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Technical Information and Data

Numbered Memos

BRFSS POLICY MEMO 94.4
RULES OF REPLACEMENT

This version of the the Rules of Replacement supersedes the document transmitted March 24, 1993 as BRFSS Policy Memo 93.1.

The new rules reduce the expected number of attempts for each phone number during each calling occasion from 4 to 3. Thus, the maximum number of calls required before a phone number is replaced will now be 15 instead of 20. Prescreening of phone numbers for Waksberg sampling is also subject to this change.

The call history section on page 1 of the printed 1995 questionnaire that we will be sending to you in early December will be revised accordingly. Ci3 and CASS CATI programming will also conform to this change. The new rules should be implemented beginning with January 1995 surveillance, i.e., January 1995 interviewing including Waksberg prescreening done in December 1994.

BRFSS RULES OF REPLACEMENT
November 9, 1994

CODE RULE
01 Completed interview (questions answered through age, race, and sex) Do not replace.
02 Refused interview Replace after second refusal or when a first-time refusal will not be called a second time.
03 Nonworking number Usually recognized by a recording or fast, busy signal. Call operator or repair service when in doubt. Replace when determined to be a nonworking number.
04 Ring no answer A normal telephone ring which no person answers (answering machines do not count as an answer) after (1) 5 calling occasions (each consisting of 3 attempts) and (2) the 5 occasions have a mixture of weekday, weeknight, and weekend calls. Replace when the rules have been met and the phone company verifies it is a working number.
05 Business The person answering identifies the telephone number as a business or says "no" when asked "Is this a residence?" Replace.
06 No eligible respondent at this number The household does not have anyone 18 years of age or older (this does not mean the adults are away temporarily). Replace.
07 No eligible respondent could be reached during the interviewing period The selected respondent will not be available during the time you have allotted for the month's interviewing. Replace.
08 Language barrier The selected respondent does not speak English well enough to be interviewed and there are no interviewers who speak their language. Replace.
09 Terminated within questionnaire A "hang up" at some point after the first question has been asked (this does not mean the respondent refused a particular question). Make another attempt to complete questionnaire. Replace when second attempt fails. If after a second attempt the respondent has completed the interview at least through the age, race, and sex questions, recode as a completed interview.
10 Line busy To be coded only after (1) 5 calling occasions (each consisting of 3 attempts at > 10 minute intervals) and (2) the 5 occasions have a mixture of weekday, weeknight, and weekend calls. Replace when the rules have been met and the phone company verifies it is a working number.
11 Respondent unable to communicate Example: respondent is deaf. Replace.

 




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This page last reviewed June 22, 2005

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Adult and Community Health