Series 1, Number 42 August 2005

Plan and Operation of

Cycle 6 of the National

Survey of Family Growth
Appendix III. Generic Advance Letters; Generic Persuasion Letters;

Informed Consent/Assent Forms

 

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Appendix IV. Contact Scripts

 

 

 

 

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Appendix V. Authorization Letter

Series 1, No. 42 [ Page 73
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“The best health decisions

are based on the best health

information.”

“CDC’s National Survey of Family

Growth provides accurate and reli

ble information on critical health

issues to ensure that policies and

programs address the needs of all

Americans. The survey provides

important health information on

amily life that can be used to help

people live healthier lives. The

ational Survey of Family Growth is

an essential component of the

ation’s health information system.”

“I urge you to take part in this

survey to help improve the

nation’s health.”

Dr. Jeffrey Koplan

Director

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

Your household has beenchosen to take part in the

NATIONAL SURVEY OF FAMILY

GROWTH, an important research

tudy of men, women and families.

 this brochure, we answer some of

e most common questions people

ask us about the study.

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF

FAMILY GROWTH?

The National Survey of Family Growthprovides an accurate statistical picture oftrends in family life, marriage and divorce,contraception, sexual experience, pregnancy, infertility, and men’s and women’shealth. This information is used to planbetter health services and educationalprograms for men, women and families.The U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices uses the survey results to carryout its responsibilities for the health of thenation. The survey is authorized by afederal law, Section 306(b) 1 (h) of thePublic Health Service Act (42 USC 242),which asks us to collect “statistics on familyformation, growth, and dissolution.”The survey provides accurate nationalstatistics on critical issues like:

• People making choices about school,

work and having a family

• Women looking for a safe and effective

way to space their children

• The health care that men and women

get, including family planning andreproductive health

• Child care services used by working

parents

• The usefulness of programs aimed at

helping families and children
WILL MY ANSWERS BE KEPT

CONFIDENTIAL?

s. Federal law protects the confidentiality

all the information you provide (Section

8(d) of the Public Health Service Act

 USC 242M) and the Privacy Act of 1974

USC 552a)).

ch member of the research staff working

this survey has signed a legally binding

dge and taken training to learn how to

ep confidential all the information pro

ed by participants. The answers you give

 be combined with answers from many

er people, and reported as percentages,

als, and averages. No individual man,

man or family is identified. You can find

 more about what we do to keep our

vey data confidential at:

p://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/policy/

nfiden.htm.

DO I HAVE TO ANSWER THE

QUESTIONS?

Your participation in the survey is completely voluntary. For most people, theinterview is interesting and enjoyable, but ifyou find any of the questions to be sensitivefor you, you don’t have to answer them, andyou may withdraw from the interview at anytime. You will only be asked questions thatapply to you. Agreeing or refusing to be inthe study has no effect at all on any benefitsyou receive, either now or in the future.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

The average interview takes about 60-80minutes for most adults. Interviews forteenagers average 60 minutes. A fewinterviews take a little less or a little moretime. We will do the interview at a timewhen it is most convenient for you. Also, foryour help in being part of this study, you willreceive $40 as a token of our appreciation.

WHO IS THE UNIVERSITY OF

MICHIGAN?

The University of Michigan, founded in1817, was one of the first public universitiesin the United States. Today, the University isone of the largest research universities inthe world. This study is only one of manyimportant studies the University’s SurveyResearch Center does on families, health,retirement and other important issues.
U.S. Department of Health

& Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Health Statistics

A Research Study for theNational Center for Health StatisticsConducted by The University of Michigan

privacy:

reveal who

e, names

verything

op there:

e shown,

d dates of

categories

 of informa

ification

cal totals if

ock outside

nformation

measures

 into the

fiable data

mission. This

able to the

nch of any

n.

d

n Act

For further information:NCHS provides statistical data from all ofits surveys in printed reports, CD-ROM’s,and through our Web site.For further information and toaccess NCHS products, visit theNCHS home page:www.cdc.gov/nchsor contact:Data Dissemination Branch6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1064Hyattsville, MD. 20782Telephone: 301-458-4636For specific questions about howNCHS protects the information youprovide, contact:Alvan O. Zarate, Ph.D.Confidentiality Officer, NCHS6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1170Hyattsville, MD 20782Telephone: 301-458-4601e-mail: Azarate@cdc.govor visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/policy/confiden.htm

How the National Survey

of Family Growth

Keeps Your Information

Strictly Confidential

NATIONALSURVEYOF FAMILYGROWTH
ting the public’s privacy... no idle pledge

umbers,

bers!

onal Survey

ed only for

tion that

ed to anyone

gress, or any

must sign an

aking them

ublic Health

one working

 laws can be

b or go to jail.

7, the

stics (NCHS)

 in protecting

usinesses

■ A message from the Director of NCHS:This agency is well known for the quality ofinformation it provides to the public, to policymakers and to researchers. Collecting highquality information isn’t possible unless wecan promise that the information you give usis confidential, and unless we can back upthat promise. We can.The principles of privacy and confidentialityare firmly grounded in Federal laws, including the Privacy Act, the Public Health ServiceAct, and Title 18 of the United States Code.All NCHS employees must sign a pledgemaking them legally liable and subject to allpunishments in these laws.Those working for NCHS — including ourcontractor for this study, the University ofMichigan’s Institute for Social Research —must also strictly observe special practicesfor the careful treatment of confidentialinformation. These practices are meant toinsure that the privacy of our respondents isfully respected.We have, therefore, a number of veryimportant reasons for observing strict confidentiality: It is essential to obtaininghigh-quality, accurate statistics; it is the rightthing to do; and it is required by law.Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D.

■ NCHS and NSFG:The National Survey of Family Growth(NSFG) is a major source of nationalstatistics on such critical topics as USfertility trends, marriage and divorce, infertility, contraceptive use and parenting. Animportant goal of the NSFG is to provideaccurate statistical data to guide programsthat provide health services and healtheducation to men and women of childbearing age. NSFG data are used by academicresearchers, government agencies, journalists, physicians and the public. Data aretypically summarized in national estimatesof the population of reproductive age, andare presented in reports published by theNational Center for Health Statistics(NCHS), the nation’s major source ofreliable data on health.
N S Family Facts

F G

Divorce

Women who get married before they turn 

18 are twice as likely to get divorced within

10 years as women who don't get married

until after they turn 25.

Infertility

Among childless married women, 30% of 

those age 35 or older are infertile, compared 

to 6% of those age 24 or younger.

Breastfeeding

About half of women who have received a

high school education breastfeed their 

children. The number jumps to 81% among 

college educated mothers.

NSFG2390

The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) collects data on such topics as pregnancy, 

adoption, contraceptive use and effectiveness, and infertility. In 1995, it was praised as “the 

most comprehensive ... information since 1988 about what is going on in our country 

regarding decisions about reproductive health issues” by Dr. Felicia Stewart of the University 

of California at San Francisco. Below are some examples of actual data collected by the 

study the last time it was conducted, in 1995. 

 from the National Survey of Family Growth

24%

48%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

under 18 25 and older

Age Married

Percent Divorced within 

10 years

30%

14%

6%

0

10

20

30

40

50

15-24 25-34 35-44

Age

Percent Infertile

81%

49%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

High-school College

Education

Percent of 

Mothers 
Adoption

Only 1% of babies born to unwed mothers 

between 1989 and 1995 were placed 

for adoption, compared with 9% of babies 

born to unwed mothers before 1973. 

Contraception

About 2/3 of women of childbearing age 

in 1995 were using some method of birth 

control. The most popular methods were 

female sterilization, birth control pills, 

and male condoms.

Unintended pregnancies

In their first year using the pill, 7% of 

women had an unintended pregnancy, 

compared with 14% of those using the

condom and 14% of those using 

diaphragms.

NSFG2390

9%

1%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

before 1973 1989-1995

Years

Percent Placed for Adoption

Nothing

female 36%

sterilization

18%

Other 

methods

9%

male 

sterilization

7%

male 

condoms

birth 13%

control pills

17%

14% 14%

7%

3%

0

10

20

30

40

50

Injectable Pill Male

Condom

Diaphragm

Birth Control Method

Percent Unintended 

Pregnancies
 AGE

IMPORTANT 

EVENTS

RELATIONSHIPS

Marriage

Cohabitation

PARTNERS

First Partner 

Other Partner Other Partner 

INTERCOURSE

None

Female Sterilization

Male Sterilization

Pill

Condom

Depo-Provera

OtherOther

The Na

EDUCATION (High 

School, College, 

Other Schooling)

PREGNANCIES 

AND BIRTHS

CONTRACEPTIVE 

USE

1971 1972 1974 1978 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 

1988 1989 1992 1993

1971 1972 1973

1973 1975 1976 1977 1979 1986 1987 

1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1990

1980 1981 1982 1983 1990 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1991 1992 1993 

1980 1991 
 AGE

Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc

IMPORTANT EVENTSRELATIONSHIPSMarriageCohabitationPARTNERSFirst Partner Other Partner Other Partner  INTERCOURSE

Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc

NoneFemale SterilizationMale SterilizationPillCondomDepo-ProveraOtherOther

Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc Ja Fe Ma Ap My Jn Jl Au Sp Oc Nv Dc

NSFG2190

EDUCATION (High School, College, Other Schooling)PREGNANCIES AND BIRTHSCONTRACEPTIVE USE

20012001

20032003

20002000

20022002
Appendix X. Interviewer Training Agenda

INTERVIEWER TRAINING AGENGA - NSFG

St. Louis (airport) Hilton

June 10-19

DAY 1

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

4:00–8:00 Registration for On-staff Interviewers

DAY 1 – New Staff Only

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 G1 Daily Introductions

G2 Question Reading

G3 Clarification

G4 Probing

G5 Feedback

BREAK

G6 Video: Introductions (to a Respondent)

G7 Introductions (to a Respondent)

12:00–1:00 LUNCH

G8 Round Robin Mock Interview

BREAK

G9 Time and Expense Journal

5:30 G10 Putting it all Together

Wrap-Up

DAY 2

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T1 Welcome and Introductions

Review of the Training Agenda

NCHS Study Overview (Detailed)

T2 NCHS Confidentiality Video

T3 Mock Interview Demonstration

BREAK

T4 Hardware Introduction

Setting up Your Machine

Windows Introduction/Review

T5 Blaise Questionnaire

12:00–1:15 LUNCH: Speakers from NCHS and ISR

T6 SurveyTrak Overview

T7 SurveyTrak Updating

BREAK

T8 Introducing NSFG to Informants and Respondents

T9 The NSFG Screener

5:30 T10 Wrap-up

Series 1, No. 42 [ Page 83
DAY 3

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T11 Announcements/Goals for Today

T12 Mock Interview with the Screener

T13 Sampling and Updating

T14 NSFG Informed Consent and Token Procedures

BREAK

T15 Mocks on Participating and Completing Consent Forms

T16 MOCK IW – Mini NSFG Questionnaire

12:30–1:30 LUNCH

T17 Female Questionnaire Overview

Probing in NSFG

T18 Aids to Female Instrument

T19 Female Questionnaire Walk-through – up to Audio

Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (Mock #1)

BREAK

T19 Female Questionnaire Walk-through – up to Audio

Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (Mock #1)

5:30 T20 Wrap-up

DAY 4

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T21 Announcements/Goals for Today

T22 Female Questionnaire Walk-through Debriefing

Female – Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview

T23 Interview Observation Form

T24 Completing the Case

BREAK

T25 Male Questionnaire Overview

Aids to the Male Instrument

T26 Male Questionnaire Walk-through – with Audio Computer-Assisted

Self-Interview and Case Wrap-up (Mock #1)

12:00–1:00 LUNCH

T26 Male Questionnaire Walk-through (Mock #1)

BREAK

T27 Male Questionnaire Debriefing

T28 Unusual Interviewing Circumstances

5:30 T29 Wrap-up

Page 84 [ Series 1, No. 42
DAY 5

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T30 Announcements – Review of Previous Day’s Questions

T31 SurveyTrak Communicates

OVERVIEW

T32 SurveyTrak Updates

BREAK

T33 SurveyTrak Utilities and Recording Other Information in SurveyTrak

T34 Reporting Costs

12:15–1:15 LUNCH

T35 Female Questionnaire Mock #2

BREAK

T35 Female Questionnaire Mock #2

T36 Female Questionnaire Mock #2 Debriefing

4:45 T37 Wrap-up

DAY 5 – Reception

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

6:00–6:30 Reception/Gathering

6:30–7:30 Dinner

7:30–8:00 Project Summary

DAY 6

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T38 Announcements/Goals for Today

T39 Planning and Scheduling

BREAK

41 Male Questionnaire Mock #2

12:00–1:00 LUNCH

T41 Male Questionnaire Mock #2

T43 Male Questionnaire Mock #2 Debriefing

BREAK

T44 iPASS and Outlook

5:30 T45 Wrap-up

Series 1, No. 42 [ Page 85
DAY 7

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T46 Agenda Review

T47 Addressing Concerns of the Respondent/Informant – A Workshop

12:00–1:00 LUNCH

T48 Diversity and Sensitivity

T49 Putting it all Back in Place

T50 SurveyTrak Communications Review

BREAK

T51 Help Desk and Troubleshooting

T52 Administrative Matters

T53 Meet with Your Team Leader/RFM

5:30 T54 Wrap-up/Good Bye

DAY 8 (Certification Session)

New Employees to Be Certified

One-on-One for Production Interviewing

Experienced Staff Certified On-Site

or Post-training by Telephone

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 T55 Certification Interviews

BREAK

10:30 T56 Certification Interviews

1:00 Leave for the Airport

DAY 8 (Billingual Interviewer Training Session)

Time

Session

Number Session Topic

8:00 B1 Overview of the Spanish Language Training Session

B2 Spanish Language Protocols

Screener Review

BREAK

B3 Female Instrument Mock Interview – Spanish Language Application

12:30 B4 Wrap-up

Page 86 [ Series 1, No. 42
Vital and Health Statistics

series descriptions

SERIES 1. Programs and Collection Procedures—These reports

describe the data collection programs of the National Center

for Health Statistics. They include descriptions of the methods

used to collect and process the data, definitions, and other

material necessary for understanding the data.

SERIES 2. Data Evaluation and Methods Research—These reports

are studies of new statistical methods and include analytical

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collected

data, and contributions to statistical theory. These studies

also include experimental tests of new survey methods and

comparisons of U.S. methodology with those of other

countries.

SERIES 3. Analytical and Epidemiological Studies—These reports

present analytical or interpretive studies based on vital and

health statistics. These reports carry the analyses further than

the expository types of reports in the other series.

SERIES 4. Documents and Committee Reports—These are final

reports of major committees concerned with vital and health

statistics and documents such as recommended model vital

registration laws and revised birth and death certificates.

SERIES 5. International Vital and Health Statistics Reports—These

reports are analytical or descriptive reports that compare U.S.

vital and health statistics with those of other countries or

present other international data of relevance to the health

statistics system of the United States.

SERIES 6. Cognition and Survey Measurement—These reports are

from the National Laboratory for Collaborative Research in

Cognition and Survey Measurement. They use methods of

cognitive science to design, evaluate, and test survey

instruments.

SERIES 10. Data From the National Health Interview Survey—These

reports contain statistics on illness; unintentional injuries;

disability; use of hospital, medical, and other health services;

and a wide range of special current health topics covering

many aspects of health behaviors, health status, and health

care utilization. They are based on data collected in a

continuing national household interview survey.

SERIES 11. Data From the National Health Examination Survey, the

National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, and

the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—

Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement on

representative samples of the civilian noninstitutionalized

population provide the basis for (1) medically defined total

prevalence of specific diseases or conditions in the United

States and the distributions of the population with respect to

physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics, and

(2) analyses of trends and relationships among various

measurements and between survey periods.

SERIES 12. Data From the Institutionalized Population Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these surveys are

included in Series 13.

SERIES 13. Data From the National Health Care Survey—These

reports contain statistics on health resources and the public’s

use of health care resources including ambulatory, hospital,

and long-term care services based on data collected directly

from health care providers and provider records.

SERIES 14. Data on Health Resources: Manpower and Facilities—

Discontinued in 1990. Reports on the numbers, geographic

distribution, and characteristics of health resources are now

included in Series 13.

SERIES 15. Data From Special Surveys—These reports contain

statistics on health and health-related topics collected in

special surveys that are not part of the continuing data

systems of the National Center for Health Statistics.

SERIES 16. Compilations of Advance Data From Vital and Health

Statistics—Advance Data Reports provide early release of

information from the National Center for Health Statistics’

health and demographic surveys. They are compiled in the

order in which they are published. Some of these releases

may be followed by detailed reports in Series 10–13.

SERIES 20. Data on Mortality—These reports contain statistics on

mortality that are not included in regular, annual, or monthly

reports. Special analyses by cause of death, age, other

demographic variables, and geographic and trend analyses

are included.

SERIES 21. Data on Natality, Marriage, and Divorce—These reports

contain statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce that are

not included in regular, annual, or monthly reports. Special

analyses by health and demographic variables and

geographic and trend analyses are included.

SERIES 22. Data From the National Mortality and Natality Surveys—

Discontinued in 1975. Reports from these sample surveys,

based on vital records, are now published in Series 20 or 21.

SERIES 23. Data From the National Survey of Family Growth—These

reports contain statistics on factors that affect birth rates,

including contraception, infertility, cohabitation, marriage,

divorce, and remarriage; adoption; use of medical care for

family planning and infertility; and related maternal and infant

health topics. These statistics are based on national surveys

of women of childbearing age.

SERIES 24. Compilations of Data on Natality, Mortality, Marriage, and

Divorce—These include advance reports of births, deaths,

marriages, and divorces based on final data from the National

Vital Statistics System that were published as National Vital

Statistics Reports (NVSR), formerly Monthly Vital Statistics

Report. These reports provide highlights and summaries of

detailed data subsequently published in Vital Statistics of the

United States. Other special reports published here provide

selected findings based on final data from the National Vital

Statistics System and may be followed by detailed reports in

Series 20 or 21.

For answers to questions about this report or for a list of reports published

in these series, contact:

Information Dissemination Staff

National Center for Health Statistics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

3311 Toledo Road, Room 5412

Hyattsville, MD 20782

1-866-441-NCHS (6247)

E-mail: nchsquery@cdc.gov

Internet: www.cdc.gov/nchs
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

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