History
Instrument (pCHI)?
The Contact History Instrument (CHI)
The CHI was developed to capture details of ALL contact
attempts made to a household. This means each time you
ATTEMPT to make contact or MAKE contact with a household
you enter information into the CHI. By completing the questions
asked in the CHI, you provide valuable information for yourself or
other FRs who may need to contact the household, as well as,to
your regional office (RO), headquarters staff, and our survey
sponsors. The CHI data are sent back each month, allowing the
current FR to see how easy or difficult it was to conduct the
interview in previous interview periods.
The Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
The pCHI (pronounced “pee-ki”) has been developed to record
contact history for individual respondents on person-level
surveys like the NCVS, because:
There may be varying degrees of availability and
willingness to be interviewed among different members
of the same sample household; and
Different strategies may be used for each respondent.
The pCHI allows you to record contact information for individual
household members.
Regional office managers use reports generated from the pCHI
data. These reports provide a way for your supervisor to give
feedback on your contact attempts and make suggestions for
future contacts. Headquarters staff, along with the survey
sponsor, analyzes pCHI data to help formulate better strategies
for non-contact and refusal cases.
pCHI Screen Layout
The pCHI screen is formatted into the “Information” or “Info”
Pane and the “Form” Pane, the same as the NCVS instrument.
For the pCHI, the “Info” Pane displays the instructions for what to
enter on that screen as well as the answer list. The “Form” pane
contains the area where the data is entered.
Tabs are displayed at the top left of the screen (see example
below):
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Entering the pCHI instrument
Selected Case Confirmation
Screen
Part D, Chapter 2
“pCHI” tab - contains the main screens to enter the contact
attempt information.
“Roster Information” tab - displays the household roster; can
be used to reference the household roster composition
before entering the main pCHI screens.
If you get into the NCVS instrument during a contact attempt,
pCHI appears automatically.
To access the pCHI from Case Management, highlight the
case and press F12 or click on the Contact History or
Returning Contact History tabs
The “Selected Case Confirmation Screen” dialog box appears
when entering pCHI from Case Management. Make sure you
have chosen the correct case.
If this is the correct case, click OK. If not, click cancel and
choose the correct case from your case list.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-3
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 2. The pCHI and Case Management
Contact History Tab
In Case Management, on the bottom half of your screen under
your Case List, notice the “Contact History” Tab. The Contact
History tab shows all current month contact attempt information
for whatever case you have highlighted in your case list. Note: If
you have not accessed the case or the pCHI, there will be no
information displayed on this tab yet. From left to right, the
columns are:
1. FR Code
2. The “Type” column shows whether the record displayed is for
household level (denoted by “HH”) or respondent level If it
is for the respondent or person level, it shows the line
number (L1, L2, etc.) to which it refers. Respondent or
person level screens will have screen names that start with a
small p (i.e. pCTTYPE)
3. “Contact Date” lists the date the contact was attempted.
4. “P/T” displays a “P” or “T” depending on whether the contact
attempt was a personal visit or a telephone attempt.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-4
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2
5. “Status” shows the status of the contact attempt. The codes
are: “C” - Completed case, “P” - Partial interview, “U” Unable to conduct interview, or “N” – Noncontact or “X” for
Not Attempting Contact.
At the household level, the “Status” column refers to the
case level status. The case level status does not display a
“C” until all eligible NCVS respondents have been completed
or coded as a Type Z noninterview. At the person level, the
“Status” column refers to the status of the respondent after
that contact attempt.
6. “Description” displays the entries made at the noncontact
and noninterview screens.
7. “Strategy” lists the strategies previously used, such as
leaving an advance letter, or checking with a neighbor.
8. “Reluctance” displays the concerns or reluctance expressed
in previous visits. If contact was not made during that visit,
“N/A” for “not applicable” is displayed in the Reluctance
column.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-5
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Returning Contact History
Tab
On the Case Management screen, the “Returning Contact
History” tab includes the same information as the “Contact
History” tab, with an extra column labeled “Int #” for “Interview
Number.” This tab is used for longitudinal surveys like the NCVS.
Use this tab to view pCHI records from the last enumeration.
You may use this contact history information to plan your
assignments. For example, you may determine the best days
and times to make contact and work cases that required extra
effort in previous interview periods early in your current
assignment.
Snowflake
You may see a small snowflake next to some of the columns;
this means that there are multiple entries for that column.
Clicking on the snowflake brings up a dialog box that displays
ALL entries that the FR made for that column, for that particular
date and time. See example below:
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-6
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
CTATEMPT
Part D, Chapter 2
CTATEMPT is the “Contact Attempt” screen. (The screen name
is located in the bottom left corner of the pCHI instrument
window, just as it is in the NCVS instrument.) Choose “Personal
visit” to record the details of a personal visit attempt. Choose
“Telephone (outgoing)” when you attempt a telephone contact.
Choose “Telephone (incoming)” when a respondent contacts you
on the telephone. Choose “Not attempting contact” when you do
not attempt contact or want to exit the pCHI.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-7
Part D, Chapter 2
NOATTEMPT
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NOATTEMPT appears when you select “Not attempting contact”
in CTATEMPT. Enter the code for the appropriate category.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-8
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
SPECNOATTEMPT
Part D, Chapter 2
SPECNOATTEMPT appears when Precode (99), “Other –
specify” is marked in NOATTEMPT. Enter the specific “other”
activity you were doing at this screen.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-9
Part D, Chapter 2
TIMEOFCT
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
TIMEOFCT is the “Time of Contact” item, and appears if you
entered Precode (1), “Contact attempt”, Precode (2),
“Telephone (outgoing)”, or Precode (3), “Telephone
(incoming)” in Item CTATEMPT. This item asks if you are
entering the pCHI at the exact time that the contact attempt
was made. If you are, click “Yes,” or enter “1.” You may also
enter contact information later. This provides you flexibility to
enter the contact attempt information when it is convenient for
you. (For accuracy, entering the pCHI contact information at
the time of the contact is preferred.)
For example, if it is more convenient for you to record several
contact attempts later that night after you have returned
home, you may. Although you are recording your contact
attempt later in the day, the instrument still records the “real”
time of the contact attempt so that pCHI records are accurate.
If you enter “1,” “Yes,” and a roster exists, the instrument goes
to pCASECONTACT; if no roster exists, the instrument goes
to CASECONTACT. If you enter “2,” “No,” the instrument
goes to FR_DATE to allow you to enter the date and time of
the contact attempt manually.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-10
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
FR_DATE
Part D, Chapter 2
FR_DATE appears when you select “2,””No,” at item
TIMEOFCT. Enter the date of the contact attempt in
this item. The contact attempt date is pre-filled. If you
are entering the pCHI on the same day that the
contact attempt was made, press enter. If not, enter
the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. For example, if the
contact attempt is made on November 20, 2017,
enter 11/20/2017.
The instrument then goes to FR_TIME.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-11
Part D, Chapter 2
FR_TIME
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
FR_TIME is the “Time of Contact” screen, where you
enter the time of day that the contact attempt was
made. It appears if an entry was made in FR_DATE.
Enter the time that the contact attempt was made,
not the current time when you are making the entry.
When entering the time of the contact attempt, enter
the hours and minutes of the contact and AM or PM.
Do not use colons when entering the hours and
minutes; the instrument does that for you. For
example, if you made contact at 11:00AM, type
1100A.
If a roster exists, the instrument goes to
pCASECONTACT; if no roster exists, the instrument
goes to CASECONTACT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-12
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2
Topic 3. The pCHI and Households Without a Roster
Household Contact History
When an NCVS household does not yet have a roster, the
CHI questions are about the household and the screens will
not have a small ‘p’ preceding the screen names.
CASECONTACT
CASECONTACT is the pCHI “Contact Status” screen. Notice
the message “No Roster Present – Household CHI.” Since
there is no roster present, regular household CHI questions
are asked. At this item, select whether the attempt is a
contact or noncontact.
All contact attempts will fall into one of three categories:
“Contact with SAMPLE unit member;”
“Contact with NON-SAMPLE unit member”; OR
“Noncontact.”
For pCHI, select “Contact with SAMPLE unit member” for
household members and persons you believe to be household
members. Select “Contact with NON-SAMPLE member” for
non-household members, such as building managers,
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-13
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
babysitters, neighbors, and the like. “Contact with NONSAMPLE member” is considered a noncontact for the pCHI.
If this item is answered with “1 - Contact with SAMPLE unit
member,” the instrument goes to CTTYPE. A response of “2 Contact with NON-SAMPLE unit member” or “3 – Noncontact”
takes the instrument to NCTPER for personal visits or to
NCTTEL for telephone call attempts.
CTTYPE
CTTYPE is the “Contact Type” screen, and appears when
CASECONTACT is answered “1 – Contact with SAMPLE unit
member.”
Notice Precode (1), “Completed case – ready to transmit.”
Since this screen appears for cases that do not have a
household roster, Precode (1) does not apply for the NCVS.
If you have completed an interview with a household
member a roster exists, so the instrument takes a different
path. If you have a case with no roster and it is a Type A, B,
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-14
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2
or C noninterview, select Precode (3), “Unable to conduct
interview,” not Precode (1).
NONINTER
Select Precode (2) – “Partial interview - follow-up required”
only if you have started an interview with a household
respondent, but the interview broke off before the household
roster was completed. (If a household roster was completed
during the interview, the instrument proceeds as discussed
in Topic 3, “The pCHI and Households With a Roster.”) The
instrument continues with NONINTER.
If you spoke with another household member but were not
able to conduct an interview with anyone, select Precode (3),
“Unable to conduct interview,” to record the noninterview
information for that respondent. The instrument goes to
NONINTER.
Item NONINTER appears when CTTYPE is answered with “2 Partial interview - follow-up required,” or “3 - Unable to conduct
interview.” Select the categories that best describe why you were
not able to conduct or complete the interview with the
respondent during THIS contact attempt.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-15
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Select Precode (4), “Language problem - specify,” if there is a
language barrier between you and the sample unit member. The
instrument goes to cLANGUAGE.
Select Precode (99), “Other – specify,” to record a situation not
covered by Precodes (1) – (6). The instrument skips to
CTOTHER.
Precodes (1)-(3), and (5), all continue with RSPNDENT. Precode
(6) is not used in the NCVS.
RSPNDENT
RSPNDENT asks about respondent concerns, behaviors,
and/or reluctance. The purpose of this item is to describe
possible reluctance by the respondent. Even if this contact
attempt results in a completed case, it will be helpful for future
interview attempts with this case to know the household’s
concerns.
This item has check boxes; mark all that apply. You can click
the box or enter the number you would like to select. If you are
entering more than one number, separate them using
commas.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-16
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
RSPNDOTH
Part D, Chapter 2
Item RSPNDOTH appears when “99 - Other – specify” was
selected in RSPNDENT.
Enter the respondent’s “other” concerns that do not fit into
any of the categories in RSPNDENT here. The instrument
goes to STRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-17
Part D, Chapter 2
STRATEGS
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Item STRATEGS asks about “Contact Strategies Attempted.”
It appears for all contact attempts.
Precode (11) – “Offered incentive” is only used in surveys that
offer monetary incentives. Do not select Precode (11),
“Offered incentive,” for the NCVS; currently, the NCVS does
not offer any monetary incentives.
Precode (12) – “CED double placement” is only used in the
Consumer Expenditures survey. Do not mark this precode for
the NCVS.
Precode (98) – “No Strategies” refers to THIS particular
contact attempt, not all previous attempts. Mark this precode if
you did not use any specific technique for this contact
attempt.
STRATEGS is to help you keep track of all of the strategies
you have used to make contact for each contact attempt.
When you exit pCHI, a Case Management pop-up window
appears, telling you that the database has been successfully
updated.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-18
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
STRATOTH
Part D, Chapter 2
STRATOTH appears when Precode (99), “Other – specify”
was marked in STRATEGS. Enter the “other” strategy; the
instrument returns to the Case Management screen.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-19
Part D, Chapter 2
cLANGUAGE
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
In cLANGUAGE, select the categories that describe the
language situation.
Marking Precode (1), “Specify language or dialect,” takes you to
LANGLIST. Otherwise, the instrument goes to RSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-20
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
LANGLIST
Part D, Chapter 2
Item LANGLIST asks you to specify the language or
dialect; it appears if Precode (1), “Specify language or
dialect,” is marked in cLANGUAGE. Enter the
appropriate precode for the respondent’s language or
dialect here. The instrument then goes to RSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-21
Part D, Chapter 2
SPECLANG
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
SPECLANG asks you to specify the language or
dialect; it appears if Precode (99), “Other – specify” is
marked in LANGLIST. Specify the respondent’s
language or dialect here. The instrument goes to
RSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-22
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
CTOTHER
Part D, Chapter 2
CTOTHER appears when you mark Precode (99), “Otherspecify,” in NONINTER. Specify the reason for not completing
or not conducting the interview in this contact attempt. The
instrument then goes to RSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-23
Part D, Chapter 2
NCTPER
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NCTPER is the “Noncontact/Personal Visit” item. This item
appears when Precode (1), “Personal” is marked in item
CTATEMPT and Precode (2), “Contact with NON-SAMPLE
unit member,” or Precode (3), “Noncontact,” is marked in
item CASECONTACT or pCASECONTACT. Select all the
categories that describe why you were not able to make
contact.
For Precode (10) – “Completed case (Type B or C),” select
this category for all Type B and Type C cases.
For most answers to NCTPER the instrument goes to
STRATEGS, except::
Precode (99), “Other – specify” goes to NCTPEROT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-24
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NCTPEROT
Part D, Chapter 2
NCTPEROT appears when NCTPER was answered with
Precode (99), “Other-specify.” This item allows 80 characters.
Enter the details of this personal visit noncontact. The
instrument then proceeds to STRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-25
Part D, Chapter 2
NCTTEL
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NCTTEL is the “Noncontact/Telephone” item, and appears when
you select Precode (2) “Telephone (outgoing)” as the type of
contact attempt made in CTATEMPT and you have selected
Precode (2), “Contact with NON-SAMPLE unit member,” or
Precode (3), “Noncontact,” at item CASECONTACT or
pCASECONTACT. Select all categories that describe why
contact could not be made.
The instrument then proceeds to STRATEGS, unless you enter
Precode (99), “Other - specify.” In that case, the instrument goes
to NCTTELOT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-26
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
NCTTELOT
Part D, Chapter 2
NCTTELOT appears when NCTTEL was answered with
Precode (99), “Other - specify.” Enter the details of this
telephone noncontact. The instrument then proceeds to
STRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-27
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 4. The pCHI and Households With a Roster
Features of the person
section
When a roster exists for the household, the instrument goes
through Items CTATEMPT, TIMEOFCT, FR_DATE, and
FR_TIME. The person section of the pCHI appears next.
This section of the pCHI allows you to enter contact
information for individual respondents within the sample
household.
The pCHI receives roster information from the NCVS
instrument and cycles through each NCVS eligible person.
Update the contact history for each NCVS eligible household
member. When you have updated for each eligible member,
the pCHI sends you back to the Case Management screen.
After you complete a household member’s NCVS interview,
no further entries in pCHI are required for the household
member during that interview period.
Household roster access
You may view the roster and corresponding line numbers for
each household member at any time by clicking the “Roster
Information” tab at the top left of the screen.
Exit the roster by clicking on the “pCHI” tab or entering 1 to
continue.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-28
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pCASECONTACT
Part D, Chapter 2
pCASECONTACT is the pCHI screen that shows the entire
household roster. It shows six columns:
LNO – person’s line number and interview status:
(C) denotes a completed interview – person has
completed their NCVS interview during a previous
contact,
(I) denotes an ineligible person/ non-household
member – persons who are no longer eligible
household members or are not eligible for the
NCVS
If neither (C) nor (I) is displayed, it means that this
line number is eligible for pCHI: they are NCVS
eligible and did not complete their NCVS interview
during a previous contact.
STATUS – person’s status
NAME – person’s name
AGE – person’s age
BIRTHDATE – person’s birthdate
SEX – person’s sex
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-29
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Enter Precode (1), “Made contact with one or more eligible
person(s),” if you made contact with one or more eligible
persons. Select Precode (1) when you made contact with
eligible persons, whether you completed their interview or
only spoke with them. The instrument then goes to
PCONTACTPER.
Enter Precode (2), “Made contact with only non-eligible
persons,” if the only people you made contact with were
ineligible persons on the roster or those whose interview is
already complete.
Enter Precode (3), “Noncontact,” if you were unable to make
a contact.
For Precodes (2) and (3), the instrument goes to NCTPER
for a personal visit contact. It goes to NCTTEL for a
telephone contact.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-30
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
PCONTACTPER
Part D, Chapter 2
PCONTACTPER is the first “person level” question in the
pCHI. This and subsequent items are formatted to show the
NCVS roster. The pCHI collects contact information for each
line number until you have entered information for each
eligible household member.
PCONTACTPER asks about each eligible individual on the
roster, “Did you make contact with (NAME) or a
knowledgeable proxy for (NAME)?”
Enter Precode (1), “Made contact with (NAME),” if you
made contact with the named household member during
this contact attempt. The instrument goes to pCTTYPE.
Enter Precode (2), “Made contact with proxy” if you made
contact with a knowledgeable proxy for the named
household member. The instrument goes to pCTTYPE.
Enter Precode (3), “Noncontact,” if you did not make
contact with the named household member. The
instrument goes to pNOCONTACT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-31
Part D, Chapter 2
pNOCONTACT
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pNOCONTACT appears when Precode (3), “Noncontact,” is
marked in PCONTACTPER. Mark the appropriate
precode(s) to explain the reason(s) for the noncontact.
Precodes (1) – (5) go to pSTRATEGS.
Precode (3), “Person home but avoided contact,” is a
category added to record situations in which the respondent
is at home, but not answering the door.
Precode (99), “Other – specify,” continues to
pNONCONOTH to collect the “other” reason for personal
visit noncontact.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-32
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pNONCONOTH
Part D, Chapter 2
pNONCONOTH appears when Precode (99), “Other –
specify” was marked in pNOCONTACT. Enter the “other”
reason for the noncontact. This item allows for 80 characters.
The instrument proceeds to pSTRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-33
Part D, Chapter 2
pCTTYPE
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If you make contact with a household member or eligible
proxy, pCTTYPE asks whether the contact resulted in a
completed interview, partial interview, or no interview.
Enter Precode (1), “Completed interview,” for a fully
completed interview for the respondent. The instrument goes
to pRSPNDENT.
Enter Precode (2), “Partial interview” for a partial interview for
the respondent. A partial interview occurs when you start an
interview with a respondent or a proxy respondent, but were
unable to complete the interview. Also, select this precode
when you have completed a respondent’s NCVS interview
but were not able to complete their supplement interview
during this contact. (This is necessary so you can document
subsequent contact attempts to complete the supplement
interview.) The instrument goes to pNONINTER.
Enter Precode (3), “Unable to conduct interview,” if no
interview was conducted for that respondent. The instrument
goes to pNONINTER.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-34
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pNONINTER
Part D, Chapter 2
pNONINTER asks the reasons for the noninterview for the
household member.
Notice Precode (5), “Potential Type-Z.” This category was
added in order to record respondents who you believe may
become Type Z noninterviews or have been coded as a
Type Z noninterview in the NCVS instrument.
If you select:
Precode (1), “Inconvenient time,” the instrument goes to
pRSPNDENT.
Precode (2), “Respondent is reluctant,” the instrument
goes to pRSPNDENT.
Precode (3), “Language problem – specify,” the
instrument goes to pLANGUAGE.
Precode (4), “Health problem,” the instrument goes to
pRSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-35
Part D, Chapter 2
pCTOTHER
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Precode (5), “Potential Type Z,” the instrument goes to
pRSPNDENT.
Precode (99), “Other – specify,” the instrument goes to
pCTOTHER.
pCTOTHER appears when Precode (99), “Other – specify” is
selected at pNONINTER. Enter the “other” reason in the
space provided. This field allows for up to 80 characters.
The instrument then goes to pRSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-36
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pLANGUAGE
Part D, Chapter 2
pLANGUAGE appears if Precode (3), “Language problem –
specify” is selected at pNONINTER.
Record the language situation that led to the noninterview
during this contact attempt. Mark the appropriate precode.
Marking Precode (1), “Specify language or dialect,” takes
you to LANGLIST. All other responses go to RSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-37
Part D, Chapter 2
pLangLIST
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pLangLIST appears when Precode (1), “Specify language or
dialect,” is selected in pLANGUAGE. Mark the appropriate
precode for the language or other problem.
For Precodes (11) - (25) and (97) - (98), the instrument goes
to pRSPNDENT. For Precode (99), the instrument goes to
pSPECLANG.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-38
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pSPECLANG
Part D, Chapter 2
pSPECLANG appears when Precode (99), “Other-specify”
was marked in pLangLIST. Specify the language or dialect.
This item allows 80 characters.
The instrument then goes to pRSPNDENT.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-39
Part D, Chapter 2
pRSPNDENT
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
In pRSPNDENT, mark the respondent’s concerns, behaviors,
or reluctance during this contact attempt. Enter all that apply;
separate with commas.
Select the categories in this question in the order the
respondent mentions them. For example, a respondent may
be reluctant to complete the interview because of privacy
concerns, then say they are too busy to complete it. In this
scenario, select Precode (6) “Privacy concerns,” then
Precode (2), “Too busy.”
When selecting multiple categories in pRSPNDENT, you
cannot select Precode (98), “No concerns,” in combination
with any other category. If it is selected with other categories,
error message CONCERNSBEHAVIORRELUCT appears.
After making all selections, if you selected Precode (99),
“Other – specify” the instrument continues with
pRSPNDOTH. Otherwise, the instrument goes to
pSTRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-40
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pRSPNDOTH
Part D, Chapter 2
pRSPNDOTH appears if Precode (99), “Other – specify,”
was marked in pRSPNDENT. Enter the “other” category.
This item allows 80 characters.
After this item, the instrument goes to pSTRATEGS.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-41
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
If the respondent has NO concerns, select
answer category 98.
If there are other concerns, behaviors, or
reluctance during this contact attempt,
then enter all that apply, separate with
commas. Do NOT select answer category
98.
Close
CONCERNSBEHAVIORRELUCT
Goto
CONCERNSBEHAVIORRELUCT is a hard error check
item. It appears if Precode (98), “No concerns,” was
selected in addition to any other precode in pRSPNDENT.
Click on “Goto” to return to pRSPNDENT and correct the
error to dismiss the check item and continue.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-42
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pSTRATEGS
Part D, Chapter 2
pSTRATEGS asks about contact strategies attempted for the
respondent. It appears for all contact attempts. pSTRATEGS
is designed to help you keep track of all the strategies you
have used to make contact for each household member.
Notice Precode (11), “Offered incentive.” This refers to
monetary incentives that some surveys offer. Do not select
this precode for the NCVS. Currently, the NCVS does not
offer any monetary incentives.
Precode (12) – “CED double placement” is only used in the
Consumer Expenditures survey. Do not mark this category
for the NCVS.
Precode (98) – “No Strategies” refers to THIS particular
contact attempt, not all previous attempts. Mark this category
if you did not use any specific technique for this contact
attempt.
When selecting multiple precodes in this item, you cannot
select Precode (98), “No Strategies” in combination with any
other precode. If you do, check item
CONTACTSTRATATTEMPTED appears. Return to
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-43
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
pSTRATEGS and correct your error to dismiss the check
item and continue.
When Precode (99), “Other-specify” is selected, the
instrument continues with pSTRATOTH. Otherwise, it goes
to pCONTACTPER for the next eligible respondent.
pSTRATOTH
pSTRATOTH appears if Precode (99), “Other – specify” was
marked in pSTRATEGS. Enter the “other” strategy. This field
allows 80 characters.
After you complete this item, the instrument goes to
pCONTACTPER for the next eligible respondent so you can
enter their contact information. When you are finished
entering the contact information for each eligible household
member, you exit pCHI.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-44
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Part D, Chapter 2
If NO contact strategies were used, select answer category 98.
If there are other contact strategies attempted during this contact attempt, then enter all
that apply, separate with commas. Do NOT select answer category 98.
Close
Goto
CONTACTSTRATATTEMPTED
CONTACTSTRATATTEMPTED is a hard error check item,
which appears when Precode (98), “No Strategies,” is
selected in addition to any other precode in pSTRATEGS.
Click on “Goto” to return to pSTRATEGS and correct the
error to dismiss the check item and continue.
Remember...
Enter pCHI after EACH contact attempt. This is a great way for
you to keep track of your efforts with each respondent. It’s also
a quick way for you to see what days and times you have
attempted to make contact, so you can come up with
strategies to contact that respondent and get the interview.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-45
Part D, Chapter 2
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Topic 5. How to Code the pCHI in Specific Situations
When the Only Person
Contacted During A Contact
Attempt Has Already
Completed Their Interview
You may encounter situations in which the only person
contacted has already completed their interview.
For example: You are contacting a household to follow up
on a respondent who has not yet completed their
interview. When you call the respondent (Line 2) they are
not at home, but you speak with another respondent (Line
1) who has already completed their NCVS interview. In this
situation, code that you did not make contact with an
eligible household member and code Line 2 as a
noncontact.
At pCASECONTACT, select Precode (2), “Made contact
with only non-eligible persons” to record the fact that you
made contact with someone, but that person was not
eligible as they had already completed their interview.
Code the noncontact with Line 2 and record the applicable
contact information in the remaining pCHI items for Line 2.
When Someone Has Moved
Out of the Household and the
Case is Not a Replacement
Household
When someone has moved out of the household, but other
household members from the last enumeration still live at
the sample address, that person is considered a
nonhousehold member. If this change is discovered while
updating the household roster, the person who has moved
out is ineligible for the NCVS and therefore not eligible in
pCHI. Do not collect contact information for that person.
However, if the change in household membership is
discovered after the roster has been verified, that person is
still displayed as eligible in pCHI because they are on the
household roster in the NCVS instrument. (This can occur
when a college student is away at college, but the
household respondent considers them a household
member because they return home for holidays and
summer vacation. In this situation, document that this
person has moved out of the household in pCHI.)
For this person, code PCONTACTPER as “Noncontact,”
Precode (3). At pNOCONTACT select Precode (5),
“Person moved” to note that the person moved away from
the sample address.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-46
NCVS-550 (CAPI) (8/2017)
Coding a Respondent As a
Type Z Noninterview
Part D, Chapter 2
In pCHI you can mark someone as a potential Type Z
noninterview to show that a person is reluctant OR as an
actual Type Z noninterview once a respondent has been
coded as a Type Z in the NCVS instrument.
To code a respondent as a Type Z or potential Type Z
code that contact was made with the respondent, as the
noncontact path in pCHI does not contain a category for
Type Z noninterviews. To code a Type Z or potential Type
Z enter Precode (1), “Made contact with (NAME)” in Item
PCONTACTPER and select Precode (3), “Unable to
conduct interview” at pCTTYPE. At pNONINTER select
Precode (5), “Potential Type Z” to document the
noninterview or potential noninterview situation. Record
the applicable contact attempt information in the remaining
pCHI screens.
Note that selecting Precode (5), “Potential Type Z” at Item
pNONINTER does not make that respondent a Type Z
noninterview in the NCVS instrument. Selecting Precode
(5), “Potential Type Z” at pNONINTER only documents the
situation, and does not code a respondent as a
noninterview. All Type Z noninterviews must be coded in
the NCVS instrument.
Person Level Contact History Instrument (pCHI)
D2-47
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
NCVS: At a Glance
What is the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?
The National Crime Victimization Survey, NCVS, is a nationwide survey
based upon a sample of households. It is designed to obtain detailed
information about persons victimized by certain types of crimes, such as
theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, assault, robbery, rape/sexual assault,
and purse snatching/pocket picking.
Purpose
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the NCVS to collect data that measures the
types and amount of crimes committed against persons age 12 or older and
their households.
Sponsor
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) sponsors
the NCVS. The BJS sponsors the survey under the authority of Title 34,
United States Code, Section 10132. The U.S. Census Bureau performs the
work under the authority of Title 13, United States Code Section 8. The BJS
analyzes and publishes statistical information collected on crime, its victims
and offenders. To date, it is the largest ongoing statistical survey sponsored
by the BJS. They also provide data about crime to the President, Congress,
other government officials, and the public.
Questions and comments about the NCVS can be sent via E-mail to:
askbjs@usdoj.gov . To obtain the most recent reports from the NCVS
data, you may write or call the following office:
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS)
P. O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
1-800-851-3420 or 1-301-240-6310 (TTY Service for the hearing impaired)
You may also access the NCJRS and the BJS Internet websites at:
www.ncjrs.gov and www.bjs.gov.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
1
USCENSUSBUREAU
Data Uses
The NCVS is the main source of information for measuring crime and its impact.
This survey produces facts that are used in scholarly publications, testimony
before Congress, neighborhood and victim assistance programs, and police patrol
strategies and training.
Length of Interview
We estimate that completing the NCVS will take 25 minutes on average. Your
interview may be somewhat shorter or longer than this depending on your
circumstances. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this
burden, to:
Chief, Victimization and Statistics Branch
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Washington, DC 20531
Participation Requirements
Participation in this survey is voluntary, and there are no penalties for refusing to
answer any questions. However, your cooperation is extremely important to help
ensure the completeness and accuracy of this much needed information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What information comes from this survey?
This survey collects information on the types and amounts of crimes committed,
the characteristics of victims, as well as the characteristics of offenders who have
committed violent crimes. The NCVS also collects detailed crime information,
such as when and where crimes occur, economic loss to the victim, extent of
injuries suffered by the victim, whether the victim knew the offender, whether
the offender used a weapon, whether the police were notified, and whether the
incident was a hate crime.
Why can't you get this information from police records?
Based on information received in previous survey years, we've found that over
half of all crimes go unreported to the police. Since this survey includes crimes
that are both reported and unreported, data users can get a more complete
picture of crime in the United States from this survey.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
2
USCENSUSBUREAU
How many times will I be interviewed?
You will probably be contacted a total of seven times over three years. We hope
that you will not become a victim of crime during that time, but we need to
continue asking the questions to find people who do become victims. Research has
shown that by contacting the same households a number of times, we are able to
obtain the most accurate information.
What kind of results are released from this survey?
Our sponsor, the BJS, releases crime statistics periodically from this survey,
together with reports on specific topics. By law, the BJS and the Census Bureau can
only use your responses for statistical research; they are not permitted to publicly
release your responses in a way that could identify you. BJS publishes statistical
summaries of the data.
(For personal visit interviews) Here is a recent Factsheet (Form NCVS-110) showing
statistical graphs, charts, and figures released from this survey.
(For telephone interviews) I can mail you a copy of a recent Factsheet showing
statistical graphs, charts, and figures from this survey. You can find detailed
results from the survey by visiting the BJS website at www.bjs.gov.
Who uses this information?
This survey’s data users encompass a wide audience of individuals, including
researchers, community groups, government and law enforcement agencies, as
well as, the print and broadcast media. It has also been used by the Supreme Court
in making decisions. The survey provides data to our users in a neutral, unbiased
way, to assist them in making public policy.
Why do you need to interview me and ask all these questions
when I don't have any crimes to report?
Your participation is important whether or not you report a crime. We cannot
accurately capture the percentage of people who experience crime, unless we
collect information from both victims and non-victims. We have studied asking
fewer questions, but our research found that people sometimes don’t think about
a crime until a specific question reminds them about it. We need to ask all people
the same questions to guarantee the quality and accuracy of the data.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
3
USCENSUSBUREAU
Why are you calling me since my phone number is listed on
the “Do Not Call” registry?
The “Do Not Call” registry was initiated for the sole purpose of restricting
telemarketing calls and does not limit a call made for the sole purpose of
conducting a survey. Therefore, telephone calls from the Census Bureau for
survey data collection are NOT restricted by this registry.
Isn’t this survey a waste of taxpayers’ money?
The survey tells us about the amount and nature of crime, as well as crime trends
and crimes not reported to the police. It can help save taxpayer money when new
programs are developed by focusing on the people who are most likely to be
victims of crime, and by making crime prevention and control programs more
effective.
I answer these questions, but crime still occurs. Is the survey
not working?
It may not be possible to eliminate all crime; however, we want to reduce it as
much as possible. The survey is also used to develop and improve programs for
assisting those who have become crime victims.
I thought this was a crime survey? Why are you asking me
these demographic questions?
We collect data to compare characteristics of victims to non-victims. For example,
past data collected for the NCVS shows that renters have a higher victimization
rate than that of homeowners. Statistics like this are included in the NCVS-110
Factsheet.
Why do you keep asking about the same type of crimes in
different questions?
Research has shown that asking about events from different contexts can help
respondents remember things they have experienced. It also provides
respondents with a frame of reference. For example, they may not immediately
think of a crime that occurred away from the home or by someone they knew.
(Refer to NCVS-550, Part A, Chapter 2 for more FAQs.)
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
4
USCENSUSBUREAU
Key Concepts and Definitions
(Designed for your reference only)
Types of Respondents
The Household Respondent is the person who is the most knowledgeable
household member and at least 18 years of age. The Household Respondent is
the first household member to be interviewed in each enumeration. (See NCVS550 Manual at Part C, Chapter 1 for exceptions to the age requirement.)
Individual Respondents are all other household members who are age 12 or
older.
In most cases, a Proxy Respondent is a household member who is allowed to
answer questions for an individual respondent in the same household, the Proxy
Person. The Proxy Person is someone who cannot answer the NCVS by selfresponse for one of the three reasons detailed in the NCVS-550 Manual. In order
for a person to act as a Proxy Respondent for an individual household member,
he/she must first complete his/her own interview by Self Response. (See the
NCVS-550 Manual at Part C, Chapter 1 for the strict rules regarding when to
accept a proxy respondent.)
Reference Person
The Reference Person is used solely for the purpose of establishing the
relationship of people on the roster to the reference person. The Reference
Person is used as the benchmark to determine how the people on the roster are
related. (See NCVS-550 Manual, Part C, Chapter 1 for more information on who
should be coded as the Reference Person.) Although the Household Respondent
can change from enumeration to enumeration, the Reference Person should
remain the same over the course of the seven interviews. The exception to this
rule is when the Reference Person becomes a non-household member.
Reference Period
For first enumeration period interviews, the reference period begins on the first
day of the month, six months prior to the month of interview, and ends the day
before the interview. For subsequent enumeration period interviews, the
previous interview date is used as the starting date for the reference period, and
the ending date will be the day before the current interview. If the last date of
interview is more than six months ago, the reference period begins on the first
day of the month, six months prior to the month of interview.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
5
USCENSUSBUREAU
Series Crimes
To consider several incidents as a series, there must be at least six occurrences,
or incidents, that happened during the current reference period, and the
respondent must be unable to recall separate details for each incident.
Types of NCVS Crimes
The NCVS accounts for crimes that fall under two broad crime categories:
personal crimes and property crimes. Personal crimes are actual or attempted
crimes that involve direct contact between the victim and the offender; they
include rape, sexual, aggravated, and simple assaults, purse snatching, and pocket
picking. Property crimes do not involve personal contact; these include
household burglary (both completed and attempted), theft (such as larceny), and
motor vehicle theft.
The NCVS does not account for crimes such as murder, kidnaping, public
drunkenness, drug abuse, prostitution, and illegal gambling.
Presence of a Household Member During an Incident
For a household member to be considered present during an incident, the
individual must have been at the immediate scene of the crime during the
incident and was in a place that was reachable by the offender so that the
offender could have attacked, threatened to attack, or stolen something directly
from the household member. For example, if the respondent is sleeping in
his/her bedroom and an offender attempts to break into his/her home, the
sleeping respondent is considered present during the incident. Although the
offender did not get into the house, the opportunity to threaten or attack the
sleeping respondent existed at the time of the incident. However, if the
respondent is sleeping in his/her bedroom when an offender stole his/her car
from the driveway, but no attempt was made to gain access to the home, there
was no opportunity to threaten or attack the respondent at the time of the
incident, then the respondent was not present during the incident. (See the
NCVS-550 Manual at Part C, Chapter 3 for determining presence during an
incident.)
Forced Illegal Entry
Forced illegal entry is when someone who has no legal right to be on the
premises uses force to gain entry into a residence.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
6
USCENSUSBUREAU
Rape vs. Sexual Assault
Rape is defined for the purposes of the NCVS as forced sexual intercourse and
includes both psychological and physical coercion. Forced sexual intercourse
includes vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by the offender(s) and can include
incidents where the penetration is from a foreign object, such as a bottle.
Sexual assault includes attacks, or attempted attacks, involving unwanted sexual
contact. Sexual assault may or may not involve force and includes such things as
grabbing, fondling, and/or verbal threats.
Types of NCVS Threats
A threat must meet the following conditions to be acceptable as a threat for the
NCVS:
The threat must be delivered verbally and face-to-face between the
offender and the respondent,
AND
The threat must involve the potential for physical harm to the
respondent.
A threat that is not face-to-face, such as those delivered via telephone, email, text
message, facebook, twitter, blogs, etc., are not included for the NCVS. Third-party
threats and “feeling” threatened, are also not included for the NCVS.
(See the NCVS-550 Manual, Part C, Chapter 2 for more information on threats.)
Household Property Ownership
Household Property is defined as property owned by the sample household and
belonging to the respondent or a household member at the time of the interview.
However, property that belongs to a recognizable business should not be
considered owned by the sample household for the purposes of this survey.
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
7
USCENSUSBUREAU
Borrowed vs. Loaned Property
Borrowed property is property that does not belong to the household member,
but is in their possession for a specified time period. Borrowed property that is
stolen from a household member is not included in the NCVS, because the
household member does not own the stolen property.
Loaned or entrusted property is property that the household member has given
permission for someone to borrow. If household members loan their property to
someone and the borrower does not return the property, this is not considered
an NCVS crime. However, if the loaned household property was stolen while in
the possession of the borrower, this is considered an NCVS crime.
Theft From Businesses: Recognizable vs. Unrecognizable
A Recognizable Business is one that is observable from the outside of the unit
by means of a sign or similar indicator. Business advertisements appearing only
in the newspaper, phone book, or on transitory vehicles are not considered
observable indicators. Thefts that occur to recognizable businesses are not
included in the NCVS.
An Unrecognizable Business is one where there are no signs or outside
indicators. Thefts of property belonging to unrecognizable businesses are
included in the NCVS.
Vandalism
Vandalism is defined as the deliberate or intentional damage to, or destruction
of, household property. Since vandalism alone is not considered an NCVS crime,
you do not need to complete a crime incident report. However, if an NCVS crime
was committed together with an act of vandalism, then you must complete an
NCVS-2, Crime Incident Report.
Weapons Recognized by NCVS
For the NCVS, most guns and knives are considered weapons. However, BB guns
and tear gas guns are only considered weapons when offenders use them as clubs
to attack or threaten to attack respondents. Before any other type of blunt or
sharp object can be considered a weapon, the offender must have used, or
threatened to use, the object to inflict physical harm upon a respondent.
(Use this job aid as a quick reference while interviewing. For detailed NCVS concept
definitions and procedures, refer to Part C of your NCVS-550 Manual.)
Form NCVS-550.1
(1/2018)
8
USCENSUSBUREAU
NCVS-570
(January 2017)
NCVS
National Crime Victimization Survey
Regional Office Manual
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL CRIME
VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
Chapter 2
ACTIVITES OF THE SURVEY CYCLE
Chapter 3
TRAINING AND OBSERVATIONS
Chapter 4
SURVEY MATERIALS
Chapter 5
ASSIGNMENT OPERATIONS
Chapter 6
MONITORING PROGRESS
Chapter 7
END OF THE SURVEY CYCLE
Chapter 8
REINTERVIEW
Chapter 9
NONINTERVIEWS
Chapter 10
SECURITY
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization
Survey
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey....... 1-1
Topic 1: Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey ............................................ 1-3
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 1-3
Purpose of the NCVS ........................................................................................................... 1-3
Legal Basis for the Survey ................................................................................................... 1-3
Confidentiality ..................................................................................................................... 1-4
Privacy Act of 1974 ............................................................................................................. 1-4
Sponsorship .......................................................................................................................... 1-5
Uses of the Survey Data....................................................................................................... 1-5
Users of the Survey Data ..................................................................................................... 1-5
Survey Sample Design ......................................................................................................... 1-5
NCVS Sample Population and Size ..................................................................................... 1-6
Primary Sampling Units....................................................................................................... 1-6
Tabulations........................................................................................................................... 1-6
Topic 2: Regional Office Organization.................................................................................... 1-7
Regional Director ................................................................................................................. 1-7
Assistant Regional Director ................................................................................................. 1-7
Coordinator .......................................................................................................................... 1-7
Survey Statistician Office .................................................................................................... 1-8
Survey Statistician Field ...................................................................................................... 1-9
Field Supervisor ................................................................................................................... 1-9
Field Representative........................................................................................................... 1-10
Regional Office Computer Specialist ................................................................................ 1-10
Office Clerk........................................................................................................................ 1-11
RO Organization Chart ...................................................................................................... 1-11
Topic 3: Overview of Major Operations in the Regional Office ........................................... 1-12
Training .............................................................................................................................. 1-12
Assignment Operations ...................................................................................................... 1-12
Interviewing ....................................................................................................................... 1-13
1-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Observations....................................................................................................................... 1-13
Reinterview ........................................................................................................................ 1-14
Closeout ............................................................................................................................. 1-14
Budget and Cost Review.................................................................................................... 1-14
1-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Topic 1: Overview of the National Crime Victimization Survey
Overview
This chapter introduces the integrated data collection
system for the National Crime Victimization Survey
(NCVS).
Field Representatives (FRs) conduct interviews in
person or by telephone and collect NCVS data using a
laptop computer.
FRs are assigned to a regional office and work out of
their homes.
Purpose of the
NCVS
The National Crime Victimization Survey obtains
detailed information about the extent to which persons
have been victims of certain types of crime. The survey
focuses on selected crimes that are of major concern to
the general public.
Since this survey asks about all such victimizations, it
reflects crimes that are reported to the police as well as
those that are not reported.
The NCVS is the only current source of detailed
information on the characteristics of both the victim and
the crime.
Legal Basis for the
Survey
All data for the NCVS are collected under the authority
of Title 42, United States Code, Section 3732.
1-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Confidentiality
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
All information collected as part of this survey is held in
strictest confidence under Title 13 of the United States
Code and is seen only by sworn employees or agents of
the U.S. Census Bureau. Any information from the
survey that is disclosed or released to others will be
handled in such a manner that individuals cannot be
identified. Unauthorized disclosure of individual
information by a sworn Census Bureau employee is
punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment
of up to five years, or both.
The confidentiality statement on the NCVS
questionnaire reads:
“We are conducting this survey under the authority of
Title 13, United States Code, Section 8. Section 9 of this
law requires us to keep all information about you and
your household strictly confidential. We may use this
information only for statistical purposes. Also, Title 42,
Section 3732, United States Code, authorizes the Bureau
of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice, to collect
information using this survey. Title 42, Sections 3789g
and 3735 United States Code, also requires us to keep
all information about you and your household strictly
confidential.”
Privacy Act of 1974
The provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 require that
Federal Agencies provide individuals with the following
information when collecting personal information:
1. Authority: Title 13, USC 182
2. Compliance: Voluntary
3. Penalty for Not Participating: None
1-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Sponsorship
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the United
States Department of Justice sponsors the NCVS. The
Census Bureau acts as the collecting agency for the
NCVS. The BJS tabulates the information, analyzes the
data, and publishes the findings.
Uses of the Survey
Data
The information obtained by the NCVS is used to
improve the effectiveness of the law enforcement,
judicial, and correctional agencies throughout the
country by providing a more complete and up-to-date
picture of the extent of crime in the United States.
Users of the Survey
Data
In addition to the Department of Justice, the BJS
routinely distributes statistical information from the
NCVS to state and regional planners, colleges and
universities, commercial and industrial groups, citizen
groups, professional associations, and Federal, state,
city, and local police, courts, correctional agencies, and
legislative bodies.
Survey Sample
Design
The NCVS collects data from approximately 17,000 to
18,000 sample units monthly. The samples are identified
by the letter “J” and a two-digit number. Each sample
consists of 6 rotations.
Sample units in a particular sample rotation will be
interviewed once every 6 months. Each rotation is
further divided into 6 panels or months. Thus, one-sixth
of the rotation will be interviewed each month during a
6-month period.
1-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
NCVS Sample
Population and Size
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Any noninstitutionalized person who is 12 years of age
or older and lives in the United States is eligible for the
NCVS. Every 6 months, approximately 100,000
housing units and other living quarters, such as college
dormitories and religious group dwellings, are sampled.
This means that 100,000 households every 6 months, or
17,000 sample households every month are interviewed
seven times every 6 months for 3½ years.
Persons not included within the scope of this survey
include:
• Crew members of merchant vessels
• Armed Forces personnel living in military
barracks
• Institutionalized persons, such as inmates in a
correctional facility
Primary Sampling
Units
The households to be interviewed for the NCVS are
selected by scientific sampling methods from specific
sampling areas across the United States. We refer to
these sampling areas as Primary Sampling Units (PSUs).
Tabulations
The findings from the NCVS are tabulated, and the data
are published by the BJS at the U.S. Department of
Justice. Copies of the publications are made available to
the regional offices for distribution to other interested
persons.
1-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Topic 2: Regional Office Organization
Regional Director
The Regional Director (RD) oversees the operation of
all surveys in the region and is responsible for
designating Survey Statisticians Office (SSOs), Survey
Statisticians Field (SSFs), as well as a staff of Field
Supervisors (FSs), Field Representatives (FRs) and
clerks to carry out the program.
Assistant Regional
Director
The RO has two Assistant Regional Directors (ARDs)
who report to the RD. Each ARD has a separate set of
responsibilities as determined by the RD.
Coordinator
The RO has four Coordinators who report to an
Assistant Regional Director. Two Coordinators are
responsible for Data Collection. These two Coordinators
manage field operations and supervise all SSFs.
A third Coordinator is responsible for Program
Management and Analysis and supervises all SSOs.
The remaining Coordinator is responsible for support
functions which include:
•
•
•
•
•
Administration
Automation
Recruiting
Geography
Partnership
Each Coordinator may rotate through each Coordinator
position to gain experience and depth of understanding
of all operational tasks.
1-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Survey Statistician
Office
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
The SSO position is located in the RO. SSOs report to
the Program Management and Analysis Coordinator.
SSOs are primarily responsible for managing survey
workloads, progress, and performance on the surveys
assigned to them.
SSO duties include:
• Serving as the primary contact between the RO
and Census Headquarters (HQ) for their assigned
survey(s),
• Supervising support staff and associated
activities,
• Making initial program assignments for the field
staff,
• Ensuring that staff levels are adequate and
adjustments are made as needed based on
consultations with the SSFs,
• Working closely with Census HQ to implement
new survey procedures and new technology,
• Analyzing data results and survey paradata,
• Ensuring the most accurate data are collected
within the survey budget,
• Assisting SSFs in identifying patterns, trends, or
inconsistencies that might need attention.
1-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Survey Statistician
Field
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
The SSFs also work in the RO and report to a Data
Collection Coordinator. SSF duties include:
• Managing a staff of several FSs,
• Assuming responsibility for a specific
geographical area,
• Being trained on all surveys conducted out of the
RO,
• Using automated reports to manage all aspects of
data collection for all surveys, including
monitoring quality indicators, response rates, and
costs,
• Working as needed with the RO to support FR
recruitment and training.
Field Supervisor
Field Supervisors (FS) report to an SSF. FS duties
include:
• Overseeing a specific geographic area with
responsibility for approximately 10-12 FRs,
regardless of survey assignments,
• Managing surveys to meet response, quality and
schedule standards,
• Developing, coaching, and motivating their FRs
to complete casework within production, cost, and
quality standards,
• Approving payroll (including overtime, work
hours, miles, and other costs for team members),
conducting performance evaluations, and taking
corrective action as needed,
• Providing assignment feedback to the SSF.
1-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Field
Representative
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Field Representatives (FRs) report to the FS and are
responsible for completing their assignments on a
laptop.
The assignments must be completed by the survey
deadline and FRs must achieve the performance
standards within the specified range for the survey. The
FRs must be proficient in the operation of the laptop and
the telecommunication procedures.
In the case of an emergency situation in which an FR
cannot contact the FS, the FR should contact the SSO
directly.
Regional Office
Computer
Specialist
The Regional Office Computer Specialist (ROCS) is
responsible for providing technical support to the RO
and field staff on the operation of the laptop hardware.
The ROCS duties include:
•
•
•
•
•
Maintaining an inventory of equipment,
Loading the appropriate software,
Configuring and testing the laptops,
Preparing and testing modems,
Providing laptop technical support to the FRs
once they are in the field.
1-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Office Clerk
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Office clerks assist the SSO with office activities. Their
duties include:
• Preparing advance letters,
• Preparing FR assignments, respondent letters, and
observation and reinterview reports,
• Maintaining survey supplies,
• Assisting in the preparation of initial and
refresher training materials,
• Assisting the SSO with meeting survey deadlines.
RO Organization
Chart
Figure 1-1 below shows an illustration of the RO
organization chart.
FIGUREFIGURE 1-1
1-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Topic 3: Overview of Major Operations in the Regional Office
Training
The survey supervisor trains field representatives and
office clerks.
Initial training consists of a self-study—completed prior
to classroom training—four days of classroom training,
and on-the-job training which occurs while the FR
works the first two assignments.
Additional training consists of periodic home study
exercises and group classroom training sessions, as
needed.
Training also involves teaching clerks the office
procedures. This consists of on-the-job training for
various office activities, including use of the ROSCO
application. ROSCO is discussed in detail in Chapter 4
of this manual.
Additionally, clerks are required to complete all selfstudies and classroom trainings given to field
representatives.
Assignment
Operations
Prior to, or during FR training, assignment operations
take place in the RO. Assignment operations include
entering and updating FR data, preparing respondent
letters, assigning cases, and releasing assignments to the
field.
Assignment operations are discussed in detail in Chapter
5 of this manual.
1-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Interviewing
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
NCVS interviewing consists of gaining each sample
household’s cooperation and then asking survey
questions of all household members age 12 or older.
As a last resort, knowledgeable household members
who meet the proxy requirements may serve as proxy
respondents for other household members.
The FR will conduct personal visit (PV) interviews for
Time-in-Sample (TIS) 1 cases, and maximize telephone
interviews for TIS 2-7 cases.
An FR should complete a personal visit interview for
TIS 2-7 cases only if necessary to get the interview.
Observations
The main objective of the observation is to help the FR
improve his or her interviewing skills. While there is no
specific number of interviews to observe, the NCVS
Supervisor must ensure that the observation provides
enough varying situations to accurately evaluate the
FR’s performance.
Each month, the NCVS Field Supervisor must review
the performance of any new FRs. Other FRs can be
observed, as necessary.
1-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reinterview
Chapter 1: Introduction to the National Crime Victimization Survey
Reinterview is the systematic review of an FR or FS’
work to determine the quality of coverage and to detect
possible falsification.
Telephone contact center staff conduct reinterview by
telephone. Cases that cannot be reached by phone are
recycled to the ROs. These recycle cases are then
assigned to Field Supervisors or office staff to complete.
Reinterview is usually completed within two weeks of
the original interview. The program supervisor is
responsible for ensuring reinterview is completed in a
timely fashion.
During reinterview, the contact center, FS, or other
office staff member re-contacts a previously interviewed
sample household and asks the same survey questions
asked by the original interviewer. Results from the
reinterview are then compared to the original interview
and discrepancies are noted and discussed with FRs.
Cases of suspected falsification are reported on
electronic form 11-163, Automated Data Falsification
Follow up and Quality Assurance form.
Closeout
Closeout is performed on the last business day of every
month. Review your NCVS activities calendar for the
exact monthly closeout dates.
Budget and Cost
Review
At the conclusion of every month and quarter, cost
reports are reviewed and analyzed to ensure that the
costs of field and office operations are within the budget
allocations. The regional office reports budget
variances every quarter.
1-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle................................................................. 2-1
Topic 1: Using the NCVS Activities Calendar ........................................................................ 2-3
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 2-3
Monthly Milestones.............................................................................................................. 2-3
Loading the Interview Period................................................................................................2-3
Releasing NCVS Assignments..............................................................................................2-4
Creating the CATI and Reinterview Workload Files ..............................................................2-4
NCVS Interviewing .............................................................................................................2-4
CATI Closeout ....................................................................................................................2-4
FR Closeout ........................................................................................................................2-4
RO Closeout........................................................................................................................2-4
Topic 2: Assignment Preparations ........................................................................................... 2-5
Advance Preparations for Each Month ................................................................................ 2-5
Read the Monthly Office Memorandum .................................................................................2-5
Prepare for Monthly Observations .........................................................................................2-5
Add New FRs to the ROSCO Database..................................................................................2-6
Prepare Respondent Letters.................................................................................................. 2-6
Printing Letter Labels ...........................................................................................................2-6
The Mail Flag ......................................................................................................................2-7
Mail Respondent Letters .......................................................................................................2-7
Set Assignment Parameters .................................................................................................. 2-7
PSU....................................................................................................................................2-7
Place ..................................................................................................................................2-7
Zip Code.............................................................................................................................2-7
Apply Assignment Parameters............................................................................................. 2-8
Print Workload Summary Reports ....................................................................................... 2-8
Print the FR List of Assigned Cases Report......................................................................... 2-8
Topic 3: Assignment Transmission ......................................................................................... 2-9
Release Assignments to Field .............................................................................................. 2-9
Transmit FR Assignments.................................................................................................... 2-9
2-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 4: Daily Interview Period Monitoring ......................................................................... 2-10
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 2-10
Monitoring Progress........................................................................................................... 2-10
Check In Completed Work ................................................................................................ 2-11
Supervisory Review ........................................................................................................... 2-11
Cases Not Checked In Report (CAPI 4) ............................................................................ 2-11
Reinterview ........................................................................................................................ 2-12
QC Reinterview ................................................................................................................. 2-12
Supplemental QC Reinterview ............................................................................................ 2-12
Topic 5: End of the Survey Cycle Operations ....................................................................... 2-13
End-of-Month Operations .................................................................................................. 2-13
Closing Out the Interview Period ...................................................................................... 2-13
Closeout Time .................................................................................................................... 2-14
Review/Charge Type A Noninterview Cases .................................................................... 2-14
Review Converted Type A Noninterview Cases ............................................................... 2-14
Print End-of Month Reports............................................................................................... 2-14
Preliminary Response Rates Report................................................................................... 2-15
Cleaning Up Laptops ......................................................................................................... 2-15
Topic 6: Regional Office/HQ Communication ...................................................................... 2-17
HQ Liaisons ....................................................................................................................... 2-17
Monthly Bulletin ................................................................................................................ 2-17
Operations (OPS) Logs ...................................................................................................... 2-18
Cost and Response Management Report Network (CARMN) Reports............................. 2-18
Technical Assistance Center Support ................................................................................ 2-18
HQ Postal Mailing Address ............................................................................................... 2-18
HQ Email Information ....................................................................................................... 2-19
2-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 1: Using the NCVS Bulletin and Calendar
Overview
Every month, HQ distributes a bulletin highlighting the
NCVS activities for the upcoming month, including
information about any supplemental interviews, as well
as any staffing changes or other news relevant to the
survey.
In addition to the monthly highlights, the NCVS RO
Bulletin also contains the monthly calendar detailing all
of the NCVS activities for the month. The calendar
appears at the end of the bulletin, and the tasks listed on
the calendar are color-coded by responsibility,
depending on whether the task is an HQ or RO task. RO
tasks include FS and FR activities.
The NCVS bulletin is posted on the SharePoint Intranet
Website each month, and, for quick reference, the
master NCVS calendar is also posted on the site as a
separate document.
Monthly Milestones
Loading the Interview
Period
While all activities on the calendar are important to the
success of NCVS, some are major milestones in the
monthly NCVS cycle. These milestones include the
activities in the sections that follow.
At the beginning of the month, TMO will load the
ROSCO database with the cases for the next month.
Once ROSCO has been loaded with the cases, the RO
can begin to make FR assignments.
2-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Releasing NCVS
Assignments
Creating the CATI and
Reinterview Workload
Files
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
During the last week of the month, the RO staff release
the FR assignments for the next month.
ADSD at HQ loads the reinterview workload files at the
end of each month, with cases to be completed by the
telephone center in the upcoming month.
Any cases that cannot be completed by telephone are
recycled to the RO and must be completed by an FS or
other office staff person.
NCVS Interviewing
Interviewing for NCVS begins on the first day of the
month and ends on the last weekday of the month.
CATI Closeout
Computer assisted telephone interviewing ends for the
month.
FR Closeout
Interviewing stops for the month and FRs make a final
transmission.
RO Closeout
RO closeout is scheduled at 12:00 noon local time on
the last weekday of the interview month.
On the day following RO closeout, HQ staff prepares
and sends out a report with the preliminary final
response rate and closeout date and time. These are
provided for the nation as a whole as well by region.
2-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 2: Assignment Preparations
Advance
Preparations for
Each Month
Each month, there are a variety of activities to complete
before NCVS interviewing week begins. These
activities are explained below.
Those steps requiring ROSCO are mentioned in this
topic for consistency; however, for detailed steps on
using ROSCO, see Chapter 5, Assignment Operations.
Read the Monthly Office
Memorandum
Prepare for Monthly
Observations
Before beginning the monthly preparation of materials,
read the NCVS Monthly Memorandum for that month.
It may contain special instructions which must be
applied for that particular month. This memo, along
with any attachments, are posted on the SharePoint site
each month.
Plan which FRs and FSs will need to be observed during
the month, as well as who will conduct the observations.
Prepare observation materials for those new FRs who
will be observed, and send the materials to the
observers. Also, notify the FRs about their upcoming
observation.
See Chapter 3 for more details about the materials that
are used for observation preparation and
implementation.
2-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Add New FRs to the
ROSCO Database
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
You will need to add any newly-hired-and-trained FRs
to the ROSCO databases (including updating the
assignment parameters) before you can make
assignments. You will also need to assign these FRs to
an RO Team.
Once the database for the next interview period has been
loaded, you can apply your assignment parameters and
adjust the assignments.
Once the workload has been divided among the FRs to
your satisfaction, you may complete the steps to assign
start and due dates and to release the assignments to the
field.
Prepare
Respondent Letters
Before an FR visits a sample household, a letter is sent
to the household to prepare them for the impending visit
and to explain the NCVS survey.
Respondent letters will be stuffed into envelopes at NPC
in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and sent in bulk to the RO.
The RO must then print respondent labels and attach
them to the envelopes before sealing and mailing them
out.
Printing Letter Labels
To print respondent labels in ROSCO, follow the steps
below:
From the ROSCO menu, select Operations ➔Sample
Control ➔Print Respondent Labels ➔Interview 1.
Select the correct Label Type from the drop-down list
and print the labels.
2-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
The Mail Flag
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
The mail flag is set on new sample cases by an
algorithm that determines if the available addresses are
suitable for mail.
To view or reset a mail flag, bring up the case in
View/Edit sample. The top line on the Address
Information tab displays the mail flag radio buttons:
1 = Sample address
2 = Mailing address
3 = No good address
A mailing label will not print if the mail flag is set to 3.
Mail Respondent Letters
The RO mails the respondent letter as appropriate. Mail
the letters to units that have deliverable mailing
addresses.
Do not send letters to units in rural areas unless the RFD
route number, box number, town, state, and ZIP codes
are known.
Set Assignment
Parameters
You will set assignment parameters to program how
NCVS cases in your RO are assigned. The main
parameter choices are PSU, Place, and ZIP Code.
PSU
If the workload in a PSU is the size of one assignment,
assign the entire PSU to one FR.
Place
If the workload in a PSU is more than one assignment,
assign the PSU workload to FRs by place or groups of
places.
ZIP Code
If the workload in a place is too large for an individual
FR, assign the place workload to FRs by ZIP Code.
2-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Apply Assignment
Parameters
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Once you are able to make assignments for the next
interview period, apply assignment parameters and
adjust the assignments.
See Chapter 5 for more details on setting and applying
assignment parameters.
Print Workload
Summary Reports
The Workload Summary Report lists the distribution
and number of cases assigned to each FR. Review this
report to ensure that workloads are geographically
efficient and properly balanced among the FRs. As
required, cases can be adjusted by switching them from
one FR to another.
Print the Workload Summary Report again after making
adjustments, and continue to do so until you are satisfied
with the workload balance.
Print the FR List of
Assigned Cases Report
Print the FR List of Assigned Cases Report (CAPI 35)
for each FR after making assignments, and make this
report available, as appropriate, for RO control and field
supervisors (SSFs, FSs, etc.). Use the CAPI 35 when
adjusting assignments.
DO NOT SEND CAPI 35s TO FRs. This report is for
supervisors only. FRs get their list of sample addresses
in case management on their laptop once they pick up
their assignments.
2-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 3: Assignment Transmission
Release
Assignments to
Field
After adjusting the FR assignments, release the
assignments to the field.
In ROSCO, select the Release Assignments to Field
option on the Assignment Operations sub-menu of the
Operations menu.
Once assignments are released to the field, they no
longer display in Assignment Operations. You can view
the released cases in View/Reassign Cases.
Changes to assignments must be made through the
View/Reassign Cases activity under the Sample Control
Operations sub-menu.
You cannot release assignments until ALL assigned
cases are correct. Once assignments are released to the
field by all six ROs, a process in the central database
creates and sends the files for reinterview to the contact
center(s).
Transmit FR
Assignments
After releasing FR assignments, make a transmission to
the server at HQ for FRs to pick up the released
assignments.
FRs will not be able to pick up cases until a daily
transmission is performed.
View the OUT Directory to monitor the FRs picking up
assignments.
For detailed steps on using ROSCO to release and
transmit assignments, see Chapter 5, Assignment
Operations.
2-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 4: Daily Interview Period Monitoring
Overview
This topic provides an overview of the daily activities
performed by the RO staff during the NCVS
interviewing period. During this time, your primary
duties are to monitor the progress of your FRs and to
check in completed work.
Monitoring
Progress
FRs are expected to transmit completed work and hours
and miles (WEBFRED) data to HQ every night during
the interviewing period. Each morning, the RO staff
prints and reviews the Check-In Reports. These reports
include:
• Daily Receipt Report (CAPI-1)
• Team Leader Status Report
• Daily Laptop Report
• Cases Not Checked In Report
• Current Cost and Progress Report from HQ
More details about these reports are discussed in
Chapter 6, Monitoring Progress.
Use the Check-In Reports option to monitor the progress
and cost of your interviewing staff so they will complete
NCVS interviewing on time, within budget, and with an
acceptable response rate.
2-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Check In
Completed Work
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Every morning, check the IN Directory to verify that
check-ins were successful.
Most supervisors can also manually run a check-in in
ROSCO at any time.
You will also need to process cases in Supervisory
Review and review paperwork and mail messages
submitted to the RO from the FRs and FSs.
Supervisory Review
Cases in Supervisory Review are not checked in by
ROSCO (i.e., are not counted towards your number of
completed cases). Instead, these cases are held for a
supervisor to review and decide whether they should be
accepted, reassigned, or eliminated. Cases that come
into Supervisory Review include:
• Noninterviews—These include all Type A, B, and
C cases.
• Duplicate Cases
• Extra Units
• Failed Cases
Typically, the FS or SSF will clear up Supervisory
Review daily. For more information about using the
Supervisory Review activity, see Chapter 6, Monitoring
Progress.
Cases Not Checked
In Report (CAPI 4)
The FS will print the Cases Not Checked In Report
(CAPI 4) near the end of the month. As the interview
period comes to a close, this report allows a supervisor
to monitor the uncompleted work of individual FRs.
This report is sorted by FR code, control number, and
interview period for each FR.
2-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reinterview
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
The monthly reinterview file is created after regular
assignments are released. The two types of reinterview
are discussed in the following sections.
QC Reinterview
Most of the reinterview cases are in Quality Control
(QC) reinterview. Every month, QC cases are selected
for a different set of FRs. Each FR will be selected for
QC reinterview two or three times in the 15-month QC
selection cycle.
Supplemental QC
Reinterview
Supplemental QC reinterview provides RO staff the
opportunity to select additional cases for QC
reinterview. If an FR is selected by his/her RO to be in
reinterview before assignments are released, DSMD
selects the supplemental QC cases. After interviewing
begins, an FR can still be placed in supplemental
reinterview, but the RO staff must select the
supplemental reinterview cases.
2-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 5: End of the Survey Cycle Operations
End-of-Month
Operations
RO staff completes several end-of-month activities
before printing out the final monthly survey reports.
Details about the end of survey operations are covered
in Chapter 7, End of the Survey Cycle Operations. In
this topic, they are described briefly.
End-of-month operations include:
• Closing Out the Survey on Time,
• Reviewing/Charging Type As,
• Reviewing Converted Type As,
• Printing End of Month Reports,
• Running Laptop Cleanup.
RO staff also prepare for the upcoming interview period
by:
• Reviewing Reassigned Cases,
• Assessing Temporary Reassignments,
• Editing Assignment Parameters.
Closing Out the
Interview Period
Use the two Resolve Missing Cases screens when
closing out the interview period.
• Cases Not Checked In and Not in Supervisory
Review: This screen displays cases that have not
been transmitted in.
• Cases Not Checked In But In Supervisory
Review: This screen displays cases that are in
Supervisory Review. You must go to the regular
Supervisory Review screens to resolve these
cases.
2-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Closing Out the
Interview Period
(continued)
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
The other two screens display cases that are already
checked in. When all cases are checked in, the close out
“Hand” is activated.
Clicking the “Hand” creates a closeout file for the RO.
Closeout Time
The time the closeout file is created is the time entered
on the Preliminary Response Rate Report issued from
Headquarters on the day after closeout.
This is the time that determines whether you closed out
on time.
Review/Charge
Type A
Noninterview Cases
The Review/Charge Type A screen permits you to
charge the Type A to a different FR code or change the
outcome code to a different Type A. This task may
have been completed while accepting the Type A case in
Supervisory Review.
Review Converted
Type A
Noninterview Cases
The Review Converted Type As screen permits you to
review Type A cases that were reassigned to different
FRs in Supervisory Review and then were converted to
different (non-Type A) outcome codes.
Even though the cases were converted to different
outcome codes, the screen allows you to charge the
Type As to any FR including A01, as appropriate.
Print End-ofMonth Reports
Print the following end of month reports:
• Converted Cases by FR
• CAPI 7, Final Status Report by FR, Team Leader,
or SSF
• CAPI 8, Final Outcome Code by FR, RO or
SSF/FS
• CAPI 6, Type A and Z Report
• Type Cs and Extras
2-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Preliminary
Response Rates
Report
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
The Preliminary Response Rates Report is issued the
day after NCVS RO Closeout. The report consists of
three tables:
• Basic NCVS Rates, which displays the basic
NCVS numbers and rates
• National Production Management Report,
which is often missing from the original
Preliminary Response Rates Report, until the data
from CARMN is available
• NCVS Response Rates for the Last Twelve
Months, by SSFA, which displays the final
response rates for the SSF area and the national
averages for the previous twelve months.
Cleaning Up
Laptops
The RO should send a clean up file(s) to FRs to remove
cases and/or instrument from a laptop for a particular
interview or period. Once the FRs pick up the clean up
file(s), those files remove the cases and/or instrument
from the laptop for the interview period.
Send the clean-up files to all FRs’ laptops for an
interview period. First, make sure you are in the
interview period in ROSCO that you want to remove
from the laptops, and then follow the steps below:
1. Select the Operations menu ➔ Closeout/CleanUp ➔ Clean-Up Laptop.
2. You will see the following warning: ‘ROSCO
message – Laptop clean up will delete all cases
for this interview period from the FR’s laptop for
all FRs and all RO teams. If you continued,
please check with the other teams to be sure that
they are ready for cleanup to occur on the laptop.
Do you want to continue?’
Click “Yes” on the confirmation message box if
you would like to continue.
2-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Cleaning Up
Laptops
(continued)
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
3. A message box appears which states, “Request
to start job for Laptop Clean-Up successfully
submitted. This may take a few minutes.”
4. Click OK.
Note: No pop-up window will appear to let you know
when this operation has finished. Allow a few minutes
for this process to run.
2-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Topic 6: Regional Office/HQ Communication
HQ Liaisons
RO staff can call or send survey-related questions via
electronic mail to HQ liaisons in the Field Labor and
Crime Surveys (LCSB) at:
fld.labor.and.crime.surveys@census.gov
HQ liaisons answer routine questions directly, and
obtain answers for more detailed questions from the
Associate Director for Demographic Programs (ADDP)
or Demographic Statistical Methods Division (DSMD)
staff.
Monthly Bulletin
Every month the NCVS RO and FR Bulletin are posted
on the NCVS Sharepoint site.
The NCVS RO Bulletin includes routine instructions as
well as specific directions for any special activities for
the month. This bulletin includes a detailed activities
calendar.
• The NCVS FR Bulletin includes:
o Monthly highlights and an activities
schedule
o Monthly information and details about the
monthly supplement
o Updated staff and other news
Other survey memoranda are posted when needed.
2-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
Operations (OPS)
Logs
Periodically, LCSB HQ staff will e-mail a NCVS
Operations (Ops) Log with survey-related information.
These logs are cumulative, and normally contain
reminders and/or notices regarding issues requiring
clarification or immediate attention.
Cost and Response
Management
Report Network
(CARMN) Reports
Cost and Response Management Network (CARMN)
provides field expenditures, costs per case, and survey
performance data at the FR, RO, Project, and
Administrative levels. CARMN integrates data from
four existing data systems—CAPI, NFC, WEBFRED
and ROSCO—to provide timely information on a daily
basis. CARMN is available on the Census intranet.
Technical
Assistance Center
(TAC) Support
Submit a ticket in the Remedy Action Request System
to send technical ROSCO or laptop questions to the
Technical Assistance Center (TAC) staff. If you call
TAC support staff directly, TAC will complete and
submit a ticket for your call.
HQ Postal Mailing
Address
U.S. Postal Service Address:
Census Bureau
Field Division
Room 5H130
Washington, DC 20233-5700
Express Delivery Address:
Census Bureau
Field Division
4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 5H130
Suitland, MD 20746-5700
2-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
HQ Email
Information
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
fld.labor.and.crime.surveys@census.gov
➾ Email share account used by the HQ NCVS liaison
staff.
fld.ro.ncvs@census.gov
➾ Email list that includes the RO NCVS accounts
for all six ROs.
fld.all.regional.offices@census.gov
➾ Email list that includes the RO NCVS account for
all six ROs, as well as several HQ share accounts.
2-19
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 2: Activities of the Survey Cycle
This page intentionally left blank
2-20
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Chapter 3: Training and Observations ..................................................................... 3-1
Topic 1: Overview ................................................................................................................... 3-3
Training Program ................................................................................................................. 3-3
Topic 2: Training NCVS Staff ................................................................................................. 3-4
Supervisors........................................................................................................................... 3-4
Clerks ................................................................................................................................... 3-4
FRs ....................................................................................................................................... 3-5
Laptop and RSA Token........................................................................................................ 3-6
Pre-Classroom Self-Study.................................................................................................... 3-6
Classroom Training.............................................................................................................. 3-6
Topic 3: Evaluating FR Performance....................................................................................... 3-8
Employee Development ....................................................................................................... 3-8
FR Survey Folder ................................................................................................................. 3-9
Factors to Consider When Measuring FR Performance ...................................................... 3-9
Reinterview .......................................................................................................................... 3-9
Monitoring FR Performance .............................................................................................. 3-10
Supervisory Adjustments ................................................................................................... 3-10
Unsatisfactory Performance ............................................................................................... 3-11
Where to Find Information About the Performance Appraisal System............................. 3-11
Topic 4: Evaluating Clerical Performance............................................................................. 3-12
Criteria Used ...................................................................................................................... 3-12
Topic 5: Purpose and Types of Observations ........................................................................ 3-13
Purpose of Observations .................................................................................................... 3-13
Initial Observations (N–1, N–2) ........................................................................................ 3-13
Special Needs Observation ................................................................................................ 3-13
General Performance Review (GPR) Observation ............................................................ 3-14
Topic 6: Observation Materials............................................................................................. 3-15
11-62, OJT and Observation Self-Study ............................................................................ 3-15
11-62A, OJT and Observation Report ............................................................................... 3-15
11-130A, Observation Guarantee List ............................................................................... 3-15
3-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Reporting Observed Cases ................................................................................................. 3-15
Topic 7: Preparing the Observation ...................................................................................... 3-16
Observation Briefing.......................................................................................................... 3-16
Home Observation ............................................................................................................. 3-16
Materials the Observer should have for the Observation................................................... 3-16
Preparation of Form 11-62A, On-the-Job Training and Observation Report .................... 3-17
Notifying the FR ................................................................................................................ 3-17
Topic 8: Selecting the FRs for Observation.......................................................................... 3-18
General ............................................................................................................................... 3-18
Initial Observations ............................................................................................................ 3-18
N–1, Initial Observation..................................................................................................... 3-18
N–2, Initial Observation..................................................................................................... 3-18
General Performance Review (GPR) Observations........................................................... 3-19
Single-Survey FRs .............................................................................................................. 3-19
Multi-Survey FRs ............................................................................................................... 3-19
Additional Guidelines ......................................................................................................... 3-20
Special Needs Observations............................................................................................... 3-20
Special Needs (SN) Observations Fulfills GPR Requirements ......................................... 3-21
Schedule FRs for GPR Observation Once Each Fiscal Year ............................................. 3-21
Topic 9: Conducting the Observation ................................................................................... 3-22
General ............................................................................................................................... 3-22
Number of Observed Interviews ........................................................................................ 3-22
Length of Initial Observations ........................................................................................... 3-22
Conducting Special Needs Observations ........................................................................... 3-23
Low Production .................................................................................................................. 3-23
Low Response Rate ............................................................................................................ 3-23
Feedback............................................................................................................................ 3-23
Topic 10: Evaluating the Observations ................................................................................. 3-24
General ............................................................................................................................... 3-24
Review of Observation Report........................................................................................... 3-24
Recording Observation Results.......................................................................................... 3-25
Disposition of Observation Results ................................................................................... 3-25
Providing Feedback to the FR............................................................................................ 3-25
3-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 1: Overview
Training Program
The NCVS training program encompasses a variety of
methods, including self-studies, Census Learning
Center(CLC) videos, classroom training, and on-the-job
training (OJT).
New FRs receive training on generic survey concepts
and procedures, as well as survey-specific topics via
self-studies and classroom training.
The NCVS observation program provides a uniform
method for assessing the FR’s attitude toward the job
and for evaluating his/her capability to apply NCVS
concepts and procedures during actual work situations.
The observation provides, within an on-the-job
environment, the opportunity to teach the FR
interviewing skills, as well as certain important concepts
that may not be covered in the self-study or classroom
training.
Observation may also reveal certain bits of information
about respondents in a particular area, as well as the
geographic conditions where the FR works.
3-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 2: Training NCVS Staff
Supervisors
All NCVS Supervisors must be proficient in the subject
matter of the survey, as well as all CAPI aspects of the
survey. To ensure this, the NCVS Supervisors must
complete the entire initial FR training, including selfstudy assignments and classroom training, prior to
administering the training to others. Further, they must
also review all office operations and procedures.
The NCVS Supervisors also must be knowledgeable
about the following:
• Office operations as outlined in this manual,
• GENCAPI-256, Generic CAPI Operations
Manual,
• Laptop and Modem Troubleshooting,
• BC-20, Training the Trainer Guide.
Clerks
The NCVS clerk is expected to help meet tight deadlines
and has a wide variety of duties, including:
• Preparing correspondence,
• Using ROSCO,
• Preparing assignments,
• Monitoring the flow of completed work into HQ.
The clerk must also be able to provide survey concept
support to FRs in the field, using the FR Manual as a
guide. Additionally, the clerk must be able to provide
technical support to FRs and be familiar with the
Remedy software package to send technical problem
referrals to HQ.
3-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Clerks (continued)
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
The clerk must complete all initial NCVS self-study
materials and attend the classroom training session. In
addition, the clerk must be trained on laptop and modem
troubleshooting.
The program supervisor must orient new clerks to the
RO’s organization and procedures and provide
computer-based training in such areas as: email
applications, spreadsheet and word processing
applications, and ROSCO, including a complete
overview of NCVS survey control operations.
The SSO guides and leads the work of NCVS clerks and
provides feedback on their job performance.
FRs
The FR staff consists of new hires, FRs with other
survey experience, and FRs with NCVS experience.
FRs who have not worked on a monthly or quarterly
Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)
survey in the past 12 months receive the same OJT
observation as newly hired FRs.
New hires and experienced FRs who have not worked
on NCVS must complete self-studies at home prior to
attending an initial NCVS training. After the training,
they must be observed by an RO supervisor or FS before
they can continue working on their assignments. Any
FR who is having difficulty with concepts and/or laptop
problems should receive OJT to help them correct any
work-related deficiencies.
FRs assigned to NCVS may be used on other current
and one-time surveys at the discretion of the Regional
Director.
3-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Laptop and RSA
Token
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
A government-issued laptop computer is necessary to
complete the pre-classroom self-study. Make
arrangements with the Regional Office Computer
Specialist (ROCS) to obtain the laptops needed for new
hires and FRs without CAPI experience.
FRs will receive their laptops from NPC. Every FR who
gets a laptop will also need an RSA token that enables
them to log on to the laptop in a secure way. The RSA
token should be obtained from the RO staff in charge or
their distribution.
The ROCS sends the laptops to the new hires in advance
of the other training materials. A laptop self-study is
also available to all new hires and FRs without CAPI
experience. This is part of the Generic Initial Training.
Pre-Classroom SelfStudy
All field and office staff working on NCVS who do not
have NCVS experience must complete the NCVS Preclassroom Self-Study. They will be paid up to the
number of hours authorized as indicated in the
‘Instructions for Completing the Self-Study’ section.
Send the self-studies to the appropriate field staff early
enough so they will have adequate time to complete
them prior to attending the classroom training.
Classroom Training
All FRs and FSs who do not have NCVS experience
must attend an NCVS classroom training session.
Attendees with CAPI experience do not need to attend
the first day of training.
Only persons authorized to train may do so. In addition
to the SSO, trainers can include an RO Coordinator,
another RO supervisor, or an experienced FS.
Each RO will have an NCVS training guide to train new
field staff. This guide will list all the materials needed
for training. The trainer should review this guide and be
knowledgeable about the topics within prior to the
training session.
3-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Classroom Training
(continued)
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Contact the Labor and Crime Surveys Branch (LCSB) at
HQ to discuss any other training questions or other
arrangements.
3-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 3: Evaluating FR Performance
Employee
Development
The SSO is responsible for ensuring that all employees
are being developed to their fullest potential. Employee
development can best be ensured by providing
constructive feedback on a continuous basis.
FSs will provide the majority of feedback to those FRs
whom they directly supervise.
The SSFs are responsible for monitoring the progress of
all FS teams in their area. Therefore, SSFs directly
supervise FSs and are the second line of supervision for
the FRs.
While the SSO generally does not work directly with the
FRs or the FSs, they are responsible for ensuring the
field staff is performing according to survey standards.
The SSO primarily accomplishes this by monitoring
various reports such as Unified Tracking System (UTS)
and ROSCO reports, as well as other performance
reports sent by email from HQ. The SSO will intervene
when the reports indicate the work is delayed or not up
to the quality standards of the survey.
By acknowledging strong points and highlighting areas
for improvement, supervisory staff can monitor FR
progress and take appropriate steps to improve areas of
deficient performance.
The work requirements for the FRs must be mutually
understood by the employee and the supervisor at the
time of recruitment. Additional information is provided
to the employee through training, observations,
memoranda, and supervisory instruction.
3-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
FR Survey Folder
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Prepare an FR performance folder for each NCVS FR
and FS. This folder should contain the following
materials and reports:
• Emails containing information pertinent to
performance.
• Summary of FR Performance for the current and
previous fiscal year, as well as the
weekly/quarterly current year.
• NCVS Observation Reports for the current and
previous fiscal years. (If the FR was not observed
in the last two years, keep the latest observation
report.)
Factors to Consider
When Measuring
FR Performance
The FS is primarily responsible for evaluating the
performance of FRs. The FR performance is measured
through a review and assessment of the following
factors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Response rates and production rates
Work and payroll transmittal rates
Reinterview and observation results
Timely submission of payrolls
Attendance at required training sessions
Meeting deadlines
Reporting to their supervisors, as appropriate
Detailed information about observations is provided
later in this chapter.
Reinterview
Quality Control (QC) Reinterview (RI) is a significant
part of FR quality control. QC RI prevents and
identifies instances of data falsification and also
identifies when FRs might not understand correct survey
procedures.
3-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Reinterview
(continued)
Chapter 8 in this manual provides a detailed description
of QC RI guidelines.
Monitoring FR
Performance
When monitoring FR performance, the following factors
should be considered:
•
•
•
•
•
Response rates
Production goals
Availability for assignments
Reinterview and observation results
Daily transmissions of work and accurate payrolls
Field Division Headquarters provides guidelines to the
ROs for developing performance standards for FR
response and production rates.
The RO must notify all field staff of job performance
standards and all appropriate supervisors must ensure
that these standards are being met.
Supervisory
Adjustments
When determining the quality of FR performance,
consider extenuating circumstances such as:
• Unusual weather conditions such as floods,
hurricanes, or blizzards,
• Extreme distances between sample units, large
assignments that cover multiple PSUs, or a large
number of inherited or confirmed refusals,
• Whether the FR is working part of another FR’s
assignment,
• An inordinate number of temporarily absent
cases,
• A high percentage of Type B/C noninterviews
that decrease the base FR response rate,
• Laptop or transmission problems that delayed
interviewing or transmission/receipt of completed
work,
3-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supervisory
Adjustments
(continued)
Unsatisfactory
Performance
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
• Other substantive abnormalities in normal
assignment conditions.
When the performance of an employee is at the
unacceptable level over any predetermined period
(usually 90 days), the employee may be placed in a trial
period from 30 to 90 days.
Refer to RO guidelines concerning placing an employee
on a Performance Opportunity Period (POP) or a
Performance Improvement Period (PIP).
Where to Find
Information About
the Performance
Appraisal System
Information on the Performance Appraisal System is in
Chapter 11, 'The Performance Appraisal System,' of the
Field Administrative Manual (FAM).
Refer to Chapter 11 of the FAM for information on the
appraisal system, Form CD-516, Classification and
Performance Management Record, instructions on
completing progress review and annual ratings, and
performance awards.
3-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 4: Evaluating Clerical Performance
Criteria Used
A clerk's performance should be evaluated using the
following criteria:
• Knowledge of survey concepts,
• Accuracy in preparatory work such as training
and observation,
• Meeting time schedules, such as sending FR
assignments and preparing reports for Census
HQ,
• Willingness to accept work assignments,
• Ability to conduct telephone follow-up,
• Adherence to office policy regarding work hours,
• Degree of cooperation, tact, consideration and
effectiveness in working with field and office
staff,
• Knowledge of computer operations—such as
ROSCO and laptop functions—in order to
perform everyday operations and solve computer
problems.
Provide clerks feedback on their performance on a
continuous basis and be sure to highlight any
accomplishments and discuss deficiencies.
3-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 5: Purpose and Types of Observations
Purpose of
Observations
Observations are critical to developing capable FRs who
can perform quality work. The main purposes of
observation are to:
• Evaluate the performance of the FR,
• Provide on-the-job training (OJT),
• Motivate FRs to become more efficient and
effective employee,
• Gain better insight into the FRs' working
conditions (e.g. geographic area, type of people
encountered, etc.),
• Build rapport between the FS and the FR.
Initial Observations
(N–1, N–2)
Initial observations are an extension of the classroom
training and provide on-the-job training for FRs new to
NCVS. Even experienced FRs need to be observed
when they work on NCVS for the first time.
The timing for each of these observations is:
• N–1, During 1st Interviewing Assignment
• N–2, During 2nd Interviewing Assignment
Special Needs
Observation
The Special Needs Observation is conducted when an
FR’s performance indicates a possible need for
additional training on any phase of the job. Examples of
phases where additional training may be required
include refusal conversion techniques, problems
meeting deadlines, care of the laptop equipment, listing
procedures, and telephone interviewing.
3-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Special Needs
Observation
(continued)
The results of the special needs observation may dictate
that the FR must be observed during his/her next
assignment by the NCVS supervisor or program
coordinator.
General
Performance
Review (GPR)
Observation
The purpose of the General Performance Review (GPR),
or ‘systematic’ observation, is to reinforce good
interviewing practices and to correct any incorrect
procedures the FR may have developed over time.
3-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 6: Observation Materials
11-62, OJT and
Observation SelfStudy
Form 11-62, On-the-Job Training and Observation SelfStudy, provides general instructions for conducting
Initial and Special Needs Observations. Review this
guide prior to conducting observations.
11-62A, OJT and
Observation Report
In addition to the 11-62, the 11-62A, On-the-Job
Training and Observation Report, is the form the
observer should use to evaluate and comment on the
performance of the FR being observed.
11-130A,
Observation
Guarantee List
Form 11-130A, Observation Guarantee List, is used at
the RO’s discretion to keep track of which FRs were
observed, the dates they were observed during the year,
and to help schedule observations for the fiscal year.
Reporting
Observed Cases
In order to flag observed cases to make them ineligible
for reinterview, perform the following steps in Case
Management on the FR’s laptop before the FR
transmits the observed cases:
Click on the [F8-View] icon
Select ‘All’
Highlight the observed case(s)
Click on the Actions menu, and select ‘Mark as
Observed’
Note: An error message is displayed if the cases have
already been transmitted, and you will not be able to
mark the case(s) as observed to prevent them from
falling into the reinterview sample.
3-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 7: Preparing the Observation
Observation
Briefing
For Initial and Special Needs Observations, the NCVS
supervisor should brief the observer on any apparent
problems, particularly if the supervisor noticed during
training that the FR was having difficulty using the
laptop or performing transmissions. For Special Needs
Observations, the supervisor should note the problem or
problems which warranted the Special Needs
Observation. Observer briefings may be in writing, by
telephone, through email messages, or in person.
Home Observation
It is permissible to conduct the transmission part of the
N–1 and other observations in the FR’s home. This
allows use of the telephone lines and other equipment
under actual work conditions. Observers should notify
FRs of this during the advance observation contact.
Note: If a home observation is unacceptable to the FR,
then other arrangements should be made to use a
mutually agreeable site.
Materials the
Observer should
have for the
Observation
Provide the observer with the following materials:
• 11-62, On-the-Job Training and Observation SelfStudy
• 11-62A, On-the-Job Training and Observation
Report
• FR Notification of Observation (copy of mail
message to FR)
• Summary of FR Performance Reports, CARMN
Reports, etc.
• Previous Observation Reports (Form 11-62A)
3-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Materials the
Observer should
have for the
Observation
(continued)
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
• Copy of FR’s current CAPI-35, FR Assignment
List (so observer can prepare for the observation
and make notes about observed cases) (optional)
• Specific instructions from the NCVS Supervisor
(optional)
• Notes/Reports from the administrative or payroll
section about administrative or payroll problems
(optional)
Preparation of
Form 11-62A, Onthe-Job Training
and Observation
Report
Notifying the FR
Prepare electronic Form 11-62A, On-the-Job Training
and Observation Report, for each scheduled observation.
Fill items 1-10 and 12 on Page 1 of the form, and note in
item 10 any reference notes requiring special attention.
The observer will note the date and time observed in
item 11. For item 12, if the FR has not worked for three
months, note any applicable performance information
available.
Notify the FR, as well as the observer, of the
observation via email, and keep a copy of the email
message for the RO records.
3-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 8: Selecting the FRs for Observation
General
Each month, the NCVS supervisor must review the
performance of the FR staff and the initial training
requirements to select FRs for observation.
Initial Observations
All FRs new to NCVS are required to be observed
during the first day(s) of their assignment. This is an
Initial Observation. Priority should be given to
scheduling new FRs for their N–1, N–2 observations.
N–1, Initial
Observation
Schedule a one or two day N-1 observation during the
FR’s first NCVS assignment. It is at the RO’s discretion
as to whether the N-1 observation lasts one or two days.
Refer to the NCVS 524, NCVS Induction Guide, for
specific instructions on how to conduct the N-1
observation.
N–2, Initial
Observation
Schedule a 1½ day N–2 observation during the FR’s
second NCVS assignment. The ½ day is specifically set
aside for training on listing procedures. If the FR is
experienced, the NCVS supervisor may decide to omit
the ½ day listing procedures portion of the N–2
observation. Refer to the NCVS 524, NCVS Induction
Guide, for specific instructions on how to conduct the
N–2 observation.
3-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
General
Performance
Review (GPR)
Observations
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
The frequency with which an FR is observed and the
content of the observation depends on the number of
surveys the FR works.
The following sections describe the frequency and
content of general performance observations.
Single-Survey FRs
An FR who works only one current survey should be
observed once every other year. This observation should
consist of observing the FR as he/she conducts
interviews and then giving feedback on his/her
performance.
Multi-Survey FRs
An FR who works multiple current surveys should be
observed once every year. This observation should
consist of observing the FR as he/she conducts
interviews on one specific survey and then giving
feedback on his/her program performance on that
specific survey. In addition, the observation should
consist of a review of the FR’s program performance on
the other surveys based on feedback from the
supervisory staff of those other surveys.
For example, if an FR works on the Current Population
Survey (CPS) and NCVS, he/she should be observed on
NCVS the first year and then CPS the next year (or vice
versa). In the first year, the observer observes the FR
conduct NCVS interviews and gives feedback on the
FR’s performance on NCVS. During that same
observation, the observer discusses the FR’s program
performance on CPS based on feedback from the CPS
supervisory staff.
3-19
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Additional Guidelines
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
As much as possible, RO management must ensure that
observations are equally distributed by survey so that no
one survey is charged the costs of all the staff observed
in one year. Use your RO-specific planning goals for
managing the GPR Observation program.
New NCVS FRs should receive their GPR observation
3-5 months after their initial observation. After allowing
for initial observations, the selection of the remaining
FRs should be based primarily on need. Other factors to
consider are the length of time since the last observation
and clustering observations for the most efficient use of
time and travel.
Special Needs
Observations
Consider scheduling a Special Needs observation for
any FR who has:
• A low response rate,
• Hours per case or miles per case which exceed the
CAPS for his SSFA,
• Repeated problems locating addresses,
• A need for help or training on any aspect of the
job,
• Received a Level 1, Unsatisfactory, rating on the
last observation,
• Requested help on any part of his/her assignment.
Note: An FR who was rated Unsatisfactory on his/her
last progress review or evaluation must be observed or
retrained during his/her next assignment.
3-20
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Special Needs
Observations
Fulfills GPR
Requirements
The Special Needs observation fulfills the GPR
requirement for the fiscal year. Although it is not
required, it is suggested that FRs who received a Special
Needs or N–2 observation be scheduled for their next
GPR observation within six months of the next fiscal
year.
Schedule FRs for
GPR Observation
Once Each Fiscal
Year
Excluding N-1 and N-2 observations, FRs must be
observed (GPR) at least once each fiscal year if
possible. For FRs who only work occasionally, the
survey supervisor should determine the type of
observation necessary based on the FR’s previous
NCVS experience and performance.
3-21
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 9: Conducting the Observation
General
The main objective of the observation is to help the FR
improve his/her interviewing skills. Each month, in
order to select FRs and for plan for observations, the
NCVS supervisor must review the performance of the
FR staff and the initial training requirements.
Number of
Observed
Interviews
There is no specific number of interviews which must be
observed to satisfy each type of observation. It is the
responsibility of the NCVS supervisor to ensure that the
number of observed interviews adequately provides
enough varying situations to accurately rate the FR’s
performance during the observation.
Length of Initial
Observations
The observer should spend one or two days with the FR
depending on his/her needs and experience. For brand
new FRs, as well as non-CAPI experienced FRs new to
NCVS, two days of observation is recommended.
A one-day observation is recommended for all CAPIexperienced FRs new to NCVS, unless the supervisor
feels a second day is necessary.
A minimum of five cases or six hours of working time
constitutes a day of observation.
When circumstances out of the observer’s hands make it
impossible to observe for a full six hours, the observer
should include an explanation in the observation report
to justify the situation.
3-22
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Conducting Special
Needs Observations
Special Needs Observations should be scheduled at an
appropriate time so the observer can take the most
effective preventive or remedial action, depending on
the reason for the observation. Suggestions for different
special needs scenarios are given below.
Low Production
Schedule the observation at the beginning of the NCVS
interview period so the observer can help the FR plan an
efficient itinerary and determine whether he/she is
keeping an accurate record of his/her time. In addition,
stress to the FR the importance of transmitting payroll
data daily.
Low Response Rate
Feedback
Schedule the observation at the beginning of the NCVS
interview period so the observer can advise and help
with noninterviews and show the FR how to reduce
Type As. Instruct the FR to keep Type As for the
observer’s review.
If an FR has been selected for a special needs
observation, in addition to observing the FR’s
production issues, make sure you discuss your
observations with the FR and give specific instruction
about ways to improve.
3-23
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
Topic 10: Evaluating the Observations
General
The NCVS SSO is responsible for reviewing all
observation reports.
The NCVS coordinator should also review the
observation reports—particularly those completed by
the NCVS supervisor—for new FRs and FRs rated
“Does Not Meet.”
Reviewers should enter their name or initials in item 11.
Review of
Observation Report
Check to see that the following information (other than
procedural errors) is included in the observation report:
• The heading item information is entered on
page 1 and questions on specific performance
have been answered.
• Whether the observation met the minimum time
requirement. If the requirement has not been met,
be sure that there is ample written justification.
• The action the observer took to help the FR
overcome any problems. This is most important
since future observers may try to approach
recurring problems in different ways from those
previously tried.
• Whether the FR needs further special attention
and the type of attention required.
• Whether or not the observer’s final overall
evaluation of the FR’s work corresponds to the
written summary and to the specific performance
areas of the report. If the evaluation does not
correspond or there is no adequate explanation,
return the observation report to the observer to
clarify his/her comments.
3-24
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Review of
Observation Report
(continued)
Recording
Observation
Results
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
• Reviewers should enter their names or initials in
item 19.
Record observation results on Form 11-130A, the
Observation Guarantee List. Enter the observer’s name
and/or code, the type of observation, and the overall
evaluation (Meets, Does Not Meet).
Note: N-1 observations do not receive an evaluation.
The Form 11-130A is based on the rating years and
maintained in the RO.
Disposition of
Observation
Results
At the conclusion of the observation, the NCVS
supervisor should retain the original 11-62A and
completed NCVS 524, NCVS Induction Guide, in the
FR’s performance folder.
Providing Feedback
to the FR
After evaluating the observation results, provide the FR
with timely feedback. Follow the steps below:
• Send a copy of the FR’s Summary of
Performance (for the month following the
observation) to the FR.
• Discuss the observation and subsequent Summary
of Performance with the observer. Review the
FR’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Discuss the observation and subsequent Summary
of Performance with the FR. Include strengths
and weaknesses, and give praise and
encouragement, where appropriate.
• Ask the FR to sign the Summary of Performance
to confirm the results were discussed.
3-25
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 3: Training and Observations
This page intentionally left blank
3-26
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
Chapter 4: Survey Materials ..........................................................................................4-1
Topic 1: Office Equipment ..................................................................................................... 4-2
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 4-2
Regional Office Equipment ................................................................................................. 4-2
Regional Office Software..................................................................................................... 4-2
Regional Office Survey Control (ROSCO) ....................................................................... 4-2
Remedy Help Desk System ................................................................................................. 4-3
Cost and Response Management Network (CARMN) ........................................................ 4-3
Windows Laptop Users Guide ............................................................................................. 4-4
FR Equipment ...................................................................................................................... 4-4
FR Kit—Laptop Computer .................................................................................................. 4-4
Additional Items for Laptop Kit .......................................................................................... 4-5
Paper Materials .................................................................................................................... 4-5
Topic 2: NCVS Memoranda ................................................................................................... 4-6
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 4-6
NCVS Office Memoranda Series......................................................................................... 4-6
NCVS Field Representative Interviewer Memoranda Series .............................................. 4-6
NCVS Bulletins ................................................................................................................... 4-6
NCVS Ops Logs....................................................................................................................4-6
4-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
Topic 1: Office Equipment
Overview
This chapter presents an overview of the hardware,
software, and paper supplies that are needed for NCVS.
It covers materials needed in both the Regional Office
and in the field, as well as a list of forms used for
NCVS.
Regional Office
Equipment
The RO staff uses personal computers which are
networked to servers at the RO and at HQ. Through this
network, these PCs access the central database at HQ to
retrieve data for survey management.
The RO staff, in conjunction with the ROCS, is
responsible for setting up the NCVS survey area with
the appropriate equipment. The area should be equipped
with the NCVS PC, connected to the LAN, and
configured to the network.
Regional Office
Software
Just as with the NCVS hardware, there will be software
that the RO staff use for their daily activities.
Regional Office
Survey Control
(ROSCO)
The Regional Office Survey Control (ROSCO) system
provides a common system to manage most surveys.
ROSCO uses a relational database software customized
for Census surveys to connect to the database.
A computer-based training is available for ROSCO,
which includes illustrations of screens from the system,
and instruction boxes to instruct the user about what to
do.
ROSCO is discussed in detail in Chapter 5.
4-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Remedy Help Desk
System
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
The Remedy Help Desk System is a client-server
application designed for Census Bureau employees to
automate support processes, including the ability to
submit, monitor, and manage trouble tickets, change
requests, and asset inventory records.
ROs use the Remedy Help Desk System to report
problems that occur on FR laptops and on ROSCO.
Remedy is readily available via desktop client or the
intranet.
Cost and Response
Management
Network (CARMN)
CARMN is an intranet web-based, semi-customizable
reporting application that provides expenditures related
to field work, costs per unit of work, and survey
performance data which enable close to real time cost
analysis and cost modeling to reduce costs and improve
response rates. The data from CARMN is used to assist
with the decision-making process that immediately
impact response rates and survey costs.
CARMN integrates data from four existing data
systems—CAPI, NFC, WEBFRED, and ROSCO—to
provide a source of timely information. NCVS, as well
as a few other surveys, also get data from Giant
PANDA.
Field costs are calculated using hours, miles, pay rate,
and survey data. HQ and RO staff generate reports on a
daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis to analyze
data on three levels: Field Representative/Employee,
Regional Office, and Project/HQ. On a daily basis, RO
supervisors are able to see how much their interviewers
are spending so they can monitor their performance on a
particular survey.
4-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
Windows Laptop
Users Guide
Use the 11-7(WIN), Windows Laptop Users Guide, as a
comprehensive tool for the explanation of the FR
equipment and software, including the Windows
operating system and the applications that will be used
to conduct the NCVS survey.
FR Equipment
FR operations are carried out using an automated
questionnaire—or instrument—which is loaded onto FR
laptops. Data from this instrument (case files) are
packaged and transmitted to the server at HQ and then
downloaded into the database where the FR’s work is
then checked into the central database via ROSCO.
FR Kit—Laptop
Computer
Each FR working on the survey will be equipped with a
Windows Laptop Computer Kit. Following is a list of
the windows laptop computer kit contents:
1
HP Revolve 810 Laptop computer with
battery
2
AC Adapters (for laptop)
2
Power Cords (for laptop)
2
Telephone Cords
1
Laptop Surge Protector
1
Auto/Airline AC/DC Adapter
2
Extra Batteries
1
Form 11-5(WIN), Kit Contents and
Repacking Instructions (laminated card)
1
Form 11-836, Laptop Security Flyer
4-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Additional Items
for Laptop Kit
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
In addition to the items listed above, the RO must add
the following item to each laptop kit for new hires:
• Form 11-13(WIN), Laptop Insert for New Hires
(see Chapter A6).
• A prepaid shipping label for the individual to use
if he or she must return the laptop kit to the RO
before attending the appointment orientation and
survey-specific training. Prepare the label using
the charge code 57-0976000-508.
• A copy of the newly developed Form 11-836,
Laptop Security Flyer, and a copy of the signed
Certification statement. The original copy of the
signed certification statement is to be placed in
each individual LCF.
• 1 copy of the Acceptable Use Policy for U.S.
Census Bureau Field Representative laptop
System.
• 1 copy of Acknowledgement of Receipt of
Acceptable Use Policy for U.S. Census Bureau
Field Representative Laptop System.
Paper Materials
Some paper materials are required to manage the NCVS.
The Master List of Forms for NCVS was created to
establish one point of reference for NCVS forms,
ordering information, contact information, etc., and to
maintain a historical listing of all documents for
research purposes. This document is stored in the
NCVS folder on the NCVS SharePoint Site.
Since CAPI is always under refinement, additions or
deletions to this document occur on a regular basis.
4-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 4: Survey Materials
Topic 2: NCVS Memoranda
Overview
The NCVS procedures are sent to the Regional Offices
and contact center staff on a monthly basis. Following
is a description of each of these items.
NCVS Office
Memoranda Series
NCVS Office Memoranda contain instructions to
program supervisors and office staff for interviewing
explanations of new or revised materials and
procedures. This series is numbered in order by
calendar year.
NCVS Field
Representative
Interviewer
Memoranda Series
NCVS Field Representative Interviewer Memoranda
contain instructions and other NCVS subjects of concern
to FRs who work on NCVS. This series is numbered in
order by calendar year.
NCVS Bulletins
Links to the monthly NCVS Bulletin and attachments
are sent via email to the RO and TC staff each month.
These documents are posted on NCVS SharePoint site
monthly.
Following is a list of the other items that may be
included with the NCVS monthly memo.
NCVS Ops Logs
NCVS Operations Logs are sent to RO staff periodically
to cover topics like progress and cost, training, and any
other relevant NCVS subjects.
4-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations ............................................................................ 5-1
Topic 1: ROSCO ..................................................................................................................... 5-4
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 5-4
Accessing ROSCO ............................................................................................................... 5-4
ROSCO Help Screens .......................................................................................................... 5-5
General Information..............................................................................................................5-5
How-To ...............................................................................................................................5-5
Topic 2: ROSCO Title, Menu, and Toolbars .......................................................................... 5-6
ROSCO Title Bar ................................................................................................................. 5-6
ROSCO Menu Bar ............................................................................................................... 5-6
File Menu ............................................................................................................................5-6
Operations Menu ..................................................................................................................5-6
Help Menu ...........................................................................................................................5-7
ROSCO Toolbar................................................................................................................... 5-7
Standard Icons that Always Appear .......................................................................................5-7
Additional Icons ...................................................................................................................5-8
ROSCO Training Resources ................................................................................................ 5-8
Topic 3: ROSCO Queries, Filters, and Sorts .......................................................................... 5-9
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 5-9
Query vs. Filter .................................................................................................................... 5-9
The Query Dialog Box ......................................................................................................... 5-9
Columns Tab ........................................................................................................................5-9
Operators Tab..................................................................................................................... 5-10
Values Tab......................................................................................................................... 5-10
Defining a Query Using the Build With Option ................................................................ 5-10
Multiple Query Expressions ................................................................................................ 5-11
Defining a Query Using the Query Expression Section .................................................... 5-11
The Verify Button .............................................................................................................. 5-11
The Count Button.............................................................................................................. 5-11
5-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Using Boolean Operators ................................................................................................... 5-12
Hints for Complex Expressions ........................................................................................... 5-12
Confusing Column Names .................................................................................................. 5-13
The Filter Dialog Box ........................................................................................................ 5-13
How to Define a Filter ........................................................................................................ 5-14
Sorting Data ....................................................................................................................... 5-14
How to Define a Sort .......................................................................................................... 5-15
Topic 4: ROSCO Field Representative Operations .............................................................. 5-16
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 5-16
Entering FR Codes into ROSCO ....................................................................................... 5-16
Editing FR Personal Data................................................................................................... 5-16
Editing FR Survey Data ..................................................................................................... 5-17
Other Uses of the Edit Survey Data Screen........................................................................... 5-17
Ready to Transmit .............................................................................................................. 5-18
Topic 5: Making Assignments .............................................................................................. 5-19
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 5-19
Assignment Parameters...................................................................................................... 5-19
Defining Assignment Parameters ...................................................................................... 5-19
Display by PSU .................................................................................................................. 5-20
Display All......................................................................................................................... 5-20
Steps for Assigning an FR to an Entire PSU ..................................................................... 5-20
Steps to Assign FRs to Portions of a PSU ......................................................................... 5-21
Editing Assignment Parameters ......................................................................................... 5-21
Removing an FR................................................................................................................. 5-22
Changing an FR Code ......................................................................................................... 5-22
Replacing an FR with another FR ........................................................................................ 5-22
Removing a Lower-Level Geography Parameter................................................................... 5-23
Applying Parameters to Sample......................................................................................... 5-23
Topic 6: Adjusting Assignments........................................................................................... 5-25
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 5-25
Assigning Unassigned Cases ............................................................................................. 5-25
Adjusting the Assignments ................................................................................................ 5-26
Make/Adjust Assignments ................................................................................................. 5-26
5-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 7: Releasing Assignments........................................................................................... 5-29
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 5-29
Setting Start and Due Dates ............................................................................................... 5-29
Setting Individual Start and Due Dates................................................................................. 5-29
Setting the Same Start and Due Dates for All FRs ................................................................. 5-30
Release and Transmit ......................................................................................................... 5-30
Topic 8: Cost-Saving Strategies............................................................................................ 5-32
Minutes and Miles Per Case .............................................................................................. 5-32
Monitoring Progress Toward Minutes and Miles Per Case Goals..................................... 5-33
5-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 1: ROSCO
Overview
The ROSCO (Regional Office Survey COntrol)
application has access to a database that stores FR data,
information for making assignments, and all the data for
cases in sample. The ROSCO system is a graphical user
interface which accesses Census survey databases using
the Oracle SQL*Plus language.
Via the ROSCO menu selections, a user may call up
screens to enter, edit, display, and delete information in
the database.
Accessing ROSCO
To open the ROSCO database, use the following steps:
1. From the Programs menu, click on the ROSCO
icon,
2. After agreeing to the Acceptable Use Policy
Agreement, select “NCVS” on the Survey
Selection Dialog Box,
3. Select the team or teams (i.e., SSF areas) you
wish to access,
4. Select the correct interview period in the
Interview Period Dialog Box.
At this point, you will be at the main screen of the
ROSCO application where you will now be able to
create reports and perform survey management tasks.
The remainder of this section discusses the basic
ROSCO functionality; additional topics address the
tasks you will perform in ROSCO each interview
period.
5-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
ROSCO Help
Screens
General Information
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Help screens are provided for every function, dialog
box, and icon in ROSCO. The Help Contents are
organized by operations; for example, Assignment
Operations, FR Operations, and Reports. When
necessary, a function has a general information help
screen and a specific how-to help screen. For example,
the icons that appear on most screens in ROSCO are
explained in the help screen “Standard Icons in
ROSCO.”
The general information help screen for each function
contains:
• the menu path for the function,
• the purpose of the screen,
• the procedural steps necessary before you can
perform this function,
• the procedural steps that follow this function,
• rules and conventions for the screen,
• additional functionality available on the screen,
• definitions of the fields on the screen,
• a list that references related topics and icons on
the screen.
How-To
The how-to help screens contain:
• the menu path for the function,
• the purpose of the screen,
• step-by-step instructions for performing the
function,
• help information for dialog boxes,
• a list that references related topics and icons on
the screen.
5-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 2: ROSCO Title, Menu, and Toolbars
ROSCO Title Bar
The title bar at the top of the window displays the title
of the application (ROSCO) and information regarding
the survey, Regional Office, RO Team(s), and Interview
Period(s) currently in use.
ROSCO Menu Bar
ROSCO uses a menu-driven system to access its
features. The ROSCO menu bar contains the titles of the
pull-down menus. The menu bar changes depending
upon which part of ROSCO you are using.
The menu consists of three main items: File, Operations,
and Help.
File Menu
The File menu consists of the following tasks (which
also appear as icons on the toolbar):
•
•
•
•
Operations Menu
Log-in Survey
Select Interview Period
Select RO Team (if applicable)
Exit
Most tasks in ROSCO are performed via the Operations
Menu, which consists of the following main options:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reports
FR Operations
ROSCO Overview
ROSCO Respondent Address Search
Supervisor Audit Log
Sample Control
CATI
5-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Operations Menu
(continued)
Help Menu
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
•
•
•
•
Assignment Operation
Check-in/Status
Transmissions and Utilities
Closeout/Cleanup
The Help menu consists of the following:
• Help Contents
• About [ROSCO]
ROSCO Toolbar
Standard Icons that
Always Appear
The toolbar displays the icons available for the screen
that is currently displayed. The top row of icons on the
toolbar is the same throughout the system. The bottom
row of icons changes depending upon the screen
displayed.
Below are the standard icons that always appear on the
top row of the toolbar, as well as their functions:
Icon Name
Function
Login
Displays the Login Dialog Box, which allows you
to select a survey.
Period
Displays the Interview Period Dialog Box, which
allows you to specify which group(s) of cases
you want to work with.
Team
Displays the RO Team Dialog Box, which allows
you to specify which RO team(s) to work with.
Reports
Displays the Reports Selection menu from which
you can select a report to view.
SQL
Displays the Interactive SQL Dialog Box, which
allows you to create and execute SQL code.
Help Topics
Displays the online help for the system.
Exit
Logs you out of ROSCO.
5-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Additional Icons
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
The following table highlights the icons on the bottom
row of the toolbar that may appear depending on the
functionality of the screen you are in:
Save
Print
View More
Insert
First
Prior
Next
Last
Query
Sort
Filter
Close
ROSCO Training
Resources
Saves changes you have made to the database.
Sends the current table or report to print.
View more screens pertaining to the case.
On most screens, allows the user to insert a new
row into a table.
Displays the first page, record, etc.
Displays the prior page, record, etc.
Displays the next page, record, etc.
Displays the last page, record, etc.
Displays the option selection list.
Displays the data in a particular order.
Displays a subset of the data.
Closes the ROSCO operation in use.
In the CBT folder on Census Field supervisor laptops,
there is a ROSCO Computer Based Training (CBT) for
all Field supervisors.
Additionally, the Census Learning Center offers
ROSCO Web Based Training (WBT) programs targeted
specifically for Field supervisors.
5-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 3: ROSCO Queries, Filters, and Sorts
Overview
Whenever existing data needs to be viewed or updated,
you must retrieve information from the database. The
process of retrieving information from the database is
called executing a query or filter, or querying or filtering
the database. ROSCO saves your last Query, Filter, or
Sort, but does not automatically apply it. Thus, when
you open Query, Filter, or Sort windows, your previous
entry is displayed. You can press OK, add to your
current syntax, or delete the current syntax.
Query vs. Filter
On the surface, the query and filter options seem like the
same function. The difference, however, is that a query
is done before a case is displayed (i.e. a query retrieves a
subset of cases to be brought into an activity), while a
filter is done to select a subset of cases while within an
activity (i.e., once a query has already been done).
The Query Dialog
Box
You can initiate a query via the Query icon in the
toolbar, or by selecting Query under Options on the
Menu Bar. Most queries function the same way using
the Query Dialog Box.
The Query Dialog Box has two sections: Query
Expression and Build Query With. You can use the
Build Query With function by selecting fields below
each of the three tabs–Columns, Operators, and
Values—or you can type your query directly into the
Query Expression section.
Columns Tab
The Columns tab lists all the fields or variables you can
use to query your data. Double-click on a field to query
on it. The field you select affects the values that appear
on the Values tab.
5-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Operators Tab
Values Tab
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
The Operators tab contains the mathematical
expressions and comparison terms you can use to apply
constraints to your expressions. For example, you
would double-click on the equal sign [=] to display the
data that match the single value you select.
The items on the Values tab vary depending on the code
selected under the Columns tab. If, for example, you
select FR Code on the Columns tab, the Values tab
displays all valid FR codes for your survey, RO Team,
and Interview Period(s) shown in your ROSCO Title
Bar.
Note that Values automatically applies single quotes (' ')
to each value you select.
Defining a Query
Using the Build
With Option
Below are the steps necessary to use the Build Query
With option of the Query Dialogue Box:
1. From the Columns tab, double-click the field you
want to query.
2. Click on the Operators tab and double-click the
appropriate operator.
3. Click on the Values tab and double-click the
appropriate value or values.
4. Click the Verify button to see if your search
expression in the Query Expression panel is valid.
5. Click OK.
5-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Multiple Query
Expressions
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Below are the steps necessary to define multiple query
expressions:
1. Follow steps 1-3 from the previous section,
2. Click the Operators tab and choose either AND or
OR,
3. Repeat steps 1-3 from the previous section to
build the additional query.
For example, if you wanted to bring up cases for FR
D42 that were in PSU 53003, you would create the
following query expression:
fr_code= ‘D42’ and psu= ‘53003'
Defining a Query
Using the Query
Expression Section
Rather than using each of the tabs in the Build Query
With section, you can also directly type your query into
the Query Expression section. However, ROSCO will
only accept queries that use the proper format (single
quotes around values, correct variable names), so you
may need to use the Build Query With section several
times in order to learn the proper formatting for your
desired query.
The Verify Button
You may click on the verify button to check whether
your query has been entered properly. You will then see
a message telling you that your query is either valid or
not valid.
The Count Button
Using the Count button after creating your query will
give you a count of cases or lines of data that meet your
query criteria.
5-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Using Boolean*
Operators
* The word “Boolean”
comes from the man who
invented Boolean Logic in
the 10 th century – George
Boole. Boolean is the basis
of modern computer logic
and George Boole is
regarded in hindsight as
one of the founders o the
field of computer science.
Hints for Complex
Expressions
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Boolean operators are the foundation of database logic.
Use them to build complex expressions or search on
multiple conditions.
• AND – Narrows a search by filtering on two or
more expressions.
• OR – Broadens a search by returning all results
that match either of two or more expressions.
• NOT – Narrows a search by excluding all results
that match a certain condition.
• BETWEEN – Returns all results that are between
two endpoints. Must be used with an AND
statement.
• ISNULL – Returns results where there is no value
for a given field.
• NOT – Returns results for which a given
expression is not true.
• LIKE – Returns all results containing certain
characters.
• IN – Allows users to query for all results meeting
more than one parameters.
You may also have to key in parts of the query. For
example, when selecting the ‘In’ operator, you need to
select the open parenthesis operator, then select a values
entry, then put in a comma as a keyed entry before
selecting another values entry.
Below are some hints for using more complex query
expressions:
• The conditional value queried on must be
contained in single quotes. For example:
outcome_code = ‘200'
• To query using a “not equal to” operator, select
the less than (<) and greater than (>) signs from
the Operators tab and remove any spaces between
them. For example: outcome_code <> ‘200'
5-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Hints for Complex
Expressions (continued)
• To use an “in” or “not in” operator, whether you
use the Values tab or type in your values directly,
you must type in parentheses and commas as
needed. For example: outcome_code in (‘218',
‘219')
• To use the “like” operator, you must also use a
wildcard in the value entry to match character
patterns. The underscore (_) is the wildcard for
one character position, and the percent sign (%) is
the wildcard for any string of zero or more
characters. For example: fr_code like ‘Z1_’
returns all FR codes that have Z1 followed by one
other character; fr_code like ‘Z%’ returns all FR
codes that begin with Z.
Confusing Column
Names
Some of the column names shown on the query window
can be confusing. Below is a “translation” of some of
these columns:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Filter Dialog
Box
g_flag_1 = Questionnaire Type
g_flag_2 = Personal Visit/Telephone Flag
g_ind_1 = Year
g_ind_2 = Month
g_ind_3 = Panel
g_ind_4 = Wave
g_ind_5 = Rotation
The filter function allows you to change the viewed data
by specifying an expression to view only a subset of the
previous data. For example: after you have queried the
database for all unassigned cases, you can filter by a
specific city (Place) and view only the unassigned cases
in that PLACE.
5-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
The Filter Dialog
Box (continued)
How to Define a Filter
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
You can bring up the Filter Dialog Box by clicking on
the Filter icon in your toolbar, or selecting Filter from
the View menu. The Filter Dialog Box operates in the
same manner as the Query Dialog Box—you can use
either the Filter Expression section to type in your filter
directly, or you can use the Build Filter With section and
select fields under the Columns, Operators, and Values
tabs.
To define a filter:
1. Click on the Filter icon.
2. From the Columns tab, double-click on the field
you want to filter by.
3. Click on the Operators tab and double-click on
the appropriate operator.
4. Click on the Values tab and double-click on the
desired value(s).
5. Click the Verify button to see if your filter
expression is valid.
6. Click OK.
Note that you may also directly type your filter
expression using the Filter Expression section. Define
multiple filter expressions and complex filter functions
in the same way as described for queries previously in
this topic.
Sorting Data
The sort function allows you to arrange data in a
particular order. Access the Sort Dialog box by either
clicking on the Sort icon or by selecting Sort from the
View menu.
5-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
How to Define a Sort
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
To define a sort:
1. Click on the Sort icon or select Sort from the
View menu.
2. Drag the sort fields from the Columns Available
panel to the Sort Columns panel. The 1st field you
drag will be the primary sort. The 2nd field will
be the secondary sort, etc.
3. The default sort is ascending order. This is shown
by a check mark in the box under Ascending. To
change the order to descending, click the box to
make the check mark disappear.
4. Click on OK.
5-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 4: ROSCO Field Representative Operations
Overview
All NCVS staff who need to make transmissions must
be registered to access the ROSCO database. This
includes all FRs, FSs and selected office staff. This
topic discusses adding and editing FR data, as well as
steps for designating Team Leaders.
Entering FR Codes
into ROSCO
To create a new profile in ROSCO, from the ROSCO
database, select Operations ➔ FR Operations ➔Edit FR
Data
In Edit FR Data, select Insert FRs from the second line
of icons at the top of the screen. The user then enters
'FR Primary Data' and 'FR Secondary Data.'
Enter telephone numbers in the format 991/555-1234.
The bottom line of the 'FR Secondary Data' is for
entering parcel addresses. Some employees may use a
route and box number for mail. Federal Express will
only deliver to addresses with a house number and street
or road name.
The FR Secondary Data screen allows you to enter both
addresses, since the FR may receive items from the U.S.
Postal Service and also from Federal Express (such as a
laptop computer). Once this information is entered,
select Save from the second row of icons.
Editing FR
Personal Data
When a change to an FR's information (such as a
telephone number) needs to be made, first highlight the
information requiring the change, then highlight the
FR's row and make the needed change.
Note: the icon Change FR on the second row with the
light blue 'edit' sign is used only when an FR code
changes, such as with a promotion of an FR to FS.
5-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Editing FR Survey
Data
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
After entering the FR in ROSCO as described above, the
second step is to get the code registered to enable the FR
to transmit. To do this, select Operations ➔ FR
Operations➔ Edit FR's Survey Data, and then click on
Insert FRs.
A roster is displayed which includes the FR(s) just
added. Highlight the line of the FR being added and
click OK. Enter information on the FR survey dialogue
window and then click OK.
Other Uses of the Edit
Survey Data Screen
You may also perform the following tasks using the Edit
FR Survey Data screen:
Delete an FR From the Survey
Highlight the FR you wish to remove from NCVS and
then click on the Delete FRs icon on the toolbar. You
are instructed to make an entry in the “End Date for
Current Survey” field in the FR Survey End Date
Selection Dialog Box.
Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Undelete an FR From the Survey
If you went through the steps to delete an FR but have
not yet saved your changes, you may use the Restore
icon on the toolbar to undelete the FR.
Mark an FR On Leave
If you would like to designate an FR as being on leave
during certain dates in an interview period, you can do
so using the Leave Data icon on the toolbar. Use the
Insert icon on the FR Leave Window to create a new
entry, and enter the interview period that the FR will be
on leave and the dates on leave.
5-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Other Uses of the Edit
Survey Data Screen
(continued)
Ready to Transmit
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
If you put an FR on leave using this option, you
cannot assign work to that FR during the dates
designated in the interview period.
Once the FR is entered into Edit FR Data and Edit
FR's Survey Data, the FR can make a transmission.
Keep in mind, however, the FR will only receive the
survey data after ROSCO updates at the top of each
hour. For example, if A01 is added at 4:05, that FR will
not see any survey information until after 5:00 pm.
Also, be aware of your RO’s required lead time between
issuing an FR code and issuing a laptop.
Note: All initial transmissions are completed at NPC
when the laptop is created, at which point the laptop is
shipped directly to the FR. The FR is then required to
finish setting up the laptop by setting the RSA token
PIN and completing the CBTs as outlined in the Generic
Initial Training Kit.
Once the initial transmission connects, the FR code
becomes registered at Census Headquarters and the
system will accept both full and express transmissions
from this FR code.
5-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 5: Making Assignments
Overview
This topic describes the procedures for making
assignments for your FRs by defining the assignment
parameters in ROSCO.
Assignment
Parameters
The assignment parameters are a set of rules that are
applied in the ROSCO database to help make
assignments.
For example, you can tell ROSCO to assign all cases in
one PSU to one particular FR, while for cases in another
PSU, you can designate one FR for all cases in one ZIP
code and a different FR for all cases in another ZIP
code.
To define what rules ROSCO should follow in making
assignments, you first need to use the Edit Assignment
Parameters activity under Assignment Operations.
Defining
Assignment
Parameters
To use assignment parameters to define which FR will
work in each geographic area, click Operation➞
Assignments Operations ➞ Edit Assignment
Parameters.
Keep in mind the following when using the Edit
Assignment Parameters screen:
• The first record listed for each PSU is the PSUlevel record. You cannot add any geographical
information to this record. You can, however,
assign the entire PSU to one FR using this record.
Insert a new row to split the PSU into lower levels
of geography.
5-19
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Defining
Assignment
Parameters
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
• Split a PSU into Places, Zips, Tracts, or Blocks.
If you split the PSU by Block, you must also enter
Tract information for that PSU.
• There are columns that allow you to assign a
Regular FR, Type A FR, Personal Visit (PV) FR,
and Phone FR for each geographic level.
After you click on Edit Assignment Parameters, you are
prompted to select ‘Display By PSU’ or ‘Display All.’
Display by PSU
Only one PSU is displayed on the screen with the
“Display by PSU” option. You may move between
PSUs using either of the following methods:
• Use the Select PSU drop-down window to
highlight the PSU you want,
• Use the Next, Prior, First, and Last icons to move
between the PSU pages (which are in ascending
numeric order).
Display All
Steps for Assigning
an FR to an Entire
PSU
This option displays a continuous listing of all records.
The Select PSU drop-down window highlights the
desired PSU, and the Next, Prior, First, and Last icons
move you between pages.
The following steps describe how to assign one FR to
receive all cases in an entire PSU:
1. On the Edit Assignment Parameters screen, select
the desired PSU-level record by clicking on it,
2. Click on the “Regular FR” field,
3. Select the appropriate FR,
4. Click the Save icon to save your changes.
5-20
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Steps to Assign FRs
to Portions of a
PSU
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
The following steps describe how to split a PSU into
lower geographic levels and assign FRs to those
portions of the PSU:
1. On the Edit Assignment Parameters screen, select
the desired PSU-level record by clicking on it,
2. Click on the Insert icon to insert a new row for
each lower geographic level you wish to specify,
3. In each new row, click in the column for the level
of geography you wish to specify (Place, ZIP,
Tract, or Block),
4. Key in the information for that column, or use the
drop-down data options,
5. For each lower level geography, click on the
“Regular FR” column and either key in the proper
FR code, or select it from the drop-down list,
6. Click on the Save icon to save your changes.
Editing Assignment
Parameters
The SSO works with the SSF to adjust parameters to
make assignments efficient. Typically, the SSO makes
the preliminary assignments, and then the SSFs and/or
FSs refine these assignments before releasing them to
the field.
As you discover ways to make your assignment
parameters more efficient, and as you experience
turnover in your interviewing staff, you will need to
make modifications to your assignment parameters.
The following are some of the edits you may need to
make to your defined parameters.
5-21
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Removing an FR
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
To remove an FR from your assignment parameters,
follow these steps on the Edit Assignment Parameters
screen:
1. Select the row for the PSU or lower level
geography from which you want to remove the
FR.
2. Click on the “FR” field, highlighting the FR code.
3. Press the backspace or delete key to remove the
FR code, thus leaving the “FR” field blank.
4. Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Changing an FR Code
To change an FR code in your assignment parameters,
follow these steps on the Edit Assignment Parameters
screen:
1. Select the row that contains the FR code you
would like to change,
2. Click on the “FR” field, highlighting the FR code,
3. Press the backspace or delete key to remove the
FR code, and enter the new FR code, or select it
from the drop down list,
4. Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Replacing an FR with
another FR
To replace all current existing assignment parameters
for a given FR with an alternative FR (for example: Z95
resigned and you hired Z98 to replace him/her), follow
these steps on the Edit Assignment Parameters screen:
1. Click on the Change FR icon in the toolbar,
2. The Change FR dialog box appears,
3. Under the “Please select the OLD FR” section,
scroll down and select the FR you want to
replace,
5-22
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Replacing an FR with
another FR
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
4. Under the “Please select the NEW FR” section,
scroll and select the code of the replacement FR,
and click OK,
5. Click “Yes” on the pop-up window to confirm,
6. Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Removing a LowerLevel Geography
Parameter
If you decide that you no longer need to use a certain
lower-level geography in your assignment parameters,
you may remove it using the following steps on the Edit
Assignment Parameters screen:
1. Highlight the lower level geography you wish to
delete.
2. Click the Delete icon in the toolbar, or select
Delete from the Options menu.
3. Click “Yes” from the pop-up window to confirm.
4. Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Note: You cannot delete the PSU-level record.
Applying
Parameters to
Sample
After you finish creating and modifying your
assignment parameters, and after the assignment file for
the month is loaded, you can apply your parameters to
the sample. In this operation, ROSCO assigns all cases
that fit a defined assignment parameter to the FR you
specified. Complete the following steps to apply the
parameters to the sample:
1. Click on Operations ➞ Assignment Operations
➞ Apply Parameters to Sample.
2. A confirmation screen is displayed. Click ‘Yes’
to continue.
3. Click on Apply Parameters to Sample if you have
previous FR codes then click OK.
5-23
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Applying
Parameters to
Sample (continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
4. It takes a moment for the operation to complete.
When done, a message is displayed telling you
assignment operations are complete. The number
of cases left unassigned is displayed.
5. Click OK to confirm the message and return to
the main window
You then need to assign the unassigned cases (those that
did not meet any of the criteria listed in the assignment
parameters) and make any adjustments to the
assignments.
You can then use the ROSCO GIS instrument to assign
the unassigned cases. Refer to the ROSCO GIS guide
for step by step procedures. (See Topic 6 of this chapter
for more information.)
5-24
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 6: Adjusting Assignments
Overview
One of the most important jobs of the NCVS office staff
is to decide how the cases in the workload will be
assigned to the FR staff, taking into consideration each
FR’s abilities and availability. Again, the SSO typically
makes the preliminary assignments, and the SSF and the
FS adjust the assignments based on the individual FR’s
location, workload, and ability.
After applying the assignment parameters to make initial
assignments, you will then need to assign any
unassigned cases, as well as fine tune the set
assignments to account for the various workloads and
geography of the current month’s assignment.
This topic discusses the procedures for assigning
unassigned cases and for making adjustments to
assigned cases.
Assigning
Unassigned Cases
To see what cases were left unassigned after applying
the assignment parameters, run a CAPI-5, Unassigned
Cases Report, using the following steps:
Click on Operations/Reports, or select the Reports
icon on the toolbar.
On the Report Selections window, click on
Assignments ➞ Unassigned Cases Report (CAPI5).
A listing of all cases currently unassigned is displayed.
To display these cases in the database:
Click on Operations ➞ Assignment ➞
Make/Adjust Assignments.
5-25
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Assigning
Unassigned Cases
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
On the Option Selection List:
• Select ‘Unassigned Cases (All)’ to view all
of your unassigned cases, or
• Select ‘Unassigned Cases (Query)’ to select
a subset of your unassigned cases.
Once you have selected one of the options on the list,
assign the cases displayed on the Make/Adjust
Assignments screen.
Adjusting the
Assignments
Print a Workload Summary Report (CAPI 3) to see an
overview of your assignments:
Click on Operations/Report, or select the Report
icon on the toolbar.
On the Report Selections window, click on
Assignments ➞ Workload Summary Report
(CAPI 3).
Select your preferred type of report:
• By PSU, Segment, Place, FRs Without
Work
• By PSU
Although the format of these reports varies somewhat,
refer to each of them to get an idea of the number of
cases assigned to each FR and where those cases are
located. Then go into the database to make, adjust or
reassign cases using the following steps:
Click on Operations ➞ Assignment➞
Make/Adjust Assignments,
Select Adjust Assignments (Query) on the Option
Selection List.
Assign the cases displayed on the Make/Adjust
Assignments screen.
5-26
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Adjusting the
Assignments
(continued)
You may need to go through several rounds of adjusting
assignments and printing and reviewing Workload
Summary Reports to get your assignments ready for
release to the field.
Make/Adjust
Assignments
Use the Make/Adjust Assignments screen to assign or
reassign cases. This screen has three sections:
• Cases to Assign
• Address Information
• Customizable Field
The Cases to Assign section lists some basic
information about the cases that are being reviewed,
such as the FR assigned to the case, the control number,
the place, and the ZIP code.
The Address Information section displays the basic
address data for the case highlighted in the Cases to
Assign section.
The Customizable Fields section contains additional
data for each case being reviewed. To customize which
columns are displayed:
Click the ‘Custom’ button
Select the desired variables
Click OK
To make the current customized version of the section to
remain as your default screen, click on ‘Store.’
For more information about a case (like notes), click the
View More button.
To assign or reassign cases on the Make/Adjust
Assignments screen:
In the Cases to Assign section, highlight the row
or rows you want to assign to a specific FR.
5-27
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Make/Adjust
Assignments
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Click the Assign icon or select Assign Cases from
the Options menu.
Select the FR you want to assign the case to from
the FR Search Dialog Box
Click OK.
Click on the Save icon to save your changes.
Note: Reassign cases using the Make/Adjust
Assignments screen BEFORE assignments are released.
After the assignments are released, use the
View/Reassign Cases screen to reassign cases.
5-28
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 7: Releasing Assignments
Overview
Once all cases are assigned to the FRs. You are almost
ready to release the assignments to the FRs’ laptops.
First, however, you must set start and due dates for your
FRs.
Setting Start and
Due Dates
After you have assigned all of your cases and have
adjusted your FR workloads, set start and due dates for
the assignments.
To access the Start and Due Date Assignment activity:
Click on Operations ➞ Assignment Operations,
Select the Set Assignment Start and Due Dates
activity. On this screen, you can either set
individual start and due dates for each FR or set
the same start and due dates for all FRs.
These start and due dates are displayed on the CAPI 35,
FR List of Assigned Cases Report.
Note: Do not send the CAPI-35s to FRs unless
instructed otherwise by your supervisor. The CAPI-35
contains Title 13 data and is not typically sent to FRs.
Setting Individual
Start and Due Dates
To set individual start and due dates for FRs, from the
Start and Due Date Assignment screen:
Use the scroll bar, or the First, Prior, Next, and
Last icons to locate the FR whose start and due
dates you are entering,
Click in the “Start Date” field and key in the
appropriate date (format MM/DD/YYYY).
5-29
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Setting Individual
Start and Due Dates
(continued)
Setting the Same Start
and Due Dates for All
FRs
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Click in the “Due Date” field and key in the
appropriate date (format MM/DD/YYYY).
Click the Save icon to save your changes.
To set the same start and due dates for all FRs, from the
Start and Due Date Assignment screen:
Click the Assign All icon on the toolbar.
In the dialog box displayed, key in the appropriate
date in the Enter Start Date field and key in the
appropriate date. The date format is
MM/DD/YYYY.
Key in the appropriate date in the Enter Due Date
field. The date format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Click OK. These dates should now be entered for
all FRs on the Start and Due Date Assignment
screen.
Click the Save icon to save your changes.
Release and
Transmit
When the instrument for the interview period is released
and you are ready for the assignments to be picked up
by FRs, the last operations to complete are releasing and
transmitting the assignments. To release and transmit
assignments:
Click on Operations ➞ Assignment Operation ➞
Release Assignments to Field.
On the Release Assignments to the Field screen,
click on the row that has the interview period you
wish to release.
5-30
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Release and
Transmit
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Click the Release icon, or select Release from the
Options menu. The Release Exceptions dialog
box is displayed. This screen allows you to
uncheck the box under the “Release to Field”
column when you do not want to release the
assignment yet for one or more FRs.
Click OK when you finish customizing this list.
The Release to the Field Checklist box is
displayed, which reminds you to select any FRs
for Supplemental QC Reinterview before
releasing assignments. (See Chapter 8 for more
information on reinterview.) Check the empty
box when you are ready to proceed and then click
OK.
Click the Save icon on the Release Assignments
to the Field screen. A checkmark is displayed
under the “Released” column for the interview
period you selected.
Click the Transmit icon in the toolbar, or select
Transmit from the Options menu.
Click OK on the Transmit Assignments dialog
box.
If the transmission was successful, the following
message is displayed:
“Assignment file creation has been requested.”
If this message is not displayed, try to transmit again.
You can check the Out directory to verify that the files
are ready to be picked up.
Note: Once assignments are released, cases move from
the Assignment screen to the View/Reassign cases
screen. It is a good idea to check the cases in
View/Reassign to ensure there is a date in ‘Date
Transmitted to FRs.”
5-31
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
Topic 8: Cost-Saving Strategies
Minutes and Miles
Per Case
The national NCVS production rate goal is to maintain
an overall production rate below 2 hours and 20 miles
per field case, including supplement time. In order to
achieve these goals, one strategy is to place a limit on
the number of interviewing hours each FR may charge
on his/her assignment (i.e., charges to task code 523,
interviewing). FRs can use the additional strategies
outlined in this topic to help them meet their individual
goals.
The SSO, SSF, and FS should provide their FRs with
their maximum number of hours based on their
workload, keeping in mind the national goal of 2 hours
or less per case. Assign the maximum number of hours
per assignment on an FR-by-FR basis. You may get
input from your FSs when doing this. Keep in mind that
this an overall average, based on a "normal" mix of
telephone and personal visit cases. Since individual FRs
have varying proportions of telephone and personal visit
cases, they each require varying time limits.
Additionally, you may keep some hours in a reserve
(either in the RO or with the FS) to be used toward the
end of the interviewing period.
The average production rate in your region will differ
from the national average – that is, it may be higher or
lower. This is understandable, since the regions vary by
geography, land mass, urban/rural concentrations,
housing density, availability of respondents, etc. The
key to minimizing costs is for all ROs to prevent their
minutes and mileage rates from increasing. Even small
deviations from your rate per case can have a large
impact on costs.
5-32
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Monitoring
Progress Toward
Minutes and Miles
Per Case Goals
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
The Cost and Response Management Network
(CARMN) provides many daily and monthly reports for
the RO to use in monitoring FRs’ progress in meeting
their production goals. In order for these reports to be
accurate, you must instruct FRs to complete and
transmit their payroll data each day that they work.
With just a few minutes of analysis each day during you
can monitor the production rates of each FR.
The daily CARMN FR reports include:
• FR Production Management
• Daily WEBFRED Hours/Miles w/Workload
• FR Daily Cost and Performance
The monthly CARMN reports include:
• FR Daily Cost
• FR Performance Summary w/o Workload
Please note that the CARMN reports display production
rates as hours per case. What might appear to be a small
amount above the production standard could, in fact, be
very large, especially if all or most FRs are above the
standard. For example, 1.1 hours per case is actually 66
minutes, which is 6 minutes and 10% above the
standard.
In addition to the daily CARMN reports, be prepared to
use other tools and reports every month and quarter
cumulatively throughout the year, as well as at the end
of the fiscal year, to monitor cost and production.
As your FRs progress in their interviewing assignments,
questions may arise about follow-up attempts on cases
not yet completed. You need the daily hours and miles
data to make these types of decisions.
For example, say an FS reports that an FR has 20 cases
in his/her assignment and 2 cases are not yet completed.
However, the FR is approaching his/her maximum
hours.
5-33
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Monitoring
Progress Toward
Minutes and Miles
Per Case Goals
(continued)
Chapter 5: Assignment Operations
In this case, you and the SSF may decide, based on the
data provided to you by the FS, that this FR should
attempt those 2 remaining cases, since other FRs in your
RO have not used their maximum allowances.
In a similar scenario, you and the SSF may decide that
only one of the two cases would likely result in an
interview (based on the information provided to you by
the FS), so you would instruct the FR to attempt only
the one case and to make the other case a Type A
noninterview.
5-34
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress .................................................................................. 6-1
Topic 1: Transmission and Utilities ........................................................................................ 6-3
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 6-3
Making Transmissions ......................................................................................................... 6-3
View “In” Directories .......................................................................................................... 6-4
View “Out” Directories........................................................................................................ 6-4
View Job Status.................................................................................................................... 6-5
Topic 2: Check-In Reports ...................................................................................................... 6-6
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 6-6
Daily Receipt Report (CAPI-1)..............................................................................................6-6
Daily Laptop Report (CAPI-2) ..............................................................................................6-6
Control Numbers Assigned But Not On Laptop Report ...........................................................6-7
Cases Not Checked In Report (CAPI-4) .................................................................................6-7
Prior to Running Check-In Reports ..................................................................................... 6-7
Topic 3: Check-In Status Operations ...................................................................................... 6-8
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 6-8
Supervisory Review ............................................................................................................. 6-8
Supervisory Review – Noninterviews ................................................................................. 6-9
The Address Information Window .........................................................................................6-9
The Customized Window ......................................................................................................6-9
The View More Sections ..................................................................................................... 6-10
Reassigning a Noninterview ................................................................................................ 6-10
Accepting a Noninterview ................................................................................................... 6-11
Eliminating a Noninterview................................................................................................. 6-12
Changing a Noninterview Outcome Code............................................................................. 6-12
Supervisory Review – Duplicates ...................................................................................... 6-13
Accept or Eliminate a Duplicate Case .................................................................................. 6-13
Supervisory Review – Failed Cases................................................................................... 6-15
Supervisory Review – Partials ........................................................................................... 6-15
6-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
View/Reassign Cases ......................................................................................................... 6-16
Reassigning a Case on the View/Reassign Screen................................................................. 6-17
Run Check-In ..................................................................................................................... 6-18
6-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Topic 1: Transmission and Utilities
Overview
ROSCO allows the RO to monitor an FR’s
transmissions, as well as view those files which have
been transmitted to FRs and are waiting to be picked up.
This topic discusses these transmission functions in
detail.
Making
Transmissions
The Make Transmissions function gives you the option
to send any of the following items to the field:
• Regular Assignments – This option transmits
recently released or reassigned cases.
• Reinterview Assignments – This option releases
reinterview cases that have received input files.
Many ROSCO screens include a Transmit icon on the
toolbar. Clicking on this icon allows you to make a
transmission for cases reassigned or messages created.
If you choose not to use the Transmit icon, you can also
make a transmission following these steps:
Click on Operations ➞ Transmissions and
Utilities ➞ Make Transmissions.
To transmit an item, click in the box under the
“Transmit Item” heading, next to the item you
wish to transmit. A check mark is displayed in
the box for the item(s) you selected for
transmission.
Click on the Transmit icon on the toolbar.
An Interview Period Confirmation Dialog Box
appears. Click “Yes” to confirm the correct
interview period.
Click on the Close button when you are finished.
6-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Making
Transmissions
(continued)
Although you can make a transmission at any time
following these steps, ROSCO is programmed to make
transmissions automatically throughout the day.
View “In”
Directories
The View In Directories activity displays a screen
divided in half. The top half of the screen displays the
list of files waiting for the check-in process to be
completed. The bottom half of the screen displays the
list of files waiting to be copied from the server. Copyins that move files from the bottom to the top of this
display run hourly at the top of the hour.
To view the In Directory:
Click on Operations ➔ Transmissions and
Utilities ➔ View In Directories.
On the Selection List View In box, select either
Interview or Reinterview and click OK.
The ROSCO View Out window is displayed with
the lists of files, including filename, User ID,
Size, and Date/Time.
View “Out”
Directories
The View Out Directory screen allows you to look at
files that were transmitted to FRs and are waiting for the
FR to pick up.
To view the Out Directory:
Click on Operations ➞ Transmissions and
Utilities ➞ View Out Directory.
On the Selection List View Out box, select
Interview, Reinterview, or FR Files and click OK.
The ROSCO View In window is displayed listing
filename, User ID, Size, and Date/Time.
6-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
View Job Status
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
When cases are assigned or reassigned by the RO, SSF,
or FS, the RO must make a ROSCO transmission in
order for the FRs to pick up the cases.
When the RO makes a ROSCO transmission, a job
named ‘frassign’ looks for any cases that are ‘Ready to
Transmit’ in the Xmit Status column, and creates the
files for the FR.
When the job is done, you can verify if the transmission
was successful by clicking ‘View Job Status’. To verify
the status of a transmission:
Click on Operations ➞ Transmissions and
Utilities ➞ View Job Status.
In the top half of the View Job Status screen called New
Jobs, the status of the jobs and programs that ran is
displayed. An “S” displayed in the “Status” column
indicates a successful program run. An “F” displayed in
the “Status” column indicates a failed run.
To see any comments associated with the job or
program that ran, highlight the row of the job or
program and click on the Comments icon on the toolbar.
These comments may help clarify the situation if a
failure occurs.
Once you review the job status, you may mark it as seen
by highlighting the row and selecting the Seen icon.
Once you select Save, the jobs are moved to the lower
half of the View Job Status screen, called Seen Jobs.
After viewing a job status, you may want to delete it.
To do this, highlight the row and click on the Delete
icon. The row disappears from the screen (it will
display again, however, if you do not save the changes).
It is advisable to view the comments for the record
before deleting it. If problems are indicated, notify HQ.
6-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Topic 2: Check-In Reports
Overview
ROSCO offers several reports for measuring FR
progress. Each of these check-in reports contains
information to help you manage your field staff’s
progress throughout the interview period.
To access these reports, click on the Operations menu
and Reports sub-menu, or click on the Reports icon and
then select Check-in.
The accessible check-in reports follow.
Daily Receipt Report
(CAPI-1)
The Daily Receipt Report (CAPI 1) is one of your most
important tools for monitoring FR progress each day.
ROSCO allows you to generate this report sorted by FR
Code, Team Leader Code, or FR Name. This report
displays: each FR’s workload, counts of cases received
and not received, the percentage of cases received, and
the counts of interviews and noninterviews. The totals
are displayed at the bottom of the report.
Note: The Daily Receipt Report also displays the date of
the last successful transmission for each FR.
Run this report each day.
Daily Laptop Report
(CAPI-2)
The Daily Laptop Report (CAPI 2) allows you to view
the status of cases still on an FR’s laptop. This report
lists FR information, workload, cases not checked-in,
and Team Leader assigned to the FR. Run this report
daily.
6-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Control Numbers
Assigned But Not On
Laptop Report
Cases Not Checked In
Report (CAPI-4)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
The Control Numbers Assigned But Not On Laptop
Report lists cases that were assigned but not picked up
by the FR. Verify that a file is awaiting pickup in the
Out Directory for the FR and then remind the FR to
make a transmission to pick up the file. Run this
report daily.
The Cases Not Checked-In Report (CAPI 4) provides a
listing of all cases for the selected interview period not
checked-in, including cases awaiting action in
Supervisory Review. ROSCO allows you to generate
this report sorted by FR Code or FR Name. This report
is especially useful as closeout draws near, at which
point you will want to run this report each day or
multiple times on closeout day.
Do not run this report early in the interview period since
it will contain your entire workload and will not be
useful.
This report contains: the Control Number, a flag if the
case is in Supervisory Review, Transmission Status,
address information for the case, Tract, Block, and last
FR assigned the case.
Prior to Running
Check-In Reports
Before generating any check-in reports, run a check-in
to clear all files from the In Directory. You may also
want to act on cases in Supervisory Review, as these
cases are not yet checked-in.
6-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Topic 3: Check-In Status Operations
Overview
As you monitor survey progress each day during the
interview period, you will use several functions under
the Operations menu and Check-in/Status sub-menu.
The Check-In/Status sub-menu includes Supervisory
Review, View/Reassign Cases, Run Check-in, and
Request CASES Data. This topic discusses each of
these activities.
Supervisory Review
As files are checked-in, cases with certain outcome
codes and action codes are held in Supervisory Review
awaiting review by an FS, SSF or SSO. These
supervisors must review these cases and decide to
accept, reassign, or eliminate each of them. It is
important that the supervisor act on cases in
Supervisory Review daily since the cases don’t
check-in until they are accepted.
To access Supervisory Review, click on Operations ➞
Check-in/Status ➞ Supervisory Review.
When a case comes into Supervisory Review, it falls
into one of four groupings: Non Interviews, Duplicates,
Failed Cases, or Partials. You should check each of
these categories daily to act on all of your cases held in
Supervisory Review.
6-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supervisory Review
– Noninterviews
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
If you select Non Interviews from the Option Selection
List, a list of all noninterview cases currently being held
in supervisory review appears. This includes:
• All Type A noninterviews
• All Type B noninterviews
• All Type C noninterviews
The Address
Information Window
The Customized
Window
The “Address Information” section displays the address
information for the case selected in the Noninterviews
section.
The “Custom Supervisory Review Noninterview Data”
section contains additional information about the
selected case. You can customize which variables
display in this section using the ‘Custom’ button on the
right. If you decide you would like to use your
customized arrangement as the default each time you
access this screen:
Click the Custom button to display the
‘Dynamic Data Window Customization’
screen.
Select the columns you want to display
from the Available Columns window.
Click the Add button to move your choices
into the Selected Columns window.
Click OK to close the Dynamic window.
Click the Store button in the Custom
Supervisory Review window.
6-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
The View More
Sections
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
To see more information about the selected case,
including the case notes, click on the View More icon
on the toolbar.
In Supervisory Review, the View More screen contains
tabs for Case Activity, Address History, Contacts, Letter
History, CAPI Notes, HH Roster, and Supv Review
Notes. The Supv Review Notes are displayed initially
as the default. Most of these tabs are self-explanatory,
but it is especially important to understand the uses of
the Case Activity tab.
The Case Activity tab displays both the current status of
the case and any previous activity with the case. For
example, if you reassigned a case previously from FR
Z97 to X01, and then Z97 completed an interview of the
case, the current status would show the case checked-in
as an interview credited to Z97.
To exit the View More window and return to the
Supervisory Review screen, click on the ‘Close’ button.
Reassigning a
Noninterview
To reassign a Supervisory Review Noninterview case:
Select one or more cases.
Click on the Reassign icon on the toolbar, or
select Reassign from the Options menu.
If one or more of the cases you select was already
checked-in, the Cases Checked-In Warning box is
displayed. If necessary, check the appropriate
boxes, and click OK.
If one or more of the cases you select is a Type A,
the Type A Reassign dialog box is displayed.
Mark whether or not you would like the current
FR to be charged with a Type A if the case is
converted, and click OK.
6-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reassigning a
Noninterview
(continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
On the FR Search dialog box, select the
appropriate FR code and check the box if you
would like to delete the case from the original
FR’s laptop, then click OK.
An “R” is displayed in the “Supv Action” field to
denote the case was reassigned.
Click the Save icon on the toolbar to save the
changes. Then click the Transmit icon to
immediately send the file for the new FR to pick
up.
Accepting a
Noninterview
To accept a noninterview in Supervisory Review:
Select one or more cases that you want to accept.
Click on the Accept icon or select Accept from
the Options menu.
If you accept Type B or Type C cases, an “A” is
displayed in the “Supv Action” field to denote the
case was accepted. If you accept a Type A, the
Type A ➔ Accept dialog box is displayed.
Select the FR to Charge With Type A from the
drop-down menu, or key in a different FR code
(be sure the alpha portion of the FR code is
capitalized). You may also designate the case as
a Confirmed Refusal or Congressional refusal.
Click on OK when you finish. An A is displayed
in the Supv Action field to indicate the case was
accepted.
Click on the Save icon to save the changes.
6-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Eliminating a
Noninterview
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
To eliminate a Supervisory Review Noninterview case:
Select one or more cases.
Click on the Eliminate icon on the toolbar, or
select Eliminate from the Options menu.
A pop-up window displays the message:
“Eliminate the data for these cases now?” Click
OK to confirm the elimination.
An “E” is displayed in the “Supv Action” field to
denote the case was eliminated.
Click the Save icon on the toolbar to save the
changes.
Changing a
Noninterview Outcome
Code
ROSCO allows users to change the outcome code for
noninterview cases in Supervisory Review. However,
you can only change the outcome code to another
outcome code with the same noninterview Type (A or
B), and you must change it before accepting the case.
Changing the outcome code in Supervisory Review only
changes it for FR performance reasons in the ROSCO
database – it does not change the data in the case that is
sent to the sponsor to be analyzed. Because of this, you
should not change the outcome for Type C
noninterviews. Instead, reassign the case to a laptop to
be assigned the correct outcome code.
To change the outcome code for a Type A or Type B
noninterview on the Supervisory Review Noninterviews
screen:
Select a case.
Click the Chg Outcome icon on the toolbar, or
select Change Outcome from the Options menu.
The Change Outcome Code window is displayed.
Click the drop-down arrow on the New Outcome
Code column to select a different code from the
list.
6-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Changing a
Noninterview Outcome
Code (continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Click OK.
Click “Yes” to the following message:
“Are you sure that you want to change the outcome
code of [control number of the selected case]?”
Click the Save icon on the toolbar to save your
changes.
Supervisory Review
– Duplicates
Cases are displayed on the Supervisory Review
Duplicates screen if a case is sent in after a previous
version of the case was checked-in. The RO staff must
review the outcome codes and case notes of the
duplicate to determine which version of the case should
be accepted. For example, if the first version of the case
is an accepted Type A Noninterview, and the second
version is a completed case (outcome code 201), you
will want to accept the completed interview.
This screen contains features very similar to the
Supervisory Review Non Interviews screen described
earlier in this topic, but there are some important
differences. The section with the list of duplicate cases
displays the FR, Outcome Code, and Date Recv’d for
both the duplicate case and the checked-in case.
Accept or Eliminate a
Duplicate Case
Accepting or eliminating a case acts on the duplicate
case, not the checked-in case. Therefore, if you want
to keep the checked-in version of the case and not the
duplicate, you would eliminate the duplicate case in
Supervisory Review. If you want to keep the duplicate
instead of the checked-in case, accept the duplicate case
in Supervisory Review.
To accept or eliminate duplicate cases on the screen,
follow the instructions for accepting a noninterview or
eliminating a noninterview from earlier in this topic.
6-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Accept or Eliminate a
Duplicate Case
(continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Double check that you want to accept or eliminate the
duplicate before acting on the case. HQ accepts the
last copy of the case it receives. Therefore, if you
accept an incorrect version of a case after the correct
version of the case was received by HQ, the last version
of the case accepted overwrites the earlier (checked-in)
version.
If the incorrect version of the case was accepted, there
are two ways to correct this:
The correct version of the completed case could
be re-transmitted by the FR and you can accept
that duplicate,
or
You can use the Resolve Missing Cases activity
as follows:
Click on Operations ➔ Closeout/Cleanup ➔ Resolve
Missing Cases/Closeout.
Click on the Cases Not Checked In and Not In
Supervisory Review tab, and click on the case
you reassigned.
Press the Resolve icon.
Click on the entry for the case that displays the
correct outcome code and FR code, then click
OK.
To accept the case with the outcome code you
selected in step 4, Click on the “No” button in
response to the window:
“Do you want to change the outcome?”
Click on the Save icon to save your changes.
6-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supervisory Review
– Failed Cases
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
Selecting Failed Cases on the Supervisory Review
Option Selection List produces a screen that displays
cases which failed to be checked-in for any of the
following reasons:
There are missing data.
The outcome code and action code in the database
do not match the outcome code and action code in
the study.
The outcome code is not on the list of possible
action codes.
The case is not in the workload.
You do not have to Accept, Eliminate, or Reassign
anything from the Failed Cases screen. Cases on the
Failed Cases screen cannot check in and must be
retransmitted.
ROSCO automatically puts a “resend” file in the Out
Directory for the FR. When the FR picks up the
“resend” file, the file causes the laptop to “resend” the
case with the next transmission.
Usually the resent file checks in and the case no longer
displays on the Failed Cases screen.
If the resent file does not check in, it is displayed twice
or more on the Failed Cases screen. If this occurs,
submit a ticket about this problem to the Remedy Help
Desk, and a Remedy technician will contact the FR to
assist them with checking in the file
6-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supervisor Review
– Partials
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
When FRs transmit sufficient partial cases, the cases go
to the Partial section of Supervisory Review.
An NCVS case becomes a sufficient partial with an
outcome code of 204 when the FR completes the NCVS
interview for the household (HH) respondent. To get a
completed case (with an outcome code of 201), the FR
needs to interview all other HH members who are
eligible for NCVS (HH members age 12 and over). If
FRs are unable to interview one or more of the other HH
members, they must mark the cases as ‘Ready to
Transmit.’
Once transmitted, a sufficient partial changes from 204
to 203. This sufficient partial 203 goes to the Partial
section of Supervisory Review in ROSCO where it can
be accepted, reassigned to another FR, or eliminated.
When a sufficient partial is reassigned, the responsible
FR can be changed, if appropriate.
All sufficient partials must be accepted, reassigned, or
eliminated out of the Partial section of Supervisory
Review before the RO can close out the interview
period.
View/Reassign
Cases
The View/Reassign Cases activity is fundamental to
your efforts to monitor progress during the interview
period. The View/Reassign Cases screen allows you to
query any subset of your workload and view the current
status, outcome, notes, and other data for the case. You
also use this screen to reassign cases from one FR to
another. Once assignments are released, you cannot
adjust who is assigned a case from the Make/Adjust
Assignments screen. You must use the
View/Reassign Cases screen instead.
To access the View/Reassign Cases screen:
Click on Operations ➔ Check-in/Status ➔
View/Reassign Cases.
6-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
View/Reassign
Cases (continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
The Query dialog box is displayed. Here you will
designate the cases to display on the
View/Reassign Cases screen.
The View/Reassign Cases screen is displayed
with the results from your query.
The “Cases to Reassign” section displays the Control
Number, FR, Outcome Code, Action Code, Interview
Period, and Checked-in (Y/N) status for each case. The
“Address Information” section displays the address
information for the highlighted case. The “Custom
View Reassign Data” section displays the workload data
which you can customize by using the ‘Custom’ button
on the right-side.
In View/Reassign Cases, click the View More icon to
see tabs for Case History, Case Activity, Address
History, Contacts, Letter History, CAPI Notes, and HH
Roster.
Once assignments are released, they no longer appear in
the Make/Adjust Assignment window. They do display
on the View/Assign window.
Reassigning a Case on
the View/Reassign
Screen
To reassign a case to a different FR using the
View/Reassign Cases screen:
Select one or more cases.
Click the Reassign icon on the toolbar or select
Reassign from the Options menu.
Select the desired FR from the FR Search dialog
box, and select the desired Case Options. The
different case options available are:
o “Delete cases from original FR’s laptop” is
displayed on the reassigned FR’s laptop
when he/she transmits to pick it up. The
case is removed from the original FR’s
laptop on the original FR’s next
transmission.
6-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reassigning a Case on
the View/Reassign
Screen (continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
o “Make reassignment permanent” makes
this case a permanent reassignment to the
designated reassigned FR in the assignment
parameters.
o “Send Original Data” removes all data
collected on the case to date and sets the
outcome code to ‘200’ (new case, not
started) on the reassigned FR’s laptop.
Note: this is the default option.
o “Review reassignment later” allows the RO
to review the case in subsequent months
before automatically assigning it to the
reassigned FR by using the assignment
parameters.
Click on the Save icon to save your changes.
If the case selected was already checked in, the
Cases Checked-In Warning Dialog box is
displayed. Check the boxes for cases you are sure
you would like to reassign and click OK.
The outcome of the reassigned cases is 200 and the date
checked in is blank.
Run Check-In
Running Check-In updates ROSCO with the most recent
changes in the FRs’ assignments. Check-in runs
automatically four times each day: 8:05, 12:05, 16:05,
and 18:05.
Additionally, ROSCO allows users to request additional
check-ins at any time using the Run Check-in activity as
follows:
Click on Operations ➔ Check-in/Status ➔ Run
Check-in.
Click “Yes” on the Check-In Dialog Box to verify
that you are sure you would like to run check-in.
6-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Run Check-In
(continued)
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
A message box is displayed informing you that
‘Check-In has been requested.’
After a few moments, you should be able to verify
in the View In Directories screen that the files are
no longer listed and have been checked-in, or you
can check the View Job Status screen to make
sure it was successful.
6-19
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 6: Monitoring Progress
This page intentionally left blank
6-20
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle............................................................................. 7-1
Topic 1: Closeout Duties ........................................................................................................ 7-3
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 7-3
Closeout Duties .................................................................................................................... 7-3
Check- in Reports.................................................................................................................. 7-4
Final Transmission ............................................................................................................... 7-4
Topic 2: Resolving Missing Cases.......................................................................................... 7-5
Resolving Missing Cases Screen ......................................................................................... 7-5
Cases Not Checked In And Not In Supervisory Review Tab...................................................7-5
Cases Not Checked In And In Supervisory Review Tab ..........................................................7-6
Cases Not In MCS Tab .........................................................................................................7-6
Cases Awaiting Delivery to MCS ..........................................................................................7-7
Flagged as Potentially Dangerous Cases and not Submitted to DAD Tab.................................7-7
Topic 3: Closeout .................................................................................................................... 7-8
Closeout Activation.............................................................................................................. 7-8
Closeout Time ...................................................................................................................... 7-8
Closeout Confirmation ......................................................................................................... 7-8
Reopening for Late Arriving Cases ..................................................................................... 7-9
Topic 4: Reviewing Type A Noninterviews ......................................................................... 7-10
Review/Charge Type A Noninterviews ............................................................................. 7-10
Reviewing Type As ............................................................................................................ 7-11
Review Converted Type A Noninterviews .........................................................................7-12
Topic 5: Closeout Reports .................................................................................................... .7-14
How to Generate Reports ................................................................................................... 7-14
Report Descriptions............................................................................................................ 7-14
Converted Cases by FR Code Report ................................................................................... 7-14
Final Status Report (CAPI 7)............................................................................................... 7-14
Final Outcome Code Report (CAPI 8)................................................................................. 7-15
Type A, D, and Z Report (CAPI 6) ..................................................................................... 7-15
7-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Type Cs and Extras Report .................................................................................................. 7-15
Contact History Instrument (CHI) Reports ........................................................................... 7-15
Topic 6: Clean Up Operations .............................................................................................. 7-17
Clean Up Laptops............................................................................................................... 7-17
7-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 1: Closeout Duties
Overview
There are a number of separate operations that must
occur for you to properly conclude activities at the end
of the survey cycle. By closeout time, ALL cases must
be transmitted and received and all cases must be
resolved in Supervisory Review. This chapter provides
a review of the closeout process.
Closeout Duties
Closing out an interview period on time is a critical part
of the NCVS RO staff's duties. The RO staff must
follow up on any outstanding cases, handle last minute
technical problems, properly resolve any cases in
Supervisory Review, and review charges for Type A
Noninterviews and converted Type A cases (see Topic 2
of this chapter). All of these activities must be
completed before you can closeout.
Before closeout, the RO should use the following
activities to ensure that all cases are checked in and
cleared from Supervisory Review:
• Resolve Missing Cases screen
• Daily Receipts Report
• Cases Not Checked-In Report
Once you have accounted for all of your cases, notify
your NCVS liaison at HQs. You must indicate that your
RO has closed out and the time of closeout. Check your
NCVS monthly activities calendar for details about
NCVS closeout. You must closeout out by the time
indicated on the calendar in order to receive credit for an
on-time closeout.
7-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Check-in Reports
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Regularly review the Daily Receipt Reports from the
Reports activity (Check-In) to identify FRs who:
• are not sending in work on a flow basis
• have several cases outstanding
• have a high Type A rate as closeout day
approaches.
Review the Cases Not Checked-In Report from the
Reports activity (Check-In) for details about cases not
yet checked-in. This report is especially useful as
closeout day approaches.
Final Transmission
The FRs must make their final transmissions the night
before closeout day. If, for example, Tuesday is a
closeout day, FRs must make a final transmission on
Monday night.
7-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 2: Resolving Missing Cases
Resolving Missing
Cases Screen
The Resolve Missing Cases Screen allows you to review
cases that are still outstanding and take action to get
them resolved. Although you can access this screen
anytime during the interview period after assignments
are released, the number of cases appearing on this
screen early in the interview period may be too large to
be useful.
To access this screen, click on the Operations menu ➞
Closeout/Cleanup ➞ Resolve Missing Cases/Closeout.
The Resolve Missing Cases screen consists of eight
tabs:
•
•
•
•
•
Cases Not Checked In And Not In Sup Review
Cases Not Checked In And In Sup Review
Cases Not in MCS
Cases Awaiting Delivery To MCS
Flagged As Potentially Dangerous And Not
Submitted To DAD
• Cases Awaiting Acknowledgement By MCS
• Checked In And Duplicate In Sup Review
• Cases Checked In But In Sup Review
Some of these tabs are described further in the sections
that follow.
Cases Not Checked In
And Not In
Supervisory Review
Tab
Cases on this tab are not in Supervisory Review and
were not checked in to the database. Each of these
cases must be resolved before you can closeout.
Use the following activities on the tool bar to act on
these cases:
7-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Cases Not Checked In
And Not In
Supervisory Review
Tab (continued)
• Reassign – Use this activity to reassign case(s) to
another FR in order to resolve the case and
transmit it in.
• Transmit – Use this activity to immediately
transmit reassigned cases to be picked up by FRs.
• Resolve – Use this activity to accept the
previously received version of a case, if you
previously reassigned the case after it was
checked-in using the View/Reassign Cases
screen, or if you reassigned the case from
Supervisory Review.
Cases Not Checked In
And In Supervisory
Review Tab
Cases under this tab were not checked into the database
because they are in Supervisory Review. Each of these
cases must be resolved before you can closeout;
however, you cannot resolve the cases from this tab—
you must resolve them on the appropriate Supervisory
Review screen.
Cases Not In MCS Tab
Cases under this tab were delivered to the Master
Control System (MCS) but receipt of the cases was not
acknowledged by the MCS. Presumably, cases under
this tab are in ROSCO but never made it to the MCS, so
the RO should first try to resend the case rather than
have the FR retransmit or reassign the case.
You may closeout even if there are cases under this tab.
Use the following activities on the tool bar to act on
these missing cases:
• Redeliver – Use this icon to resend the last
checked in version of the case to the MCS.
• Resolve – Use this icon to send a previous version
of the case to the MCS.
7-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Cases Awaiting
Delivery to MCS
Flagged as Potentially
Dangerous Cases and
not Submitted to DAD
Tab
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Cases under this tab were checked in and are waiting to
be delivered to the MCS. You may closeout even if
there are cases under this tab. No action is necessary on
your part to resolve these cases.
Cases under this tab have been ‘Flagged as Potentially
Dangerous and not Submitted to DAD’.
Instructions for submitting a case to DAD from the
View/Reassign screen in ROSCO are in the DAD RO
Manual.
Note: A case must be checked-in to ROSCO before you
can submit it to DAD for approval.
7-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 3: Closeout
Closeout Activation
Once there are no more cases listed under both the
“Cases Not Checked In And Not In Supervisory
Review” tab AND the “Cases Not Checked In But In
Supervisory Review” tab, the Closeout icon (‘the hand’)
is activated. Prior to being activated, the Closeout icon
is displayed in grayed text indicating it is inactive.
Click the activated Closeout icon to close out. Clicking
the Closeout icon immediately creates a closeout file
that is sent directly to the MCS. The system time when
the closeout file is created becomes your closeout time
in the Preliminary Response Rate Report that is sent to
you the day after closeout. When MCS receives the
closeout file, it automatically checks to make sure all
cases are accounted for.
Closeout Time
The monthly closeout date and time are listed in the
monthly NCVS Office Memo and Calendar.
Closeout
Confirmation
Call FLD LCSB at HQ as soon as you closeout (click
the Closeout icon). FLD LCSB then alerts TMO
Support staff that the RO is closed out and to look for
the MCS confirmation file.
• If the MCS file indicates all cases are accounted
for, FLD LCSB notifies the RO staff that closeout
is complete.
• If the MCS file indicates that one or more cases is
not accounted for, FLD LCSB notifies the RO
that closeout is not complete. TMO Support staff
may be able to find the missing case(s) in the
system, or it may require a retransmission of the
missing cases by one or more FRs.
7-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reopening for Late
Arriving Cases
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
If FRs call on closeout day to indicate they have more
completed interviews to send in after you have closed
out, you can reopen ROSCO to accept the late arriving
cases as long as at least one other RO has not yet closed
out. To reopen:
• Call HQ-FLD-LCSB to request a “reopen.”
• FLD-LSCB notifies TMO Support to reopen the
office. This takes only a few minutes.
• After you check in the late arriving cases, click
the Closeout icon.
• If the Closeout icon is not activated, check
Supervisory Review. When you checked in the
late arriving cases, you may have also checked in
some additional cases that may be in the
“Noninterviews” or “Duplicates” part of
Supervisory Review.
• Notify FLD-LCSB that you closed out again, and
FLD-LCSB staff will call back with a
confirmation within a few minutes.
Your last closeout time will be documented on the
Preliminary Response Rate Report.
7-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 4: Reviewing Type A Noninterviews
Review/Charge
Type A
Noninterviews
The FSs/SSFs have the opportunity to review Type A
cases and adjust which FR should be charged for each
one. The Review/Charge Type As screen allows you to
do this for cases checked-in as Type As, while the
Review Converted Type As screen allows you to do this
for cases that were once transmitted as a Type A, but
were reassigned for follow-up and are no longer Type A
cases.
To access the Review/Charge Type As screen:
• Click on Operations ➔ Closeout/Cleanup ➔
Review/Charge Type As.
The Review/Charge Type As screen lists all Type A
noninterviews for the month and provides the FR code
to which the Type A is currently being charged. RO
staff may review this screen and make adjustments to
the FR code as appropriate.
After each change, click on the Save icon to save the
change.
Generate a Final Outcome Code Summary Report to
review the totals of each outcome code either by FR or
for the entire region.
To see additional information about a highlighted case,
click on the View More icon on the Tool bar.
You may change who is charged with a Type A case by
using the FR Code column.
To display previous versions of a case, click on the drop
down window in the FR Code column. The following
information is displayed:
7-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Review/Charge
Type A
Noninterviews
(continued)
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
•
•
•
•
•
Case Activity
Assigned FR
Checked-In status
Outcome Code
Dates Assigned and Received
Click on an FR code displayed in the drop-down
window or type in another FR code.
You can also use the Chg Outcome activity on the tool
bar to change the outcome code of the highlighted case
to another Type A outcome.
Reviewing Type As
Some Type As will read ‘Pending’ in the RO Approval
Pending column. In most cases, Type As should be
charged to the Responsible FR.
If, for some reason, the RO wishes to excuse an FR of a
Type A charge, supervisors can select from the
following options in the ‘What to charge with Type A’
column:
• ‘FS Responsible FR’—This option will move the
Type A from the FR to the FS responsible for the
FR.
• ‘RO (proposed)’—This option will propose
moving the Type A from the FR to the RO to
which the FR is assigned. The supervisor must
explain the justification for the proposal, and then
the SSO will review the proposal and select one
of the following:
o ‘Approve’—This option accepts the
proposal and moves the Type A to the RO.
o ‘Reject’—This option rejects the proposal
and moves the Type A charge back to the
FR.
All pending Type As must be approved or rejected
before closeout.
7-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Review Converted
Type A
Noninterviews
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Select Review Converted Type As from the
Closeout/Cleanup activity before Populating FR
Performance data. The Review Converted Type As
screen lists all cases that meet the following criteria:
• The case is displayed in Supervisory Review as a
Type A.
• The case was reassigned for follow-up, and the
person who reassigned the case marked the box to
charge the current FR with a Type A if the case is
converted.
• The case was later accepted as something other
than a Type A noninterview.
The RO staff has several options:
• Click on Delete to remove the case from the list.
If Delete is selected, no FR is charged with a
Type A noninterview.
• Click on Insert to add a case that is not on the list.
The Control Number Search window is displayed.
– Scroll down the list to find and highlight the
desired case.
– Use the Case Activity button to verify that the
case was reassigned.
– Click on OK to add the case to the Review
Converted Type As screen.
– Select the FR code to be charged with the
Type A for the case, or type in the FR code.
– Click on the Save icon to save your changes.
• Click on View More to see more information
about the case.
The purpose of charging a Type A to a specific FR is to
reflect a negative outcome for the case on the FR’s
performance. This function is optional—you and RO
management may choose whether or not to use it.
7-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Review Converted
Type A
Noninterviews
(continued)
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Cases listed on this screen do not negatively affect the
RO’s overall response rate, and the FR who converted
and completed an interview for the case still receives
credit for the interview. The only change to the
database is the addition of the Type A to the individual
performance data of the FR charged.
7-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 5: Closeout Reports
How to Generate
Reports
There are a number of reports available in ROSCO for
RO staff to use to evaluate performance for an interview
period after closeout. To generate these reports:
• Click on Operations ➔ Reports ➔
Closeout/Clean-Up.
The different types of available reports are described in
this topic.
After you have generated the report, you can click the
Print icon to print the reports.
Report Descriptions
Each of the different closeout/cleanup reports contains
slightly different information to evaluate performance
for the interview period. You can experiment with the
different reports to determine which ones work best for
you. The report options are listed below.
Converted Cases by
FR Code Report
The Converted Cases by FR Code report lists all cases
during the interview period that were once Type A
Noninterviews but were later converted. This report
displays the Control Number, Final FR Code, Final
Outcome, Type A FR Code, Type A Outcome, and Type
A Description for each case.
Final Status Report
(CAPI 7)
The Final Status report provides a summary of results of
each FR’s assignment for an interview period, such as
assignment workloads, numbers of noninterviews,
response rates, etc. You can generate this report sorted
by FR Code, FS Code, or SSF Team. This report has a
line for each FR who completed work during the
interview period.
7-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Final Outcome Code
Report (CAPI 8)
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
The Final Outcome Code report provides a summary of
counts of cases with each outcome code for each FR.
The report columns display Outcome, Action, and
Count.
You can generate this report by FR Code, FS Code, or
SSF Team.
Type A, D, and Z
Report (CAPI 6)
The Type A, D, and Z report provides a listing of all
Type A, D, and Z cases, sorted by FR, with subtotals for
each.
For NCVS, there is no Type D classification and thus
this type of noninterview will not appear on the report.
A Type Z interview in NCVS indicates labor force items
were not collected from an eligible household member.
Type Cs and Extras
Report
The Type Cs and Extras report provides a listing of the
Control Number, Outcome Code, and Description of
each Type C case accepted during the selected interview
period.
Extra units—that is, unlisted living quarters associated
with a sample unit discovered during the interview—are
not collected in NCVS and should not appear on this
report.
Contact History
Instrument (CHI)
Reports
The CHI reports list several categories to help determine
why certain outcomes were reached. These reports are
FR specific and, depending on the specific report
selected, can inform of the strategies used, times and
days of contacts, and any type of reluctances
encountered during the contact.
7-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Contact History
Instrument (CHI)
Reports (continued)
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
The CHI reports are as follows:
• CHI 1 – Cases Not Checked In report
• CHI 2 – Type A report
• CHI 2z – Type Z report
• CHI 3 – Type of Contact report by FS
• CHI 3 – Type of Contact report by FS/PSU
• CHI 3 – Type of Contact report by FS/ZIP
• CHI 4 – Number of Attempts report by FR
• CHI 5 – FR Contact Attempts report
• CHI 6 – Zero Attempts report
7-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
Topic 6: Clean Up Operations
Clean Up Laptops
FRs should cleanup the laptops for a particular interview
period once the RO gives permission to proceed. This
usually occurs a week or so after feedback for the closed
out month, which is about a month and a half after close
out.
For example, feedback for January begins in the month
of February, and this feedback ends the first week in
March. So, the FRs should cleanup the January
interview period during the second week in March.
To clean-up an interview period from all NCVS FRs’
laptops:
1. Click on ➔ Operations menu ➔Closeout/CleanUp sub-menu➔ Clean-Up Laptop activity.
2. Click “Yes” on the confirmation message to
continue.
3. The following message is displayed:
“Request to start job for Laptop Clean-Up
successfully submitted. This may take a few
minutes.”
4. Click OK.
When you select Cleanup for an interview period, a
cleanup file (.clnp) is put on the server for each FR.
When they pick up the .clnp file, it will remove the
interview period from their laptop.
You can see the /clnp files in the Out Directory a few
minutes after you click OK
7-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 7: End of the Survey Cycle
This page intentionally left blank
7-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Chapter 8: Reinterview.................................................................................................... 8-1
Topic 1: Overview of NCVS CAPI Reinterview .................................................................... 8-3
Overview ............................................................................................................................. 8-3
Topic 2: Descriptions of Reinterview..................................................................................... 8-4
Types of Reinterview ........................................................................................................... 8-4
How many cases get reinterviewed? .................................................................................... 8-4
Cases Eligible for QC .......................................................................................................... 8-4
Centralized Reinterview....................................................................................................... 8-4
Eligible Respondents ........................................................................................................... 8-5
Personal Visits ..................................................................................................................... 8-5
50 Mile Rule......................................................................................................................... 8-5
Who May Conduct Reinterview .......................................................................................... 8-5
Supervisor’s Responsibility ................................................................................................. 8-6
Topic 3: Sample Selection ...................................................................................................... 8-7
The QC Sample .................................................................................................................... 8-7
Supplemental Reinterview ................................................................................................... 8-8
The Supplemental QC Sample ...............................................................................................8-8
Timing of Reinterview ......................................................................................................... 8-8
Activating Inactive Cases..................................................................................................... 8-8
Assigning Cases ................................................................................................................... 8-9
To Whom............................................................................................................................8-9
Timing................................................................................................................................8-9
Confidentiality ....................................................................................................................8-9
Topic 4: Laptop Operations ................................................................................................... 8-10
Location ............................................................................................................................. 8-10
Load Reinterview Software ............................................................................................... 8-10
Reinterviewer Transmissions ............................................................................................. 8-10
Case Management .............................................................................................................. 8-10
8-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 5: Conducting the Reinterview.................................................................................... 8-11
Quality Control Reinterview Instrument ........................................................................... 8-11
Reinterview Questions for Completed Original Interviews .................................................... 8-11
Interview Verification ......................................................................................................... 8-11
Content Verification ........................................................................................................... 8-11
Reinterview Questions for Type B or C Noninterviews .................................................... 8-12
Notes .................................................................................................................................. 8-12
Viewing the Reinterview Notes ......................................................................................... 8-12
Reinterviewer’s Manual ..................................................................................................... 8-12
Topic 6: QC Reinterview Outcome and Action Codes ......................................................... 8-13
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 8-13
Topic 7: Falsification, Feedback, and Followup ................................................................... 8-17
What is Falsification?......................................................................................................... 8-17
Suspected Falsification ...................................................................................................... 8-17
Reinterviewer Requirement for Suspecting Falsification .................................................. 8-18
No Errors............................................................................................................................ 8-18
Minor Errors....................................................................................................................... 8-19
Serious Errors..................................................................................................................... 8-19
Topic 8: Reinterview Closeout Operations ........................................................................... 8-20
Getting Started ................................................................................................................... 8-20
Resolve Missing Reinterview Cases Screen ...................................................................... 8-20
Close Out............................................................................................................................ 8-21
8-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 1: Overview of NCVS CAPI Reinterview
Overview
The Census Bureau and the survey sponsor, the Bureau
of Justice Statistics, are committed to collecting quality
data and providing accurate and reliable statistics about
victims of crimes in the United States. Although most
FRs conduct interviews properly and effectively, some
do not follow appropriate survey procedures and others
may even falsify data. For this reason, NCVS conducts
Quality Control (QC) reinterview (RI). The main
objective of QC RI is to detect and deter data
falsification. We do this by identifying those FRs who
are suspected of:
• Falsifying interview data,
• Misclassifying eligible household units as
noninterviews to avoid interviewing them,
• Not following established interview procedures
with respect to being polite, using laptops for
personal visit interviews, and collecting
household roster data.
QC reinterview is conducted in both CAPI and CATI.
8-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 2: Descriptions of Reinterview
Types of
Reinterview
The primary goal of QC reinterview is to detect and
discourage FR data falsification. The reinterview sample
is selected at HQ right after assignments are released.
In addition to the QC reinterview selected by HQ, the
RO can select FRs for supplemental QC reinterview, if
they deem it necessary. The supplemental QC
reinterview sample can be selected before or after
assignments are released.
How many cases get
reinterviewed?
Reinterview is conducted on about 2% of the NCVS
workload.
Cases Eligible for
QC
Cases eligible for the QC Sample include all
interviewed cases, as well as Type B and Type C
noninterviews.
Type A noninterviews are not eligible for reinterview.
Also not eligible are any cases conducted during an
observation and cases which were reassigned to another
FR.
Centralized
Reinterview
All NCVS QC reinterview cases are first sent to the
Tucson Contact Center (TCC) where TCC staff try to
conduct QC reinterview cases on the Telephone.
If TCC is unable to make contact with a case by phone,
the case is recycled to the ROs.
Cases without phone numbers are recycled to the ROs
immediately.
About half of the reinterview cases recycle.
8-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Eligible
Respondents
The reinterview respondent should be the household
respondent, family respondent, or sample adult
respondent from the original interview (for complete
original interviews or sufficient partials). If the original
respondent is unavailable, the reinterview may be
conducted with another knowledgeable household
member who is at least 15 years of age.
Personal Visits
For cost efficiency, the first contact attempt for all
reinterviews should be by phone. If no phone
verification is possible, attempt to complete the
reinterview by conducting a personal visit. If the
household is more than 50 miles away, get supervisory
approval before conducting the personal visit.
50 Mile Rule
The ‘50 Mile Rule’ states that if a household or
noninterview can’t be reinterviewed by telephone and is
more than 50 miles from the nearest available FR or
reinterviewer, the RO may classify that case as, “Type A
- RO discretion - 50 Mile Rule”.
The 50-Mile Rule is available to the ROs but not
required. Because the RO is budgeted for 10 percent of
their reinterview cases to be conducted by personal visit,
the RO has the option to conduct these personal visits
regardless of the 50 Mile Rule.
Who May Conduct
Reinterview
FSs, SSFs, SSOs, supervisory survey clerks, or any
member of the RO management staff may conduct
NCVS QC reinterviews. The reinterviewer must be
familiar with the NCVS and be trained on reinterview
procedures. Additionally, the reinterviewer cannot be in
the direct line of supervision of the FR being checked.
8-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supervisor’s
Responsibility
Chapter 8: Reinterview
The SSO has the responsibility to:
• Assign all eligible QC reinterview cases to a
reinterviewer,
• Assure all eligible QC reinterview cases are
assigned and transmitted to a reinterviewer. This
includes monitoring recycle from CATI on a daily
basis,
• Assure all eligible QC reinterviews are completed
and transmitted before the closeout date,
• Flag FRs for supplemental reinterview when
necessary,
• Follow up and resolve all cases suspected of
falsification.
8-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 3: Sample Selection
The QC Sample
The QC reinterview uses a modified generic reinterview
instrument. It uses a few questions to verify that the FR
visited the household, and then it asks questions about
the crimes that happened to the reinterview sample
person.
Groups of FRs are selected for QC reinterview every
month in a way that results in FRs being selected for QC
reinterview several times a year. HQ sends a monthly
list of the FRs selected for QC reinterview to the ROs
prior to NCVS Interview Week. See the NCVS
Monthly Calendar for the date.
The number of cases selected for each FR is determined
by their interview experience.
The reinterview sample includes interviewed cases, as
well as Type B and Type C noninterviews. Some
selected cases become ineligible during the interview
process. Ineligible cases include:
• Type A noninterviews,
• Observed cases (if the flag is set properly - see
Topic 5, Observer’s Instructions, in Chapter 5,
Training and Observations),
• Cases that were reassigned to a different RO.
As cases are screened from reinterview during the
month, you will see the reinterview workload decline in
the QC progress reports.
8-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Supplemental
Reinterview
Chapter 8: Reinterview
The supplemental QC reinterview is conducted with the
NCVS reinterview instrument.
Supplemental QC reinterview allows the RO staff to
“add” QC cases for specific FRs that are not already in
QC reinterview. Additions can be made during two
time frames:
• FRs added to supplemental QC reinterview
BEFORE you release assignments – cases are
selected along with regular QC and RI cases by
HQ.
• FRs added to supplemental QC reinterview
AFTER you release assignments – RO staff select
the cases.
The Supplemental QC
Sample
Supplemental QC reinterview additions are made in two
windows of time:
• Before assignments are released, in which case
the supplemental cases are selected by HQ along
with regular QC and RI cases.
• After assignments are released, in which case the
RO staff selects the cases.
Timing of
Reinterview
Reinterview cases should be assigned as soon as
possible. Reinterviews should be completed within two
weeks of the original interview.
Activating Inactive
Cases
All cases in the FR’s original assignment that are
eligible for reinterview, but have not been selected for
random or active supplemental reinterview are
considered inactive supplemental cases. Additional
cases may be activated if you are not sure whether to
suspect falsification.
8-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Activating Inactive
Cases (continued)
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Only RO management can activate inactive cases.
Inactive cases should only be activated if you intend to
reinterview those cases.
If an inactive case is activated, it will appear on the
laptop exactly as the other reinterview cases. You must
complete all cases that have been activated.
The input file for the activated cases will be transmitted
to the assigned reinterviewer when he/she makes his/her
reinterview transmission.
Assigning Cases
To Whom
Timing
Confidentiality
Once assignments for NCVS are checked in and HQ has
loaded the reinterview cases into the Reint-Status table,
ROs assign reinterview cases to reinterviewers for each
assignment period. You will get the list of all possible
reinterviewers. When making reinterview assignments,
be aware that most of these cases will be worked in
CATI. You should assume over 50% of the cases will
be worked in CATI and not by your reinterviewers.
Also, keep in mind that some will never be
reinterviewed at all because they are ineligible.
QC cases must be sent out to the reinterviewer one to
three days after the original interview, and completed
within two weeks of the original interview.
It is extremely important that reinterviewers and office
staff understand the importance of keeping confidential
the names of selected FRs and the control numbers of
selected cases. Reinterview is compromised when FRs
have advance knowledge that any of their cases will be
reinterviewed.
8-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 4: Laptop Operations
Location
The NCVS reinterview is treated as a separate survey
and thus it is not part of the NCVS survey case
management system. Instead, since NCVS RI is a
stand-alone survey, it has its own stand-alone
application on the laptop.
Load Reinterview
Software
Each person authorized to do the NCVS reinterview
must have the NCVS reinterview software loaded on
his/her laptop before receiving reinterview cases. All
reinterviewers and office staff can pick up the
reinterview instrument once it is available on the CAPI
server by performing a full transmission.
Reinterviewer
Transmissions
Until the first reinterview case appears in the
reinterviewer’s Case Management, the reinterviewer’s
laptop will not indicate if he/she will be receiving a
reinterview assignment that week. After each
transmittal, the reinterviewer should check the
reinterview case management to see if he/she received
any (more) reinterview cases.
Reinterviewers should also check their mail messages
daily to see if the RO has sent a message alerting them
of a reinterview assignment.
Case Management
Reinterview case management screens and functions are
almost identical to the NCVS case management screens
and functions. Information that appears on the
reinterview case management will be taken from the
original NCVS interview.
8-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 5: Conducting the Reinterview
Quality Control
Reinterview
Instrument
Reinterview Questions
for Completed
Original Interviews
Interview Verification
Content Verification
The questions that appear in the QC reinterview
instrument largely depend on whether the original
outcome was a noninterview or a completed/sufficient
partial interview.
The following questions will be asked for completed
original interviews and sufficient partials. All automatic
fills are italicized.
• Did the interviewer visit in person or call on the
telephone?
• Was the interviewer polite and professional?
• About how long did the interview last?
• Did the interviewer use a laptop computer? (For
personal visits only)
The following questions are only asked when there is a
response from the original interview. A subset, or
possibly none, of these questions will be asked in
reinterview. The instrument will display the appropriate
questions.
• Is the household roster correct?
• Did the interviewer ask about work, pay, or
business?
8-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Reinterview
Questions for Type
B or C
Noninterviews
Chapter 8: Reinterview
The reinterviewer will ask the following questions for
Type B or Type C Noninterviews.
• Did an interviewer visit or call regarding (sample
address)?
• Was the interviewer polite and professional?
• Did they use a laptop? (personal visit only)
• Confirmation of the status on interview date.
Notes
The reinterviewer should place details that will further
explain the reinterview case in RI Notes at the end of the
reinterview. This should include: the person with
whom the reinterviewer spoke; what errors, if any, were
discovered; if falsification was suspected, the reasons
why; any other information the RI respondent provided.
Viewing the
Reinterview Notes
After a reinterview is completed, reinterviewers will be
asked if they are ready to wrap up the case. If the
answer is “No”, the reinterviewer will be able to get
back in the instrument and only view the notes.
Reinterviewer will then be asked if they are ready to
“wrap up” the case. A case must be wrapped up to be
transmitted. You can also use case management to view
notes.
Reinterviewer’s
Manual
For more details on reinterview, refer to the NCVS-546,
Reinterviewer’s Manual.
8-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 6: QC Reinterview Outcome and Action Codes
Overview
Reinterview outcome codes are separated into two
groups: no suspected falsification and suspected
falsification. Many of the outcome codes are the same,
but the reinterview disposition code is different. Cases
suspected of falsification have a reinterview disposition
code greater than or equal to 060.
The tables on the next 4 pages show the outcome/action
codes for the situations of Not Suspected of
Falsification and Suspected of Falsification. The
outcome codes in parentheses are the outcome codes
if the case is a CATI case.
NOT SUSPECTED OF FALSIFICATION
Disposition
(QC
Outcome
Subtype)
Outcome
Action
N/A
200
00
New case, not started
N/A
202
01
Accessed instrument, no interview or insufficient partial
001
201
10
Original interview or noninterview verified as correct
003
214
21
Unable to complete, bad telephone number
013
214
21
Unable to locate
014
216
21
No one home
015
217
21
Temporarily absent
033
218
21
Refused
034
213
21
Language problem
035
218
21
Respondent can't remember
036
215
21
Insufficient partial
037
219
21
Other Type A
Description
Type As
8-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Type Bs (continued)
017
226 (398)
31
Vacant, regular or seasonal
019
227 (398)
31
Vacant, storage of household furniture
020
230 (398)
31
Converted to temporary business or storage
021
231 (398)
31
Unoccupied tent or trailer site
022
234 (398)
31
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible
023
228 (398)
31
Unfit to be demolished
038
224 (398)
31
Entire HH under age limit
039
225 (398)
31
Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
041
233 (398)
31
Other Type B
024
240 (398)
41
Demolished
025
241 (398)
41
House or trailer moved
026
243 (398)
41
Converted to permanent business or storage
027
245 (398)
41
Condemned
030
250 (398)
41
Deceased
031
251 (398)
41
Moved out of country
042
248 (398)
41
Other Type C
360 (398)
51
HH replaced by new HH since original interview
Type Cs
Type Ds
032
Discrepancy Cases
005
301 (398)
11
Discrepancy - not all questions asked in original interview
009
301 (398)
11
Discrepancy - incorrect household roster
012
301 (398)
11
Other discrepancy - no suspected falsification
8-14
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
RO/HQ Discretion
029
312
21
HQ discretion - permanent (sample adjustment)
052
311
21
053
312
21
054
312
21
055
312
21
056
312
21
RO discretion - permanent (hard to interview original case)
RO discretion - temporary (more than 50 miles from nearest
reinterviewer and no phone number)
RO discretion - temporary (observed during the original
interview)
RO discretion - temporary (personal visit needed, but not
authorized)
HQ discretion - temporary (case management, ROSCO
problems)
057
312
21
RO discretion - temporary (other)
SUSPECTED FALSIFICATION
All cases with disposition codes greater than or equal to 060 are suspected of falsification (SF)
Disposition
(QC
Outcome
Subtype)
Outcome
Action
Description
Type As
105
214
21
Unable to complete, bad telephone number
067
214
21
Unable to locate
068
216
21
No one home
069
217
21
Temporarily absent
086
218
21
Refused
087
213
21
Language problem
089
215
21
Insufficient partial
090
219
21
Other Type A
Type Bs
071
226 (399)
31
Vacant, regular or seasonal
073
227 (399)
31
Vacant, storage of household furniture
074
230 (399)
31
Converted to temporary business or storage
075
231 (399)
31
Unoccupied tent or trailer site
076
234 (399)
31
HH institutionalized or temporarily ineligible
077
228 (399)
31
Unfit, to be demolished
091
224 (399)
31
Entire HH under age limit
092
225 (399)
31
Temporarily occupied by persons with URE
094
233 (399)
31
Other Type B
8-15
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Type Cs
078
240 (399)
41
Demolished
079
241 (399)
41
House or trailer moved
080
243 (399)
41
Converted to permanent business or storage
081
245 (399)
41
Condemned
083
250 (399)
41
Deceased
084
251 (399)
41
Moved out of country
095
248 (399)
41
Other Type C
360 (399)
51
HH replaced by new HH since original interview
Type Ds
085
Misclassified Cases
Originally classified as a B, should have been an Interview or
Type A
Originally classified as a C, should have been an Interview or
Type A
096
301 (399)
11
097
301 (399)
11
099
301 (399)
11
Originally classified as a B, should have been a C
101
301 (399)
11
Originally classified as a C, should have been a B
103
301 (399)
11
Other misclassification - specify in the notes
Discrepancy Cases
061
301 (399)
11
Discrepancy - incorrect household roster
062
301 (399)
11
Discrepancy - not all questions asked in interview
066
301 (399)
11
Other discrepancy - suspected falsification
112
302 (399)
11
Discrepancy – laptop not used
8-16
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 7: Falsification, Feedback, and Follow-up
What is
Falsification?
Data falsification occurs when an FR knowingly
deviates from interviewing procedures. Falsification
includes any of the following:
• Making up some or all information.
• Deliberately miscoding the answer to a question
to avoid follow-up questions.
• Misclassifying occupied units as Type B or Type
C noninterviews to avoid interviewing (including
Screened Out cases).
Suspected
Falsification
There must be follow up on any cases where
falsification is suspected. Reinterviewers should not be
afraid to suspect falsification. It is better to suspect
falsification, investigate it, and clear it, than to leave any
issues unresolved.
For some discrepancies, suspected falsification is
automatic.
RO management can place any interviewer in
supplemental reinterview whenever a reinterviewer
cannot determine whether to suspect falsification or
not. Also, RO management decides whether to place
that interviewer in supplemental reinterview for the
next assignment period or to activate additional cases
for the FR.
All cases suspected of falsification should be transmitted
to the RO nightly. The RO will then fill out the
automated Form 11-163, Field Representative Data
Falsification Followup and Quality Assurance Form.
For every suspected falsification case there must be an
11-163 form, even if you determine the case is a fail-tofollow procedures. See the 11-164 manual for
information on filling out the form and timing.
8-17
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Suspected
Falsification
(continued)
Chapter 8: Reinterview
It is very important that action is taken on every
suspected falsification case in a timely manner. If, after
the initial review of the case, any possible falsification
could have occurred, you must follow the proper steps
listed in the ROAM, including issuing a 5-day letter and
removing the laptop from the FR until the investigation
is complete.
The RO may require you to check additional cases from
the FR and may request assistance in completing the 11163. The SSO should continue monitoring the FR
and the investigation until the issue is resolved.
Reinterviewer
Requirement for
Suspecting
Falsification
The Demographic Statistical Methods Division (DSMD)
at Census HQ requires that reinterviewers must suspect
falsification in the following situations:
No Errors
When there are no discrepancies discovered during
reinterview, the reinterviewer should contact the FRs to
commend them on a job well done.
1. Respondent reports that they were not interviewed
for the NCVS. In this situation, the original data
could be falsified.
2. Respondent reports that no laptop was used on a
personal visit interview. The integrity of the
original interview is compromised when a laptop
is not used, since you cannot ensure that all
appropriate questions have been asked.
3. The case was incorrectly classified as a Type B or
Type C noninterview when eligible respondents
occupied the unit. FRs may intentionally classify
sample household units as noninterviews to avoid
interviewing and prevent further contact in RI.
8-18
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Minor Errors
If there are minor discrepancies, the reinterviewer or the
supervisor should call and discuss them with the FR.
The reinterviewer should offer suggestions for
correcting faulty techniques or wrong concepts.
Serious Errors
If there are indications of serious errors or possible
falsification, the SSO should be the one to discuss the
reinterview with the FR. In this case, the reinterviewer
should not call the FR regarding reinterview or mention
to the FR that he or she had been in reinterview. It is
possible that the SSO may elect to put the FR in
supplemental reinterview the following week(s) to
resolve any questions about the quality of the FR's work.
The SSO, in consultation with the Coordinator, may
elect to retrain FRs whose reinterview indicates they are
having serious problems with the survey concepts,
procedures, or interviews.
This may be done by a phone discussion, by special
needs observation, or by having the FR attend all or part
of initial training again.
8-19
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Topic 8: Reinterview Closeout Operations
Getting Started
In order to closeout NCVS RI each week, the RO staff
must follow-up on any outstanding cases, handle last
minute technical problems, and resolve any cases in RI
Supervisory Review. Your primary tool for closing out
reinterview is the Resolve Missing Reinterview Cases
screen.
Resolve Missing
Reinterview Cases
Screen
The Resolve Missing Reinterview Cases screen allows
you to review RO cases that are still outstanding and
take action to get them resolved. To access this screen,
click on Operations ➞ Reinterview ➞ Resolve
Missing Reinterview Cases.
The screen is very similar to the Resolve Missing Cases
screen for regular NCVS interviewing. However, there
is one tab on the Resolve Missing Reinterview Cases
screen that is not on the Resolve Missing Cases screen.
This tab is titled Cases With No Input Received. Cases
under this tab were selected for reinterview but never
received an input file to allow them to be released to the
assigned reinterviewer. You will not be able to
closeout reinterview if cases remain on this tab.
Check the column “Intv Checked In” to see whether the
corresponding original NCVS case was received. If a
“Y” appears in this column, then the original case was
received and an input file should have been created. In
this situation, submit a remedy ticket and notify your
FLD LCSB liaison(s).
Reviewing the Missing Reinterview Input for
Reinterview Cases report throughout the reinterview
cycle will prevent problems at closeout due to cases
appearing on this tab.
8-20
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Close Out
Chapter 8: Reinterview
Once all cases from the Resolve Missing Reinterview
Cases screen have been accounted for, the Closeout icon
will display the image of a hand. Before you click on
the Closeout icon, you must make sure that all cases
have been resolved. Hit the Closeout icon on or before
the date specified on your NCVS Monthly Activities
Calendar.
The date you closeout reinterview is used to determine
when an interview period can be cleaned up. You
cannot clean up an intervie period in ROSCO until 90
days after the date of reinterview closeout. If you try to
clean up sooner, an error message displays reminding
you of the 90-day rule.
8-21
January 2017
NCVS 570, Reg ional Office Manual
Chapter 8: Reinterview
This page intentionally left blank
8-22
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Chapter 9: Noninterviews ............................................................................................... 9-1
Topic 1: Types of Noninterviews ............................................................................................ 9-2
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 9-2
Introduction to Noninterviews ............................................................................................. 9-2
Type A Noninterviews ......................................................................................................... 9-3
Type A – Other ............................................................................................................................... 9-4
Type B Noninterviews ......................................................................................................... 9-4
Type B – Other ............................................................................................................................... 9-5
Type C Noninterviews ......................................................................................................... 9-6
Type C – Other ............................................................................................................................... 9-7
Topic 2: Office Control of Type A Noninterviews .................................................................. 9-8
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 9-8
Type A – No One Home (NOH) .......................................................................................... 9-9
Type A – Temporarily Absent ............................................................................................. 9-9
Type A – Refusal ................................................................................................................. 9-9
Send Refusal Letters..................................................................................................................... 9-10
Provide Other Assistance ............................................................................................................. 9-11
When to charge Refusals to the Regional Office ......................................................................... 9-11
Households not Interviewed for Other Reasons ................................................................ 9-12
Topic 3: Office Procedures for Type B Noninterviews ......................................................... 9-13
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 9-13
Topic 4: Office Procedures for Type C Noninterviews ......................................................... 9-14
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 9-14
Reinstating Type C Noninterviews .................................................................................... 9-14
9-1
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Topic 1: Types of Noninterviews
Overview
A noninterview unit is a sample unit for which an
interview is not obtained. The RO staff should expect to
encounter noninterviews for a variety of different
reasons during the course of field operations. The
specifics for each noninterview category are described
throughout this chapter.
Introduction to
Noninterviews
Noninterview units are classified as Type A, Type B, or
Type C. There is a screen for noninterviews within the
NCVS instrument. When FRs select the noninterview
option, they will be asked under which type of
noninterview this case should be classified. Again, the
options are:
Type A
Type B
Type C
Once the FR makes the selection, the self-explanatory
screens take the FR through the process of entering the
necessary data for the noninterview.
Each category of noninterviews is assigned a different
outcome code. Once the noninterview case is
transmitted to HQ by the FR, noninterviews are sent to
supervisory review.
The survey supervisor should review each
noninterview, as well as any FR notes, to confirm that
the case has been coded correctly.
See Chapter 6 for information and instructions on how
to review, reassign, and accept noninterviews through
the ROSCO system.
9-2
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Type A
Noninterviews
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Type A noninterviews refer to eligible sample units in
which the occupants refuse or are not available to be
interviewed. For example: temporarily absent or no one
home.
FRs should not transmit a case as a Type A
noninterview without supervisory approval. Supervisors
need to ensure that the FR made every reasonable effort
to “convert” a Type A noninterview before the FR
transmits the case as a noninterview.
When the FR determines the case is a Type A
noninterview and codes it as such, the instrument will
take the FR directly to a screen to enter notes about the
case. The survey supervisor should check that there are
notes for every Type A noninterview.
On the supervisory review screen for Type A
noninterviews, the supervisor will see the control
number and outcome codes of newly received Type As.
The outcome codes and categories are listed in the table
below:
Type A Categories
Outcome Codes
Language barrier
213
Unable to locate
214
No one home (NOH)
216
Temporarily absent (TA)
217
Refused (REF)
218
Type A - Other
219
9-3
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Type A – Other
Type B
Noninterviews
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
When you cannot interview at a unit occupied by
persons eligible for interview, and the first five Type A
categories do not apply, enter ‘Other-Occupied’, and
specify the reason. Reasons may include: ‘Death in the
family’, ‘Roads impassable’, ‘Household quarantined’,
etc.
Type B noninterviews refer to households which are not
eligible for interview.
Type B noninterviews ARE reassigned in subsequent
interview periods.
When the FR determines that the case is a Type B
noninterview, the instrument will take the FR directly to
the items to end the interview. The outcome codes and
categories for Type B noninterviews are listed in the
table on the following page:
9-4
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Type B Categories
Outcome Codes
Temporarily occupied by URE
225
Vacant - Regular
226
Vacant - Storage of HH Furniture
227
Unfit, or to be demolished
228
Under Construction, Not ready
229
Converted to Temporary Business or
Storage
230
Unoccupied Tent or Trailer Site
231
Permit Granted, Construction Not
Started
232
Type B - Other
Type B – Other
233
The ‘Type B – Other’ classification is used for a
housing unit that is likely to be uninhabitable and/or the
residents are likely to have evacuated to unknown
locations, but because of a severe disaster (flood,
earthquake, tornado, fires, etc.), the FR is unable to
access and confirm (in person or by telephone) the
correct status during the interview period.
In cases of natural disasters, HQ notifies the ROs and
TCs when it is acceptable to code cases as Type B Other.
9-5
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Type C
Noninterviews
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Type C noninterviews refer to sample units which can
no longer be lived in or, for some other reason, are out
of scope for this survey.
FRs should not transmit a case as a Type C
noninterview without supervisory approval. Supervisors
need to ensure that the FR has verified the Type C
noninterview status before the FR transmits the case as a
noninterview.
When the FR determines that the case is a Type C
noninterview and codes it as such, the instrument will
take the FR directly to a screen to enter notes about the
case. The survey supervisor should check that there are
FR notes for each Type C noninterview. If the case is a
Type C noninterview for a listing or coverage reason,
(i.e., outside of segment, merged, etc,) the FR should
detail those reasons in the NOTES section of the case.
On the supervisory review screen for Type C
noninterviews, the supervisor will see the control
number and outcome codes of newly received Type Cs.
The outcome codes and categories are listed in the table
on the following page:
9-6
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Type C Categories
Outcome Codes
Type C – Other
Demolished
240
House or Trailer Moved
241
Outside Segment
242
Converted to Permanent Business or
Storage
243
Merged
244
Condemned (and Unoccupied)
245
Unused Serial Number of Listing
Sheet
247
Type C - Other
248
Unlocatable Sample Address
258
Unit Does Not Exist or Unit is Out of
Scope
259
The “Type C - Other” is used for a housing unit that
cannot be classified in any of the above categories.
Some examples might be ‘duplicate listing’, ‘never
living quarters’, or ‘permit abandoned’ (permit segments
ONLY).
9-7
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Topic 2: Office Control of Type A Noninterviews
Overview
The number of Type A noninterviews can influence the
degree to which the NCVS data are representative of the
entire population. People who are difficult to find at
home or who resist being interviewed may be different
from those who are readily interviewed. Failure to
obtain interviews from such persons may introduce a
serious bias into the survey.
There is no formula for keeping Type A noninterviews
to a minimum. It involves the FR’s ability to enlist
cooperation from all kinds of people and to plan visits
when people are most likely to be home. Experience
has shown that Type A noninterview rates fluctuate by
area and by season. Consistently low rates in some
areas are a tribute to the extra effort of the office staff
and FRs.
To aid the supervisory review of cases received as Type
As during interview week, the ROSCO system has a
daily review and resolve program for noninterviews.
Make every effort to help FRs reduce Type A
noninterviews by suggesting ways to obtain an interview
in each situation, and by making sure that sample units
reported as Type A noninterviews are in fact Type A
and not Type B or Type C noninterviews.
Following are some suggestions you can offer the FR
for handling units which are tentatively classified as
Type A noninterviews. Also consider that any
noninterview case can be reassigned to another FR as
the survey supervisor sees necessary.
9-8
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Type A – No One
Home (NOH)
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
NOH noninterviews need to be closely monitored and
should be a primary concern for supervisors. There
should be few NOH cases. Remind the FRs to:
Ask neighbors, postal workers, etc. when
occupants are most likely to be home, and
schedule callbacks accordingly. An inquiry on
the first visit can avoid unproductive callbacks
when a household is temporarily absent.
Make additional callbacks when driving near the
unit on the way to and from other cases.
Consider leaving a Request for Appointment
form/card (not in the mail box) if, on the first visit
to a unit, no respondent is home.
Visit all cases as early in the interview period as
possible.
Type A –
Temporarily
Absent
It is especially important for the FR to find out from the
neighbors, relatives, or friends when a temporarily
absent household will return. If the household will
return before closeout, the FR should contact the
household when they return.
If all members of a household are staying with friends or
at a seasonal unit, have the FR attempt to find the
location and/or telephone number of where the
respondents can be reached. There may be another FR
in or close to the area the respondents are staying who
can conduct the interview before closeout.
Type A – Refusal
Check the number of refusals reported by each FR,
particularly inexperienced ones. If an FR consistently
reports refusals, schedule him/her for special needs
observation. Perhaps he/she is giving up too easily or is
not adequately explaining the survey.
9-9
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Type A – Refusal
(continued)
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Discuss refusals and offer the following suggestions:
Explain clearly to the respondent the importance
of the survey, and emphasize the confidentiality
of the information.
Be sure the household has an introductory letter.
Leave other materials which explain the survey, if
that would likely to help.
Introduce yourself and explain the survey to local
authorities who may receive calls from
respondents inquiring about NCVS.
Review the FR Manual for the variety of
approaches to be made to respondents.
Send Refusal Letters
FRs may encounter respondents who offer resistance or
who do not wish to cooperate in NCVS. In most
instances, the FR can explain the purposes of the NCVS
sufficiently so that he/she gains the respondent’s
cooperation. There are cases, however, when the FR
may request a letter to be sent to a reluctant respondent.
Send a letter to the respondent as soon as a new refusal
is reported. Use the ROSCO NCS Respondent Letters
Tracking report under Sample Control to monitor
respondent letters. There are five types of letters, some
of which are available in Spanish. The letters are:
No One Home (NOH)
Better Understanding
Refusal
Management
More Information
Depending upon the Type A noninterview, as well as
the location of the FR, you may also consider
immediately telephoning the respondent to explain the
survey and arrange an appointment for the FR.
9-10
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Send Refusal Letters
(continued)
Provide Other
Assistance
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Personal visits require close coordination with on-going
work on other surveys to minimize expenses.
Supervisors should generally plan to visit refusals which
are located within a reasonable distance from where
they are working. Consult with the program supervisor
when arranging personal visit follow-ups, since those
will incur excessive time and money.
In multi-FR PSUs, consider reassigning refusal cases to
another FR in the area. This is especially important
when the FR who originally received the refusal is
inexperienced. However, competence in converting
refusals is best gained by experience, so make sure the
inexperienced FR has attempted to convert the refusal
before reassigning the case to another FR.
For particularly difficult cases, consider reassigning the
case to the RO for follow-up. When a supervisor travels
to an area for any reason, he or she should, if possible,
take active refusal cases in that area and attempt to
convert them.
When to charge
Refusals to the
Regional Office
Charge refusals to the Regional Office (Code A01)
when they cannot be charged to the FR for any of the
following reasons:
Refusals resulting from the designation of the
same unit to different samples or surveys.
Households for which HQ, the regional director,
or assistant regional director instructs the FR to
discontinue attempts.
9-11
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Households not
Interviewed for
Other Reasons
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
For Type A noninterviews which could not be
interviewed for such reasons as impassable roads or
sickness in the household (or quarantine), instruct the
FR to contact the household later in the interview
period. If the situation has changed, an interview may
be obtained; otherwise, the case should be reported as a
Type A – Other.
9-12
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Topic 3: Office Procedures for Type B Noninterviews
Overview
When a unit is reported as a Type B noninterview, make
sure to review the case notes first to ensure the FR
marked the classification correctly. (Refer to the NCVS
Interviewing Manual for specific instructions for
marking each category.)
Once a case is accepted as a Type B noninterview, it
will return in subsequent months as a Type B for field
verification by an FR. Some Type B cases may convert
back to living quarters in future months.
9-13
January 2017
NCVS 570, Regional Office Manual
Chapter 9: Noninterviews
Topic 4: Office Procedures for Type C Noninterviews
Overview
Type C noninterviews are households which are
ineligible for the NCVS sample. Once a case is
accepted as a Type C noninterview, it will not return to
sample.
All Type C noninterviews stop in Supervisory Review,
where the supervisor must determine to accept,
eliminate, or reassign them.
Reinstating Type C
Noninterviews
Notify your survey liaison at FLD HQ, Labor and Crime
Surveys Branch, if it is determined that a Type C
noninterview case was deleted in error. The
Demographic Statistical Methods Division (DSMD) can
reinstate a Type C for future interview periods.
A reinstated case is displayed as a new case and will not
have any dependent data previously collected for the
case.
9-14
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 10: Security
Chapter 10: Security
Chapter 10: Security ........................................................................................................ 10-1
Topic 1: Security ................................................................................................................... 10-2
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 10-2
Computer Security Act of 1987 ......................................................................................... 10-2
Computers and Confidentiality .......................................................................................... 10-2
Regional Responsibility ..................................................................................................... 10-3
Data Security...................................................................................................................... 10-4
Environmental Security...................................................................................................... 10-4
Physical Security................................................................................................................ 10-4
Computer-Generated Materials........................................................................................... 10-5
Software Security ............................................................................................................... 10-5
Passwords......................................................................................................................... 10-5
Selecting a Password ........................................................................................................ 10-5
Protecting Passwords ........................................................................................................ 10-6
Sign-on Attempts .............................................................................................................. 10-6
Unauthorized Software ...................................................................................................... 10-6
Alteration of Authorized Software ..................................................................................... 10-7
Topic 2: Personally Identifiable Information ....................................................................... 10-8
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 10-8
Notification Procedures for Loss of PII ............................................................................. 10-8
10-1
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 10: Security
Topic 1: Security
Overview
This Chapter outlines policies, procedures, and
guidelines for the implementation and maintenance of
Field Division security for the Regional Offices and for
individual Field Representatives (FRs). It is consistent
with the requirements of the Computer Security Act of
1987, OMB Circular A-130 (Management of Federal
Information Resources) and all existing Federal
regulations, policies, procedures and standards.
Computer Security
Act of 1987
The Authority for the security regulations of the Census
Bureau is based on the Computer Security Act of 1987 –
P.L. 100-235. This law requires each Federal Agency to
identify which of its computer systems have sensitive
information and establish a plan for maintaining the
security and privacy of such information, compatible
with the magnitude of harm resulting from loss, misuse,
or unauthorized access of the information. The law also
requires training for persons who manage or operate
Federal computer systems. It is the intention of Field
Division to carry out this law by requiring all employees
to comply with the practical procedures found in this
Chapter.
Computers and
Confidentiality
Respondents and employees may have concerns about
the confidentiality and protection of data when
information is stored and transmitted by computers.
Here are some issues that RO and field personnel should
be aware of:
10-2
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Computers and
Confidentiality
(continued)
Chapter 10: Security
• Confidential information can be better protected
inside a computer than on paper forms, since a
password is required to enter the computer
program and access the files.
• Census Bureau policy prohibits employees from
using their computers for non-work activities or
permitting anyone else to use their computers for
any purpose.
• The data from all interviews done in one day are
combined into a single compact file which is
transmitted as a continuous stream of data, not as
individual cases.
• The interview data pass over the cable, telephone,
and wireless lines in a form that makes it difficult
to identify the data items, even if a transmission
were somehow intercepted.
• Access to Census Bureau central computers by
hackers is prevented by using secure cable,
telephone, and wireless lines to connect the ROs
with HQ, and by receiving transmissions from
FRs on a group of small computers that are
isolated from the Census Bureau’s main network.
Regional
Responsibility
The Assistant Regional Director (ARD) is responsible
for overall security within the RO. Regional Offices
must implement computer related security procedures
and report the status of operations and any problems to
the ARD.
The operational monitoring of security comes under the
jurisdiction of the Survey Supervisor. Each Survey
Supervisor is responsible for security in his/her area and
will establish and monitor security procedures.
The regional office computer specialist, automation
coordinator, supervisor, or other knowledgeable person
must train all appropriate personnel on computer
security matters.
10-3
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Data Security
Chapter 10: Security
The information stored on the PC or laptop is of critical
value to the Census Bureau. It is important for all
personnel to remember the following points:
• The security and maintenance of the data are vital
to the success of the NCVS CAPI system.
• The data must not be lost, stolen, or damaged.
• It is important to protect the data from hardware
and software failures, catastrophes, vandals, and
persons who would misuse the data.
Environmental
Security
Environmental security requires measures for the
protection of the structures housing the computer,
related equipment, and their contents from damage by
accident, fire, and environmental hazards.
Each RO should make a detailed list of the contacts for
service of support equipment. This includes HVAC unit
service, building service, and electrical service. Post the
list in a conspicuous place in the computer area.
FRs and Regional personnel should refrain from
smoking, drinking or eating in areas close to any
computer and should exercise caution, especially in the
field, not to operate equipment under hazardous
conditions.
Physical Security
Physical Security refers to the safeguarding of agency
equipment and materials from theft, vandalism, and
unauthorized use. Such equipment and materials
include computers, modems, disks, and printouts.
In the RO, physical security involves the use of locks,
guards, badges, and similar administrative measures to
control access to the computers and related equipment.
Physical Security in the field requires FRs to exercise
proper care to protect Bureau property, especially from
theft and unauthorized use.
10-4
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Computer-Generated
Materials
Chapter 10: Security
Computer printouts and drafts containing sensitive
information, such as payroll data or respondent
addresses must be held in a secure location. This also
includes printouts of system information.
Dispose of these materials in a manner appropriate to
their sensitivity. Sensitive Field and RO materials
should be held in the office in separate containers until
instructions are given for shredding, incineration, or
other disposal methods. The survey supervisor will
instruct the FRs regarding the proper mode of disposal.
The ARD may authorize local disposal of confidential
materials for the RO and field personnel. In this case,
an employee with security clearance will accompany the
material and witness the destruction.
Software Security
Bureau computers must not be used for any purposes
other than official business. Employees may not use, or
allow others to use, agency equipment and materials for
personal work or play.
Passwords
Passwords are the most common means of verifying an
authorized user’s identity and are an important method
of protecting computer data. Passwords are required for
any on-line access to computers and occasionally for
access to particular files.
Selecting a Password
In most cases, passwords may consist of any
combination of letters and numbers as long as the total
number of characters equals twelve. An ideal password
is an obscure mixture of numbers and letters, but
fragments of several words or one badly misspelled
word may also be used. One might, for example, think
of an unusual word, then misspell it or rearrange the
letters, and finally throw in a digit or two someplace.
Do not use common English words.
10-5
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 10: Security
Selecting a Password
(continued)
Laptop users are required to change their password on a
regular basis.
Protecting Passwords
Intruders can easily circumvent the protection afforded
by passwords if users do not take basic precautions to
safeguard passwords.
Have users memorize passwords. It is against Bureau
regulations to write down a computer password. Users
must remember passwords reliably.
If an RO password is forgotten, the ROCS will need to
provide assistance.
Sign-on Attempts
Unauthorized Software
Access procedures will allow only a limited number of
sign-on attempts before stopping further use of the logon. The number of sign-on attempts allowed may vary
with the degree of security required. In general, Field
Division allows three attempts.
Users must not add any unauthorized software to the
hard drive, or download or run from a disk any software
not provided to them by the Census Bureau.
The use of any unauthorized software on a computer
introduces the risk of contamination by a virus—a
computer program that damages or writes over other
files.
Use of unauthorized software may take up working
memory needed for official work, which can directly
interfere with the operation of official software.
10-6
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Alteration of
Authorized Software
Chapter 10: Security
Computer-assisted data collection and management
requires uniform materials and procedures. Users
should not attempt to make any changes to existing
software on computers. Users must never alter any
programs or files in an attempt to make the software
operate differently. Such alterations defeat the
uniformity that operations require and make it difficult
or impossible to provide technical support.
10-7
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 10: Security
Topic 2: Personally Identifiable Information
Overview
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is any
information about an individual maintained by an agency,
including, but not limited to, education, financial
transactions, medical history, and criminal or
employment history and information which can be used
to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as
their name, social security number, date and place of
birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, etc.,
including other personal information which is linked or
linkable to an individual.
Below is a list of Devices and Forms that may potentially
contain PII:
• Laptop Computers
• Memory Keys (flash drives, thumb drives, memory
sticks)
• CDs and DVDs
• CAPI-35 assignment sheets
Notification
Procedures for Loss
of PII
Within ONE HOUR of loss or suspected loss of PII, the
BOC Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT) must be
notified by calling (877) 343-2010. Please provide the
CIRT with the following information:
• Employee name and phone number(s)
• Regional Office name
• Date and Time of incident
• Device or Item that was lost or stolen
• Description of what happened
• Are the data encrypted?
• Is the device password protected?
10-8
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Notification
Procedures for Loss
of PII (continued)
Chapter 10: Security
In addition to reporting to the CIRT, notify the local law
enforcement and obtain a police report. For more
information on the security of PII information, please
refer to the 11-2 (WIN) Regional Office Laptop Control
Manual.
10-9
January 2017
NCVS 256, NCVS Office Manual
Chapter 10: Security
This page intentionally left blank
10-10
January 2017
NCVS-572(L) LOS ANGELES
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–992–3530.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-572(L) DENVER
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–852–6159 EXT. 23820.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-572(L) ATLANTA
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–424–6974 EXT. 53943.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-572(L) CHICAGO
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–865–6384.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-572(L) NEW YORK
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–991–2520.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-572(L) PHILADELPHIA
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Your address has been selected to participate in the National Crime Victimization Survey.
The survey collects information about the type and amount of crime committed against people
in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this survey on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–262–4236.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
What is the National Crime Victimization Survey?
This survey collects data about experiences with crime, both reported and not reported to the
police. Periodically, the survey includes additional topics such as crime in schools, contacts with
law enforcement, and identity theft.
How was I selected for this survey?
The U.S. Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, to participate in this survey.
We randomly selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent the entire
population. We need a response from all persons 12 or older in sampled homes to get a
complete picture of the types and amount of crime happening in the United States.
Will information I provide be confidential? Is this survey required by law?
The Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau
is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your
household. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Justice under the authority of law (Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section
8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized to collect this survey information by law (Title
34, U.S.C., Section 10132). Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers
confidential (Title 13, U.S.C., Section 9 and Title 34, U.S.C., Sections 10231 and 10134). Per
the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity
risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. This collection has been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Number: 1121-0111; Expiration Date:
08/31/2018). If this number were not displayed, we could not conduct this survey. Your voluntary
participation in this survey is important; however, you may decline to answer any or all
questions.
How are the data used?
Data from this survey provide information on many topics related to crime and victimization,
including crime in schools, trends in violent crime, costs of crime, and the response of law
enforcement to reports of victimization. Examples of reports, tables, and charts that use data
from the survey are on the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ web site at www.bjs.gov.
How long will it take?
We expect the interview to take about 25 minutes. Your interview may be somewhat shorter or
longer than this depending on your circumstances. If you have any comments about this survey
or have recommendations for reducing its length, send them to the Chief, Victimization Statistics
Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
I thought that the Census Bureau only counts people every 10 years.
What is the Census Bureau doing now?
Besides the decennial census, we collect many different kinds of information through other
censuses and surveys. These surveys provide current information on such topics as housing,
crime, unemployment rates, health, business, economics and education.
NCVS-572(L) (12-2017)
NCVS-572(L)(SP)
(1-2018)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Un mensaje del Director de la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos
Estimado Residente,
Su dirección ha sido seleccionada para participar en la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas
de Delitos. Esta encuesta recopila información acerca del tipo de crimen y la cantidad de delitos
que se cometen contra las personas en los Estados Unidos. La Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU.
lleva a cabo esta encuesta por parte del Departamento de Justicia de los EE.UU.
Debido a que muchos delitos nunca son reportados a la policía, la información recopilada en
esta encuesta será usada para obtener un panorama más completo del crimen que ocurre en
nuestro país. La información que usted proporciona nos ayudará para mejor entender el crimen y
el impacto que tiene a las víctimas. Los resultados de la encuesta son usados para desarrollar
programas que ayudan a las víctimas del crimen y para prevenirlo.
Su participación es muy importante porque garantiza que los resultados de
la encuesta estén completos y sean confiables. No podemos reemplazar su dirección
por otra. Su dirección forma parte de una muestra estadística de hogares seleccionadas en el
país. Sus respuestas representas miles de hogares como el suyo. Su participación es importante,
aún si no ha sido víctima de un crimen. Por ley, la Oficina del Censo solamente puede usar sus
respuestas para producir estadísticas. La información que nos proporciona acerca de usted o su
hogar no podrá ser identificada al producir estadísticas.
Al reverso de esta carta puede leer las respuestas a preguntas que frecuentemente recibimos.
No necesita hacer nada en este momento. Un representante del Censo se pondrá en contacto
con usted para pedir la participación de su hogar en la encuesta.
Gracias por su participación.
census.gov
¿Qué es la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas de Delitos?
Esta encuesta recopila datos sobre las experiencias con el crimen, ambos reportados y no
reportados a la policía. Periódicamente, la encuesta incluye temas adicionales tales como
crimen en las escuelas, el contacto con las agencias de orden público, y el robo de la identidad.
¿Cómo fui seleccionado(a) para esta encuesta?
La Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos seleccionó su dirección, no a usted personalmente,
para participar en esta encuesta. Elegimos una muestra de direcciones para representar todas
las áreas de los Estados Unidos. Necesitamos la participación de todas las personas de 12
años y mayor en las direcciones elegidas para ver un panorama completo del tipo de crimen y
la cantidad de delitos ocurriendo en los Estados Unidos.
¿Será confidencial la información que proporcioné?
¿Es esta encuesta obligatoria por ley?
La Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU. está obligada por ley a proteger su información. A la
Oficina del Censo no se le permite divulgar sus respuestas de manera que usted o su hogar
pudiera(n) ser identificado(a)(s). Llevamos a cabo esta encuesta para la Oficina de Estadísticas
de Justicia del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos bajo la autorización de la ley
(Titulo 13, Código de los Estados Unidos (U.S.C.), Sección 8). La Oficina de Estadísticas de
Justicia está autorizada para recopilar información en esta encuesta por ley (Titulo 34, U.S.C.,
Sección 10132). La ley federal proteja su privacidad y mantiene su información confidencial
(Titulo 13, U.S.C., Sección 9 y Titulo 34, U.S.C., Sección 10231 y 10134). En conformidad con
la Ley para el Fortalecimiento de la Seguridad Cibernética Federal del 2015, sus datos están
protegidos contra los riesgos de seguridad cibernética mediante los controles aplicados a los
sistemas que los transmiten. Esta recopilación de información ha sido aprobada por la Oficina
de Administración y Presupuesto (OMB, por sus siglas en inglés) (Número de OMB: 1121-0111;
fecha de expiración: 08/31/2018). De no mostrarse este número, no podríamos realizar esta
encuesta. Su participación voluntaria a esta encuesta es importante, pero puede decidir no
contestar alguna o ninguna de las preguntas.
¿Cómo se usan los datos?
Los datos de esta encuesta proveen información acerca de varios temas relacionadas con el
crimen y casos de las víctimas de delitos, incluyendo crimen en las escuelas, las tendencias de
los delitos de violencia, el costo de los delitos y la respuesta de las agencias de orden público a
las denuncias de los casos de las víctimas de delitos. Hay ejemplos de los reportes, tablas y
gráficas donde se usan los datos de esta encuesta en el sitio web de la Oficina de Estadísticas
de Justicia en www.bjs.gov.
¿Cuánto tiempo durará esta encuesta?
Esperamos que la entrevista durará aproximadamente 25 minutos. Su entrevista tal vez será
menos o durará más tiempo dependiendo en su situación. Si tiene algún comentario acerca de esta
encuesta o tiene recomendaciones para reducir el tiempo de completar la encuesta, envíalos(as)
a Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
Pensé que la Oficina del Censo solo tiene operaciones cada diez años.
¿Qué hace el Censo ahora?
Además del censo decenal, la Oficina del Censo recopila diferentes tipos de información a través
de otros censos y encuestas. Estas encuestas proveen información actual sobre temas tal como
las viviendas, el crimen, tasas de empleo, la salud, los negocios, la economía, y la educación.
NCVS-572(L)(SP) (1-2018)
NCVS-572(L) CHIN-S
(1-2018)
美国人口普查局局长寄语……
亲爱的住户：
我们抽中您的住所参与全国犯罪受害情况调查。该调查收集针对美国境内居民的犯罪类
型和数量的相关信息。美国人口普查局代表美国司法部进行此次调查。
鉴于警方接报的犯罪案件数量远低于实际数量，我们将通过此次调查收集的信息全面掌握
我国的案发情况。您提供的信息将让我们深入了解犯罪情况及其对受害者的影响。我们将
根据调查结果制定计划，援助犯罪受害者和预防犯罪行为。
此次调查的成功有赖您的参与。我们只能让您按这个住所参与调查。我们用一种科学采
样法在全国范围内抽选参与人，您是其中之一。您的回答可以帮助我们了解几百个类似家
庭的想法。您的参与很重要，即使您未曾受害于任何犯罪行为。根据法律规定，人口普查
局只能用您的回答制作统计报告。 此类统计报告不会包含您或家人的可识别信息。
常见问题解答详见本函背面。您暂时无需做任何事情。不久就会有人口普查局的代表联系
您，请您的家人完成此项调查。
感谢您的参与。
census.gov
什么是全国犯罪受害情况调查？
此项调查收集全国性犯罪遭遇经历，警方接报与未接报的都算。此类调查偶尔收集 其他 信息，如
校园犯罪、与执法机构的联系以及身份盗用。
如何被选中参与这项调查的？
美国人口普查局根据您的住所，而不是您个人抽中您参与调查。我们从全国所有住所中随机选出
一群人，代表所有居民参与调查。我们要求被抽中参与调查的住户家中年满 12 岁的人士都作答，
以便全面掌握发生在美国境内的犯罪类型和数量。
会对我提供的信息进行保密处理吗？这是一项法定调查吗？
法律规定人口普查局必须保护您的信息。人口普查局不能以可识别您或家人的身份的方式公开发
布您的答案。我们根据《美国法典》（U.S.C.）第 13 篇第 8 条赋予的权限，代表美国司法部司法
统计局开展此项调查。《美国法典》第 34 篇第 10132 条赋权司法统计局收集该项调查的信息。
联邦法律《美国法典》第 13 篇第 9 条和第 34 篇第 10231 条和 10134 条保护您的隐私，保障答案
的保密性。根据《2015 年联邦网络安全促进法案》，我们将筛选数据传输系统使您的数据无网络
安全风险之虞。此次信息采集活动已经管理和预算办公室批准（OMB 编号：1121-0111；有效期
至 2018 年 8 月 31 日）。不显示这个编号就不能开展此项调查。您的自愿参与对此次调查很重
要，但您可以拒绝回答个别或全部问题。
这些数据将作何用途？
可以根据此次调查获取的信息了解许多犯罪和受害问题，包括校园犯罪、暴力犯罪倾向、犯罪成
本、以及执法机构如何应对受害者报案。您可浏览司法统计局的网站 www.bjs.gov，查阅一些根
据此次调查获取的数据编制的报告、表格和图表范例。
要花多少时间？
我们预计要花 25 分钟作答。实际时间有长有短，要看您的具体情况而定。对此次调查有任何意见
或建议缩短作答时间的，都可以致函 Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Washington, DC 20531。
我以为人口普查局每 10 年才进行一次人口普查。
人口普查局现在做什么？
除了十年一次的人口普查，我们还通过其他普查和调查收集多种不同信息。这些调查提供住房、
犯罪、失业率、健康、商业、经济和教育等方面的最新信息。
NCVS-572(L) CHIN-S (1-2018)
NCVS-572(L) KOR
(1-2018)
미국 인구조사국 국장의 메시지
거주자 귀하:
귀하의 주소가 전국 범죄 피해 설문조사에서 설문 대상으로 선정되었습니다. 이번
설문조사에서는 미국에서 사람을 대상으로 발생하는 범죄의 유형 및 규모에 관한
정보를 수집하게 됩니다. 이번 설문조사는 미국 법무부를 대신하여 미국
인구조사국에서 실시합니다.
많은 범죄가 경찰에 전혀 신고되지 않고 있는 만큼, 이번 설문조사를 통해 수집되는
정보는 미국 내 범죄 발생 현황을 보다 포괄적으로 파악하는 데 이용될 예정입니다.
귀하가 제공하는 정보는 범죄의 발생 그리고 피해자에게 미치는 영향을 보다 정확히
이해하는 데 큰 도움이 될 것입니다. 설문조사 결과는 범죄 피해자 지원 및 범죄 예방
프로그램을 개발하는 데 사용됩니다.
이번 설문조사의 성공 여부는 바로 귀하의 참여에 달려 있습니다. 귀하의 주소는 다른
주소로 대체하는 것이 불가능합니다. 귀하의 주소는 전국에 걸쳐 과학적인 기준에 따라
선정된 표본 가운데 하나이기 때문입니다. 귀하의 응답은 귀하의 가구와 유사한 수백
개의 다른 가구들을 대표하게 됩니다. 설사 범죄 피해를 입은 적이 없더라도 본 설문에
참여해 주시는 것이 매우 중요합니다. 법에 따라, 인구조사국은 귀하의 응답을 오직
통계 집계 목적으로만 사용할 수 있습니다. 이러한 통계에서는 귀하나 귀하의 가구에
관한 정보를 식별하는 것이 불가능합니다.
자주 묻는 질문에 대한 답변은 본 서신의 뒷면에 안내되어 있습니다. 귀하가 지금 어떤
조치를 취해야 하는 것은 아닙니다. 인구조사국 직원이 설문조사 참여를 요청하기 위해
조만간 연락드릴 것입니다.
참여해 주셔서 감사합니다.
census.gov
전국 범죄 피해 설문조사란 무엇입니까?
이번 설문조사는 범죄(경찰에 신고된 사건과 미신고 사건을 모두 포함) 피해 경험에 관한
정보를 수집하기 위해 실시됩니다. 주기적으로 실시되는 이 설문조사에는 학교 내 범죄,
경찰/검찰과의 연락 여부, 신원 도용 등 추가적인 주제가 포함되기도 합니다.
우리 가구가 어떻게 선정되었습니까?
미국 인구조사국은 이번 설문 대상을 선정함에 있어 귀하 개인이 아닌 귀하의 주소를 기준으로
하였습니다. 인구조사국은 인구 전체를 대표할 수 있도록 전국에 걸쳐 여러 표본 주소를
무작위로 선정하였습니다. 미국에서 발생하는 범죄의 유형과 규모를 포괄적으로 파악하기
위해서는 선정된 가구의 구성원 중 만 12 세 이상은 모두 설문에 참여해 주셔야 합니다.
내가 제공하는 정보가 비밀로 유지됩니까? 이 설문조사는 법에 따라 반드시 실시해야 합니까?
인구조사국은 법에 따라 귀하의 정보를 보호할 의무가 있습니다. 인구조사국은 귀하나 귀하의
가구를 식별할 수 있는 방식으로 귀하의 응답을 공개할 수는 없도록 규정되어 있습니다.
인구조사국은 법(미연방법전 제 13 편 제 8 절)에 따라 미국 법무부 법무통계국을 대신하여 이번
설문조사를 실시합니다. 법무통계국은 법(미연방법전 제 34 편 제 10132 절)에 따라 이번
설문조사에 해당되는 정보를 수집할 권한이 있습니다. 연방법(미연방법전 제 13 편 제 9 절 및
제 34 편 제 10231, 10134 절)은 귀하의 개인정보를 보호하고 귀하의 응답을 비밀로
유지하도록 규정하고 있습니다. 2015 년 연방 사이버보안강화법에 따라, 귀하의 정보는 전송
시스템 검사를 통해 사이버보안상 위협으로부터 보호됩니다. 이번 정보 수집은
행정관리예산국의 승인을 받았습니다(OMB 번호: 1121-0111, 만료일: 2018 년 8 월 31 일).
이 번호가 명시되지 않은 상태에서는 인구조사국이 이번 설문조사를 실시할 수 없습니다. 이번
설문조사에서는 귀하의 자발적인 참여가 중요합니다. 그러나 원하실 경우 문항 전부 또는
일부에 대해 답변을 거부하실 수 있습니다.
수집된 정보는 어떻게 사용됩니까?
이번 설문조사에서 수집된 자료는 범죄 및 피해 발생에 관한 다양한 주제에 걸쳐 정보를
제공하게 되며, 여기에는 학교 내 범죄, 폭력 범죄의 추세, 범죄로 인한 비용, 피해 발생 신고에
대한 경찰/검찰의 대응 등이 포함됩니다. 설문조사를 통해 수집된 정보가 보고서, 표, 차트에
어떻게 사용되는지 보여 주는 예시는 법무통계국 웹사이트 www.bjs.gov 에서 확인하실 수
있습니다.
설문조사 시간은 얼마나 걸립니까?
설문 인터뷰는 25 분 가량 소요될 것으로 예상됩니다. 다만 귀하의 상황에 따라 다소
길어지거나 짧아질 수 있습니다. 이번 설문조사에 관한 의견이나 소요 시간 단축을 위한
제안이 있으면 Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Washington, DC 20531 로 보내 주십시오.
인구조사국의 인구조사는 10 년에 한 번만 실시하는 것으로 알고 있습니다.
인구조사국이 지금 실시하는 것은 무엇입니까?
인구조사국은 10 년마다 실시하는 인구조사 외에도 다른 조사 및 설문을 통해 다양한 정보를
수집하고 있습니다. 이러한 각종 설문조사를 통해 주거, 범죄, 실업률, 보건, 비즈니스, 경제,
교육 등 여러 주제에 걸친 현행 정보를 얻게 됩니다.
NCVS-572(L) KOR (1-2018)
NCVS-572(L) VIET
(1-2018)
Thông điệp của Giám đốc, Cục Thống Kê Dân số Hoa Kỳ ...
Kính gửi Cư dân:
Địa chỉ của quý vị đã được chọn để tham gia Cuộc Khảo sát Toàn quốc về Nạn nhân của Tội ác.
Cuộc khảo sát nhằm thu thập thông tin về hình thức phạm tội và số lượng tội phạm đối với
người dân ở Hoa Kỳ Cục Thống kê Dân số Hoa Kỳ thay mặt cho Bộ Tư pháp Hoa Kỳ tiến hành
cuộc khảo sát này.
Nhiều vụ phạm tội chưa bao giờ được trình báo với cảnh sát thông tin từ cuộc khảo sát này
được sử dụng để có một bức tranh hoàn chỉnh hơn về tội ác xảy ra trên đất nước chúng ta.
Thông tin mà quý vị cung cấp sẽ giúp hiểu rõ hơn về tội ác và ảnh hưởng của tội ác đối với các
nạn nhân. Các kết quả khảo sát được sử dụng để phát triển chương trình cứu giúp cho các nạn
nhân của tội ác và ngăn ngừa tội ác.
Sự thành công của cuộc khảo sát này phụ thuộc vào việc tham gia của quý vị. Chúng tôi không
thể thay thế địa chỉ khác cho địa chỉ của quý vị. Địa chỉ của quý vị là một trong những địa chỉ
mẫu được chọn lọc cách khoa học trên toàn quốc. Cau trả lời của quý vị đại diện cho hằng trăm
hộ gia đình khác giống như gia đình của quý vị. Sự tham gia của quý vị rất quan trọng ngay cả
khi quý vị không có phạm bất cứ tội nào. Theo luật, Cục Thống kê Dân số chỉ sử dụng câu trả lời
của quý vị để đưa ra số liệu thống kê; không có bất cứ thông tin nào về quý vị hoặc gia đình của
quý vị được nhận biết từ những số liệu thống kê này.
Để câu trả lời những câu hỏi thường gặp ở phía sau lá thư này. Quý vị không cần thực hiện bất
cứ hành động nào vào lúc này. Nhân viên đại diện Cục Thống kê Dân số sẽ sớm liên lạc với quý
vị để cùng với gia đình của quý vị hoàn tất bản khảo sát này.
Cám ơn sự tham gia của quý vị.
census.gov
Khảo sát Toàn quốc về Nạn nhân của Tội ác là gì?
Cuộc khảo sát này thu thập dữ liệu về trải nghiệm với tội ác, da được trình báo và không được trình báo
với cảnh sát Theo định kỳ, bản khảo sát bao gồm các đề tài bổ sung như tội phạm trong trường học, liên
lạc với cơ quan thực thi pháp luật và nhận dạng hành vi ăn cắp .
Tôi đã được chọn cho cuộc khảo sát này như thế nào?
Cục Thống kê Dân số Hoa Kỳ đã chọn địa chỉ của quý vị, chứ không phải quý vị tự chọn, tham gia vào
cuộc khảo sát này. Chúng tôi chọn ngẫu nhiên một số địa chỉ mẫu trên toàn quốc để đại diện cho toàn
bộ dân số. Chúng tôi cần câu trả lời của tất cả những cá nhân từ 12 tuổi trở lên cư ngụ tại những gia
đình được chọn để có một bức tranh hoàn chỉnh về các loại tội ác và số lượng tội phạm xảy ra tại Hoa
Kỳ.
Thông tin tôi cung cấp sẽ được bảo mật không? Cuộc khảo sát này có đòi hỏi theo luật pháp không?
Cục Thống kê Dân Số được luật pháp yêu cầu bảo mật thông tin của quý vị. Cục Thống kê Dân số không
được phép công khai những câu trả lời của quý vị theo cách có thể nhận biết quý vị hoặc gia đình của
quý vị. Chúng tôi đang tiến hành cuộc khảo sát này cho Cục Thống kê Tư pháp của Bộ Tư pháp Hoa Kỳ
thuộc thẩm quyền của pháp luật (Tiêu đề 13, Đạo luật Hoa Kỳ (U.S.C.), Mục 8). Cục Thống kê Tư pháp
được ủy quyền để thu thập thông tin khảo sát này theo luật (Tiêu đề 34, U.S.C., Mục 10132). Luật pháp
liên bang bảo vệ quyền riêng tư của quý vị và bảo mật các câu trả lời của quý vị (Tiêu đề 13, U.S.C., Mục
9 và Tiêu đề 34, U.S.C., Mục 10231 và 10134). Theo Đạo luật Tăng cường An ninh Mạng của Liên bang
năm 2015, dữ liệu của quý vị được bảo mật khỏi những rủi ro về an ninh mạng thông qua thanh lọc của
các hệ thống truyền tải dữ liệu của quý vị. Phần thu thập này đã được Văn phòng Quản lý và Ngân sách
phê duyệt (Số OMB: 1121‐0111, Ngày Hết hạn: 08/31/2018). Nếu số này không được hiển thị, chúng tôi
không thể tiến hành cuộc khảo sát này. Sự tham gia tự nguyện của quý vị cho cuộc khảo sát này rất
quan trọng; tuy nhiên, quý vị có thể từ chối trả lời bất kỳ hoặc tất cả các câu hỏi.
Các dữ liệu được sử dụng như thế nào?
Dữ liệu từ cuộc khảo sát này cung cấp thông tin về các chủ đề liên quan đến tội ác và nạn nhân, bao gồm
tội ác trong trường học, xu hướng bạo lực, chi phí của tội ác và phản ứng của cơ quan thực thi pháp luật
đối với các báo cáo về nạn nhân. Những ví dụ về các báo cáo, bảng biểu và biểu đồ sử dụng dữ liệu từ
cuộc khảo sát này đều có trên trang mạng của Cục Thống kê Tư pháp tại www.bjs.gov.
Trả lời bản khảo sát này mất bao nhiêu thời gian?
Chúng tôi dự kiến cuộc phỏng vấn sẽ mất khoảng 25 phút. Cuộc phỏng vấn của quý vị có thể ngắn hơn
hoặc dài hơn tùy theo hoàn cảnh của quý vị. Nếu quý vị có bất kỳ nhận xét nào về cuộc khảo sát này
hoặc đề nghị giảm thời gian, vui lòng gửi thư đến the Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of
Justice Statistics (Trưởng Chi nhánh Thống kê Nạn nhân, Cục Thống kê Tư pháp), Washington, DC 20531.
Tôi nghĩ rằng Cục Thống kê Dân số chỉ thống kê dân số 10 năm một lần.
Cục Thống kê Dân số hiện nay đang làm gì?
Bên cạnh thống kê dân số mười năm một lần, chúng tôi đang thu thập nhiều loại thông tin khác nhau
thông qua các đợt thống kê và khảo sát khác Những đợt khảo sát này cung cấp thông tin mới nhât về
các vấn đề như nhà ở, tội ác, tỷ lệ thất nghiệp, y tế, kinh doanh, kinh tế và giáo dục.
NCVS-572(L) VIET (1-2018)
NCVS-573(L) LOS ANGELES
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–992–3530.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-573(L) DENVER
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–852–6159 EXT. 23820.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-573(L) ATLANTA
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–424–6974 EXT. 53943.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-573(L) CHICAGO
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–865–6384.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-573(L) NEW YORK
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–991–2520.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-573(L) PHILADELPHIA
(12-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
Several months ago, we contacted residents at your address to participate in the National
Crime Victimization Survey. The survey collects information about the type and amount of
crime committed against people in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this
survey on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice. We need to interview the current residents of
this address, whether we talked with you before or you recently moved to this address.
Since many crimes are never reported to the police, information from this survey is used to get a
more complete picture of crime occurring in our country. The information you provide will give a
better understanding of crime and its impact on victims. The survey results are used to develop
programs to aid crime victims and prevent crime.
The success of this survey depends on your participation. We cannot substitute
another address for yours. Your address is part of a scientifically selected sample of addresses
chosen throughout the country. Your answers represent hundreds of other households like yours.
Your participation is important even if you have not experienced any crime. By law, the Census
Bureau can only use your responses to produce statistics. No information about you or your
household can be identified from these statistics.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the back of this letter. If you would like further
information, contact your Census Bureau Regional Office at 1–800–262–4236.
You do not need to take any action at this time. A Census Bureau representative will contact you
soon to ask your household to complete the survey.
Thank you for your participation.
census.gov
What is the National Crime Victimization Survey?
This survey collects data about experiences with crime, both reported and not reported to the
police. Periodically, the survey includes additional topics such as crime in schools, contacts with
law enforcement, and identity theft.
How was I selected for this survey?
The U.S. Census Bureau chose your address, not you personally, to participate in this survey.
We randomly selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent the entire
population. We need a response from all persons 12 or older in sampled homes to get a
complete picture of the types and amount of crime happening in the United States.
Will information I provide be confidential? Is this survey required by law?
The Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau
is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you or your
household. We are conducting this survey for the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Justice under the authority of law (Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section
8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized to collect this survey information by law (Title
34, U.S.C., Section 10132). Federal law protects your privacy and keeps your answers
confidential (Title 13, U.S.C., Section 9 and Title 34, U.S.C., Sections 10231 and 10134). Per
the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity
risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. This collection has been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Number: 1121-0111; Expiration Date:
08/31/2018). If this number were not displayed, we could not conduct this survey. Your voluntary
participation in this survey is important; however, you may decline to answer any or all
questions.
How are the data used?
Data from this survey provide information on many topics related to crime and victimization,
including crime in schools, trends in violent crime, costs of crime, and the response of law
enforcement to reports of victimization. Examples of reports, tables, and charts that use data
from the survey are on the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ web site at www.bjs.gov.
How long will it take?
We expect the interview to take about 25 minutes. Your interview may be somewhat shorter or
longer than this depending on your circumstances. If you have any comments about this survey
or have recommendations for reducing its length, send them to the Chief, Victimization Statistics
Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
I thought that the Census Bureau only counts people every 10 years.
What is the Census Bureau doing now?
Besides the decennial census, we collect many different kinds of information through other
censuses and surveys. These surveys provide current information on such topics as housing,
crime, unemployment rates, health, business, economics and education.
NCVS-573(L) (12-2017)
NCVS-573(L) (SP)
(1-2018)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Un mensaje del Director de la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos
Estimado Residente,
Hace varios meses, nos pusimos en contacto con los residentes en esta dirección para participar
en la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas de Delitos. Esta encuesta recopila información
acerca del tipo de crimen y la cantidad de delitos que se cometen contra las personas en los
Estados Unidos. La Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU. lleva a cabo esta encuesta por parte
del Departamento de Justicia de los EE.UU. Necesitamos entrevistar a los residentes actuales
de esta dirección, aún si hablamos con ustedes anteriormente o si ustedes se mudaron
recientemente a esta dirección.
Debido a que muchos delitos nunca son reportados a la policía, la información recopilada en
esta encuesta será usada para obtener un panorama más completo del crimen que ocurre en
nuestro país. La información que usted proporciona nos ayudará para mejor entender el crimen y
el impacto que tiene a las víctimas. Los resultados de la encuesta son usados para desarrollar
programas que ayudan a las víctimas del crimen y para prevenirlo.
Su participación es muy importante porque garantiza que los resultados de
la encuesta estén completos y sean confiables. No podemos reemplazar su dirección
por otra. Su dirección forma parte de una muestra estadística de hogares seleccionadas en el
país. Sus respuestas representas miles de hogares como el suyo. Su participación es importante,
aún si no ha sido víctima de un crimen. Por ley, la Oficina del Censo solamente puede usar sus
respuestas para producir estadísticas. La información que nos proporciona acerca de usted o su
hogar no podrá ser identificada al producir estadísticas.
Al reverso de esta carta puede leer las respuestas a preguntas que frecuentemente recibimos.
No necesita hacer nada en este momento. Un representante del Censo se pondrá en contacto
con usted para pedir la participación de su hogar en la encuesta.
Gracias por su participación.
census.gov
¿Qué es la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas de Delitos?
Esta encuesta recopila datos sobre las experiencias con el crimen, ambos reportados y no
reportados a la policía. Periódicamente, la encuesta incluye temas adicionales tales como
crimen en las escuelas, el contacto con las agencias de orden público, y el robo de la identidad.
¿Cómo fui seleccionado(a) para esta encuesta?
La Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos seleccionó su dirección, no a usted personalmente,
para participar en esta encuesta. Elegimos una muestra de direcciones para representar todas
las áreas de los Estados Unidos. Necesitamos la participación de todas las personas de 12
años y mayor en las direcciones elegidas para ver un panorama completo del tipo de crimen y
la cantidad de delitos ocurriendo en los Estados Unidos.
¿Será confidencial la información que proporcioné?
¿Es esta encuesta obligatoria por ley?
La Oficina del Censo de los EE.UU. está obligada por ley a proteger su información. A la
Oficina del Censo no se le permite divulgar sus respuestas de manera que usted o su hogar
pudiera(n) ser identificado(a)(s). Llevamos a cabo esta encuesta para la Oficina de Estadísticas
de Justicia del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos bajo la autorización de la ley
(Titulo 13, Código de los Estados Unidos (U.S.C.), Sección 8). La Oficina de Estadísticas de
Justicia está autorizada para recopilar información en esta encuesta por ley (Titulo 34, U.S.C.,
Sección 10132). La ley federal proteja su privacidad y mantiene su información confidencial
(Titulo 13, U.S.C., Sección 9 y Titulo 34, U.S.C., Sección 10231 y 10134). En conformidad con
la Ley para el Fortalecimiento de la Seguridad Cibernética Federal del 2015, sus datos están
protegidos contra los riesgos de seguridad cibernética mediante los controles aplicados a los
sistemas que los transmiten. Esta recopilación de información ha sido aprobada por la Oficina
de Administración y Presupuesto (OMB, por sus siglas en inglés) (Número de OMB: 1121-0111;
fecha de expiración: 08/31/2018). De no mostrarse este número, no podríamos realizar esta
encuesta. Su participación voluntaria a esta encuesta es importante, pero puede decidir no
contestar alguna o ninguna de las preguntas.
¿Cómo se usan los datos?
Los datos de esta encuesta proveen información acerca de varios temas relacionadas con el
crimen y casos de las víctimas de delitos, incluyendo crimen en las escuelas, las tendencias de
los delitos de violencia, el costo de los delitos y la respuesta de las agencias de orden público a
las denuncias de los casos de las víctimas de delitos. Hay ejemplos de los reportes, tablas y
gráficas donde se usan los datos de esta encuesta en el sitio web de la Oficina de Estadísticas
de Justicia en www.bjs.gov.
¿Cuánto tiempo durará esta encuesta?
Esperamos que la entrevista durará aproximadamente 25 minutos. Su entrevista tal vez será
menos o durará más tiempo dependiendo en su situación. Si tiene algún comentario acerca de esta
encuesta o tiene recomendaciones para reducir el tiempo de completar la encuesta, envíalos(as)
a Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
Pensé que la Oficina del Censo solo tiene operaciones cada diez años.
¿Qué hace el Censo ahora?
Además del censo decenal, la Oficina del Censo recopila diferentes tipos de información a través
de otros censos y encuestas. Estas encuestas proveen información actual sobre temas tal como
las viviendas, el crimen, tasas de empleo, la salud, los negocios, la economía, y la educación.
NCVS-573(L)(SP) (1-2018)
NCVS-593(L)
(11-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
I am writing to thank you for participating in the National Crime Victimization Survey. By
participating in the confidential survey, you help ensure that we have reliable data on crime
and victimization in our country. Much of this information is not available from police reports.
Historically, less than half of victimizations reported in the survey are ever reported to police.
Criminal justice professionals can use the survey results to improve their effectiveness in
combating crime.
We know your time is valuable, and we really appreciate your participation.
Your household may be contacted again for this important survey. We hope we can count
on your continued support.
census.gov
NCVS-593(L)(SP)
(1-2018)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Un mensaje del Director de la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos
Estimado Residente,
Le escribo esta carta para darle las gracias por participar en la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas
de Delitos. Al participar en esta encuesta confidencial, su ayuda garantizar que tengamos datos
confiables sobre el crimen y casos de víctimas de delitos en nuestro país. Gran parte de esta
información no está disponible en los informes policiales. Históricamente, menos de la mitad de
casos de víctimas de delitos en la encuesta nunca son reportados a la policía. Los profesionales
de la justicia penal pueden usar los resultados de la encuesta para mejorar sus propósitos en la
lucha contra el crimen.
Reconocemos que su tiempo es valioso y le agradecemos mucho su participación.
Su hogar podría ser contactado de nuevo para participar en esta encuesta importante.
Esperamos poder contar con su apoyo continuo.
census.gov
NCVS-594(L)
(11-2017)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
A Message from the Director, U.S. Census Bureau...
Dear Resident:
I am writing to thank you for participating in the National Crime Victimization Survey. By
participating in the confidential survey, you help ensure that we have reliable data on crime
and victimization in our country. Much of this information is not available from police reports.
Historically, less than half of victimizations reported in the survey are ever reported to police.
Criminal justice professionals can use the survey results to improve their effectiveness in
combating crime.
We know your time is valuable, and we really appreciate your participation.
census.gov
NCVS-594(L)(SP)
(1-2018)
DC
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Un mensaje del Director de la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos
Estimado Residente,
Le escribo esta carta para darle las gracias por participar en la Encuesta Nacional de Víctimas
de Delitos. Al participar en esta encuesta confidencial, su ayuda garantizar que tengamos datos
confiables sobre el crimen y casos de víctimas de delitos en nuestro país. Gran parte de esta
información no está disponible en los informes policiales. Históricamente, menos de la mitad de
casos de víctimas de delitos en la encuesta nunca son reportados a la policía. Los profesionales
de la justicia penal pueden usar los resultados de la encuesta para mejorar sus propósitos en la
lucha contra el crimen.
Reconocemos que su tiempo es valioso y le agradecemos mucho su participación.
census.gov
NCVS-1
Implementation Date: (07-01-2016)
OMB No. 1121-0111: Approval Expires 08/31/2018
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
NCVS-1 BASIC SCREEN QUESTIONNAIRE
NOTE: Questions are listed in the order asked. Skips in question numbering are due to questionnaire changes over time.
MOBILITY QUESTIONS
33a. TIMEATADDRESS
506
____________ Years (Round to nearest whole year)
Before we get to the crime questions, I have some questions that are
helpful in studying where and why crimes occur.
If = 0 ASK 33b
If = DK or RF SKIP to 33c
Else SKIP to 33d
Ask or verify How long have you lived at this address?
(Enter 0 if less than 1 year.)
33b. MONTHSATADDRESS
505
____________ Months (1-11) - SKIP to 33e
How many months?
33c. TIMEATADDRESSPROBE
1
2
Have you lived here...
3
4
Read categories 1-4:
33d.
CHECK
ITEM A
5
5 years or more - If HHLD Respondent SKIP to 34, else SKIP to 36a
Less than 5 years - ASK 33e
How many years are entered in 33a?
33e. TIMEMOVEDIN5YEARS
More than 5 years - If HHLD Respondent ASK 34, else SKIP to 36a.
Less than 5 years, but more than 1 year
SKIP
Less than 1 year, but more than 6 months
to 33e
6 months or less
Don't Know
508
__________ Number of times -
Altogether, how many times have you moved in the last
5 years, that is, since _________________, 20 ___?
Enter number of times.
BUSINESS OPERATED FROM SAMPLE
34. BUSINESS (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
530
Does anyone in this household operate a business from this address?
35. BUSINESSSIGN (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
531
If this is a PERSONAL visit - Fill by observation.
If this is a TELEPHONE contact - Ask.
Is there a sign on the premises or some other indication to the
general public that a business is operated from this address?
Page 1
1
Yes - ASK 35
2
No - SKIP to 36a
1
Yes (Recognizable business)
2
No (Unrecognizable business)
If HHLD Respondent ASK 34,
Else SKIP to 36a
RESPONDENT'S SCREEN QUESTIONS
36a. SQTHEFT
I'm going to read some examples that will give you an idea of the
kinds of crimes this study covers.
As I go through them, tell me if any of these happened to you in the
last 6 months, that is since __________ ______, 20 ____.
Was something belonging to YOU stolen, such as Read each category.
(a) Things that you carry, like luggage, a wallet, purse, briefcase
book (b) Clothing, jewelry, or cellphone (c) Bicycle or sports equipment (d) Things in your home - like a TV, stereo, or tools (e) Things outside your home such as a garden hose or lawn
furniture - (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
(f) Things belonging to children in the household (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
(g) Things from a vehicle, such as a package, groceries, camera, or
CDs OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal anything belonging to you?
Ask only if necessary
532
1
2
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
36b. SQTHEFTTIMES
Yes - ASK 36b
No - If Household Respondent ASK to
37a; Else SKIP to 40a
533
How many times?
Number of times (36b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
36c. SQTHEFTSPEC
What happened?
If Household Respondent ASK 37a; else SKIP to 40a
37a. SQBREAKIN (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
(Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone Read each category.
(a) Broken in or ATTEMPTED to break into your home by forcing a
door or window, pushing past someone, jimmying a lock, cutting
a screen, or entering through an open door or window?
(b) Has anyone illegally gotten in or tried to get into a garage, shed,
or storage room?
OR
(c) Illegally gotten in or tried to get into a hotel or motel room or
vacation home where you were staying?
534
1
Yes - ASK 37b
2
No - SKIP to 38
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
37b. SQBREAKINTIMES (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
535
How many times?
Number of times (37b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
37c. SQBREAKINSPEC (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
What happened?
Page 2
RESPONDENT'S SCREEN QUESTIONS
536
38. SQTOTALVEHICLES (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
0
1
What was the TOTAL number of cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, or
other motor vehicles owned by you or any other member of this
household during the last 6 months? Include those you no longer
own.
2
3
4
None - SKIP to 40a
1
2
3
4 or more
39a. SQMVTHEFT (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already
mentioned,) (was the vehicle/were any of the vehicles) Read each category.
(a) Stolen or used without permission?
(b) Did anyone steal any parts such as a tire, car stereo, hubcap, or
battery?
(c) Did anyone steal any gas from (it/them)?
OR
(d) Did anyone ATTEMPT to steal any vehicle or parts attached to
(it/them)?
537
Ask only if necessary
1
Yes - ASK 39b
2
No - SKIP to 40a
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
39b. SQMVTHEFTTIMES (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
538
How many times?
Number of times (39b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
39c. SQMVTHEFTSPEC (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
What happened?
40a. SQATTACKWHERE
(Other than any incidents already mentioned,) since __________ ______,
20 ____, were you attacked or threatened OR did you have something
stolen from you Read each category.
(a) At home including the porch or yard (b) At or near a friend's, relative's, or neighbor's home (c) At work or school d) In places such as a storage shed or laundry room, a shopping
mall, restaurant, bank, or airport (e) While riding in any vehicle (f) On the street or in a parking lot (g) At such places as a party, theater, gym, picnic area, bowling
lanes, or while fishing or hunting OR
(h) Did anyone ATTEMPT to attack or ATTEMPT to steal
anything belonging to you from any of these places?
539
1
Yes - ASK 40b
2
No - SKIP to 41a
Ask only if necessary
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
40b. SQATTACKWHERETIMES
540
How many times?
Number of times (40b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
40c. SQATTACKWHERESPEC
What happened?
Page 3
RESPONDENT'S SCREEN QUESTIONS
41a. SQATTACKHOW
(Other than any incidents already mentioned,) has anyone attacked or
threatened you in any of these ways (Exclude telephone threats) Read each category.
(a) With any weapon, for instance, a gun or knife (b) With anything like a baseball bat, frying pan, scissors, or stick (c) By something thrown, such as a rock or bottle (d) Include any grabbing, punching, or choking,
(e) Any rape, attempted rape or other type of sexual attack (f) Any face to face threats OR
(g) Any attack or threat or use of force by anyone at all? Please
mention it even if you are not certain it was a crime.
541
Ask only if necessary
1
2
Yes - ASK 41b
No - SKIP to 42a
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
41b. SQATTACKHOWTIMES
542
How many times?
Number of times (41b)
41c. SQATTACKHOWSPEC
Briefly describe incident(s)
What happened?
42a. SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFF
People often don't think of incidents committed by someone they
know. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) did you have
something stolen from you OR were you attacked or threatened by (Exclude telephone threats)
Read each category.
(a) Someone at work or school (b) A neighbor or friend (c) A relative or family member (d) Any other person you've met or known?
Ask only if necessary
543
1
Yes - ASK 42b
2
No - SKIP to 43a
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
42b. SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFTIMES
544
How many times?
Number of times (42b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
42c. SQTHEFTATTACKKNOWNOFFSPEC
What happened?
Page 4
RESPONDENT'S SCREEN QUESTIONS
43a. SQSEXUAL
Incidents involving forced or unwanted sexual acts are often difficult
to talk about. (Other than any incidents already mentioned,) have you
been forced or coerced to engage in unwanted sexual activity by Read each category.
(a) Someone you didn't know (b) A casual acquaintance OR
(c) Someone you know well?
545
Ask only if necessary
1
Yes - ASK 43b
2
No - SKIP to 44a
Did any incidents of this type happen to you?
546
43b. SQSEXUALTIMES
How many times?
Number of times (43b)
Briefly describe incident(s)
43c. SQSEXUALSPEC
What happened?
44a. SQCALLPOLICECRIME
547
1
2
Yes - ASK 44b
No - SKIP to 45a
During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already
mentioned,) did you call the police to report something that
happened to YOU which you thought was a crime?
44b. SQCALLPOLICESPEC
Briefly describe incident(s)
What happened?
44c.
CHECK
SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
549
ITEM B
1
Yes - ASK 44d
2
No - SKIP to 45a
If not sure ask:
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an
attempt made to steal something that belonged to you or
another household member?
44d. SQCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
550
How many times?
Number of times (44d)
Page 5
RESPONDENT'S SCREEN QUESTIONS
551
45a. SQNOCALLPOLICECRIME
1
Yes - ASK 45b
2
No - SKIP to 71
During the last 6 months, (other than any incidents already
mentioned,) did anything which you thought was a crime happen
to YOU, but you did NOT report to the police?
Briefly describe incident(s)
45b. SQNOCALLPOLICESPEC
What happened?
45c.
CHECK
ITEM C
SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREAT
553
1
Yes - ASK 45d
2
No - SKIP to 71
If not sure ask:
Were you attacked or threatened, or was something stolen or an
attempt made to steal something that belonged to you or another
household member?
45d. SQNOCALLPOLICEATTACKTHREATTIMES
554
How many times?
Number of times (45d)
- SKIP to 71
RESPONDENT'S CHECK ITEMS D, E, AND G
71.
CHECK
ITEM D
PRESENTFORSQS
555
1
2
Who besides the respondent was present when the screen questions
were asked? (If telephone interview, mark box 1 only.)
3
4
5
6
7
8
72.
CHECK
ITEM E
PROXYHELP
Telephone interview - SKIP to 73
* Personal interview - Mark all that apply.
556
1
2
3
No one besides respondent present
Respondent's spouse
HHLD member(s) 12+, not spouse
HHLD member(s) under 12
Nonhousehold member(s)
Someone was present - Can't say who
Don't know if someone else present
If a Proxy interview,
ASK 72,
else SKIP to 73
Yes
No
Person for whom interview taken not present
Did the person for whom this interview was taken help the proxy
respondent answer any screen questions?
73.
CHECK
ITEM G
Yes - SKIP to Crime Incident Report (Item 2a on the NCVS-2)
Is one or more crimes reported in
36b, 37b, 39b, 40b, 41b, 42b, 43b, 44d, or 45d?
No - SKIP to 81 (ASK INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO)
Page 6
RESPONDENT'S SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS
All incident reports must be completed before asking this series of questions.
81. INTRO_SOCIO_DEMO
Now we have some questions about your demographic characteristics.
169a. DIS_HEARING
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
1
Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing?
2
169b. DIS_VISION
1
2
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
Yes
No
Yes
No
Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing
even when wearing glasses?
170a.
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional
condition, do you have serious difficulty:
(1) DIS_LEARN_CONCENTRATE
1
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
2
Yes
No
Concentrating, remembering or making
decisions?
(2) DIS_PHYSICAL_LIMIT
1
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
2
Yes
No
Walking or climbing stairs?
(3) DIS_DRESS_BATH
1
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
2
Yes
No
Dressing or bathing?
170b. DIS_LEAVING_HOME
(Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before
Asked only of persons age 15 or older.)
1
Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do
you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a
doctor's office or shopping?
2
Yes
No
82. CITIZENSHIP
(Asked at 1st interview or if never asked before.
Asked at subsequent interviews if no or Don't Know/Refused at prior interview.)
1
2
3
Are you a citizen of the United States? That is, were you born in the
United States, born in a U.S. territory, born of U.S. citizen parent(s), or
become a citizen of the U.S. through naturalization?
4
Yes, born in the United States
Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
or North Marianas
Yes, born abroad of U.S. citizen parent or parents
Yes, U.S. citizen by naturalization
5
No, not a U.S. citizen
1
Gay
2
3
Straight, that is, not gay
Bisexual
4
Something else
83. ORIENTATION_MALE
(Asked of persons age 16 or older.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.
Asked if NCVS-500 roster SEX question = Male)
Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
Page 7
5
I don't know the answer
6
Refused
SKIP to 85
84. ORIENTATION_FEMALE
(Asked of persons age 16 or older.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.
Asked if NCVS-500 roster SEX question = Female or Unknown)
1
Lesbian or gay
2
Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
Bisexual
Something else
3
4
Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself?
5
I don't know the answer
6
Refused
85. GENID_BIRTH
1
(Asked of persons age 16 or older.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
Male
2
What sex were you assigned at birth, on your original birth certificate?
4
Female
Refused
Don't know
1
Male
2
4
Female
Transgender
None of these
1
Yes
2
No - SKIP back to 85 and/or 86 to correct
Refused
Don't Know
3
86. GENID_DESCRIBE
(Asked of persons age 16 or older.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.)
3
Do you currently describe yourself as male, female or transgender?
87. GENID_CONFIRM
(Asked of persons age 16 or older.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before.
Asked if GENID_BIRTH and GENID_DESCRIBE do not match.)
Just to confirm, you were assigned (male/female) at birth and now
(describe yourself as male/ describe yourself as female/ describe
yourself as transgender/ do not describe yourself male, female, or
transgender). Is that correct?
3
4
The instrument prefills the question wording based on responses to GENID_BIRTH and GENID_DESCRIBE.
88. ACTIVE_DUTY
(Asked of persons age 18 or older.
Asked at 1st interview or if never asked before. Asked at subsequent interviews if Never served in the military or Don't Know/Refused at prior interview.
Do not ask if age 40 or older and valid response prior interview.)
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces,
Reserves, or National Guard?
1
Never served in the military
2
Only on active duty for training in the Reserves
or National Guard
3
Mark one box.
4
- SKIP to 74
Now on active duty
On active duty in the past, but not now
- ASK 89
89. ACTIVE_DUTYWHEN
(Asked of persons age 18 or older.
Asked at 1st interview or if never asked before. Asked at subsequent interviews if no or Don't Know/Refused at prior interview.
Do not ask if age 40 or older and valid response prior interview.)
1
September 2001 or later
2
When did you serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces?
3
4
August 1990 to August 2001 (including Persian Gulf War)
May 1975 to July 1990
Vietnam era (August 1964 to April 1975)
Mark a box for each period in which the person served, even if just for part of
the period.
5
February 1955 to July 1964
6
January 1947 to June 1950
8
World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)
November 1941 or earlier
9
Page 8
Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)
7
RESPONDENT'S EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONS
74.
CHECK
ITEM H1
Is the respondent 16 years or older?
576
75a. JOBLASTWEEK
1
Yes - ASK 75a
2
No - SKIP to 80
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 76a
No - ASK 75b
Did you have a job or work at a business LAST WEEK? (Do not
include volunteer work or work around the house.)
(If farm or business operator in household, ask about unpaid work.)
577
75b. JOBDURINGREFPERIOD
1
2
Yes - ASK 75c
No - SKIP to 80
Ask or verify Did you have a job or work at a business DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS?
75c. JOBLAST2WEEKS
578
1
2
Yes - ASK 76a
No - SKIP to 80
Did that (job/work) last 2 consecutive weeks or more?
76a. JOBDESCRIPTION
Ask or verify -
1
Medical Profession? - SKIP 76c
2
4
Mental Health Services Field? - SKIP to 76e
Teaching Profession? - SKIPto 76g
Law Enforcement or Security Field? - SKIP to 76i
5
Retail Sales? - SKIP to 76k
3
Which of the following best describes your job?
Were you employed in the ...
Read each category until respondent says "yes", then enter appropriate precode.
76b. JOBDESCRIPTIONSPEC
6
Transportation Field? - SKIP to 76m
7
Something else? - Specify - ASK 76b
Specify - SKIP to 76o
Please specify the job not covered in answer categories 1-6 in 76a.
76c. MEDICALJOB
Medical Profession
Employed in the Medical Profession:
As a Read each category.
76d. MEDICALJOBSPEC
1
Physician?
2
Nurse?
3
Technician?
4
Other medical profession? - Specify - ASK 76d
SKIP to 76o
Specify - SKIP to 76o
Please specify employed in the medical profession as a -
76e. MENTALHEALTHJOB
Mental Health Services Field
5
Employed in the Mental Health Services Field:
6
Are YOUR duties -
7
Professional (Social worker/psychiatrist)?
SKIP to 76o
Custodial care?
Some other mental health services profession? - Specify
ASK 76f
Read each category.
Specify - SKIP to 76o
76f. MENTALHEALTHJOBSPEC
Please specify duties in the mental health services field.
Page 9
RESPONDENT'S EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONS
76g. TEACHINGJOB
Teaching Profession
8
Employed in the Teaching Profession:
9
10
Were you employed in a -
11
12
Read each category.
- SKIP to 76o
14
Technical or industrial school?
Special education facility?
15
Other teaching profession? - Specify - ASK 76h
13
76h. TEACHINGJOBSPEC
Preschool?
Elementary school?
Junior high or middle school?
High school?
College or university?
Specify - SKIP to 76o
Please specify employed in the teaching profession as a Law Enforcement or Security Field
76i. LAWENFORCEJOB
Employed in the Law Enforcement or Security Field:
16
17
Were you employed as a -
18
19
Law enforcement officer?
- SKIP to 76o
Prison or jail guard?
Security guard?
Law enforcement profession? - Specify - ASK 76j
Read each category.
76j. LAWENFORCEJOBSPEC
Specify - SKIP to 76o
Please specify employed in the law enforcement or security field as a -
76k. RETAILSALESJOB
Retail Sales 20
Employed in Retail Sales:
21
22
Were you employed as a-
23
Convenience or liquor store clerk?
Gas station attendant?
- SKIP to 76o
Bartender?
Other retail sales profession? - Specify - ASK 76l
Read each category.
76l. RETAILSALESJOBSPEC
Specify - SKIP to 76o
Please specify employed in retail sales as a -
76m. TRANSPORTJOB
Transportation Field 24
Employed in the Transportation Field:
25
26
Were you employed as a-
Bus driver?
- SKIP to 76o
Taxi cab driver?
Other transportation Field profession? - Specify - ASK 76n
Read each category.
76n. TRANSPORTJOBSPEC
Specify
Please specify employed in the transportation field as a -
76o.
CHECK
579
ITEM H2
If 76a equals 7, enter 27 here., otherwise enter the number of the
employment code entered in item 76c, 76e, 76g, 76i 76k, or 76m.
77. EMPLOYERTYPECURRENT
580
Ask or verify -
1
2
3
Is your job with -
4
Read each category.
78. COLLEGEEMPLOYER
581
Are you employed by a college or university?
79. CURRENTJOBMSATYPE
582
While working at your job, do you work mostly in Read each category.
Page 10
1
A private company, business, or
individual for wages?
The Federal government?
A State, county, or local government?
Yourself (Self-employed) in your own
business, professional practice, or farm?
2
Yes
No
1
A city?
2
Suburban area?
3
Rural area?
4
Combination of any of these?
If 76o = 22
SKIP to 79,
Else ASK 78.
RESPONDENT'S CHECK ITEM I
80.
CHECK
ITEM I
Yes - If Household Respondent finish collecting income
and telephone information, then END interview.
Otherwise END interview.
Is this the last household member to be interviewed?
No - GO TO question 33a for the next respondent. See
note below before interviewing next household
member.
FIELD REPRESENTATIVE --
(Read to the Household Respondent Only.) If there are any household members under 18, tell the Household
Respondent that you will be asking the same questions you just asked him/her.
90. HOUSEHOLDINCOME (Asked of Household Respondent Only)
(Asked of household respondent.
Asked at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th interview, or if never asked before. Asked at subsequent interviews if no or Don't Know/Refused at prior interview.)
214
Which category represents the TOTAL combined income of all members
of this HOUSEHOLD during the past 12 months? This includes money
from jobs, net income from business, farm or rent, pensions, dividends,
interest, Social Security payments, and any other money income
received by members of this HOUSEHOLD who are 14 years of age or
older.
Page 11
1
Less than $5,000
2
$5,000 to $7,499
3
4
$7,500 to $9,999
$10,000 to $12,499
5
$12,500 to $14,999
6
$15,000 to $17,499
7
$17,500 to $19,999
8
$20,000 to $24,999
9
$25,000 to $29,999
10
$30,000 to $34,999
11
$35,000 to $39,999
12
13
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $74,999
14
$75,000 to $99,999
15
16
$100,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $199,999
17
$200,000 or more
NCVS-2
OMB No. 1121-0111: Approval Expires 8/31/2018
Implementation Date: (07-01-2016)
NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEY
NCVS-2 CRIME INCIDENT REPORT
NOTE: Questions are listed in the order asked. Skips in question numbering are due to questionnaire changes over time.
2a. INCIDENTINTRO
You said that during the last 6 months :
(description of the crime reported in the screen question.)
2b.
CHECK
ITEM A
Has the respondent lived at this address
for more than 6 months? (If not sure,
refer to 33a on the NCVS-1 or ASK.)
2c. INCIDENTADDRESS
Yes (more than 6 months) - SKIP to 3
No (6 months or less) - ASK 2c
605
Did (this/the first) incident happen while you
were living here or before you moved to this
address?
3. INCIDENTDATE
1
2
While living at this address
Before moving to this address
606
Month
In what month did (this/the first) incident happen?
Year
Encourage respondent to give exact month.
4. INCIDENTNUMBEROFTIMES
____________ Number of incidents
607
If unsure, ask:
Altogether, how many times did this type of
incident happen during the last 6 months?
5a.
CHECK
ITEM B
5b.
CHECK
How many incidents?
(Refer to 4.)
INCIDENTSSIMILAR
608
1
2
1-5 incidents (not a "series") - SKIP to 6
6 or more incidents - ASK 5b
609
1
2
Similar - ASK 5c
Different (not a "series") - SKIP to 6
610
1
2
Yes (not a "series")
No (is a "series")
ITEM C
If unsure, ask:
Are these incidents similar to each other in
detail or are they for different types of crimes?
5c.
CHECK
ITEM D
RECALLDETAILS
If unsure, ask:
Can you recall enough details of each incident to
distinguish them from each other?
6. INCIDENTTIME
(If Box 2 is marked in 5c, read: The following questions
refer only to the most recent incident.)
About what time did (this/the most recent)
incident happen?
612
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
During day
After 6 a.m. - 12 noon
After 12 noon - 3 p.m.
After 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Don't know what time of day
At night
After 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
After 9 p.m. - 12 midnight
After 12 midnight - 6 a.m.
Don't know what time of night
OR
Don't know whether day or night
7a. INCIDENTPLACE
613
In what city, town, or village did this
incident occur?
1
2
3
4
5
7b. INCIDENTPLACESPEC
Outside U.S. - SKIP to 10a
Not inside a city/town/village - ASK 8a
SAME city/town/village as present residence - SKIP to 9
DIFFERENT city/town/village from present
residence - ASK 7b
Don't know - ASK 8a
Specify
Please specify the city, town, or village, in which the
incident occurred.
8a. INCIDENTSTATE
614
State ________________
In what state did it occur?
8b. INCIDENTCOUNTY
County ________________
In what county did it occur?
8c. COUNTYSTATE
615
Ask or verify:
1
2
Yes
1
Yes
2
No
1
In your home or lodging? - SKIP to 10b
Near your home? - SKIP to 10c
At, in or near a friend's/relative's/neighbor's
home? - SKIP to 10d
No
Is this the same county and state as your
present residence?
9. INCIDENTAIR
Did this incident occur on an American Indian
Reservation or on American Indian Lands?
10a. LOCATION_GENERAL
Did this incident happen ...
Read each category until respondent says "yes", then
enter appropriate precode.
633
2
3
4
5
7
At school? - SKIP to 10g
In open areas, on the street, or
on public transportation? - SKIP to - 10h
8
Some where else? - SKIP to 10i
6
Page 2
At a commercial place? - SKIP to 10e
In a parking lot or garage? - SKIP to 10f
10b. LOCATION_IN_HOME
616
1
In own dwelling, own attached garage,
or enclosed porch (Include illegal entry
or attempted illegal entry of same)
2
In detached building on own property,
such as detached garage, storage shed,
etc. (Include illegal entry of same)
3
In vacation home/second home
(Include illegal entry or attempted
illegal entry of same)
4
In hotel or motel room respondent
was staying in (Include illegal entry or
attempted illegal entry of same)
5
Own yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport,
unenclosed porch (does not include
apartment yards)
Apartment hall, storage area, laundry
room (does not include apartment
parking lot/garage)
On street immediately adjacent to own
home or lodging
Ask if necessary:
Where in your home or lodging did this
incident happen?
10c. LOCATION_NEAR_HOME
Ask if necessary:
6
Where near your home or lodging did this
incident happen?
7
8
At or in home or other building on their
property
Ask if necessary:
9
Where at, in, or near a friend's/relative's/
neighbor's home did this incident happen?
10
Yard, sidewalk, driveway, carport (does
not include apartment yards)
Apartment hall, storage area, laundry
room (does not include apartment
parking lot/garage)
On street immediately adjacent to their
home
10d. LOCATION_OTHER_HOME
11
10e. LOCATION_COMMERCE
12
24
Ask if necessary:
At what type of a commercial place did this
incident happen?
10f. LOCATION_PARKING
Ask if necessary:
25
14
Inside other commercial building, such
as a store
Inside office
27
Inside factory or warehouse
26
15
Commercial parking lot/garage
16
Noncommercial parking lot/garage
17
Apartment/townhouse parking lot/
garage
18
Inside school building
On school property (school parking
area, play area, school bus, etc.)
In what type of a parking lot or garage did this
incident happen?
10g. LOCATION_SCHOOL
Inside restaurant, bar, nightclub
Inside bank
Inside gas station
19
Ask if necessary:
SKIP
to 11
SKIP
to 18
SKIP
to 18
SKIP
to 17c
SKIP
to 17c
SKIP to 17a
SKIP to 17c
Where at school did this incident happen?
10h. LOCATION_OPEN_AREA
Ask if necessary:
Where in an open area, on the street, or on
public transportation did this incident
happen?
10i. LOCATION_SPEC
20
21
22
23
In apartment yard, park, field,
playground (other than school)
On the street (other than immediately
adjacent to own/friend's/relative's/
neighbor's home)
On public transportation or in station
(bus, train, plane, airport, depot, etc.)
Other - Specify
SKIP
to 18
SKIP to 17c
Please specify the other location where this
incident occurred.
Page 3
11. OFFENDERLIVE
617
Did the offender live (here/there) or have a
right to be (here/there), for instance, as a guest
or a repairperson?
12. OFFENDERINSIDE
2
3
618
Did the offender actually get INSIDE your
(house/apartment/room/garage/ shed/
enclosed porch)?
13. OFFENDERTRY
619
Did the offender TRY to get in your (house/
apartment/room/garage/shed/porch)?
14. FORCEDENTRY
1
620
2
Yes - SKIP to 14
No
3
Don't know
1
2
Yes - ASK 14
No - SKIP to 19
3
Don't know - ASK 14
1
Yes - ASK 15a
No - SKIP to 16a
1
2
Was there any evidence, such as a broken lock
or broken window, that the offender(s) (got in
by force/TRIED to get in by force)?
Yes - SKIP to 19
No
ASK 12
Don't know
ASK 13
Window
15a. EVIDENCE
625
1
Damage to window (include frame,
glass broken/removed/cracked)
What was the evidence?
Probe: Anything else?
2
Screen damaged/removed
3
Lock on window damaged/tampered
with in some way
4
Other - Specify
Enter all that apply.
SKIP
to 19
SKIP to 15b
Door
626
5
Damage to door (include frame, glass
panes or door removed)
6
Screen damaged/removed
7
Lock or door handle damaged/tampered
with in some way
8
Other - Specify
SKIP
to 19
SKIP to 15c
Other
9
15b. EVIDENCE_SPEC14
Other than window or door - Specify
Specify - SKIP to 19
Please specify what was the other evidence related
to a window.
15c. EVIDENCE_SPEC18
Specify - SKIP to 19
Please specify what was the other evidence related
to a door.
15d. EVIDENCE_SPEC19
Please specify what was the evidence other than to a
window or door.
Page 4
Specify - SKIP to 19
SKIP to 15d
16a. OFFENDERGETIN
627
1
Let in
2
Offender pushed his/her way in after
door opened
3
Through OPEN DOOR or other opening
4
Through UNLOCKED door or window
Through LOCKED door or window - Had
key
Through LOCKED door or window Picked lock, used credit card, etc., other
than key
Through LOCKED door or window Don't know how
How did the offender (get in/TRY to get in)?
5
6
7
8
Don't know
9
Other - Specify
SKIP
to 19
SKIP to 16b
Specify - SKIP to 19
16b. OFFENDERGETIN_SPEC
Please specify - how the offender got in/TRIED to get
in.
17a. RESPONDENTSSCHOOL
628
Was it your school?
17b. PARTSCHOOLBLDG
629
1
Yes
2
No - SKIP to 17c
1
Classroom
Hallway/Stairwell
2
In what part of the school building did it
happen?
3
4
17c. RESTRICTEDAREA
630
1
Ask or verify -
2
Did the incident happen in an area restricted to
certain people or was it open to the public at
the time?
3
4
Bathroom/Locker room
Other (library, gym, auditorium, cafeteria)
Open to the public
Restricted to certain people (or nobody
had a right to be there)
Don't know
Other - Specify - ASK 17d
SKIP
to 18
Specify
17d. RESTRICTEDAREA_SPEC
Please specify.
18. INSIDEOROUT
631
Ask or verify -
1
Indoors (inside a building or enclosed space)
2
Outdoors
Both
3
Did it happen outdoors, indoors, or both?
19. FARFROMHOME
6
At, in, or near the building containing
the respondent's home/next door
A mile or less
Five miles or less
Fifty miles or less
More than 50 miles
Don't know how far
634
1
2
Yes - ASK 20b
No - SKIP to 56
635
1
Respondent only
Respondent and other household
member(s)
632
Ask or verify-
1
2
How far away from home did this happen?
3
4
PROBE: Was it within a mile, 5 miles, 50 miles or
more?
5
Enter the code for the first answer category that the
respondent is sure of.
20a. HHMEMBERPRESENT
Ask or verify Were you or any other member of this
household present when this incident
occurred?
You may need to probe to obtain more details to
determine if respondent was present.
20b. WHICHMEMBER
Ask or verify -
2
Which household members were present?
3
Ask 21
Only other household member(s), not
respondent - SKIP to 59a
Page 5
21. SEEOFFENDER
636
1
2
Yes
No
637
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 23a
No
Don't know
Ask or verify Did you personally see an offender?
22. WEAPONPRESENT
Did the offender have a weapon such as a gun
or knife, or something to use as a weapon, such
as a bottle or wrench?
23a. WEAPON
638
What was the weapon?
Probe: Anything else?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Enter all that apply.
SKIP to 24
Hand gun (pistol, revolver, etc.)
Other gun (rifle, shotgun, etc.)
Knife
Other sharp object (scissors, ice pick, axe,
etc.)
Blunt object (rock, club, blackjack, etc.)
Other - Specify - ASK 23b
SKIP
to 24
Specify
23b. WEAPON_SPEC
Please specify the other weapon.
24. ATTACK
639
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 29a
No - ASK 25
640
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 28a
No - ASK 26
641
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 28c
No - ASK 27a
642
1
2
Did the offender hit you, knock you down or
actually attack you in any way?
25. TRYATTACK
Did the offender TRY to attack you?
26. THREATEN
Did the offender THREATEN you with harm in
any way?
27a. WHATHAPPEN
What actually happened?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
27b. WHATHAPPEN_SPEC
Something taken without permission
SKIP
Attempted or threatened to take
to 35c
something
Harassed, argument, abusive language
Unwanted sexual contact with force
SKIP to 27c
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Forcible entry or attempted forcible
entry of house/apartment
SKIP
Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry
to 35c
of car
Damaged or destroyed property
Attempted or threatened to damage or
destroy property
Other - Specify - ASK 27b
Specify - SKIP to 35c
Please specify what actually happened.
27c. SEXCONFORCEPROBE_1
You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual
contact with force. Do you mean forced or
coerced sexual intercourse including attempts?
Page 6
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 29a
No - SKIP to 35c
28a. HOWTRYATTACK
How did the offender TRY to attack you?
643
Probe: Any other way?
1
2
3
4
5
Enter all that apply.
6
644
7
8
9
10
645
11
12
13
14
Verbal threat of rape
Verbal threat to kill
SKIP
Verbal threat of attack other than to kill or rape
to 35c
Verbal threat of sexual assault other than rape
Unwanted sexual contact with force
SKIP to 28e
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Weapon present or threatened with weapon
Shot at (but missed)
Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
Attempted attack with weapon other
SKIP
than gun/knife/sharp weapon
to 35c
Object thrown at person
Followed or surrounded
Tried to hit, slap, knock down, grab, hold,
trip, jump, push, etc.
Other - Specify - ASK 28b
Specify
28b. HOWTRYATTACK_SPEC
- SKIP to 35c
Please specify how the offender TRIED to attack you.
28c. HOWTHREATEN
How were you threatened?
643
Probe: Any other way?
1
2
3
4
5
Enter all that apply.
6
644
7
8
9
10
645
11
12
13
14
Verbal threat of rape
Verbal threat to kill
SKIP
Verbal threat of attack other than to kill or rape
to 35c
Verbal threat of sexual assault other than rape
Unwanted sexual contact with force
SKIP to 28e
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Unwanted sexual contact without force
(grabbing, fondling, etc.)
Weapon present or threatened with weapon
Shot at (but missed)
Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
Attempted attack with weapon other
SKIP
than gun/knife/sharp weapon
to 35c
Object thrown at person
Followed or surrounded
Tried to hit, slap, knock down, grab, hold,
trip, jump, push, etc.
Other - Specify - ASK 28d
Specify - SKIP to 35c
28d. HOWTHREATEN_SPEC
Please specify how you were threatened.
28e. SEXCONFORCEPROBE_2
1
2
You mentioned some type of unwanted sexual
contact with force. Do you mean forced or
coerced sexual intercourse including
attempts?
29a. HOWATTACK
646
How were you attacked?
1
2
3
Probe: Any other way?
4
647
5
6
7
8
9
10
648
11
Enter all that apply.
12
13
14
29b. HOWATTACK_SPEC
Yes - ASK 29a
No - SKIP to 35c
ASK 29c
Raped
ASK 29d
Tried to rape
Sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape
Shot
Shot at (but missed)
Hit with gun held in hand
Stabbed/cut with knife/sharp weapon
Attempted attack with knife/sharp weapon
SKIP
Hit by object (other than gun) held in hand
to 30a
Hit by thrown object
Attempted attack with weapon other
than gun/knife/sharp weapon
Hit, slapped, knocked down
Grabbed, held, tripped, jumped, pushed, etc.
Other - Specify - ASK 29b
Specify
- SKIP to 30a
Please specify how you were attacked.
Page 7
29c. RAPE_CK1
Yes - SKIP to 30a
No - go back to 29a
You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or
coerced sexual intercourse?
If "no", then ask: What do you mean?
29d. ATTRAPE_CK1
Yes - SKIP to 30a
No - go back to 29a
You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean
attempted forced or coerced sexual
intercourse?
If "no", then ask: What do you mean?
30a. PRETHREATEN
649
Did the offender THREATEN to hurt you before
you were actually attacked?
1
2
3
Yes
SKIP to 31a
No
Other - Specify - ASK 30b
Specify
30b. PRETHREATEN_SPEC
Please specify.
31a. INJURY
655
What were the injuries you suffered, if any?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
656
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
None
Raped
Attempted rape
Sexual assault other than rape or
attempted rape
Knife or stab wounds
Gun shot, bullet wounds
Broken bones or teeth knocked out
Internal injuries
Knocked unconscious
Bruises, black eye, cuts, scratches,
swelling, chipped teeth
SKIP to 32a
SKIP to 33a
SKIP to
32a
Other - Specify - ASK 31b
Specify
31b. INJURY_SPEC
SKIP to 35c
SKIP to 31c
SKIP to 31d
- SKIP to 32a
Please specify the injuries you suffered.
31c. RAPE_CK2
Yes - SKIP to 32a
No - go back to 31a
You mentioned rape. Do you mean forced or
coerced sexual intercourse?
If "no", then ask: What do you mean?
31d. ATTRAPE_CK2
Yes - SKIP to 32a
No - go back to 31a
You mentioned attempted rape. Do you mean
attempted forced or coerced sexual
intercourse?
If "no", then ask: What do you mean?
32a. INJURYNOTGUN
657
1
2
Yes - ASK 32b
No - SKIP to 33a
658
2
3
4
Raped
Attempted rape
Sexual assault other than rape or attempted rape
7
8
9
11
Broken bones or teeth knocked out
Internal injuries
Knocked unconscious
Bruises, black eye, cuts, scratches,
swelling, chipped teeth
Other - Specify
1
2
Yes - ASK 33b
No - SKIP to 35c
Ask or verifyWere any of the injuries caused by a weapon
other than a gun or knife?
32b. FIRSTINJURY
Which injuries were caused by a weapon
OTHER than a gun or knife?
Enter all that apply.
10
33a. MEDICALCARE
Were you injured to the extent that you
received any medical care, including self
treatment?
Page 8
659
33b. RECEIVECAREWHERE
Where did you receive this care?
660
Probe: Anywhere else?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Enter all that apply.
At the scene
At home/neighbor's/friend's
Health unit at work/school, first aid
station at a stadium/park, etc.
Doctor's office/health clinic
Emergency room at hospital/emergency clinic
Hospital (other than emergency room)
Other - Specify - ASK 33c
SKIP
to
33d
Specify
33c. RECEIVECAREWHERE_SPEC
Please specify where you received this care.
33d.
CHECK
ITEM E1
Is (Box 6) "Hospital" marked in
35a?
34a. CAREOVERNIGHT
1
2
Yes - ASK 34a
No - SKIP to 35a
662
1
2
Yes - ASK 34b
No - SKIP to 35a
663
____________ Number of days
664
1
Did you stay overnight in the hospital?
34b. CAREDAYHOSPIT
How many days did you stay in the hospital?
35a. MEDICALINSURANCE
At the time of the incident, were you covered
by any medical insurance, or were you eligible
for benefits from any other type of health
benefits program, such as medicaid, Veterans
Administration, or Public Welfare?
35b. MEDICALEXPENSES
What was the total amount of your medical
expenses resulting from this incident
(INCLUDING anything paid by insurance)?
Include hospital and doctor bills, medicine,
therapy, braces, and any other injury related
expenses.
2
3
665
Yes
No
Don't know
$ ____________ .
00
0
No cost
1
2
Yes - ASK 36a
No - SKIP to 39
1
2
Yes
No
1
2
Yes
No
1
2
Not at all distressing
Mildly distressing
Moderately distressing
Severely distressing
Total amount
Obtain an estimate, if necessary.
35c.
CHECK
ITEM E2
Is (Box 1) "Yes" marked in 24, 25 or
26 or are (Box 4 or 5) "Unwanted
sexual contact with or without
force" marked in 27?
36a. EMO_TOLL_IMPACT_JOB
971
Being a victim of crime affects people in
different ways. Next I would like to ask you
some questions about how being a crime
victim may have affected you.
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to
have significant problems with your job or
schoolwork, or trouble with your boss,
coworkers, or peers?
36b. EMO_TOLL_IMPACT_FAMILY
972
Did being a victim of this crime lead you to
have significant problems with family
members or friends, including getting into
more arguments or fights than you did before,
not feeling you could trust them as much, or
not feeling as close to them as you did before?
36c. EMO_TOLL_IMPACT_DISTRESSING
How distressing was being a victim of this
crime to you? Was it not at all distressing,
mildly distressing, moderately distressing, or
severely distressing?
973
3
4
Page 9
36d.
CHECK
ITEM E3
37.
Is (Box 1) "Yes" marked in 36a or
36b or are (Box 3 or 4)
"Moderately or severely
distressing" marked in 36c?
1
2
Yes - ASK 37
No - SKIP to 39
Still thinking about your distress
associated with being a victim of this crime
did you feel any of the following ways for A
MONTH OR MORE? Did you feel ...
(a) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_WORRIED
974
Worried or anxious?
(b) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_ANGRY
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
980
Unsafe?
(h) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_OTHER_WAY
Yes
979
Like you couldn't trust people?
(g) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_UNSAFE
1
978
Violated?
(f) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_MISTRUST
No
977
Vulnerable?
(e) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_VIOLATED
2
976
Sad or depressed?
(d) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_VULNERABLE
Yes
975
Angry?
(c) EMO_TOLL_FEEL_SAD
1
981
Some other way?
Specify
37i. FEEL_OTH_WAY_SP
What other way did being a victim of this
crime make you feel?
37j.
CHECK
ITEM E4
Is (Box 1) "Yes" marked in any of
37a through 37h?
37k. EMO_TOLL_SEEK_PRO_HELP
Did you seek any kind of professional help for
the feelings you experienced as a result of
being a victim of this crime?
Enter all that apply.
Yes - ASK 37k
No - SKIP to 38
1
2
Yes - ASK 37l
No - SKIP to 38
1
2
Counseling/therapy
Medication
Visited a doctor or nurse
Visted ER/hospital/clinic
Other - Specify - ASK 37m
982
Did you seek any kind of professional help for
the feelings you experienced as a result of
being a victim of this crime?
37l. EMO_TOLL_PRO_HELP_SOUGHT
1
2
983
3
4
5
37m. HELP_SOUGHT_SP
What other kind of professional help did you seek?
Page 10
Specify
SKIP
to 38
38.
Did you experience any of the following
physical problems associated with being a
victim of this crime for A MONTH OR MORE?
Did you experience ...
(a) EMO_TOLL_HAVE_HEADACHES
984
Headaches?
(b) EMO_TOLL_TRBL_SLEEPING
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
990
Muscle tension or back pain?
(h) EMO_TOLL_OTHER_PHYSICAL
Yes
989
High blood pressure?
(g) EMO_TOLL_MUSCLE_TENSION
1
988
Fatigue?
(f) EMO_TOLL_HIGH_BLOOD_PRESS
No
987
Upset stomach?
(e) EMO_TOLL_FATIGUE
2
986
Changes in your eating or drinking habits?
(d) EMO_TOLL_UPSET_STOMACH
Yes
985
Trouble sleeping?
(c) EMO_TOLL_EATING_PROBS
1
991
Some other physical problem?
Specify
38i. OTH_PHY_SP
What other physical problem did you
experience for A MONTH OR MORE?
38j.
CHECK
ITEM E5
Is (Box 1) "Yes" marked in any of
38a through 38h?
38k. EMO_TOLL_SEEK_HELP_PHYPROBS
Yes - ASK 38k
No - SKIP to 39
1
2
Yes - ASK 38l
No - SKIP to 39
1
2
Counseling/therapy
Medication
Visited a doctor or nurse
Visted ER/hospital/clinic
Other - Specify - ASK 38m
992
Other than any medical care you received for
the injury(ies) you suffered) did you seek any
professional or medical help for the physical
problems you experienced as a result of being
a victim of this crime?
38l. EMO_TOLL_KIND_HELP_PHYPROBS
1
2
993
What type of professional or medical help did
you seek?
Enter all that apply.
3
4
5
SKIP
to 39
Specify
38m. KIND_HELP_PHYOTH_SP
What other kind of professional help did you seek?
39.
CHECK
ITEM F1
Is respondent female and
between the ages of 18-49?
40. PREGATTIMEOFINC
Research shows that pregnant women may be
at a higher risk of being the victim of a violent
crime.
960
1
2
Yes - ASK 40
No - SKIP to 41a
1
Yes
2
No
Were you pregnant at the time of this incident?
Page 11
666
41a. PROTECTSELF
41b. DURINGINCIDENT
Was there anything you did or tried to do
about the incident while it was going on?
42a. ACTIONSDURINGINC
1
2
Did you do anything with the idea of
protecting YOURSELF or your PROPERTY while
the incident was going on?
667
1
2
668
What did you do?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
669
7
8
670
Yes - SKIP to 42a
No/took no action/kept still - ASK 41b
Yes - SKIP to 42a
No/took no action/kept still - ASK 47
USED PHYSICAL FORCE TOWARD OFFENDER
Attacked offender with gun; fired gun
Attacked with other weapon
Attacked without weapon (hit, kicked, etc.)
Threatened offender with gun
Threatened offender with other weapon
Threatened to injure, no weapon
RESISTED OR CAPTURED OFFENDER
Defended self or property (struggled,
ducked, blocked blows, held onto property)
Chased, tried to catch or hold offender
9
SCARED OR WARNED OFF OFFENDER
Yelled at offender, turned on lights,
threatened to call police, etc.
10
11
PERSUADED OR APPEASED OFFENDER
Cooperated, or pretended to (stalled, did
what they asked)
Argued, reasoned, pleaded, bargained, etc.
12
ESCAPED OR GOT AWAY
Ran or drove away, or tried; hid, locked door
GOT HELP OR GAVE ALARM
671
13
14
Called police or guard
Tried to attract attention or help, warn others
(cried out for help, called children inside)
15
REACTED TO PAIN OR EMOTION
Screamed from pain or fear
16
Other - Specify - ASK 42b
OTHER
Specify
42b. ACTIONDURINGINC_SPEC
Please specify what you did.
42c.
CHECK
ITEM F2
Was the respondent injured in
this incident? (Are any of the
Boxes 2-11 marked in 31a?)
43a. INJACTION
672
1
2
Yes - ASK 43a
No - SKIP to 43b
1
Actions taken before injury
Actions taken after injury
Actions taken at same time as injury
2
Did you take these actions before, after, or at
the same time that you were injured?
3
Enter all that apply.
43b. INJACTIONHELP
Did (any of) your action(s) help the situation in
any way?
Probe: Did your action(s) help you avoid injury,
protect your property, escape from the
offender - or were they helpful in some other
way?
Page 12
673
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 44a
No
Don't know
SKIP to 45
SKIP
to 42c
SKIP
to 42c
44a. HELP
674
How were they helpful?
1
2
3
4
Probe: Any other way?
5
Enter all that apply.
6
Helped avoid injury or greater injury to
respondent
Scared or chased offender off
Helped respondent get away from offender
Protected property
Protected other people
Other - Specify - ASK 44b
SKIP
to 45
Specify
44b. HELP_SPEC
Please specify how were they helpful.
45. ACTIONWORSE
675
1
2
Did (any of) your action(s) make the situation
worse in any way?
3
Yes - ASK 46a
No
Don't know
SKIP to 47
Probe: Did your action(s) lead to injury, greater
injury, loss of property, make the offender
angrier, or make the situation worse in some
other way?
46a. WORSE
676
How did they make the situation worse?
1
2
Probe: Any other way?
3
4
Enter all that apply.
5
6
Led to injury or greater injury to
respondent
Caused greater loss of property or
damage to property
Other people got hurt (worse)
Offender got away
Made offender angrier, more
aggressive, etc.
Other - Specify - ASK 46b
SKIP
to 47
Specify
46b. WORSE_SPEC
Please specify how the respondent's actions made
the situation worse.
47. ANYONEPRESENT
677
48. OTHERSACTIONS
3
678
1
2
Did the actions of (this person/any of these
people) help the situation in any way?
49a. HOWOTHERSHELP
1
2
Was anyone present during the incident
besides you and the offender? (Other than
children under age 12.)
3
679
How did they help the situation?
1
2
3
4
Probe: Any other way?
5
Enter all that apply.
6
Yes - ASK 48
No
Don't know
SKIP to 54c
Yes - ASK 49a
No
Don't know
SKIP to 50
Helped avoid injury or greater injury to
respondent
Scared or chased offender off
Helped respondent get away from offender
Protected property
Protected other people
Other - Specify - ASK 49b
SKIP
to 50
Specify
49b. HOWOTHERSHELP_SPEC
Please specify how they helped the situation.
50. OTHERSACTIONSWORSE
Did the actions of (this person/any of these
people) make the situation worse in any way?
680
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 51a
No
Don't know
SKIP to 52
Page 13
51a. OTHWORSE
681
How did they make the situation worse?
1
2
Probe: Any other way?
3
4
Enter all that apply.
5
6
Led to injury or greater injury to
respondent
Caused greater loss of property or
damage to property
Other people got hurt (worse)
Offender got away
Made offender angrier, more
aggressive, etc.
Other - Specify - ASK 51b
Specify
51b. OTHWORSE_SPEC
Please specify how they made the situation worse.
52. PERSONSHARMED
682
1
2
Not counting yourself, were any of the persons
present during the incident harmed (Pause),
threatened with harm (Pause), or robbed by
force or threat of harm? (Do not include
yourself, the offender, or children under 12
years of age.)
3
Yes - ASK 53
No
Don't know
SKIP to 54c
53. PERSONSHARMEDNUM
How many? (Do not include yourself, the
offender or children under 12 years of age.)
683
____________ Number of persons
54a. HHMEMHARMED
684
____________ Number of persons
How many of these persons are members of
your household now? (Do not include yourself,
the offender or children under 12 years of age.)
0
None - SKIP to 54c
Line number(s)
54b. HHMEMHARMED_NAMES
If not sure ask:
Who are these household members? (Do not
include yourself, the offender, or children
under 12 years of age)
Enter the line number(s) of other household
members.
54c.
CHECK
ITEM G
RESPONDENTUSEFORCE
685
1
2
Yes - ASK 55
No - SKIP to 60
686
1
2
3
Respondent
Offender(s)
Someone else
Did the respondent use or
threaten to use physical force
against the offender? (Are any of
the Boxes 1-6 marked in 42a?)
55. FIRSTTOUSEFORCE
Who was the first to use or threaten to use
physical force - you, the offender, or someone
else?
56. KNOWLEARNOFFENDERS
Do you know or have you learned anything
about the offender(s) - for instance, whether
there was one or more than one offender
involved, whether it was someone young or
old, or male or female?
687
1
2
Yes - ASK 57
No - SKIP to 88
57. SUREOFINFO
How sure are you of this information? Do you
have a suspicion, are you fairly sure or are you
certain?
688
1
2
3
Suspicion
Fairly sure
Certain
Page 14
SKIP to 60
SKIP
to 52
58a. LEARNOFFENDERS
How did you learn about the offender(s)?
689
1
2
3
Probe: Any other way?
4
Enter all that apply.
690
5
6
7
8
9
10
Respondent saw or heard offender
From other member of household who
was eyewitness
From eyewitness(es) other than
household member(s)
From police
Other person (not eyewitness)
Offender(s) admitted it
Offender(s) had threatened to do it
Stolen property found on offender's
property or in offender's possession
Figured it out by who had motive,
opportunity, or had done it before
Other - Specify - ASK 58b
SKIP
to 88
Specify - SKIP to 88
58b. LEARNOFFENDERS_SPEC
Please specify how you learned about the offender(s).
59a. HAPPEN
What actually happened?
691
Probe: Anything else?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Enter all that apply.
7
8
Something taken without permission
Attempted or threatened to take something
Harassed, argument, abusive language
Forcible entry or attempted forcible entry
of house/apartment
Forcible entry or attempted forcible
entry of car
Damaged or destroyed property
Attempted or threatened to damage or
destroy property
Other - Specify - ASK 59b
SKIP
to 60
Specify
59b. HAPPEN_SPEC
Please specify what actually happened.
692
1
2
3
Only one - SKIP to 62
More than one - SKIP to 74
Don't know - ASK 61
693
1
2
Yes - ASK 62
No - SKIP to 88
62. SINGOFFENDERKNEW
Was the offender someone you knew or a
stranger you had never seen before?
703
1
2
3
Knew or had seen before - SKIP to 64
Stranger
Don't know
63. SINGOFFENDERRECOG
Would you be able to recognize the offender if
you saw him/her?
704
1
2
3
Yes
Not sure (possibly or probably)
No - SKIP to 67
64. SINGOFFENDERHOWWELL
705
1
2
3
Sight only - ASK 65a
Casual acquaintance
Well known
1
2
3
Yes
SKIP to 67
No
Other - Specify - ASK 65b
60. ONEORMOREOFFENDERS
Ask or verify Was the crime committed by only one or by
more than one offender?
61. KNOWOFFENDERS
Do you know anything about one of the
offenders?
How well did you know the offender - by sight
only, casual acquaintance, or well known?
65a. SINGOFFENDERSIGHT
Would you have been able to tell the police
how they might find the offender, for instance,
where he/she lived, worked, went to school, or
spent time?
65b. SINGOFFENDERSIGHT_SPEC
706
SKIP to 65a
SKIP to 66a
Specify - SKIP to 67
Page 15
66a. SINGOFFENDERRELATION
707
1
2
3
4
How well did you know the offender? For
example, was the offender a friend, cousin,
etc.?
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
15
16
17
18
13
RELATIVE
Spouse at time of incident
Ex-spouse at time of incident
Parent or step-parent
Own child or step-child
Brother/sister
Other relative - Specify - ASK 66b
SKIP
to 67
NONRELATIVE
Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or
ex-girlfriend
Friend or ex-friend
Roommate, boarder
Schoolmate
Neighbor
Customer/client
Patient
Supervisor (current or former)
Employee (current or former)
Co-worker (current or former)
Teacher/school staff
Other nonrelative - Specify - ASK 66c
SKIP
to 67
Specify - SKIP to 67
66b. SINGOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_16
Please specify the other relative.
Specify
66c. SINGOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_28
Please specify the other nonrelative.
67. SINGOFFENDERGENDER
698
1
2
3
Male
Female
Don't know
699
1
2
3
4
Under 12
12-14
15-17
18-20
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
1
5
6
White?
Black or African American?
American Indian or Alaska Native?
Asian?
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
Don't know
700
1
2
3
Yes (a member of a street gang)
No (not a member of a street gang)
Don't know (if a member of a street gang)
701
1
2
3
Yes (drinking or on drugs) - ASK 72b
No (not drinking/not on drugs)
Don't know (if drinking or on drugs)
702
1
2
3
4
Drinking
On drugs
Both (drinking and on drugs)
Drinking or on drugs - could not tell which
709
1
2
3
Yes (only time)
No (there were other times)
Don't know
Was the offender male or female?
68. SINGOFFENDERAGE
How old would you say the offender was?
69. SINGOFFETHNICITY
994
Was the offender Hispanic or Latino?
70. SINGOFFENDERRACE
708
2
3
What race or races was the offender? You may
select more than one. Was the offender...
4
Enter all that apply.
71. SINGOFFENDERGANG
Was the offender a member of a street gang, or
don't you know?
72a. SINGOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
Was the offender drinking or on drugs, or don't
you know?
72b. SINGOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG
Which was it? (Drinking or on drugs?)
73. SINGOFFENDERONLYTIME
Was this the only time this offender committed
a crime against you or your household or made
threats against you or your household?
74. HOWMANYOFFENDERS
How many offenders?
Page 16
5
6
7
21-29
30 or older
Don't know
710
Number of offenders
SKIP to 73
SKIP to 88
75. MULTOFFENDERKNEW
3
4
All known
Some known
All strangers
Don't know
719
1
2
3
Yes
Not sure (possibly or probably)
No - SKIP to 80a
720
1
2
3
Sight only
Casual acquaintance
Well known
718
Were any of the offenders known to you, or
were they strangers you had never seen
before?
76. MULTOFFENDERRECOG
Would you be able to recognize any of them if
you saw them?
77a. MULTOFFENDERHOWWELL
How well did you know the offender(s) - by
sight only, casual acquaintance, or well
known?
1
2
SKIP to 77a
ASK 76
SKIP to 78a
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
77b.
CHECK
ITEM H
Is "casual acquaintance" or "well
known" marked in 77a?
78a. MULTOFFENDERSIGHT
Would you have been able to tell the police
how they might find any of them, for instance,
where they lived, worked, went to school, or
spent time?
Yes - SKIP to 79a
No - ASK 78a
722
1
2
3
Yes
No
SKIP to 80a
Other - Specify - ASK 78b
Specify - SKIP to 80a
78b. MULTOFFENDERSIGHT_SPEC
Please specify.
79a. MULTOFFENDERRELATION
How did you know them? For example, were
they friends, cousins, etc.?
961
1
2
3
4
Probe: Anything else?
5
6
Enter all that apply.
962
7
8
9
10
963
11
12
13
964
14
15
16
17
965
18
RELATIVE
Spouse at time of incident
Ex-spouse at time of incident
Parent or step-parent
Own child or step-child
Brother/sister
Other relative - Specify - ASK 79b
SKIP
to 80a
NONRELATIVE
Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or
ex-girlfriend
Friend or ex-friend
Roommate, boarder
Schoolmate
Neighbor
Customer/client
Other nonrelative - Specify - ASK 79c
Patient
Supervisor (current or former)
Employee (current or former)
Co-worker (current or former)
Teacher/school staff
SKIP
to 80a
SKIP
to 80a
Specify - SKIP to 80a
79b. MULTOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_16
Please specify the other relative.
Specify
79c. MULTOFFENDERRELATION_SPEC_28
Please specify the other nonrelative.
80a. MULTOFFENDERGENDER
711
Were they male or female?
80b. MULTOFFENDERMOSTGENDER
Were they mostly male or mostly female?
712
1
2
3
4
All male
All female
Don't know sex of any offenders
Both male and female
1
2
3
4
Mostly male
Mostly female
Evenly divided
Don't know
SKIP to 81
(If only two offenders,
SKIP to 81
otherwise ASK 80b)
Page 17
81. MULTOFFENDERYOUNG
713
1
2
3
4
Under 12
12-14
15-17
18-20
5
6
7
21-29
30 or older
Don't know
714
1
2
3
5
6
7
21-29
30 or older
Don't know
4
Under 12
12-14
15-17
18-20
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 83b
No
Don't know
996
1
2
3
4
Mostly Hispanic or Latino
Mostly non-Hispanic
Equal number of Hispanic and non-Hispanic
Don't know
726
1
2
3
White?
Black or African American?
American Indian or Alaska Native?
Asian?
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander?
Don't know
How old would you say the youngest was?
82. MULTOFFENDEROLD
How old would you say the oldest was?
83a. MULTIPLEOFFENDERETHNICITY
995
Were any of the offenders Hispanic or Latino?
83b. MULTIPLEOFFENDERMOSTETHNICITY
Were the offenders mostly Hispanic, mostly
non-Hispanic, or an equal number of Hispanic
and non-Hispanic?
84a. MULTOFFENDERRACE
What race or races were the offenders? Were
they...
4
5
Enter all that apply.
84b.
CHECK
ITEM I
6
Is more than one box marked in
84a?
84c. MULTOFFENDERRACEMOST
SKIP to 84a
Yes - ASK 84c
No - SKIP to 85
727
What race were most of the offenders?
6
7
Mostly White
Mostly Black or African American
Mostly American Indian or Alaska Native
Mostly Asian
Mostly Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Equal number of each race
Don't know
1
2
3
4
5
85. MULTOFFENDERGANG
Were any of the offenders a member of a street
gang, or don't you know?
715
1
2
3
Yes (a member of a street gang)
No (not a member of a street gang)
Don't know (if a member of a street gang)
86a. MULTOFFENDERDRINKDRUG
716
1
2
3
Yes (drinking or on drugs) - ASK 86b
No (not drinking/not on drugs)
Don't know (if drinking or on drugs)
717
1
2
3
4
Drinking
On drugs
Both (drinking and on drugs)
Drinking or on drugs - could not tell which
730
1
2
3
Yes (only time)
No (there were other times)
Don't know
731
1
Yes - SKIP to 96a
No
Don't know
Were any of the offenders drinking or on
drugs, or don't you know?
86b. MULTOFFENDERDRINKORDRUG
Which was it? (Drinking or on drugs?)
87. MULTOFFENDERONLYTIME
Was this the only time any of these offenders
committed a crime against you or your
household or made threats against you or your
household?
88. THEFT
2
Ask or verify:
Was something stolen or taken without
permission that belonged to you or others in the
household? (Include anything stolen from the
business operated from the respondent's home.)
Include anything stolen from an unrecognizable
business. Do not include anything stolen from a
recognizable business in respondent's home or
another business, such as merchandise or cash from a
register.
Page 18
3
SKIP to 87
89. ATTEMPTTHEFT
732
1
2
3
Ask or verify:
Yes - ASK 90a
No
Don't know
SKIP to 110
Did the offender(s) ATTEMPT to take something
that belonged to you or others in the
household? (Include anything stolen from the
operated from the respondent's home.)
Do not include anything the offender tried to steal
from a recognizable business in respondent's home or
another business, such as merchandise or cash from a
register.
90a. ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT
733
1
2
3
4
5
6
734
7
735
8
9
10
What did the offender try to take?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
11
12
736
13
737
14
15
16
17
Cash
Purse
Wallet
Credit cards, checks, bank cards
Car
Other motor vehicle
Part of motor vehicle (tire, hubcap,
attached car stereo or satellite radio,
attached CB radio, etc.)
Gasoline or oil
Bicycle or parts
TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other
household appliances
Silver, china, art objects
Other household furnishings (furniture,
rugs, etc.)
Personal effects (clothing, jewelry, toys,
etc.)
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
Other - Specify - ASK 90b
Don't know - SKIP to 91a
SKIP
to 91a
Specify
90b. ATTEMPTTHEFTWHAT_SPEC
Please specify what the offender(s) tried to take.
91a. ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER
Did the (property/money) the offender tried to
take belong to you personally, to someone else
in the household, or to both you and other
household members?
738
1
2
3
4
5
Respondent only - SKIP to 92a
Respondent and other household
member(s)
SKIP to 91c
Other household member(s) only
Nonhousehold member(s) only - SKIP to 92a
Other - Specify - ASK 91b
Specify - SKIP to 92a
91b. ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER_SPEC
Please specify who the (property/money) the
offender(s) tried to take belonged to.
91c.
CHECK
ITEM J
ATTEMPTHEFTLNS
739
Line number
If not sure, ask:
Line number
Besides the respondent, which household
member(s) owned the (property/money) the
offender tried to take?
Line number
OR
Enter appropriate line number(s).
92a. ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMSINMV
Ask or verify:
740
40
Household property
1
2
Yes
No
(Was/Were) the article(s) IN or ATTACHED to a
motor vehicle when the attempt was made to
take (it/them)?
Page 19
92b.
CHECK
ITEM K
Yes - ASK 93
No - SKIP to 94
Did the offender try to take cash,
a purse, or a wallet?
(Is Box 1, 2, or 3 marked in 90a?)
93. ATTEMPTTHEFTONPERSON
Ask or verify:
742
1
2
Yes
No
745
1
2
Yes - ASK 95
No - SKIP to 110
746
4
5
6
Credit cards, checks, bank cards
Car
Other motor vehicle
Part of motor vehicle (tire, hubcap,
attached car stereo or satellite radio,
attached CB radio, etc.)
Gasoline or oil
Bicycle or parts
TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other
household appliances
Silver, china, art objects
Other household furnishings (furniture,
rugs, etc.)
Personal effects (clothing, jewelry, toys,
etc.)
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
Other
Tried to take everything marked in 90a
directly from respondent
Was the (cash/purse/wallet) on your person,
for instance, in a pocket or being held?
94. ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMONPERSON
Ask or verify:
Was there anything (else) the offender(s) tried
to take directly from you, for instance, from
your pocket or hands, or something that you
were wearing?
Exclude property not belonging to respondent or
other household member
95. ATTEMPTTHEFTITEMS
Which items did the offender(s) try to take
directly from you?
7
Exclude property not belonging to respondent or
other household member.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
40
Page 20
SKIP
to 110
96a. WHATWASTAKEN
What was taken that belonged to you or
others in the household?
748
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
749
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
750
11
12
13
751
753
VEHICLE OR PARTS
Car
Other motor vehicle
Part of motor vehicle (tire, hubcap, attached car
stereo or satellite radio, attached CB radio, etc.)
Unattached motor vehicle accessories or equipment
(unattached CD player or satellite radio, etc.)
Gasoline or oil
Bicycle or parts
HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS
TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other household
appliances
Silver, china, art objects
Other household furnishings (furniture, rugs, etc.)
19
PERSONAL EFFECTS
Portable electronic and photographic gear
(Personal stereo, TV, cellphone, camera, etc.)
Clothing, furs, luggage, briefcase
Jewelry, watch, keys
Collection of stamps, coins, etc.
Toys, sports and recreation equipment
(not listed above)
Other personal and portable objects
20
21
FIREARMS
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
14
15
16
752
CASH/PURSE/WALLET/CREDIT CARDS
Cash
Purse
Wallet
Credit cards, check, bank cards
17
18
MISCELLANEOUS
754
755
22
23
24
25
26
27
96b.
CHECK
ITEM L1
If Box 26 is marked in 96a - ASK 96c
If Box 2 and/or 3 is marked in 96a - SKIP to 96d
If Box 1 is marked in 96a - SKIP to 96e
If none of the conditions above are met - SKIP to 97a
Follow the skip pattern for the
first category met, based on the
entries in 96a.
Specify - If Box 2 and/or 3 is marked in 96a - ASK 96d
If Box 1 is marked in 96a - SKIP to 96e
Otherwise SKIP to 97a
96c. WHATWASTAKEN_SPEC
Please specify what was taken.
1
2
96d. PRSWLT_CONTAINMONEY
Did the stolen (purse/wallet) contain any
money?
96e. AMOUNTCASHTAKEN
Tools, machines, office equipment
Farm or garden produce, plants, fruit, logs
Animals - pet or livestock
Food or liquor
Other - Specify
Don't know
747
Yes - ASK 96e
No
If Box 1 is marked in 96a ASK 96e
otherwise SKIP to 97a
$ ____________ .
00
Amount of cash taken
If not sure, ask:
How much cash was taken?
97a. WHOOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
Did the stolen (property/money) belong to you
personally, to someone else in the household,
or to both you and other household members?
97b. ATTEMPTTHEFTOWNER_SPEC
760
1
2
3
4
5
Respondent only - SKIP to 97d
Respondent and other household
member(s)
SKIP to 97c
Other household member(s) only
Nonhousehold member(s) only - SKIP to 97d
Other - Specify - ASK 97b
Specify - SKIP to 97d
Please specify who the stolen (property/money)
belonged to.
Page 21
97c.
CHECK
ITEM L2
OTHERSOWNEDSTOLENPROPERTY
761
Line number
If not sure, ask:
Line number
Besides the respondent, which household
member(s) owned the stolen (property/
money)?
Line number
OR
40
Enter appropriate line number(s).
97d.
CHECK
ITEM M1
Yes - ASK 98
No - SKIP to 100a
Was a car or other motor vehicle
stolen?
(Is Box 5 or 6 marked in 96a?)
98. PERMISSIONGIVEN
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 99
No
Don't know
764
1
2
Yes
No
765
1
2
Yes
No
763
Had permission to use the (car/motor vehicle)
ever been given to the offender(s)?
99. RETURNCAR
Did the offender return the (car/motor vehicle)
this time?
100a. ARTICLEINCAR
Household property
Ask or verify:
SKIP to 100b
SKIP to 100b
(Was/Were) the article(s) IN or ATTACHED to a
motor vehicle when (it was/they were) taken?
100b.
CHECK
ITEM M2
Yes - ASK 101a
No - SKIP to 101b
Did the offender(s) take a
handgun?
(Is Box 20 marked in 96a?)
101a. NUMBERHANDGUNS
923
Number of handguns
How many handguns were taken?
101b.
CHECK
ITEM M3
Yes - ASK 101a
No - SKIP to 101b
Did the offender(s) take some
other type of firearm?
(Is Box 21 marked in 96a?)
101c. NUMBERFIREARMS
924
Number of handguns
How many other types of firearms were taken?
101d.
CHECK
ITEM N1
Yes - ASK 102a
No - SKIP to 102b
Was cash, a purse, or a wallet
taken? (Is Box 1, 2, or 3 marked
in 96a?)
102a. CASHONPERSON
Ask or verify:
767
1
2
Yes
No
768
1
2
Yes - ASK 103
No - SKIP to 104a
Was the (cash/purse/wallet) on your person,
for instance, in a pocket or being held?
102b. OTHERONPERSON
Ask or verify:
Was there anything (else) the offender(s) took
directly from you, for instance, from your
pocket or hands, or something that you were
wearing?
Exclude property not belonging to respondent or
other household member
Page 22
103. ITEMSTAKEN
Which items did the offender(s) take directly
from you?
769
4
5
6
7
Exclude property not belonging to respondent or
other household member.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
40
104a.
CHECK
ITEM N2
Yes - SKIP to 106
No - ASK 104b
Were only cash, a purse, or a
wallet taken? (Are Boxes 1, 2, or
3 the only Boxes marked in 96a?)
104b. PROPERTYVALUE
What was the value of the PROPERTY that was
taken? Include recovered property. (Exclude
any stolen (cash/checks/credit cards) If jointly
owned with a nonhousehold member(s),
include only the share owned by household
members.)
Credit cards, check, bank cards
Car
Other motor vehicle
Part of motor vehicle (tire, hubcap, attached car
stereo or satellite radio, attached CB radio, etc.)
Unattached motor vehicle accessories or equipment
(unattached CD player or satellite radio, etc.)
Gasoline or oil
Bicycle or parts
TV, DVD player, VCR, stereo, other household
appliances
Silver, china, art objects
Other household furnishings (furniture, rugs, etc.)
Portable electronic and photographic gear
(Personal stereo, TV, cellphone, camera, etc.)
Clothing, furs, luggage, briefcase
Jewelry, watch, keys
Collection of stamps, coins, etc.
Toys, sports and recreation equipment
(not listed above)
Other personal and portable objects
Handgun (pistol, revolver)
Other firearm (rifle, shotgun)
Tools, machines, office equipment
Farm or garden produce, plants, fruit, logs
Animals -pet or livestock
Food or liquor
Other
Everything marked in 96a was taken
directly from respondent
770
$ ____________ .
00
Value of property taken
Enter total dollar value for all items taken.
105a. DECIDEDVALUE
How did you decide the value of the property
that was taken?
771
Probe: Any other way?
Enter all that apply.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Original cost
Replacement cost
Personal estimate of current value
Insurance report estimate
Police estimate
Don't know
Other - Specify - ASK 105b
SKIP to 106
Specify
105b. DECIDEDVALUE_SPEC
Please specify how the value of the property (that
was taken) was decided.
106. ALLPARTRECOVERED
772
Was all or part of the stolen (money/property)
recovered, not counting anything received
from insurance?
107a. WHATRECOVERED
What was recovered?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
107b.
CHECK
ITEM N3
Follow the skip pattern for the
first category met, based on the
entries in 107a.
776
3
All - SKIP to 107d
Part - ASK 107a
None - SKIP to 109
1
2
3
4
5
6
Cash recovered
Purse
Wallet
Credit cards, checks, bank cards
Car or other motor vehicle
Property other than the above
1
2
If Box 2 and/or 3 is marked in 107a - ASK 107c
If Box 1 is marked in 107a - SKIP to 107d
If none of the conditions above are met - SKIP to 107e
Page 23
107c. CONTAINMONEY
1
2
Did the recovered (purse/wallet) contain any
money?
107d. CASHRECOVERED
775
Yes - ASK 107d
No
If Box 1 is marked in 107a ASK 107d
otherwise SKIP to 107e
$ ____________ .
00
Amount of cash recovered
If necessary:
How much cash was recovered?
107e.
CHECK
NONCASHPROPERTYRECOVERED
Yes - ASK 108
No - SKIP to 109
777
1
2
778
$ ____________ .
779
1
2
3
4
Yes
No
Don't have insurance
Don't know
780
1
2
Yes - ASK 111
No - SKIP to 115
781
1
2
3
Yes, all
Yes, part
No, none - ASK 112
ITEM O
Was PROPERTY other than cash,
checks, or credit cards
recovered? (Are Boxes 2, 3, 5, or
6 marked in 107a?)
108. RECOVEREDCASHVALUE
00
Value of property recovered
Considering any damage, what was the value
of the property after it was recovered? Do not
include recovered (cash/checks/credit cards)
If value of recovered property is the same as value of
property taken then enter the amount from 104b
above.
109. REPORTEDTOINSURANCE
Was the theft reported to an
insurance company?
110. DAMAGED
(Other than any stolen property) was
anything that belonged to you or other
members of the household damaged in this
incident?
Probe: For example, was (a lock or window
broken/clothing damaged/damage done to a
car), or something else?
111. DAMAGEDREPAIRED
(Was/Were) the damaged item(s) repaired or
replaced?
112. ESTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
782
How much would it cost to repair or replace the
damaged item(s)?
113. ACTCOSTREPAIRREPLACE
$ ____________ .
0
783
0
114a. PAIDREPAIRS
784
Who (paid/will pay) for the repairs or
replacement?
Probe: Anyone else?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Cost to repair/replace -
00
Cost to repair/replace - ASK 114a
No cost - SKIP to 115
Items will not be repaired or replaced
Household member
Landlord or landlord's insurance
Victim's (or household's) insurance
Offender
Other - Specify - ASK 114b
Enter all that apply.
Specify
114b. PAIDREPAIRS_SPEC
Please specify who (paid/will pay) for the repairs or
replacement.
115. POLICEINFORMED
Were the police informed or did they find out
about this incident in any way?
Page 24
800
1
2
3
SKIP
to 114a
00
No cost - SKIP to 115
$ ____________ .
How much was the repair or replacement cost?
SKIP to 113
Yes - ASK 116a
No - SKIP to 117a
Don't know - SKIP to 130
SKIP
to 115
116a. POLICEFINDOUT
801
How did the police find out about it?
Enter first precode that applies.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
If proxy interview, we want the proxy
respondent to answer questions 116a - 134b for
herself/himself, not for the person for whom the
proxy interview is being taken.
Respondent - SKIP to 119a
Other household member
Someone official called police (guard, apt.
manager, school official, etc.)
Someone else
Police were at scene - SKIP to 123a
Offender was a police officer - SKIP to 124
Some other way - Specify - ASK 116b
SKIP
to 121
Specify - SKIP to 124
116b. POLICEFINDOUT_SPEC
Please specify how the police found out about it.
117a. NOTREPORTEDPOLICE
What was the reason it was not reported to the
police?
802
1
2
Probe: Can you tell me a little more? Any other
reason?
3
Enter all that apply.
4
5
STRUCTURED PROBE Was the reason because you dealt with it
another way, it wasn't important enough to
you, insurance wouldn't cover it, police
couldn't do anything, police wouldn't help, or
was there some other reason?
6
803
7
8
9
10
804
11
12
13
805
14
806
15
16
17
18
19
117b. NOTREPORTEDPOLICE_SPEC
DEALT WITH ANOTHER WAY
Reported to another official (guard, apt.
manager, school official, etc.)
Private or personal matter or took care of it
myself or informally; told offender's parent
NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO RESPONDENT
Minor or unsuccessful crime, small or no
loss, recovered property
Child offender(s), "kid stuff"
Not clear it was a crime or that harm was
intended
INSURANCE WOULDN'T COVER
No insurance, loss less than deductible, etc.
POLICE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING
Didn't find out until too late
Could not recover or identify property
Could not find or identify offender, lack of
proof
Codes
1-17
SKIP
to 117c
POLICE WOULDN'T HELP
Police wouldn't think it was important
enough, wouldn't want to be bothered or
get involved
Police would be inefficient, ineffective
(they'd arrive late or not at all, wouldn't do a
good job, etc.)
Police would be biased, would harass/insult
respondent, cause respondent trouble, etc.)
Offender was police officer
OTHER REASON
Did not want to get offender in trouble with
the law
Was advised not to report to police
Afraid of reprisal by offender or others
Did not want to or could not take time - too
inconvenient
Other - Specify - ASK 117b
Respondent not present or doesn't know
why it wasn't reported - SKIP to 117c
Specify
Please specify the reason it was not reported to the
police.
117c.
CHECK
ITEM P
Is more than one reason marked
in 117a?
1
2
Yes - ASK 118
No - SKIP to 130
Page 25
118. NOTREPORTIMPORTANT
808
Which of these would you say was the most
important reason why the incident was not
reported to the police?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
119a. REASONREPORT
Besides the fact that it was a crime, did YOU
have any other reason for reporting this
incident to the police?
809
1
2
Probe: Any other reason?
3
4
Enter all that apply.
STRUCTURED PROBE Did you report it to get help with this incident,
to recover your loss, to stop or punish the
offender, to let police know about it, or was
there some other reason?
5
6
810
7
8
9
10
811
11
12
119b. REASONREPORT_SPEC
Reported to another official (guard, apt.
manager, school official, etc.)
Private or personal matter or took care of
it myself or informally; told offender's
parent
Minor or unsuccessful crime, small or no
loss, recovered property
Child offender(s), "kid stuff"
Not clear it was a crime or that harm was
intended
No insurance, loss less than deductible,
etc.
Didn't find out until too late
Could not recover or identify property
Could not find or identify offender, lack
of proof
Police wouldn't think it was important
enough, wouldn't want to be bothered
or get involved
Police would be inefficient, ineffective
(they'd arrive late or not at all, wouldn't
do a good job, etc.)
Police would be biased, would harass/
insult respondent, cause respondent
trouble, etc.)
Offender was police officer
Did not want to get offender in trouble
with the law
Was advised not to report to police
Afraid of reprisal by offender or others
Did not want to or could not take time too inconvenient
Other - Specify
No one reason more important
TO GET HELP WITH THIS INCIDENT
Stop or prevent THIS incident from
happening
Needed help after incident due to injury,
etc.
TO RECOVER LOSS
To recover property
To collect insurance
TO GET OFFENDER
To prevent further crimes against
respondent/ respondent's household
by this offender
To stop this offender from committing
other crimes against anyone
To punish offender
Catch or find offender - other reason
or no reason given
TO LET POLICE KNOW
To improve police surveillance of
respondent's home, area, etc.
Duty to let police know about crime
OTHER
Other reason - Specify - ASK 119b
No other reason - SKIP to 121
Specify
Please specify other reason for reporting this
incident to the police.
119c.
CHECK
ITEM Q
Page 26
Is more than one reason marked
in 119a?
1
2
All
codes,
SKIP
to 130
Yes - ASK 120
No - SKIP to 121
SKIP
to 119c
120. REPORTIMPORTANT
22
Stop or prevent THIS incident from
happening
Needed help after incident due to injury, etc.
To recover property
To collect insurance
To prevent further crimes against
respondent/ respondent's household
by this offender
To stop this offender from committing
other crimes against anyone
To punish offender
Catch or find offender - other reason
or no reason given
To improve police surveillance of
respondent's home, area, etc.
Duty to let police know about crime
Other reason
No one reason more important
Because it was a crime was most important
814
1
2
3
4
Yes - ASK 122
No
SKIP to 124
Don't know
Respondent went to police - SKIP to 123a
815
1
2
3
4
5
6
Within 5 minutes
Within 10 minutes
Within an hour
Within a day
Longer than a day
Don't know how soon
816
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Took report
Searched/looked around
Took evidence (fingerprints, inventory, etc.)
Questioned witnesses or suspects
Promised surveillance
Promised to investigate
Made arrest
Other - Specify - ASK 123b
Don't know - SKIP to 124
813
Which of these would you say was the most
important reason why the incident was
reported to the police?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
21
121. POLICEARRIVE
Did the police come when they found out
about the incident?
122. TIMEPOLICEARRIVE
How soon after the police found out did they
respond? Was it within 5 minutes, within 10
minutes, an hour, a day, or longer?
Enter the code for the first answer category
respondent is sure of.
123a. POLICEACTION
What did they do while they were (there/here)?
Probe: Anything else?
Enter all that apply.
817
8
9
SKIP
to 124
Specify
123b. POLICEACTION_SPEC
Please specify what they did while they were (there/
here).
124. POLICECONTACT
818
Did you (or anyone in your household) have
any later contact with the police about the
incident?
125a. POLICEINTOUCH
819
Did the police get in touch with you or did you
get in touch with them?
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 125a
No
Don't know
1
Police contacted respondent or other
HHLD member
Respondent (or other HHLD member)
contacted police
Both
Don't know
Other - Specify - ASK 125b
2
3
4
5
SKIP to 128
SKIP
to 126
Specify
125b. POLICEINTOUCH_SPEC
Please specify did the police get in touch with you or
did you get in touch with them.
126. HOWPOLICECONTACT
Was that in person, by phone, or some other
way?
820
1
2
3
4
In person
Not in person (by phone, mail, etc.)
Both in person and not in person
Don't know
Page 27
127a. POLICEFOLLOWUP
821
What did the police do in following up this
incident?
Probe: Anything else?
822
Enter all that apply.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Took report
Questioned witnesses or suspects
SKIP
Did or promised surveillance/investigation
to 128
Recovered property
Made arrest
Stayed in touch with respondent/household
Other - Specify - ASK 127b
Nothing (to respondent's knowledge)
SKIP to 128
Don't know
Specify
127b. POLICEFOLLOWUP_SPEC
Please specify what the police did in following up
this incident.
128. SIGNCOMPLAINT
825
1
2
Yes
No
826
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
827
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 131a
No
Don't know
1
2
3
Government
Private
Don't know
1
2
Yes - ASK 132
No - SKIP to 135a
1
2
3
Yes - ASK 133a
No
Don't know
1
2
3
4
5
Prosecutor, district attorney
Magistrate
Court
Juvenile, probation or parole officer
Other - Specify - ASK 133b
Did you (or someone in your household) sign a
complaint against the offender(s) to the police
department or the authorities?
129. ARRESTMADE
Ask or verify:
As far as you know, was anyone arrested or
were charges brought against anyone in
connection with this incident?
130. AGENCYHELP
Did you (or someone in your household)
receive any help or advice from any office or
agency - other than the police - that deals with
victims of crime?
131a. TYPEOFAGENCY
828
Was that a government or private agency?
131b.
CHECK
ITEM R
Were the police informed? (Is
"Yes" marked in 115?
132. CONTACTAUTHORITIES
829
Have you (or someone in your household) had
contact with any other authorities about this
incident (such as a prosecutor, court, or
juvenile officer)?
133a. AUTHORITIES
830
Which authorities?
Probe: Any others?
SKIP to 131b
SKIP to 134a
Enter all that apply.
Specify
133b. AUTHORITIES_SPEC
Please specify which authorities.
134a. ANYTHINGFURTHER
Do you expect the police, courts, or other
authorities will be doing anything further in
connection with this incident?
134b. ANYTHINGFURTHER_SPEC
Please specify what you expect the police, courts, or
other authorities will be doing (further) in
connection with this incident.
Page 28
831
1
2
3
Yes - Specify - ASK 134b
No
SKIP to 135a
Don't know
Specify
SKIP to 134a
135a. DOINGATINCIDENTTIME
Ask or verify:
832
What were you doing when this incident
(happened/started)?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Working or on duty - SKIP to 138a
On the way to or from work - SKIP to 142b
On the way to or from school
On the way to or from other place
Shopping, errands
Attending school
Leisure activity away from home
Sleeping
Other activities at home
Other - Specify - ASK 135b
Don't know - SKIP to 136
SKIP
to 136
Specify
135b. DOINGATINCIDENTTIME_SPEC
Please specify what you were doing when this
incident (happened/started).
136. JOBDURINGINCIDENT
840
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 142b
No - ASK 137a
841
1
2
3
4
5
6
Looking for work
Keeping house
Going to school
Unable to work
Retired
Other - Specify - SKIP to 137b
Ask or verify:
Did you have a job at the time of the incident?
137a. MAJORACTIVITY
What was your major activity the week of the
incident - were you looking for work, keeping
house, going to school, or doing something
else?
SKIP to 151
Specify - SKIP to 151
137b. MAJORACTIVITY_SPEC
Please specify what was your major activity the week
of the incident.
138a. EMPLOYERTYPE
843
Now I have a few questions about the job at
which you worked during the time of the
incident.
2
3
4
Were you employed by -
5
(Read each category - then enter appropriate code)
138b. INCORPORATED
953
Is this business incorporated?
138c. EMPLOYERNAME
1
A private company, business, or
individual for wages? - Ask 138b
The Federal government?
A State, county, or local
SKIP to 138c
government?
Yourself (Self-employed) in your own
business, professional practice, or farm?
SKIP
to 138c
A private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or
charitable organization?
1
2
3
Yes
No
Don't know
1
2
3
4
Manufacturing?
Retail trade?
Wholesale trade?
Something else?
954
What is the name of the (company/government
agency/business/non-profit organization) for
which you worked at the time of the incident?
138d. TYPEOFBUSINESS
955
What kind of business or industry is this?
Read if necessary: What do they make or do
where you worked at the time of the incident?
138e. BUSINESSSECTOR
956
Is this mainly...
(Read answer categories) 138f. OCCUPATIONDESC
957
What kind of work did you do, that is, what
was your occupation at the time of the
incident?
(For example: plumber, typist, farmer)
Page 29
139. USUALJOBDUTIES
958
What were your usual activities or duties at
this job?
140. JOBMSATYPE
844
1
2
3
4
A city?
Suburban area?
Rural area?
Combination of any of these?
845
1
2
3
4
Yes
SKIP to 141c
No
Don't know
Other - Specify - ASK 141b
While working at this job, did you work mostly
in (Read category - then enter the appropriate code).
141a. INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK
Ask or verify:
Did this incident happen at your work site?
Specify
141b. INCIDENTHAPPENATWORK_SPEC
Please specify
141c. WORKDAYNIGHT
1
2
3
Days
1
2
Yes
No
1
2
Yes (injury marked in 31a - ASK 143
No (blank or "None" marked in 31a - SKIP to 147a
870
1
2
Yes - ASK 144
No - SKIP to 147a
871
____________ Number of days - ASK 145
846
Did you usually work days or nights?
142a. ISCURRENTJOB
959
Is this your current job?
142b.
CHECK
ITEM S
Was the respondent injured in
this incident? (Is Box 2-11
marked in 31a?)
143. LOSTWORKTIME
Did YOU lose time from work because of the
injuries you suffered in this incident?
144. AMOUNTTIMELOST
How much time did you lose because of
injuries?
145. LOSTPAYNOMEDINS
872
During these days, did you lose any pay that
was not covered by unemployment insurance,
sick leave, or some other source?
146. AMOUNTLOSTPAYNOMED
Nights
Both days and nights/rotating shifts
0
Less than one day - SKIP to 147a
1
2
Yes - ASK 146
No - SKIP to 147a
873
$ ____________ .
00
Amount of pay lost
About how much pay did you lose?
147a. LOSTOTHERWORKTIME
874
Did YOU lose any (other) time from work
because of this incident for such things as
cooperating with a police investigation,
testifying in court, or repairing or replacing
damaged or stolen property?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Police related activities
Court related activities
Repairing damaged property
Replacing stolen items
Other - Specify - ASK 147b
None (did not lose time from work for
any of these reasons) - SKIP to 151
Probe: Any other reason?
Enter all that apply.
Specify
147b. LOSTOTHERWORKTIME_SPEC
Please specify the (time/other time) lost from work
because of this incident.
148. DAYLOSTWORK
How much time did you lose altogether
because of (name all reasons marked in 147a)?
Page 30
875
____________ Number of days - ASK 149
0
Less than one day - SKIP to 151
ASK 148
149. LOSTPAYNOEMPINS
876
During these days, did you lose any pay that
was not covered by unemployment insurance,
paid leave, or some other source?
150. AMOUNTLOSTNOPAYEMP
1
2
877
Yes - ASK 150
No - SKIP to 151
$ ____________ .
00
Amount of pay lost
About how much pay did you lose?
151. HHMEMLOSTWORKTIME
1
2
879
____________ Number of days
Were there any (other) household members 16
years or older who lost time from work
because of this incident?
152a. AMOUNTHHMEMTIMELOST
How much time did they lose altogether?
152b.
CHECK
ITEM T
Was the respondent on the way
to or from work, school, or some
other place when the incident
(happened/started)? (Is Box 2, 3,
or 4 marked in 135a?)
153a. TYPETRANSPORTATION
Yes - ASK 152a
No - SKIP to 152b
878
881
Ask or verify:
You told me earlier you were on the way (to/
from) (work/school/some place) when the
incident happened.
0
Less than one day
1
2
Yes - ASK 153a
No - SKIP to 153c
1
2
3
4
5
Car, truck or van
Motorcycle
Bicycle
On foot
School bus (private or public)
Bus or trolley
Subway or rapid transit
Train
Taxi
Other - Specify - Ask 153b
6
7
8
9
10
What means of transportation were you using?
SKIP
to 153c
Specify
153b. TYPETRANSPORTATION_SPEC
Please specify what means of transportation you
were using.
153c.
CHECK
ITEM U
Is this incident part of a series of
crimes? (Is Box 2 (is a "series")
marked in 5c?)
154a. SERIESNUMTIMES
1
2
883
____________ Number of incidents - SKIP to 155a
You have told me about the most recent
incident. How many times did this kind of
thing happen to you during the last 6 months?
154b. SERIESDK
Is that because there is no way of knowing, or
because it happened too many times, or is
there some other reason?
154c. SERIESDKSPEC
Yes - ASK 154a
No - SKIP to 161
Don't know - ASK 154b
884
1
2
3
No way of knowing
SKIP to 155a
Happened too many times
Some other reason - Specify - ASK 154c
Specify
Please specify the other reason the respondent
doesn't know the number of times.
Page 31
Number of incidents per quarter
155a. SERIESWHICHMONTHQ1
In what month or months did these incidents
take place?
885
Jan., Feb., or Mar.
(Qtr. 1)
886
Apr., May, or Jun.
(Qtr. 2)
887
Jul., Aug., or Sept.
(Qtr. 3)
888
Oct., Nov., or Dec.
(Qtr. 4)
Probe: How many in (name months)?
155b. SERIESWHICHMONTHQ2
In what month or months did these incidents
take place?
Probe: How many in (name months)?
155c. SERIESWHICHMONTHSQ3
In what month or months did these incidents
take place?
Probe: How many in (name months)?
155d. SERIESWHICHMONTHQ4
In what month or months did these incidents
take place?
Probe: How many in (name months)?
156. SERIESLOCATION
889
1
2
3
All in the same place
Some in the same place
None in the same place
890
1
2
3
4
All by same person
Some by same person
None by same person
Don't know - SKIP to 159a
966
1
2
3
RELATIVE
Spouse at time of incident
Ex-spouse at time of incident
Parent or step-parent
Other relative - Specify - ASK 158b
Did all, some, or none of these incidents occur
in the same place?
157. SERIESOFFENDER
Were all, some, or none of these incidents
done by the same person(s)?
158a. SERIESOFFENDERRELATION
What (was/were) the relationship(s) of the
offender(s) to you? For example, friend,
spouse, schoolmate, etc?
4
Probe: Anything else?
5
Enter all that apply.
967
6
7
8
10
968
969
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
970
18
19
NONRELATIVE
Friend or ex-friend
Neighbor
Schoolmate
Roommate, boarder
Other nonrelative - Specify - ASK 158c
Customer/client
Patient
Supervisor (current or former)
Employee (current or former)
Co-worker (current or former)
(RELATIVE)
Own child or step-child
Brother/sister
(NONRELATIVE)
Boyfriend or girlfriend, ex-boyfriend or
ex-girlfriend
Teacher/school staff
Specify - SKIP to 159a
158b. SERIESOFFENDERRELATION14SPEC
Please specify the other relative.
Specify
158c. SERIESOFFENDERRELATION26SPEC
Please specify the other nonrelative.
159a. SAMETHINGEACHTIME
Did the same thing happen each time?
159b. HOWINCIDENTSDIFFER
How did the incidents differ?
Page 32
893
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 160a
No - ASK 159b
Specify
SKIP
to 159a
SKIP
to 159a
SKIP
to 159a
160a. TROUBLEONGOING
894
Is the trouble still going on?
1
2
Yes - SKIP to 160c
No - ASK 160b
Specify
160b. WHATENDEDIT
What ended it?
160c. CHECK
ITEM V1
SERIESCONTACTORNOT
895
1
Do not read to respondent.
Enter precode that best describes this series of
crimes. If more than one category describes this
series, enter the appropriate precode with the lowest
number.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
CONTACT CRIMES
Completed or threatened violence in the
course of the victim's job (police officer,
security guard, psychiatric social worker,
etc.)
Completed or threatened violence
between spouses, other relatives,
friends, neighbors, etc.
Completed or threatened violence at
school or on school property
Other contact crimes (other violence,
pocket picking, purse snatching, etc.) Specify - ASK 160d
NONCONTACT CRIMES
Theft or attempted theft of motor
vehicles
Theft or attempted theft of motor
vehicle parts (tire, hubcap, battery,
attached car stereo, etc.)
Theft or attempted theft of contents of
motor vehicle, including unattached
parts
Theft or attempted theft at school or on
school property
Illegal entry of, or attempt to enter,
victim's home, other building on
property, second home, hotel, motel
Theft or attempted theft from victim's
home or vicinity by person(s) KNOWN to
victim (roommate, babysitter, etc.)
Theft or attempted theft from victim's
home or vicinity by person(s)
UNKNOWN to victim
Other theft or attempted theft (at work,
while shopping, etc.) - Specify - ASK 160e
SKIP
to 161
SKIP
to 161
Specify - SKIP to 161
160d. SERIESCONTACTORNOT14SPEC
Please specify the other contact crime.
Specify
160e. SERIESCONTACTORNOT22SPEC
Please specify the other noncontact crime.
161. INCIDENTHATECRIME
Hate crimes or crimes of prejudice or bigotry
occur when (an offender/offenders) target(s)
people because of one or more of their
characteristics or religious beliefs.
910
1
2
Yes - ASK 162
No - SKIP to 174
Do you have any reason to suspect the
incident just discussed was a hate crime or
crime of prejudice or bigotry?
Page 33
An offender/Offenders can target people
for a variety of reasons, but we are only
going to ask you about a few today. Do
you suspect the offender(s) targeted you
because of...
162.
(a) INCIDENTHATETARGETREASON_RACE
Your race?
896
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
897
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
898
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
899
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
900
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
901
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
911
1
Yes - Specify - ASK 163b
No
SKIP to 163c
Don't know
(b) INCHATETARGETREASONS_RELIGION
Your religion?
(c) INCHATETARGETREASONS_ETHNICITY
Your ethnic background or national origin (for
example, people of Hispanic origin)?
(d) INCHATETARGETREASONS_DISABILITY
Any disability (by this I mean physical, mental,
or developmental disabilities) you may have?
(e) INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_GENDER
Your gender?
(f) INCIDENTHATETARGETREASONS_SEXUAL
Your sexual orientation?
If "Yes," SAY - (by this we mean homosexual,
bisexual, or heterosexual)
Some offenders target people because
they associate with certain people or the
(offender perceives/offenders perceive)
them as having certain characteristics or
religious beliefs.
163.
Do you suspect you were targeted
because of...
(a) INCIDENTHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW
2
Your association with people who have certain
characteristics or religious beliefs (for
example, a multiracial couple)?
(b) INCHATETARGETWHOYOUKNOW_SPEC
3
912
Specify
913
1
Please specify why you suspect you were targeted
because of your association with people who have
certain characteristics or religious beliefs.
(c) INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION
2
The offender(s)'s perception of your
characteristics or religious beliefs (for
example, the offender(s) thought you were
Jewish because you went into a synagogue)?
(d) INCIDENTHATETARGETRELIGION_SPEC
3
914
Yes - Specify - ASK 163d
No
SKIP to 163e
Don't know
Specify
Please specify why you suspect you were
targeted because of the offender(s)'s perception
of your characteristics or religious beliefs.
163e.
CHECK
ITEM V2
Are one or more boxes marked
"Yes" in 162a through 163c?
164a. INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCEHATE
Do you have any evidence that this incident
was a hate crime or crime of prejudice or
bigotry?
164b. INCIDENTHAVEEVIDENCE_SUGGEST
Did the offender(s) say something, write
anything, or leave anything behind at the
crime scene that would suggest you were
targeted because of your characteristics or
religious beliefs?
Page 34
915
1
2
Yes - ASK 164a
No - SKIP to 174
1
Yes - SKIP to 165
No
ASK 164b
Don't know
2
3
1
2
Yes - ASK 165
No - SKIP to 174
The next questions ask about the
evidence you have that makes you
suspect this incident was a hate crime or
a crime of prejudice or bigotry. As I read
the following questions, please tell me if
any of the following happened:
(a) INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_MAKEFUN
165.
Did the offender(s) make fun of you, make
negative comments, use slang, hurtful words,
or abusive language?
916
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
917
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
918
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
919
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
920
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
921
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
922
1
Yes
2
No
3
Don't know
908
1
Yes
No
(b) INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_SYMBOLS
Were any hate symbols present at the crime
scene to indicate the offender(s) targeted you
for a particular reason (for example, a
swastika, graffiti on the walls of a temple, a
burning cross, or written words)?
(c) INCEVIDENCEHATE_POLICETARGET
Did a police investigation confirm the
offender(s) targeted you (for example, did the
offender(s) confess a motive, or did the police
find books, journals, or pictures that
indicated the offender(s) (was/were)
prejudiced against people with certain
characteristics or religious beliefs)?
(d) INCEVIDENCEHATE_OFFENDERDIDSAME
Do you know if the offender(s) (has/have)
committed similar hate crimes or crimes of
prejudice or bigotry in the past?
(e) INCIDENTEVIDENCEHATE_NEARHOLIDAY
Did the incident occur on or near a holiday,
event, location, gathering place, or building
commonly associated with a specific group
(for example, at the Gay Pride March or at a
synagogue, Korean church, or gay bar)?
(f) INCEVIDENCEHATE_OTHERLIKECRIMES
Have other hate crimes or crimes of prejudice
or bigotry happened to you or in your area/
neighborhood where people have been
targeted?
(g) INCEVIDENCEHATE_FELT_BELIEVED
Do your feelings, instincts, or perception lead
you to suspect this incident was a hate crime or
crime of prejudice or bigotry, but you do not
have enough evidence to know for sure?
166. TELLPOLICEHATECRIME
At any time, did you tell the police that you
believed the incident was a hate crime or crime
of prejudice or bigotry?
174.
2
CHECK
SUMMARY
ITEM W
Summarize this incident. Also include any details
about the incident that were not asked about in the
incident report that might help clarify the incident.
Page 35
DRAFT #5 (6-21-2017)
NCVS-554
R
EA
EN
UO
F TH E C
S
BU
US
U.S.
D
ENT OF C
TM
O
AR
CE
ER
M
M
EP
(8-2017)
NATIONAL CRIME
VICTIMIZATION
SURVEY (NCVS)
U.S. Department
of Commerce
Economics and Statistics
Administration
FIELD
REPRESENTATIVE’S
INFORMATION
CARD BOOKLET
(Cut along broken lines)
U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU
PRIVACY ACT AND
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT INFORMATION
PRIVACY ACT/
FAQs
(Right)
The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey for the Bureau of
Justice Statistics of the United States Department of Justice under the authority of law (Title 13,
United States Code, Section 8). The Bureau of Justice Statistics is authorized to collect this survey
information by law (Title 42, United States Code, Section 3732).
The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau is
not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you. Federal law
protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9
and Title 42, United States Code, Sections 3789g and 3735). Per the Federal Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of
the systems that transmit your data.
The survey’s purpose is to provide information on the kinds and amount of crime committed
against households and individuals throughout the country. Your responses will be used for
statistical research. Data from this survey are used to provide information on many topics related
to crime and victimization, including crime in schools, trends in violent crime, costs of crime, and
the response of law enforcement to reports of victimization. Participation in this survey is voluntary
and there are no penalties for refusing to answer any questions. However, your cooperation is
extremely important to help ensure the completeness and accuracy of this much needed
information.
We estimate that completing the NCVS will take 25 minutes on average. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to the Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
DO NOT CALL REGISTRY
With the establishment of the Do Not Call Registry in 2003, respondents may begin asking
Census Bureau staff to stop calling them because they are on the Registry. This Registry is
designed to screen out unwanted telemarketing calls. Collecting Census Bureau survey data is
NOT telemarketing.
Use the following statement if respondents mention they are on the National Do Not Call Registry:
"As a Federal government agency, the Census Bureau is not engaged in
telemarketing and we are not covered by the Do Not Call Registry."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
What is the National Crime Victimization Survey all about?
This survey, called the National Crime Victimization Survey, collects data measuring the types and
amount of crime involving people age 12 or older. Periodically, the survey includes such additional
topics as crime in schools, contacts with law enforcement, and identity theft.
How was I selected for this survey?
Actually, we selected your living quarters, not you personally for this survey. We scientifically
selected a sample of addresses across the country to represent the entire population. At each
selected address, we interview household members age 12 or older. If your household should move
away while your address is still in the survey, we would interview the new family that moves in.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 1
(Cut along broken line)
This collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The
eight-digit OMB approval number that appears on your survey letter confirms this approval. If this
number were not displayed, we could not conduct this survey.
Will information I provide be confidential?
Yes. The U.S. Census Bureau is required by law to protect your information. The Census Bureau
is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify you. Federal law
protects your privacy and keeps your answers confidential (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9
and Title 42, United States Code, Sections 3789g and 3735). Per the Federal Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of
the systems that transmit your data.
Do I have to participate?
The survey is voluntary, and there are no penalties for not participating. We expect the interview
to take about 25 minutes. Your interview may be somewhat shorter or longer than this depending
on your circumstances. If you have any comments about this survey or have recommendations for
reducing its length, send them to the Chief, Victimization Statistics Branch, Bureau of Justice
Statistics, Washington, DC 20531.
How are the data used?
Data from this survey are used to provide information on many topics related to crime and
victimization, including crime in schools, trends in violent crime, costs of crime, and the response
of law enforcement to reports of victimization. To see examples of reports, tables, and charts
that use data from the survey, you can visit the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Web site at
.
I thought that the Census Bureau only operated every 10 years, when they
counted people. What is the Census Bureau doing now?
In addition to the decennial census, which is conducted every 10 years, the Census Bureau
collects many different types of statistics. We conduct other censuses required by law on a regular
basis, including the censuses of business and manufacturers and the census of state and local
governments. Additionally, we collect data on a monthly basis to provide current information on
such topics as labor force participation, retail and wholesale trade, various manufacturing activities,
and trade statistics, as well as yearly surveys of business, manufacturing and governments, family
income, and education.
I thought this was a crime survey. Why are you asking me these unrelated
questions (such as household income, age, home ownership)?
The information you provide will help inform the country about how much crime there is, where it
occurs, when it occurs, what crime costs victims, and which segments of the population are most
frequently victimized. Since many crimes are never reported to police, information from this survey
will show a more complete picture of the amount and types of crimes occurring in the United States.
Why does the NCVS ask about sexual orientation and gender identity?
Research has shown that sexual orientation and gender identity are correlated with crime
victimization. These questions are included in the NCVS to better understand the relationship
between these characteristics and experiences with criminal victimization. Additionally, discrimination
against persons because of their sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by federal hate
crime statutes and the 2013 reauthorized Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Since the NCVS
includes measures of hate crime and the provision of victim services, the inclusion of these items in
the NCVS will allow researchers to better address policy-relevant questions about victimization and
victim services.
CONFIRM SURVEY
If you would like to verify that I am from the U.S. Census Bureau, you may call my regional office
(PROVIDE RESPONDENT WITH THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE REGIONAL OFFICE).
My name is {Name}, and this is the National Crime Victimization Survey. Your "case ID" is .
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 2
USES OF THE NCVS DATA
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
The NCVS is used by many government agencies to measure the effectiveness of government
programs and to develop victim assistance, compensation, and prevention programs. Some specific
examples are:
DEPARTMENT of JUSTICE
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible
for collecting, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating statistical information on crime,
its perpetrators and victims, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of
government. The BJS is also responsible for providing timely and accurate data about
crime and the administration of justice to the President, Congress, other government
officials, and the general public.
DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION
The U.S. Department of Education measures the prevalence and nature of student
victimizations at school.
FAQs (con’t)
(Left)
USES OF THE
NCVS
(Right)
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifies occupations and
workplaces at high risk for violence so that effective preventative measures are
developed.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Many academics and researchers use the NCVS data to prepare reports and scholarly
publications. Researchers also use the NCVS information to study various issues including:
Why certain persons are victimized more than others,
The characteristics of attempted versus actual victimizations,
The reasons why persons do not report incidents to the police, and
Victimization of juveniles, domestic violence, gun–related crimes, multiple
victimizations, etc.
NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL
Uses the NCVS data to develop programs on crime prevention and to train and educate
individuals, communities, and organizations throughout the United States on effective crime
prevention practices.
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Use the data to develop neighborhood watch programs.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Use the NCVS findings for training purposes and the findings can be seen in crime prevention
public service announcements and in crime documentaries. Law enforcement agencies in
various cities also use NCVS data to increase:
• Citizen cooperation with officials in deterring and detecting crime,
• Special police strike forces to combat those crimes which the survey indicates as being
most prevalent, and
• Street and park lighting programs in those areas with the highest reported crime rates.
PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA
Regularly cite NCVS findings when reporting on a host of crime-related topics.
OTHER USES OF THE NCVS DATA
Planning for public education programs, police patrol strategies, and new communities and
housing projects. This type of planning requires knowledge of the characteristics of victimized
persons and households, as well as when and where victimizations occur.
Conducting feasibility studies and planning programs for the restitution and compensation to
victims of crime. These studies and programs require information on the nature and extent of
injury and loss that results from criminal victimization.
Assessing the need for property identification programs. These programs require information on
the amount of property recovered after burglaries and thefts.
Understanding more about the nature and extent of biases in police data on known offenses.
These studies require knowledge of the levels of nonreporting to the police, together with
information on the kinds of victimization that are disproportionately not reported to the police.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 3
(Cut along broken line)
•
•
•
•
WHEN TO FILL THE CAPI CASE LEVEL NOTES IN THE INSTRUMENT
• Type A Noninterviews (all types, except confirmed refusals)
• Type B Noninterviews (all types)
• Type C Noninterviews (all types)
• Type Z Noninterviews (all types)
• Proxy Interviews (all types, with details of proxy conditions)
• Partial Interviews (Specify Line #’s missing information)
• Classification of Living Quarters Problems
• Conducted an interview for the entire household with a nonhousehold respondent
(Specify details of Proxy Conditions and who the nonhousehold member is.)
• Anytime after a contact or attempted contact with the household.
• To include additional information about an incident not included in the incident summary.
GUIDANCE FOR INTERVIEWING RESPONDENTS
WITH USUAL RESIDENCE ELSEWHERE (URE)
Students
While attending school away from the family residence (boarding, college, trade, or commercial school),
the student is considered a household member at his/her school residence, and is interviewed at that
residence if it falls into the NCVS sample. (See Chapter C1 of the NCVS-550 Manual)
However, students are considered household members at their family residences when they are:
• Living at the family residence while attending school,
• Living at the family residence at the time of interview because they are on a short holiday (for
example, Thanksgiving or spring break) or home on summer vacation,
AND
• Claiming the family residence as their usual place of residence.
Inmates/Patients in Institutional Group Quarters
Inmates and patients in institutional group quarters are not considered household members at the
sample address while they are residing in the institutional group quarters. Examples of these types of
institutional group quarters are:
• Correctional Institutions
• Nursing, Convalescent, and Rest Homes
• Hospitals
• Institutions for the Disabled
• Institutions for the Mentally Ill/Retarded
• Juvenile Institutions
Persons in institutional group quarters are not free to come and go without permission. Therefore,
these persons are not eligible for the NCVS interviewing, even if the group quarter is in the
NCVS sample. (See Chapter C1 of the NCVS-550 Manual; also refer to Chapter A6 for a complete
reference of Noninterview Types. If additional guidance is necessary, contact your supervisor, who will
follow up with HQ staff.) Additional information concerning Household Membership continues on the
following page.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 4
SUMMARY TABLE FOR DETERMINING WHO IS TO BE
INCLUDED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD
Any person in unit, including members of family, lodgers, servants,
farm hands, or other employees, visitors, etc.
1. Ordinarily stay here all the time (sleep here)
2. Here temporarily – no living quarters held for persons elsewhere
3. Here temporarily – living quarters held for persons elsewhere
In Armed Forces
1. Stationed in this locality, usually sleep here
2. Temporarily here on leave – stationed elsewhere
Students
1. Living here while attending school
2. Here on short holiday, usually live at school
3. Here on summer vacation from school
Include as
member of
household
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
B. ABSENT PERSONS WHO USUALLY LIVE HERE
Inmates of specified institutions – Absent because inmate in a
specified institution, regardless of whether or not living quarters
held for person here
Persons temporarily absent away visiting friends, on vacation, in
general hospital, etc.
(including veterans’ facilities that are general hospitals) – Living
quarters held here for person
Absent in connection with job
1. Living quarters held here for person – temporarily absent "while on
the road" in connection with a job (e.g., traveling salespersons,
railroad personnel, bus driver, long haul truck drivers)
2. Living quarters held here and elsewhere for person but comes
less often (e.g., construction engineers)
3. Living quarters held at sample address for unmarried college student
away from home during summer school vacation
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
In Armed Forces – Were members of this household at time of induction
but currently stationed elsewhere
No
Students – Living away while attending school
No
Seamen – Living quarters held here for person
Yes
C. EXCEPTIONS AND DOUBTFUL CASES
Person with two concurrent residences
1. Regularly sleep greater part of week in another locality
2. Regularly sleep greater part of week here
Citizens of foreign countries temporarily in the United States
1. Living on premises of an Embassy, Ministry, Legation,
Chancellery, or Consulate
2. Not living on premises of an Embassy, Ministry, etc. –
a. If living and studying here and no usual place of
residence elsewhere in the United States
b. If living and working here and no usual place of
residence elsewhere in the United States
c. If merely visiting or traveling in the United States
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Student nurses living at school
Page 5
Entering "Case
Level Notes"/
GUIDANCE FOR
INTERVIEWING
RESPONDENTS
WITH URE
(Left)
SUMMARY
TABLE FOR
HOUSEHOLD
MEMBERSHIP
(Right)
(Cut along broken line)
A. PERSONS STAYING IN SAMPLE UNIT AT TIME OF INTERVIEW
TABLE OF EDUCATION CODES
What is the highest level of school you
completed or the highest degree you received?
Precode
Elementary
1
1st grade
2
2nd grade
3
3rd grade
4
4th grade
5
5th grade
6
6th grade
7
7th grade
8
8th grade
High School
9
9th grade
10
10th grade
11
11th grade
12
12th grade (No diploma)
13
High school graduate (Diploma or equivalent)
College
14
Some college (No degree)
15
Associate’s degree
16
Bachelor’s degree (e.g. BA, AB, BS)
17
Master’s degree (e.g. MA, MS, MEng, MSW, MBA)
18
Professional School degree (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
19
Doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD)
20
Never attended, preschool, kindergarten
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 6
CÓDIGOS DE EDUCACÍON
¿Cuál es el nivel más alto escolar que Usted ha
completado o el título escolar más alto que
Usted ha recibido?
Código
Primaria
1
1 grado
2
2 grado
3
3 grado
4
4 grado
5
5 grado
6
6 grado
7
7 grado
8
8 grado
Secundaria
9
EDUCATION
CODE
ENGLISH
(Left)
9 grado
10
10 grado
11
11 grado
12
12 grado (SIN DIPLOMA)
13
Graduado de escuela secundaria (DIPLOMA o su equivalente)
EDUCATION
CODE
SPANISH
(Right)
14
Algunos créditos universitarios (SIN DIPLOMA)
15
Título asociado universitario
16
Título de bacheller universitario (e.g. BA, AB, BS)
17
Título de maestría (e.g. MA, MS, Meng, MSW, MBA)
18
Título profesional (e.g. MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
19
Título de doctorado (e.g. PhD, EdD)
20
Nunca asistió o solo guardería infantil o kindergarten
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 7
(Cut along broken line)
Universidad
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Are you Spanish, Hispanic, or
Latino? Include people of the
following origins –
Mexican
Mexican-American
Chicano
Puerto Rican
Cuban
Cuban-American
Central or South American
(Spanish Countries)
Other Spanish origin
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 8
ORIGEN ESPAÑOL
¿Es Usted Español, Hispano, o
Latino? Incluya a personas de los
siguientes orígenes –
Mexicano(a)
Mexicano(a)-Americano(a)
Chicano(a)
Puerto Riqueño(a)
Cubano(a)
Americano(a)-Cubano(a)
HISPANIC
ORIGIN
ENGLISH
(Left)
De otro orígen español
HISPANIC
ORIGIN
SPANISH
(Right)
(Cut along broken line)
Centro-Americano(a) o Sudamericano(a)
(Países de habla hispana)
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 9
RACE
Please choose one or more races
that you consider yourself to be.
Precode
1
White
2
Black or African American
3
American Indian or Alaska Native
4
Asian (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino,
Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese,
or other Asian)
5
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific
Islander
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 10
RAZA
Favor de escoger una o más
razas a las que Usted considere
que Usted pertenece.
Código
1
Blanco(a)
2
Negro(a) o Africano(a) Americano(a)
3
Indio(a) Americano(a) o Nativo(a)
de Alaska
4
Asiático(a) (Chino(a), Coreano(a),
Filipino(a), Indio(a)Asiatico(a),
Japonés(a), Vietnamita
u otros Asiáticos)
5
Nativo de Hawaii o de Otra Isla del
Pacífico
RACE
ENGLISH
(Left)
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 11
(Cut along broken line)
RACE
SPANISH
(Right)
SO_(Male)
Which of the following best represents
how you think of yourself?
Precode
1
Gay
2
Straight, that is, not gay
3
Bisexual
4
Something else
5
I don’t know the answer
SO_(Female)
Which of the following best represents
how you think of yourself?
Precode
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
1
Lesbian or gay
2
Straight, that is, not lesbian or gay
3
Bisexual
4
Something else
5
I don’t know the answer
Page 12
SO_(Male)
¿Cuál de las siguientes mejor representa
su manera de pensar en sí mismo?
Código
1
Gay
2
No gay, o sea, heterosexual
3
Bisexual
4
Otra cosa
5
No sé la respuesta
SO_(Female)
¿Cuál de las siguientes mejor representa
su manera de pensar en sí mismo?
Código
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
1
Lesbiana o gay
2
No gay o lesbiana, o sea, heterosexual
3
Bisexual
4
Otra cosa
5
No sé la respuesta
Page 13
SEXUAL
ORIENTATION
ENGLISH
(Left)
SEXUAL
ORIENTATION
SPANISH
(Right)
GI
What sex were you assigned at birth,
on your original birth certificate?
Precode
1
Male
2
Female
GI
Do you currently describe yourself as
male, female or transgender?
Precode
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
1
Male
2
Female
3
Transgender
4
None of these
Page 14
GENDER
IDENTITY
ENGLISH
(Left)
GI
GENDER
IDENTITY
SPANISH
(Right)
¿Qué sexo le asignaron al nacer, en su
acta de nacimiento original?
1
Hombre
2
Mujer
GI
¿Actualmente se describe a sí mismo(a)
como hombre, mujer o transgénero?
Código
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
1
Hombre
2
Mujer
3
Transgénero
4
Ninguna de las anteriores
Page 15
(Cut along broken line)
Código
EMPLOYMENT
Which of the following best describes your job?
11. Medical Profession – As a –
11
12
13
14
Physician?
Nurse?
Technician?
Other Medical Profession? – Specify
12. Mental Health Services Field – Are your duties –
15
16
17
Professional (Social worker/psychiatrist)?
Custodial care?
Some other Mental Health Services Profession? – Specify
13. Teaching Profession – Were you employed in a –
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Preschool?
Elementary?
Junior high or middle school?
High school?
College or university?
Technical or industrial school?
Special education facility?
Other Teaching Profession? – Specify
14. Law Enforcement or Security Field – Were you
employed as a –
26
27
28
29
Law enforcement officer?
Prison or jail guard?
Security guard?
Other Law Enforcement Profession? – Specify
15. Retail Sales – Were you employed as a –
30
31
32
33
Convenience or liquor store clerk?
Gas station attendant?
Bartender?
Other Retail Sales Profession? – Specify
16. Transportation Field – Were you employed as a –
34
35
36
Bus driver?
Taxi cab driver?
Other Transportation Field Profession? – Specify
OR
17. Something else? – Specify
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 16
EMPLEO
¿Cuál de las siguientes describe mejor su trabajo?
11. Profesiones Médicas – ¿Como un(a) –
11
12
13
14
Doctor en Medicina?
Enfermera?
Tecnólogo Médico?
Otro? – Especifique
EMPLOYMENT
ENGLISH
(Left)
12. Servicios de Salud Mental – ¿Son sus obligaciones –
15
16
17
Profesional (trabajador social/psiquiátra)?
Cuidado de Enfermos (Custodial Care)?
Otro? – Especifique
EMPLOYMENT
SPANISH
(Right)
13. Profesiones de Enseñanza – ¿Estaba Ud. empleado
en un(a) –
Institución preescolar?
Escuela primaria?
Escuela intermedia?
Escuela secundaria?
Colegio o universidad?
Escuela técnica o industrial?
Facilidad de educación especial?
Otro? – Especifique
14. Cumplimiento de la Ley o en Profesiones de Seguridad –
¿Estaba Ud. empleado como un(a) –
26
27
28
29
Oficial de la ley o policía?
Guardia de prisión o cárcel?
Guardia de seguridad?
Otro? – Especifique
15. Ventas al detal – ¿Estaba Ud. empleado como un(a) –
30
31
32
33
Ayudante en licorería o tienda de comestibles de venta rapida?
Ayudante de estación de gasolina?
Cantinero/Tabernero (Bartender)?
Otro? – Especifique
16. Profesiones de Transporte – ¿Estaba Ud. empleado
como un –
34
35
36
Chofer de autobús?
Chofer de taxi?
Otro? – Especifique
O
17. Alguna otra cosa? – Especifique
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 17
(Cut along broken line)
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Which category represents the
TOTAL HOUSEHOLD income
during the past 12 months?
Precode
Income Range
11
Less than $5,000
12
$5,000 to $7,499
13
$7,500 to $9,999
14
$10,000 to $12,499
15
$12,500 to $14,999
16
$15,000 to $17,499
17
$17,500 to $19,999
18
$20,000 to $24,999
19
$25,000 to $29,999
20
$30,000 to $34,999
21
$35,000 to $39,999
22
$40,000 to $49,999
23
$50,000 to $74,999
24
$75,000 to $99,999
25
$100,000 to $149,999
26
$150,000 to $199,999
27
$200,000 or more
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 18
INGRESO DEL HOGAR
¿Qué categoría representa el
ingreso TOTAL de los miembros
del hogar durante los últimos
12 meses?
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Rango de Ingresos
11
Menos de $5,000
12
$5,000 a $7,499
13
$7,500 a $9,999
14
$10,000 a $12,499
15
$12,500 a $14,999
16
$15,000 a $17,499
17
$17,500 a $19,999
18
$20,000 a $24,999
19
$25,000 a $29,999
20
$30,000 a $34,999
21
$35,000 a $39,999
22
$40,000 a $49,999
23
$50,000 a $74,999
24
$75,000 a $99,999
25
$100,000 a $149,999
26
$150,000 a $199,999
27
$200,000 y más
Page 19
HOUSEHOLD
INCOME
ENGLISH
(Left)
HOUSEHOLD
INCOME
SPANISH
(Right)
(Cut along broken line)
Código
NCVS DEFINITION OF RAPE
Forced sexual intercourse includes both
psychological coercion as well as
physical force. Forced sexual intercourse
means vaginal, anal, or oral penetration
by the offender(s). This category also
includes incidents where the penetration
is from a foreign object, such as a bottle.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 20
NCVS DEFINITION OF PRESENCE
DURING AN INCIDENT
"Presence" during an incident means a
sample household member:
✓ Was at the immediate scene of the crime
AND
NCVS
DEFINITION
OF RAPE
ENGLISH
(Left)
NCVS
DEFINITION
OF PRESENCE
(Right)
(Cut along broken line)
✓ Was in a place reachable by the
offender, so that the offender could/did
attack, threaten to attack, or steal
something directly from the household
member.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 21
TYPE Z NONINTERVIEWS
Situations Causing Type Z Noninterviews
A Type Z noninterview indicates that you completed interviews
with at least the household respondent, but were unable to
complete an interview with one or more eligible members.
(Precode 1) Never Available – The following conditions must be met to
classify an individual respondent as a Type Z noninterview using Precode (1):
1. You made repeated attempts to reach the individual respondent.
2. You are sure the individual respondent is not temporarily
absent.
3. You have a completed interview with the household respondent.
(Precode 2) Parent Refused – Use Precode (2) when a parent or other
person refused for respondent.
• Another person refuses to allow an interview with an eligible household
member, such as an elderly parent or 14 year-old child.
• An acceptable proxy respondent refuses to give an interview for an eligible
respondent who is unable to respond for himself/herself due to a physical
and/or mental problem or is temporarily absent from the sample address.
(Precode 3) Respondent Refused – Use Precode (3) when an individual
respondent refused for themselves.
(Precode 4) Physically/Mentally Unable to Answer and No Proxy
Available – The household member must have health and/or mental illness
problems that are continuous throughout the entire interview period and you
are unable to find an eligible proxy respondent for this person.
(Precode 5) Temporarily Absent and No Proxy Available – An
individual respondent is temporarily away from home and not expected to
return before the closeout date and you are unable to find an eligible proxy
respondent for this person.
(Precode 6) Other Type Z Situations – You are not able to interview
an eligible respondent (other than the household respondent) and the situation
does not fit Type Z codes 1 through 5. An example is:
• Insufficient number of Incident Reports are completed, or incomplete
Incident Reports, based on the screen questions.
Refer to Part A, Chapter 6 of the NCVS-550 Manual for additional information
concerning Noninterviews.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 22
PROXY INTERVIEWS
Proxy Interviews for Household Members
Only THREE conditions allow you to take a proxy interview for a
household member. These conditions are:
1. A parent will not allow you to speak to his/her 12– or 13– year
old child to conduct the interview.
2. An eligible household member is temporarily absent during the
ENTIRE interview period.
3. An eligible household member is physically or mentally
incapacitated continuously throughout the ENTIRE interview
period, due to health or mental illness problems.
Qualifications of a Proxy Respondent
If you must take a proxy interview for an acceptable reason, the Proxy
Respondent must meet these criteria:
1. A household member who is at least 18 years old,
2. Is very knowledgeable of the proxy person, and
3. Has already completed his/her own NCVS interview by
self-response.
Exceptions to the Age Requirement for a Proxy
Respondent
1. The household’s reference person or one of the other persons
who owns or rents the home is under 18 years of age
TYPE Z
NONINTERVIEW
(Left)
PROXY
INTERVIEWS
(Right)
OR
Refer to Part C, Chapter 1 of the NCVS-550 Manual for additional proxy
information.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 23
(Cut along broken line)
2. All household members are under 18 years of age.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
BASIC DEFINITIONS AND CONCEPTS
The purpose of this quick reference guide is to provide you basic definitions and concepts used
in the National Crime Victimization Survey. This guide does not take the place of the NCVS-550
Manual, but instead is to be used in conjunction with the manual. The NCVS-550 Manual
remains the definitive reference source for detailed definitions and explanations.
The guide is in alphabetical order for ease of reference in locating terms. Only short definitions
or explanations of the words or concepts are provided.
Annual household income – The total
income of the household head and all
members of the household 14 years of age or
older for the 12 months preceding the
interview. This includes wages, salaries, net
income from business or farms, pensions,
interest, dividends, rent, Social Security
payments and any other form of monetary
income received by household members.
Area – Usually a small area of land found in
rural parts of the country. It has defined
boundaries, e.g., roads, rivers, or railroad
tracks and must be listed before interviewing.
Living quarters in area segments do not
always have addresses with street names and
house numbers. As a result, field
representatives may need to list the units by
description.
Armed Forces – List current members of
the Armed Forces living in the household.
Consider as "Armed Forces" any members of
the United States Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard and the
reserve units of these branches if on active
duty status for several months. Also include
commissioned officers from the U.S. Public
Health Service, cadets at U.S. military
academies, and National Guard in Federal
Service.
Borrowed property – Items that belonged
to a household member that were stolen while
in the possession of a friend, neighbor,
co-worker, and so forth are counted as stolen
property. Entrusted property are items
borrowed but not returned, they are not
counted as stolen property.
CAPI – (Computer-Assisted Personal
Interviewing) A method of interviewing
whereby field representatives use a laptop
computer to conduct interviewing.
Citizenship – The person was born in the
United States; born in a U.S. territory (Puerto
Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Island, Northern
Marianas, or America Samoa); born of U.S.
citizen parent(s); or become a citizen of the
U.S. through naturalization.
Eligible NCVS respondent – Any
household member 12 years of age or older.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Gender Identity (GI) – A person’s internal
sense of gender, that is, being male, female,
or a blend of both.
Group Quarters (GQ) – Comprised of one
or more GQs that were identified in the same
Census blocks screened to be a group living
quarters.
Household members – Household
members are those persons staying in the
sample unit who have no usual residence
elsewhere.
Household respondent – The household
respondent is the household member that you
select to be the first household member
interviewed. The household respondent
must be able to provide information for all
persons in the sample household, as well as
for herself/himself. In most cases the
household respondent must be 18 years of
age and knowledgeable about the household.
Usually, this is one of the persons who owns
or rents the sample unit.
Housing unit – A single room or a group of
rooms occupied as separate living quarters.
There must be direct access and the
occupants must live separately.
Incident – A specific criminal act involving
one or more victims and offenders.
Individual respondent – An individual
respondent is a household member who is an
eligible NCVS respondent who is not the
Household Respondent, 12 years of age or
older.
Noninterview household – A household
for which information is not obtained because
(a) the unit is occupied but an interview was
not possible, or (b) the unit is occupied by
persons not eligible for interview, or (c) the
unit is not occupied or not eligible for sample.
NPC – National Processing Center, located in
Jeffersonville, Indiana. A data processing
facility which is part of the Census Bureau that
supports a multitude of operations, such as
mail processing, editing and coding, and
statistical and geographic operations.
Page 24
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE – Continued
Reference person – A Reference Person is
a responsible adult household member who is
not likely to permanently leave the household.
To meet this goal, the person must qualify as
a household member, be an owner/renter, and
be at least 18 years of age (in most cases).
Only one person is considered the reference
person. The reference person may or may not
be the household respondent.
Origin – Heritage, nationality, lineage, or
country of birth of the person or their
ancestors.
Permit – Consists of one or more basic
addresses of structures built since the 2000
Census. These addresses are obtained from
the local jurisdictions that issue permits for
new residential construction.
Personal crimes – Involve direct contact
between offenders and eligible household
members during an incident, regardless of
whether the crimes were attempted or
completed. A separate Incident Report is
completed for each eligible household
member who was personally victimized during
the incident.
Self-employed – Working for profit or fees
at (his/her) OWN business, shop, office, farm,
etc. May be incorporated or unincorporated.
Police offender – Type of Law Enforcement
Officers we consider as possible offenders
when offender is a police officer (e.g.,
campus, park, transit, harbor, airport police).
Summary – An item used to assist in the
classification of crimes. Information to include:
what was taken; whether only nonhousehold
property was stolen; how entry was gained;
how the victim was threatened/attacked; what
weapons were present and how they were
used; any injuries; what the victim was doing
at the time of attack/threat; if the respondent
was present; whether the incident was
reported to the police. If a police officer was
the offender, did the police offender act in the
line of duty or act within his/her authority. Also
record information not already provided.
Sexual Orientation (SO) – The direction of
one’s romantic or sexual attraction to
members of the same sex, opposite sex, or
both sexes.
Presence – Determines whether any sample
household member was at the immediate
scene of the crime during the incident and
was in a place that was reachable by the
offender so that the offender could have
attacked, threatened to attack, or stolen
something directly from a household member.
Property crimes – Do not involve any
personal contact between a household
member and an offender.
While a summary should give a sense of what
actually happened, also use the summary as
a mechanism to provide additional information;
that is, information NOT already collected
during the collection of the incident report.
Proxy interview – An interview in which
someone other than the intended household
member answers the interview questions for
the eligible household member.
Proxy person – The intended household
member who is unable to answer the interview
questions for himself/herself.
Proxy respondent – The person who is
eligible to answer the interview questions for
the proxy person.
Race – The race or races that the person
considers himself/herself to be. Respondents
base the concept of "race" on self-identification.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Type B Noninterviews – Units which are
either unoccupied or which are occupied
solely by persons not eligible for interview.
Type C Noninterviews – Units that are
ineligible for sample.
Type Z Noninterviews – Eligible
household members, who are NOT the
household respondent, who are not
interviewed.
QUICK
REFERENCE
GUIDE
(Left/Right)
Units – Consists of one or more basic
addresses selected from the most recent
Census files.
Page 25
(Cut along broken line)
Recognizable business – To be a
recognizable business, these three conditions
must be met: (1) it must be a commercial
establishment operated by a household
member, (2) a sign must be present that is
clearly visible to the general public from the
outside of the business, and (3) if operated
from sample address the sign announcing the
business must be located on the sample
household property.
Type A Noninterviews – Households that
are occupied by persons eligible for interview
but information has not been obtained.
GUIDELINES FOR DETAILS TO INCLUDE IN THE SUMMARY SECTION
OF THE NCVS CAPI INSTRUMENT
WHERE RESPONDENT WAS DURING INCIDENT:
• A specific description about where the respondent was and what they were doing when the
incident occurred.
Examples – L1 was at home sleeping; L2 was watching TV at home, L3 was in restaurant.
WHERE INCIDENT HAPPENED:
• If the incident occurred in or near the respondent’s residence, then the incident should have an
entry in Item LOCATION_IN_HOME or in Item LOCATION_NEAR_HOME. Please specify in the
summary where exactly in or near the respondent’s residence the incident occurred. If the
incident happened on a porch, specify whether the porch was an open porch or whether it was
an enclosed porch.
Example – Offender stole lawn furniture from L1’s enclosed front porch.
RESPONDENT MENTIONS A GARAGE:
• Specify whether the garage was attached to the house or detached from the house.
• Specify how the offender entered the garage.
Examples – Offender entered attached garage through an opened door; offender entered
detached garage after breaking glass in a locked window.
CAR STOLEN/BROKEN INTO:
• Specifically describe where the car was parked at the time it was stolen/broken into.
Examples – Car was in parking lot at work/shopping mall; car was in L2’s driveway; car was
in L2’s attached/detached garage.
RESPONDENT WAS THREATENED:
• Describe specifically the nature of the threat.
Examples – Threatened to hurt L1; threatened to rape L2; threatened to kill L3; threatened to
burn L4’s house down.
WEAPON PRESENT:
• Describe the weapon used or threatened to be used.
• Describe how the weapon was used or threatened to be used.
Examples – Offender threatened to hit L1 with a wrench; offender pointed a gun at L2.
PURSE OR WALLET STOLEN WHILE OUT SHOPPING OR RUNNING ERRANDS:
• Describe when the respondent noticed the item was stolen.
Examples – L1 noticed her purse was gone while at the counter paying; several hours later
L2 discovered his wallet was missing.
PROPERTY BROKEN INTO WAS A VACATION/RENTAL HOME:
• How is property used, that is, exclusively as a rental property or does the respondent stay
there sometimes.
Examples – L1’s vacation home where they live 6 months out of the year was broken into
while they were at the sample address; while L2 was renting the vacation home
to renters, someone broke into it.
WHEN POLICE OFFICER WAS THE OFFENDER: (POLICEFINDOUT = 16)
• Was the victim/respondent arrested?
• Did the victim/respondent press charges against the police officer?
• What did the police officer do? (a complete description of the police officer’s actions)
• What did the respondent/victim do? (a description of the victim’s actions)
• Was any property confiscated by the police?
• Was the confiscated property returned, kept as evidence, etc.?
• Did the police officer use, or attempt to use, a hand gun or a billy club? (was it drawn or used)
• Was the police officer on or off duty?
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 26
CODING THEFTS/ATTEMPTED THEFTS
What to INCLUDE
●
●
●
●
items belonging to any member of the household, regardless of age, taken in a burglary
or household theft.
items belonging to any member of the household 12 years of age or older.
items belonging to any member of the household who is under 12 years of age ONLY if the
theft took place at sample address/vacation home and child was not attacked or threatened
with physical harm during the incident.
items regardless of value (for example, accept thefts of "worthless" and "priceless"
items).
●
items that are the personal property of an individual household member.
●
items that belong to the entire household.
●
items that belong to an unrecognizable business.
What to EXCLUDE
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
items that belong to a recognizable business in the sample unit, even if the business
is owned by a household member.
items that belong to some other commercial establishment, even if the business is
owned by a household member.
items belonging to the owner of a house, apartment, or room that a household member
was renting at the time of the incident.
items belonging to a nonhousehold member.
items that the respondent or another household member had borrowed from a
nonhousehold member.
items loaned to a friend, neighbor, etc., and not returned. (However, if someone
stole the items from the friend, neighbor, etc., include the items.)
items belonging to a household member under age 12, taken in any type of crime
other than a burglary or household theft.
items belonging jointly to a legally separated husband and wife who are not yet divorced,
and the offender is one of the spouses.
COMPLETING
THE SUMMARY
(Left)
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 27
CODING
THEFTS/
ATTEMPTED
THEFTS
(Right)
STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS TO USE
Additional, ADL
Address, ADR
Agendum, AG
Again, AGN
Answering Machine or Morning, AM
Answering Machine Message Left, AMML
Answering Machine No Message Left, AMNML
Answer, ANS
Appointment, APPT
Apartment, APT
Association, ASSN
Assessor, ASSR
Assistant, Assist, ASST
Avenue, AVE
Available, AVL
Building, BLDG
Block, BLK
Boulevard, BLVD
Broken, BRKN
Best Time, BT
Battery, BTRY
CallBack, CB
Could Not, CDNT
Central Daylight Time, CDT
Circle, CIR
Called, CLD
Closed, CLSD
Completed Interview, CMPINT
Count, CNT
Contact, CNTC
County, CNTY
Company, CO
Complete, COMP
Continue, CONT
Cooperate, COOP
Contact Person, CP
Court, CT
Central Standard Time, CST
Directory Assistance, DA
Daughter, DAU
Disconnected, DISC
Drive, DR
Descriptive Address, DSC ADR
Duplicate, DUP
East, E
Eastern Daylight Time, EDT
Exact Match, EM
Eastern Standard Time, EST
Female, F
Fast Data, FD
Find/Found, FND
Field Representative, FR
Front, FRNT
Friday, FRI
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Foot/Feet (Distance), FT
Follow-up, FU
Forward, FWD
Gender Identity, GI
Guess Call Back, GCB
Group, Group Home, GRP
Hard Call Back, HCB
Hang Up, HGUP
Household, HH
Household Member, HHM
History, HIST
Hawaiian Standard Time, HST
Housing Unit, HU
Highway, HWY
Identification, ID
Immediate, IMMD
Include, INCL
Income, INCM
Internet, INTRNT
Information, INFO
Inside, INSD
Interview/Interviewer, INT
Line Number, LN
Language Problem, LNG PRB
Laptop Computer, LPTP
Large, LRG
Listing Sheet, LS
Left, LT
Letter, LTR
Leave, LV
Male, M
Member, MBR
Mountain Daylight Time, MDT
Manager, MGR
Mobile Home Park, MHP
Mile(s), MI
Message Left, ML
Month, MO
Monday, MON
Missed Appointment, MSD APPT
Message, MSG
Mountain Standard Time, MST
Multiple Units, MU
Move, Moved, MV(D)
North, N
Not Available/Not Applicable, NA
Northeast, NE
Not in Service, NIS
No Message Left, NML
No One Home, NOH
Noninterview, NO INT
Nearby, NRBY
Number, #
Northwest, NW
Page 28
STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS TO USE – Cont.
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Spanish Speaking, SS
Spanish Speaking Household, SSHH
Social Security Number, SSN
Street, ST
Status, STAT
Sunday, SUN
Supervisor, SUP
Southwest, SW
Temporarily Absent, TA
Terrace, TER
Thursday, THUR
Talk(ed), TLK(D)
Tomorrow, TOMO
Turnpike, TPK
Trail, TR
Trailer, TRLR
Trailer Park, TRLR PRK
Transmission/Transmitted, TRNSM
Transfer, TRSFR
Tuesday, TUE
Tax Assessor, TX AS
Unable to Locate, UTL
Vacant, VAC
Visited, VST(D)
West, W
Wednesday, WED
Within, W/IN
Week, WK
Without, W/OUT
Wrong, WRG
World Wide Web/Internet, WWW
Time, Two Times, Three Times, etc.,
X, 2X, 3X, etc.
Extra, XTR
Yukon Daylight Time, YDT
Year(s), YR(S)
Yukon Standard Time, YST
Page 29
STANDARD
ABBREVIATIONS
(Left/Right)
(Cut along broken line)
Organization, ORG
Original Sample Person, OSP
Other, OTH
Outside, OTSD
Pacific Daylight Time, PDT
Person, PER
Phone, Phone Number, PH
Park, PRK
Parkway, PKY
Place, PL
Afternoon/Evening, PM
Property Manager, PMGR
Place of Business, POB
P.O. Box, PO BX
Place of Employment, POE
Possible, POS
Previous, PREV
Property, PROP
Partial Interview, PRT INT
Provide, PRVD
Pacific Standard Time, PST
Public Library, PUB LIB
Personal Visit, PV
Proxy, PXY
Question, QST
Questionnaire, QSTNR
Road/Rural Delivery, RD
Received, RECD
Refused, REF
Reference Person, REF PER
Request, REQ
Rooming House, RH
Reluctant, RLCT
Roommate, RM
Ring No Answer, RNA
Rural Route, RR
Rural Route Delivery, RRD
Respondent, RESP
Right, RT
Route, RTE
South, S
Sample Address, SA
Sample Person, SP
Sample Unit, SU
Saturday, SAT
Sexual Orientation, SO
Soft Call Back, SCB
Screen (computer), SCRN
Said, SD
Southeast, SE
Senior Field Representative, SFR
Signal, SGNL
Sheet#, Line#, S_L_
Small, SM
Spoke With, SP/W
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPANISH NCVS INTERVIEWS
For Spanish-Speaking Field Representatives
Items on the Spanish Language Instrument correspond to the same items on the
English Language Instrument. When interviewing a respondent in Spanish, you should
make your entries directly in the Spanish version. The Spanish Language Instrument is
accessible by pressing the "Shift" and "F5" Keys, simultaneously. In the pop-up window
select "Spanish" and then click on the "OK" button. To toggle back to the English
Language Instrument, repeat these steps and select "English" in the pop-up window.
If a respondent speaks Spanish and English, conduct the interview in the language
both you and the respondent feel most comfortable using.
Both Spanish and English interviews may be conducted in the same household. For
example, you may complete an interview for a Spanish-speaking household respondent
and complete an English Language Interview for an English-speaking household
member. Note such situations in the "Case Level Notes" to aid in the office check-in
and processing of these cases.
Crime Incident Reports may be more difficult for a Spanish-speaking respondent to
understand in English than the screen questionnaire; therefore, you may use the
Spanish Language Instrument even if you asked the screen questions in English.
Be sure all write-in entries are in English.
For Non-Spanish-Speaking Field Representatives using a
Translator/Interpreter
When you conduct interviews with Spanish-speaking respondents, share the laptop
with the interpreter after toggling to the Spanish Language Instrument for him/her to
read the questions.
Enter the answers into the laptop. The interpreter should never fill out the
questionnaires.
For All Field Representatives
Also available are Spanish translations of the NCVS-572(L) and NCVS-573(L)
introductory letters, the NCVS-593(L) and NCVS-594(L) Thank You letters, and the
NCVS-110 Factsheet.
In addition the NCVS-572(L) is also available in Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese
Simplified(S) and Chinese Traditional(T).
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 30
CASE MANAGEMENT FUNCTION KEYS
KEY
FUNCTION
F1 . . . . . . . Help
KEY
FUNCTION
Alt + F4 . . . . Closes active window;
F2 . . . . . . . Interview
F3 . . . . . . . Next Tab
Ctrl + End . .
F4 . . . . . . . Go to (Detail/Case List)
Ctrl + Home
Ctrl + K . . . .
F5 . . . . . . . Reports
F6 . . . . . . . Listing
Ctrl + T . . . . .
F7 . . . . . . . Notes
F8 . . . . . . . View
Shift + F1 . . .
F9 . . . . . . . Sort
Shift + F6 . . .
F10 . . . . . . Exit
Shift + F8 . . .
exits program
Moves to last case
Moves to first case
Accesses shortcut
keys
Interview Time
Preference
Displays Welcome
Map
Returns to main Case
Management Screen
CAPI FUNCTION KEYS
KEY
FUNCTION
KEY
FUNCTION
F1 . . . . . . . Question Help
Shift + F1 . . . Show HH
F2 . . . . . . . (Unassigned)
Shift + F2 . . . FAQs
F3 . . . . . . . (Unassigned)
Shift + F3 . . . RI FAQs
F4 . . . . . . . Jump Menu
Shift + F4 . . . (Unassigned)
F5 . . . . . . . (Unassigned)
Shift + F5 . . . Language
F6 . . . . . . . (Unassigned)
Shift + F6 . . . (Unassigned)
F7 . . . . . . . Item Notes/Remarks
Shift + F7 . . . Show Notes/Remarks
F8 . . . . . . . Return
Shift + F8 . . . (Unassigned)
F9 . . . . . . . (Unassigned)
Shift + F9 . . . New HHR
F10 . . . . . . Exit
Shift + F10 . . Show Function Keys
F11 . . . . . . Calculator
Shift + F11 . . Show Standard Abbrev.
F12 . . . . . . Copy Down (Repeat)
Shift + F12 . . Show Original Notes (RI)
KEY
KEY
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
END . . . . . Next Question on Path
Ctrl + F7 . . . Case Level Notes
HOME . . . First Question on Path
Ctrl + K . . . . Show Function Keys
Ctrl + F3 . Show Question Text
Ctrl + M . . . . Show DK and Refused
Ctrl + D . . Don’t Know
Ctrl + R . . . . Refused
Ctrl + F . . Search Tag
Ctrl + F11 . . . Calendar
Ctrl + H . . Info
Ctrl + T . . . . . Interview Time Preference
Alt + S . . . . . Save
NCVS-554 (8-2017)
Page 31
SPANISH
INTERVIEWS
(Left)
FUNCTION
KEYS
(Right)
NCVS Rotation Chart
January 2018 - December 2021
Year/Month
2018 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2019 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2020 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2021 JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
2014*
J28/K28
13
14
23
24
33
34
43
44
53
54
63
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
2015
J30/K30
16
15
26
25
35
36
45
46
55
56
65
66
15
16
25
26
35
36
46
45
55
56
65
66
15
16
26
25
35
36
45
46
55
56
65
66
16
26
36
46
56
66
2016
J16/K16
17
11
27
21
37
31
47
41
57
51
67
61
17
11
21
27
31
37
47
41
57
51
67
61
17
11
27
21
37
31
47
41
57
51
67
61
11
17
27
21
37
31
47
41
51
57
61
67
17
11
27
21
37
31
41
47
57
51
67
61
11
21
31
41
51
61
2017
J17/K17
12
22
32
42
52
62
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
12
13
22
23
32
33
42
43
52
53
62
63
13
23
33
43
53
63
2018
J18/K18
2019
J19/K19
2020
J20/K20
14
24
34
44
54
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
14
24
34
44
54
64
16
26
36
46
56
66
16
26
36
46
56
66
16
26
36
46
56
66
16
26
36
46
56
66
11
21
31
41
51
61
11
21
31
41
51
61
15
25
35
45
55
65
15
25
35
45
55
65
15
25
35
45
55
65
15
25
35
45
55
65
15
25
35
45
55
65
17
27
37
47
57
67
17
27
37
47
57
67
17
27
37
47
57
67
12
22
32
42
52
62
* Sample selected in 2014 (for first interviews in 2015) was within 2010 design continuing counties only. In new counties,
sample designation J28/K28 was selected in 2015 and began interviewing in 2016.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NCVS ROTATION CHART
This rotation chart for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) covers the time period from
January 2018 through December 2021.
Overall panel design
The NCVS is a panel survey where sample housing units (HUs) are interviewed every six months for a
total of seven interviews within a three year period. The 2010 design NCVS selects a new HU sample
every year, and each sample begins interviewing the following January. The GQ sample is selected
every three years (2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022) and divided equally into three annual samples.
Top headings
The years across the top of the rotation chart indicate the year of HU sampling. The row under the
sample years contains the sample designations assigned to each annual sample. Starting in 2016, the
sample designation number corresponds to the year the sample was selected. "J" sample
designations are used for active sample, and "K" sample designations are used for reserve sample
that may be activated as needed.
Left headings
The year and month on the left indicates the interview month for each subset of the sample. The
numbers within each row in this rotation chart indicate the subsets of the NCVS sample that are sent
out for data collection in that month.
Body - Panel and Rotation
The body of the rotation chart contains a series of two-digit numbers. The first digit is the panel
number, which indicates which two months a sample case is interviewed during a year. The second
digit is the rotation number, which divides each annual sample in half and determines which time-insample the cases are on.
Instructions for Determining Time-in-sample (TIS)
Identify which row on the rotation chart a case is in by the combination of sample designation, panel,
rotation, and current interview month. In any given row, you can determine the TIS for each rotation
number by counting the rotations interviewing that month from left to right or from right to left. The
rotations on the far left are on TIS 7 and the rotations on the right are on TIS 1.
New Growth Sample
New growth cases may be added to a rotation any time between TIS 1 and TIS 6. Therefore, a small
number of sample cases do not receive all seven NCVS interviews. For example, if a new growth case
is added in TIS 6, the rotation chart will indicate that they are on TIS 6, but the case will be flagged as
incoming and only receive the two remaining interviews for that rotation.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Modified | 2018-02-01 |
| File Created | 2018-01-16 |