Census Bilingual Questionnaire Research Final Round 1 Report
Patricia Goerman, Rachel Caspar, Mandy Sha, Georgina McAvinchey, and Rosanna Quiroz
KEY WORDS: Cognitive testing of translations, bilingual questionnaire, Spanish survey questions
ABSTRACT
In preparation for the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau is in the process of conducting cognitive testing on the 2005 self-administered test version of the bilingual “swimlane” questionnaire. The primary objective of the first round of testing was to cognitively test the Spanish translation contained in the questionnaire.
This interim report presents the results of the first round of testing and focuses on how Spanish-speaking respondents interpret and understand select terms and questions on the questionnaire.Some findings related to form navigation are also presented, but this was not the primary focus of the research during Round 1. Recommendations for form revisions are provided. Any changes made will be tested in a second round of interviews with approximately the same number of respondents as were interviewed for Round 1. We also propose to take a closer look at navigational issues during the second round of testing.
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