2003 NSDUH Field Interviewer Manual

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

You have been selected as a Field Interviewer (FI) for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The project staff welcomes you to the team for this important study and hopes you will find your responsibilities challenging, interesting, and enjoyable. We at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) look forward to working with you and appreciate the commitment and skill you bring to the project.

1.1 Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Research Triangle Institute is a not–for–profit contract research organization, dedicated to conducting innovative, objective, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. RTI is active in health and medicine, environmental protection, technology commercialization, education, and decision support systems. Universities in North Carolina founded RTI in 1958 as the first scientific organization in and centerpiece of the Research Triangle Park, a science park located between the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. RTI occupies over 725,000 square feet of laboratory and office facilities and employs a worldwide, full–time staff of over 1,950 individuals. Current research volume is approximately $265 million annually.

RTI research is performed both in the United States and abroad under contract with federal, state, and local governments; public service agencies; and private–sector clients. In keeping with RTI's vision of becoming the world's premier independent research institute, the legal name has been changed to RTI International.¹ For survey work here in the United States, we continue to use both Research Triangle Institute and RTI because of positive respondent associations and name recognition.

1.2 Project Organization

You are one of approximately 800 Field Interviewers conducting interviews for the NSDUH. The field staff include the following positions:

• Field Interviewers (FIs) – who are supervised by:
• Field Supervisors (FSs) – who are managed by:
• Regional Supervisors (RSs) – who are directed by:
• Regional Directors (RDs) – who work with:
• National Field Director, ________________ and Project Director, ______________.

Other field staff include Traveling Field Interviewers (TFIs) and a variety of assistant positions at all supervisory levels. All FIs and FSs are employees of Headway Corporate Staffing Services, a subcontractor of RTI.

The chart in Exhibit 1.1 illustrates the data collection management structure for the project as of January 2003. There are two ways to interpret this chart: as presented, the flow from director to interviewer illustrates the necessary communication and support for the overall direction of the project. When viewed from interviewer to director, we see the flow of actual information from the respondents, which is the all–important data to be gathered. You, as an interviewer, are the direct and vital link in the flow of information. Please know that your efforts are critical and very much appreciated!

1.3 Study Background

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health is currently an annual nationwide survey funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the United States Public Health Service, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. These goals have been established for the NSDUH:

• to provide accurate data on the level and patterns of licit and illicit drug use
• to track trends in the use of alcohol, tobacco products, and various types of drugs
• to assess the consequences of drug use and abuse
• to identify groups at high risk for drug abuse.

First conducted in 1971, this study has become the nation's leading source of information on substance use patterns and behaviors. Early on, the study was conducted at various intervals, settling into a pattern of about every two years. The demand for current, accurate information rose sharply by the early 1990s, prompting SAMHSA to conduct the survey annually starting in 1990. In 1992, the design shifted to a quarterly design where one fourth of the cases for the year are contacted and interviewed in each calendar quarter. Beginning in 1999, the sample design was expanded to allow for the reporting of drug use estimates for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 2002, the survey name was changed from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The name was changed to more accurately reflect the survey's interest in the effects of drug use on users' mental health and overall health. Eliminating the term "abuse" from the title also projects a more positive, inclusive tone since researchers need to know the experiences of users and non–users, not just those who might abuse drugs.

Research Triangle Institute has conducted the study since 1988. With each iteration, RTI has revised or implemented new procedures designed to simplify and enhance the data collection process while maintaining the highest level of data quality. Through 1998, data were collected entirely with paper documents, referred to as paper and pencil interviewing (PAPI). With PAPI, the interviewer asked questions and recorded answers in a paper questionnaire, while the answers to more sensitive questions were recorded by the respondent on individual answer sheets. With the development of powerful, yet lightweight, laptop and handheld computers, the entire study was converted to an electronic data collection process.

This conversion occurred over several years, with RTI conducting several field studies to fully test the procedures and equipment. By analyzing data from these tests and listening to suggestions from the field staff involved, the computer programmers and management staff were able to further enhance and refine the computer programs and procedures prior to the full–scale implementation for the 1999 survey. In the years since the full–scale implementation, we have continued to make adjustments to improve the electronic data collection process.

The entire NSDUH data collection process is conducted electronically. All screenings—which determine whom, if anyone, to interview in the household—are completed using a small handheld computer called an Apple Newton MessagePad 2100. Selected respondents are interviewed using CAI on a Gateway laptop computer. Portions of the interview are conducted via computer–assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) where the interviewer asks the questions and records the answers in the computer. The sensitive questions are completed using audio computer–assisted self–interviewing (ACASI), where the respondents listen to the questions and enter their own responses. With ACASI, even you, the interviewer, will not know the responses to these personal questions. Studies repeatedly show that maximizing privacy helps encourage honest, accurate answers and produces high quality data.

For this year's NSDUH, the national sample is designed to yield about 17,500 completed interviews per quarter, for a total of about 70,000 interviews. Data collection continues to take place in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

1.4 Data Collection Schedule

With the project's quarterly design, separate groups of households are selected and assigned to a specific quarter of the calendar year. This design requires that all screening and interviewing (S/I) activities associated with the selected households be completed by the end of each quarter. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THESE QUARTERLY DEADLINES BE MET. There is no room for extension of the deadlines at the end of quarterly data collection periods. The following are key dates in the quarterly data collection project schedule:

Conduct Screening and Interviewing	Start Date	Completion Goal
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4	January 7 April 1 July 1 October 1	February 28 May 31 August 31 November 30
Clean–Up and Reporting	Start Date	Final Date
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4	March 1 June 1 September 1 December 1	March 31 June 30 September 30 December 31

Notice that you are to complete most cases within the first eight to nine weeks of each quarter, then use the last few weeks of the quarter for reviewing, verifying, and completing miscellaneous cases. The majority of S/I should be completed prior to these clean–up dates, leaving only a minimum number of cases to be resolved. In some areas, it is possible that only a few FIs will be involved in these clean–up phases. This may result in a cycle where some FIs will work for two months and then have a month with little or no work. It is also possible, however, that completing your assignments early will allow you to assist during the clean–up period in your area or even in other areas if you are interested and available to travel. Exhibit 1.2, the Quarterly Data Collection Schedule, provides a more detailed timetable of the quarterly data collection periods for this study. Please review this schedule CAREFULLY.

At the conclusion of each data collection quarter, data summaries can be produced for the government based on that quarter's processed data. Therefore, it is essential that segment work be completed within the assigned quarter; completed screenings and interviews received after the end of the quarter cannot be used. The late data are discarded, and you do not receive "credit" for these cases. These quarterly deadlines can be achieved with careful planning, diligent work, and follow through with your commitment to the project. Your FS is available to assist you with your work plan, modifying it as necessary as the quarter evolves.

1.5 Project Abbreviations and Terminology

Throughout this manual, and in other project materials, abbreviations are used. As a general aid for you, a list of these abbreviations is provided in Exhibit 1.3. Some of the abbreviations and terms used in this manual have exact meanings or refer to specific project materials. These terms are briefly explained in Exhibit 1.4, in alphabetical order. Details regarding the use of the terms are located throughout the manual. Be familiar with these terms and use them consistently in your communications with your fellow interviewers and your supervisor.

1.6 Use of Manual

This procedural manual provides a detailed description of the tasks you will be required to complete for all aspects of the NSDUH. Additionally, a separate FI Computer Manual describes the actual computers, their use, and proper care.

This manual is an excellent reference source. When searching for information, think about where the topic fits in the flow of work. Consult the detailed Table of Contents and the List of Exhibits. Using the key words shown there will help you narrow down your search. Also included for your use is an index which lists broad topics that are discussed in several chapters.

Adherence to prescribed procedures and duties is extremely important to the success of the study. The manual, including all supplements, should be carefully studied before you attend your classroom training (either a New–to–Project session or the annual Veteran session), as you prepare for fieldwork, and throughout data collection each quarter.

You may, however, have questions or encounter field situations for which you do not find an answer in this manual. When in doubt about any field situation, contact your FS. If he/she is unavailable and you need an answer immediately, contact the appropriate RS. Names and contact information will be provided at training. Telephone numbers for all Regional Supervisors and other project management staff are listed in Exhibit 1.5.

ACASI	Audio Computer–Assisted Self–Interviewing
ADDED DU	Added Dwelling Unit
CAI	Computer–Assisted Interviewing
CAPI	Computer–Assisted Personal Interviewing
Case ID	Case Identification Number
C/L	Counting/Listing
DHHS	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
DU	Dwelling Unit
E–mail	Electronic Mail
ePTE	Electronic Production, Time, and Expense Report
FI	Field Interviewer
FS	Field Supervisor
GQU	Group Quarters Unit
HH	Household
HU	Housing Unit
ID	Identification
INS	Immigration and Naturalization Services
NHSDA	National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (past name)
NSDUH	National Survey on Drug Use and Health (current name)
OAS	Office of Applied Studies (the SAMHSA office in charge of NSDUH)
PAPI	Paper and Pencil Interviewing
PHS	Public Health Service
PT&E	Production, Time, and Expense Report
Q&A	Question and Answer Brochure
QuestID	Questionnaire ID
R	Respondent
RD	Regional Director
ROC	Record of Calls
RS	Regional Supervisor
RTI	Research Triangle Institute
SAMHSA	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMS	Survey Automated Mapping System
S/I	Screening/Interviewing
SDU	Sample Dwelling Unit
SR	Screening Respondent
TFI	Traveling Field Interviewer
VerifID	Verification ID

REGIONAL SUPERVISORS
Name	Phone No.	Fax	E–Mail	Location
RTI PROJECT MANAGEMENT
HEADWAY
FIELD SERVICES UNIT
TECHNICAL SUPPORT GROUP (TSG) – _____________________

To assist your learning process, read the following summary of key points in this chapter. Following the summary are several questions to ask yourself. These questions will help you identify those areas you understand, and pinpoint the areas where you would benefit from re–reading a particular section.

• You are a Field Interviewer for the NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health), hired by Headway, and working for Research Triangle Institute (RTI), a not–for–profit research organization in North Carolina.
• The NSDUH is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• The NSDUH is the nation's leading source of information on substance use patterns and behaviors and produces national and state data. Data are collected in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• All data collection on NSDUH is done electronically. Screenings are completed using a handheld computer called the Newton, while interviews are completed using a Gateway laptop computer.
• Data collection on the NSDUH follows a strict quarterly schedule, with the majority of the work being accomplished in the first two months of each quarter.
• FIs must understand many project abbreviations and terminology and use them consistently and correctly with their fellow interviewers and supervisors.
• Details on the FI job and this project are presented in this manual, and it will be a useful tool as you work on this project. If you cannot find an answer in this manual, you can call your supervisor for clarification.

1. What are the goals of this study?
2. What is RTI?
3. What is the last day that Quarter 2 interviews can be completed?
4. When should the bulk of your field work be finished in Quarter 1?
5. Define the following terms:
   

   NSDUH

   CAI

   ACASI

   SAMHSA

   SDU

   FS

   ePTE

   PHS

¹ RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.

	Click to Return to OAS Home Page   Click to Email OAS Data Questions    Click For Non-frames / text version of site
This page was last updated on May 16, 2008. SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.     Privacy Statement  |  Site Disclaimer  |   Accessibility What's New Highlights Topics Data Drugs Pubs Short Reports Treatment Help Mail OAS