Technical Information and Data

Numbered Memos

BRFSS POLICY MEMO 2001.1
BRFSS DISPOSITION CODES

	On this Page • Introduction • Criterion for the Adoption of Final Disposition Code • Process for Assigning Final Disposition Codes from Interim Disposition Codes • Final BRFSS Disposition Codes • Interim Disposition Code • Assignment of Final Disposition Based on Interim Dispositions

NOTE: "States" in this document includes the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

I. Introduction

Policy Memo 2001.1 is effective starting with the 2002 data year. It replaces Policy Memos 2000.3 and 2000.4 and the "Interpretations of BRFSS Disposition Rules" document produced by the BRFSS Data Collection Methods Committee.

This document presents a minimum set of final and interim codes for use with the BRFSS survey. States may use more detailed interim and final disposition codes internally as long as the interim disposition codes used are subsets of those listed below and the interim and final disposition codes sent to the Behavioral Surveillance Branch (BSB) are those listed below. The one, major, exception is that states using the WinCATI questionnaire supported by BSB can use only the interim and final codes specified below. States may also treat the callback rules as minimal standards and adopt more strenuous efforts to complete interviews.

Section II discusses the criteria used to decide on final and interim disposition codes. Section III describes the process for assigning final disposition codes that require taking into account the outcomes from more than one attempt. Section IV presents the definitions of and callback rules for final disposition codes. Section V presents the definitions of and callback rules for interim disposition codes. Finally, Section VI describes the rules for assigning particular final disposition codes from specific patterns of interim disposition codes.

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II. Criteria for the Adoption of Final Disposition Codes

Note: The term "respondent" used without a preceding adjective of "selected" refers to anyone who answers the telephone.

Final disposition codes serve at least four purposes for four usually distinct groups of people. All four purposes relate to data quality but from different perspectives.

From a research perspective, the major concern is the potential for bias in the data. Researchers are most interested in response rates, which, conceptually, are the number of completes divided by an estimate of the number of eligible households in the sample. From this perspective, telephone numbers for which it is unknown whether or not they ring into an eligible household should be assigned disposition codes that reflect as much information as is known about the telephone number. These codes should distinguish as much as possible telephone numbers that have a large probability of ringing into an eligible household from those that have a small probability of ringing into an eligible household.

From a sponsor’s perspective, the major concern is adherence to protocol. (A sponsor in this context is any organization with a financial stake in the BRFSS survey.) A sponsor wants to know how good a job the data collector is doing. Even conceptually, however, response rates should be affected by the characteristics of the target population in addition to the performance of the data collector. (And in practice, response rates are also affected by sample design and characteristics of the telephone system.) But the data collector has control only over its performance. Protocol defines the standards that the data collector should meet and those standards have been designed to produce acceptable quality data. From this perspective, disposition codes should distinguish between telephone numbers to which different protocols apply. For example, the difference between a refusal from a selected respondent and a postponement from a selected respondent that never results in a completed interview is important from this perspective because different callback rules apply. This same difference, however, is unimportant from a potential-for-bias perspective because they are both incompletes from an eligible household.

From a data collection perspective, the major concern is operational control. Although adherence to protocol is part of operational control, efficiency and interviewer performance are more important than from other perspectives. For example, the distinction between "Language problem after respondent selection" and "Physical or mental impairment after respondent selection" is unimportant from other perspectives but is important from an operational perspective.

From a weighting perspective, the major concern is to identify the amount of nonresponse that occurs at each point at which nonresponse is possible. The collection of information on the point in the interview process at which a nonresponse occurs allows explicit adjustment for nonresponse at each point. This, in turn, should lead to more accurate estimates of statistical parameters, such as means and regression coefficients. From a sponsor’s perspective, how much nonresponse occurs each point at which it is possible is less important than the total amount of nonresponse.

The need to satisfy at least four distinct purposes that imply different criteria for the distinctions among final disposition codes, has resulted in the adoption of thirty-one final disposition codes.

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III. The Process for Assigning Final Disposition Codes From Interim Disposition Codes

When the BRFSS first began in 1984, most states conducted the survey on paper and there were only eleven final disposition codes. In such a situation, it was reasonable to expect the interviewer to be aware of the call history of each piece of sample and to assign a final disposition accordingly. With the adoption of CATI packages in all BRFSS states and advances in the capabilities of CATI packages, a different model for assigning disposition codes is now possible. For many years, DOS Ci3 CATI and now WinCATI have assigned final disposition codes to records with fifteen or more attempts. Over the past few years, BRFSS has been moving even further towards a model where the interviewer assigns a disposition code (which may be interim or final) after each attempt strictly based on what happened on that attempt only. For example, in data year 2001, BRFSS protocol for the first time specified the assignment of final disposition codes based on patterns of previously assigned interim disposition codes. It was envisioned that at least some states would program the assignment of final disposition codes and that interviewers would be assigning final disposition codes only in cases where the outcome of a single call attempt dictated a final disposition, for example a complete or a non-working number.

In 2002, we are taking further steps towards the adoption of a model where the interviewer assigns a disposition code (which may be interim or final) after each attempt based strictly on what happened on that attempt only. If an interim disposition code is assigned, then the CATI package reviews all the interim disposition codes for that telephone number to determine if a final disposition code is warranted. For example, if a respondent (non-irately) refuses to continue, the interviewer would code the attempt as an interim refusal. The CATI package then looks to see if the refusal was a second refusal and, if so, at what point during the interview process the refusal was made. It then assigns the appropriate final disposition code and retires the number. This process is run after each attempt that is given an interim disposition.

There are at least three advantages to such an approach: (1) The interviewer needs to remember a smaller number of interim and final disposition codes than would otherwise be the case. (2) The interviewer assigns only those final disposition codes that depend on what happened in a single attempt. Thus, the interviewer does not need to be aware of the call history of a number to assign a final disposition code. (Of course, the interviewer may still need to be aware of the call history of a number in order to try to complete an interview.) (3) Human errors in the assignment of final disposition codes based on interim disposition codes are eliminated (assuming correct programming). The disadvantages are that it will probably require additional programming to implement the approach and that not all CATI packages may be capable of implementing it.

Beginning with data year 2002, WinCATI will be programmed to implement this approach. Please note that WinCATI users of the BSB-prepared questionnaire will be able to call a number more than 15 times only by scheduling an appointment on the fifteenth and each subsequent call attempt.

The interim disposition codes are the minimal set implied by the final disposition codes and two additional codes — "Null attempt" and "Requires supervisor attention" — that are useful for operational purposes.

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IV. Final BRFSS Disposition Codes

1. Interview

110 Complete
Definition: Selected respondent meets the criteria for a partial complete and has completed the interview through the last question.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition upon completion of interview.

120 Partial Complete
Definition: Sex and three or more questions from age, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, education, employment status, county code, and “Do you have more than one telephone number in your household?” have been answered with a response other than Don’t know/Not sure (7, 77, or 777) or Refused (9, 99, or 999).
Callback Rules: Make a second attempt to fully complete the interview after first refusal or termination. Give final disposition if second attempt to fully complete the interview is unsuccessful. Give final disposition on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt even if there is only one occurrence of a refusal or termination.

2. Non-Interview, Household With Eligible Respondent

210 Termination within questionnaire
Definition: A hang-up or termination after the first question in the core has been asked and it or a subsequent question has received a response other than Don’t know/Not sure or Refused. The selected respondent has not answered enough questions for the interview to quality as a 120 Partial complete.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second refusal or termination or when a first-time refusal or termination will not be called a second time because of an irate respondent. Give final disposition on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt even if there is only one occurrence of a refusal or termination.

220 Refusal after respondent selection
Definition: A hang-up or termination after respondent selection but before respondent has given a response other than Don’t know/Not sure or Refused to one or more questions in the core. The refusals can come from any adult in the household and the initial refusal could have come before respondent selection. An automated message to not call the number again that is not in response specifically to that call attempt does not count as a refusal. Such an outcome should receive an answering machine or technological barrier interim code.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second refusal or when a first-time refusal will not be called a second time because of an irate respondent. On the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition even if there is only one occurrence of a refusal.

230 Selected respondent never reached or was reached but did not begin interview during interviewing period
Definition: Selected respondent was never spoken to or was spoken to and asked to be called again later one or more times. Includes cases where the selected respondent was away from residence for part of the interviewing period.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

240 Selected respondent away from residence during the entire interviewing period
Definition: Selected respondent is expected to be away from residence during the entire interviewing period, for example, because of travel or a hospital stay.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when informed of absence.

250 Language problem after respondent selection
Definition: After respondent selection, the selected or another respondent does not speak English or another language for which an interviewer and translated questionnaire are available well enough to be interviewed.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition (1) the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as not speaking English or another language for which an interviewer and translated questionnaire are available well enough to be interviewed or (2) the second time a respondent who does not speak English well enough to answer the screening questions is contacted and there is not a translated questionnaire and interviewer available for the respective language. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

260 Selected respondent physically or mentally unable to complete an interview during the entire interviewing period
Definition: After respondent selection, the selected or another respondent has a physical or mental condition that prevents the completion of an interview and that condition is expected to last through the entire interviewing period. This includes a temporary condition, such as bereavement, that will last beyond the interviewing period. (For conditions not expected to last through the entire interviewing period, schedule an appointment and keep trying.)
Callback Rules: Give final disposition (1) the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as physically or mentally unable to complete an interview during the entire interviewing period or (2) the second time a respondent who is physically or mentally impaired is contacted. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

270 Hang up or termination after number of adults recorded but before respondent selection
Definition: Respondent hangs up or terminates call attempt after answering the number of adults question but before answering the number of men and number of women questions. This differs from 280 in that the respondent explicitly refuses.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second hang-up or termination or when a first-time hang-up or termination will not be called a second time because of an irate respondent. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

280 Household contact after number of adults recorded but before respondent selection
Definition: Respondent answered the number of adults question and asked to be called again later one or more times but the number of men and number of women were never determined. On the surface, this is a postponement that was never re-started but may be an implicit refusal. This differs from 270 in that the respondent never explicitly refuses.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

3. Non-Interview, Eligibility Undetermined

305 Household members away from residence during entire interviewing period
Definition: A house sitter, house cleaner, or other non-member of a household states that all of the household members will be away from the residence during the entire interviewing period.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when informed.

310 Hang-up or termination, housing unit, unknown if eligible respondent
Definition: A respondent hangs-up or terminates a call attempt before answering the number of adults question. This differs from 315 in that the respondent explicitly refuses.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second hang-up or termination or when a first-time hang-up or termination will not be called a second time because of an irate respondent. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

315 Household contact, eligibility undetermined
Definition: A respondent verified that the telephone number reaches a private residence and asked to be called again later one or more times but the number of adults in the household was never determined. On the surface, this is a postponement that was never re-started but may be an implicit refusal. This differs from 310 in that the respondent never explicitly refuses.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

320 Language problem before respondent selection
Definition: A respondent who does not speak English or another language for which an interviewer and translated questionnaire are available well enough to answer the screening questions answers the telephone twice before respondent selection. Give final disposition even if other respondents who do not present a language problem have answered the telephone.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second contact with a respondent who does not speak English well enough to answer the screening questions and there is not a translated questionnaire and interviewer available for the respective language. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

325 Physical or mental impairment before respondent selection
Definition: A respondent whose physical or mental impairment prevents him or her from completing the screening questions answers the phone twice before respondent selection. Give final disposition even if other respondents without a physical or mental impairment have answered the telephone.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second contact with a physically or mentally impaired respondent. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

330 Hang-up or termination, unknown if private residence
Definition: A respondent hangs-up or terminates a call attempt before confirming that the telephone number rings to a private residence.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition after second hang-up or termination or when a first-time hang-up or termination will not be called a second time because of an irate respondent. If the first occurrence is on the fifteenth or subsequent call attempt, give final disposition.

332 Contact, unknown if private residence
Definition: A respondent did not verify that the telephone number reaches a private residence but asked to be called again later one or more times. On the surface, this is a postponement that was never re-started but may be an implicit refusal. This differs from 330 in that the respondent never explicitly refuses.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

335 Telephone answering device, message confirms private residential status
Definition: One or more call attempts reached an answering machine but no person was ever spoken to. The message confirms that the telephone number reaches a private residence by using the words, “home,” “house,” “family,” “residence” or a family name.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

340 Telecommunication technological barrier, message confirms private residential status
Definition: One or more call attempts reached a call blocking message, a message asking the caller to identify himself or herself, or other automated message, but no person was ever spoken to. A message confirms that the telephone number reaches a private residence by using the words, “home,” “house,” “family,” “residence” or a family name.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

345 Telephone answering device, not sure if private residence
Definition: One or more call attempts reached an answering machine but no person was ever spoken to. The message leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is reaching a private residence but it does not explicitly state so.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

350 Telecommunication technological barrier, not sure if private residence
Definition: One or more call attempts reached a call blocking message, a message asking the caller to identify himself or herself, or other automated response, but no person was ever spoken to. There is no message or a message leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is reaching a private residence but it does not explicitly state so.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

355 Telephone number has changed status from household or possible household to non-working during the interviewing period
Definition: On the second or subsequent call attempt, a telephone number is responding with a message indicating that the telephone number called is a non-working number or has been changed and there is at least one previous interim disposition of 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, or 540. (If a “number changed” recording is encountered the first time that a telephone number is called, that number should received a final disposition of 450 Non-working/disconnected number.)
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when notified.

360 No answer
Definition: Among telephone numbers which no person or device ever answered, half or more of the call attempts resulted in a normal telephone ring that no one answered.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

365 Busy
Definition: Among telephone numbers which no person or device ever answered, more than half of the call attempts resulted in a normal busy signal.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least 10 minutes apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls. If possible, contact the telephone company repair service to verify the number is in service.

370 On never call list
Definition: To be assigned to (those few) telephone numbers that the BRFSS State Coordinator has determined, before calling begins, should not be called.
Callback Rules: This disposition should never be assigned to a telephone number with one or more call attempts.

4. Not Eligible

405 Out-of-state
Definition: The telephone number rings out-of-state.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when informed. This code should take priority over other possible final disposition codes.

410 Household, no eligible respondent
Definition: No one 18 years of age or older uses the telephone. To be assigned when no one in the household is 18 years of age or older or the telephone number is used by a teen under the age of 18 and the parents do not use that phone.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when informed.

420 Not a private residence
Definition: The person answering the phone or an answering machine identifies the telephone number as a business, an institution (government office, educational facility, dormitory, nursing home, hospital, prison), a group home (fraternity or sorority, half-way house, shelter), a timeshare or vacation home at which no one is living for 30 days or more at the time of contact, Efax service, a pager, a cellular phone, or a dedicated fax/data/modem line that s/he answered to identify as such.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when informed.

430 Dedicated fax/data/modem line with no human contact
Definition: A telephone number used only as a fax, data, or modem line.
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 2 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 6 call attempts with at least one interim disposition code of 560 Fax/modem/data and all other disposition codes are 550 No answer, 555 Busy, 565 Fast busy, 570 Possible non-working number, or 575 Circuit busy. (Attempts receiving interim disposition codes of 580 Null attempt or 585 Requires supervisor attention should not count as call attempts for this purpose.)

440 Fast busy
Definition: A telephone number with at least one disposition of 565 Fast busy and all other dispositions are 550 No answer, 555 Busy, 570 Possible non-working number, or 575 Circuit busy. (Attempts receiving interim disposition codes of 580 Null attempt or 585 Requires supervisor attention should not count as call attempts for this purpose.)
Callback Rules: Give final disposition only after (a) at least 2 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 6 call attempts with at least one interim disposition code of 565 Fast busy and all other disposition codes are 550 No answer, 555 Busy, 570 Possible non-working number, or 575 Circuit busy. (Attempts receiving interim disposition codes of 580 Null attempt or 585 Requires supervisor attention should not count as call attempts for this purpose.)

450 Non-working/disconnected number
Definition: Usually recognized by a tritone, a recording indicating that the telephone number is non-working, a number that consistently rings to an incorrect number, or a number that cannot be verified by a respondent. If a 450 is assigned on a second or subsequent attempt, the CATI system or a post-data collection program should check to see if there is at least one previous interim disposition of 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, or 540. If there is, then the record should receive a final disposition of 355 Telephone number has changed status from household or possible household to non-working during the interviewing period. If the current status of the telephone number is in doubt, give an interim disposition of 570 Possible non-working number or call operator or repair service. After at least 15 call attempts, assign if all dispositions are 545 Phone number temporarily out of service, 570 Possible non-working number, or 575 Circuit busy. (Attempts receiving interim disposition codes of 580 Null attempt or 585 Requires supervisor attention should not count as call attempts for this purpose.)
Callback Rules: Give final disposition when the above criteria are met. If 15 call attempts are required, give final disposition only after (a) at least 5 calling occasions (each consisting of no more than 3 attempts at least one hour apart) for a minimum total of 15 call attempts, and (b) the 15 or more call attempts consist of at least 3 weekday calls, 3 weeknight calls, and 3 weekend calls.

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V. Interim Disposition Codes

505 Refusal: hang-up or termination
Definition: Respondent hangs up or refuses to continue the interview at any time during the call attempt from immediately after pick-up to any time before answering the last survey question.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Schedule callback for as long as practical up to two weeks after initial refusal.

510 Appointment
Definition: Respondent asks for a callback at some other time or a child answers the phone and does not get an adult to speak to the interviewer.
Callback Rules: Schedule a callback for an appropriate time.

515 Language problem
Definition: A respondent other than one known to be the selected respondent does not speak English or another language for which an interviewer and translated questionnaire are available well enough to respond appropriately.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day.

520 Physical or mental impairment
Definition: A respondent other than one known to be the selected respondent cannot respond appropriately because of a mental or physical impairment.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day.

525 Answering machine, message confirms residential status
Definition: An answering machine gives a message confirming that the telephone number rings to a private residence by using the words, “home,” “house,” “family,” “residence” or a family name in the message.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

530 Technological barrier other than answering machine, message confirms residential status
Definition: A device other than an answering machine gives a message confirming that the telephone number rings to a private residence by using the words, "home," "house," "family," "residence" or a family name in the message.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

535 Answering machine, not sure if private residence
Definition: An answering machine gives a message that leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is reaching a private residence.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

540 Technological barrier other than answering machine, not sure if private residence
Definition: A device other than an answering machine gives a message that leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is reaching a private residence.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

545 Phone number temporarily out of service
Definition: A recorded message states that the telephone number is temporarily out of service
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day.

550 No answer
Definition: A normal telephone ring that no one answers.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

555 Busy
Definition: A normal busy signal.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least ten minutes.

560 Fax/data/modem
Definition: An electronic screeching sound.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

565 Fast busy
Definition: A faster than normal busy signal.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

570 Possible non-working number
Definition: A noise or other response that may indicate a non-working number.
Callback Rules: Phone telephone company immediately or give interim disposition when this situation occurs and call back after an interval of at least one hour.

575 Circuit busy
Definition: A recorded message states that "All circuits are busy."
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour.

580 Null attempt
Definition: The number came up on an interviewer’s screen but is not attempted.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. The supervisor should delete the call attempt information on a null attempt before the telephone number is attempted again. Do not count as one of the up to fifteen attempts. Call back as appropriate.

585 Requires supervisor attention
Definition: An interviewer encounters an unusual situation that requires intervention by a supervisor.
Callback Rules: Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. The supervisor should replace the 585 interim disposition code with an appropriate interim or final disposition code before the telephone number is attempted again. Call back as appropriate.

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VI. Assignment of Final Disposition Based on Interim Dispositions

In the process described earlier, after each call attempt where the interviewer has assigned an interim disposition code, the CATI package reviews all the interim disposition codes that the telephone number has received and, if appropriate, assigns a final disposition code to that telephone number. The table below shows the appropriate final disposition that should be assigned in such cases. States should contact their Project Officer about cases not covered by the table below.

States should ensure that every record whose last disposition in its call history is an interim disposition is assigned a final disposition according to the following rules. The rules below are hierarchical. The first rule should be applied first to all records with a last, interim disposition code, then the second rule to the remaining records, etc. As noted above, beginning with data year 2002, WinCATI will be programmed to implement this approach.

A final disposition code of 450 Non-working/disconnected number may need to be converted to a final code of 355 Telephone number has changed status from household or possible household to non-working during the interviewing period. Note that this conversion is programmed into the Ci3 questionnaire in WinCATI. States using other CATI system should configure their CATI systems to make the change or they should make the change during their post-data collection processing.

When an interviewer assigns a final disposition code of 450 Non-working/disconnected number on a second or subsequent call attempt, the previous disposition codes should be reviewed. If at least one previous code is 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, or 540, then the final disposition code should be changed to 355 Telephone number has changed status from household or possible household to non-working during the interviewing period. This situation is included in the table below even though it involves changing a final (as opposed to interim) disposition code.
 

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