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CPSC National Awareness Survey Project 

Draft CPSC Survey Screening Script

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Awareness Survey 

Survey Screening Script

 Hello. My name is ____________ and I am calling to conduct a survey on consumer safety on 

behalf of a Federal agency. I am not calling to sell anything. Since part of what we hope to learn 

is how many people know about the agency, we will wait until after the survey to mention its 

name and to answer any questions you may have about it. All answers will be kept confidential;

and the survey will take about 15-20 minutes. {For landline respondents only:} Can I please 

speak with the English-speaking person over 18, currently at home, who will be the next to have 

a birthday?

Yes: {Start from top if someone else comes to the phone, or continue with person 

who answered}

No: When would be a good time for me to call back for a brief conversation with that 

person?

Refusal: Thank you for your time, goodbye.

Acceptance: {Make a call-back appointment.}

Non-English Speaker: Can I please speak to someone who speaks English?

(Interviewer can ask this in Spanish as well as English).

No: Thank you for your time; good bye.

Yes: May I speak with that person? {Begin again at top.}

 Do you work in the field of product safety?

Yes: Who is your employer?

CPSC: CPSC employees are not eligible to participate. Thank you for 

your time, goodbye.

No, Other Agency: {Proceed with script below.}

Thank you; your cooperation is voluntary. Answers will help us to develop useful 

information about product safety. We appreciate your help. It is very important for you to 

give honest answers, even if you think it might not be what I want to hear, so that we can 

use the results to help improve consumer safety. Any time you don’t remember or don’t 

know, please tell me.

I will be asking about consumer product safety. This means most things you would buy. 

It does not mean food or drugs, cars, cosmetics or firearms. It does mean things like 

household cleaning products, recreational equipment, toys, furniture, and most things 
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around the house. Do you have any questions about what consumer products means, or 

about the survey, before we get started? {Answer any questions}

Questions 

1. Have you ever looked for information about consumer product safety? (Yes, No, No 

Response) 

2. If you had a question about consumer product safety, where would you go for 

information? You can list more than one source of information. (Open Response)

Interviewer code (For general responses such as “news” or the “Internet,” use categories 

below to prompt a more detailed response):

___Consumer Product Safety Commission Website

___ Consumer Reports

___ Other Print News

___ Television News

___ Radio News

___ Internet News

___ Listserv

___ Google, or other Internet search engine

___ Social Networking Website

___ Retailer Websites

___ Friend or family member

___ Don’t Know

___ Other, specify_____

___ No Response

2.1. (If response 2 is not Don’t Know) Where do you get most of your information about 

product safety? (Open response)

Interviewer code:

___Consumer Product Safety Commission Website

___ Consumer Reports

___Other Print News

___ Television News

___ Radio News

___ Internet News

___ Listserv

___ Google, or other Internet search engine

___ Social Networking Website

___ Retailer Websites

___ Friend or family member

___ Don’t Know

___ Other, specify_____

___ No Response
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3. What causes you to seek out safety-related information about a product? {Open-ended, 

interviewer code using categories below.}

__ It’s something I’ve never used before.

__ It’s for child safety.

__ Word of mouth.

__ Media tells me it may be unsafe (specify which media)_____

__ Hearing about a recall

__ Other, Specify_____

__ No Response

4. Have you ever heard of the Consumer Product Safety Commission? (Yes, No, Not Sure, 

No Response)

{CATI program will refer to this for logical skips.}

a. (If Yes). What kinds of things do you think the Consumer Product Safety Commission 

does? (Open Response)

5. Using a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being Very Unlikely and 5 being Very Likely, how likely 

would you be to do each of the following things if a product you owned significantly injured 

someone during normal use, or broke in a way that significantly injured someone? (Likert Scale 

rating)

a. Stop using the product 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments_____

b. Repair or modify the product yourself 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments_____

c. Return it to the store for a refund 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments____

d. Replace it with a different product 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments____

e. Report the problem to the manufacturer 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments____

f. Report it to the Consumer Product Safety Commission 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments____

g. Seek legal remedies in the courts 

Very Unlikely 1 2 3 4 5 Very Likely 6 No Response

Comments____
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5h. Is there something else you would do if a product you owned significantly injured 

someone during normal use, or broke in a way that significantly injured someone? (Yes, 

No, No Response)

5h.1. Please briefly describe what else you would do. ____________________ (Open 

Response)

6. Have you ever heard or read about a product recall? (Yes, No, No Response)

6.1 (If Yes) I am going to read a list of ways that people learn about product recalls. Please 

answer “yes” or “no” to whether you have learned about a product recall from any of these 

sources.

Except where noted, for each item if Yes: Please say who issued the recalls you heard about 

this way, or say “don’t remember.

(For each item: Yes, No/Issuing agency, Don’t Remember, or No Response)

a. In a newspaper

b. In a magazine 

c. In a direct mailing from the product manufacturer (Do not ask who issued recall)

d. In an email from the product manufacturer (Do not ask who issued recall)

e. In a recall notice posted in a store

f. By word of mouth

g. On television

h. On the radio

i. On Internet news or homepages like Yahoo, CNN, New York Times Online, 

Google News, etc.

j. In a Consumer Product Safety Commission email (Do not ask who issued recall)

k. In an email from a friend

l. In a Consumer Product Safety Commission RSS feed (Do not ask who issued 

recall)

Interviewer: If participant asks what an RSS feed is, explain that it is an 

online notice of updated website content.

m. Reposted on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace

n. On the Consumer Product Safety Commission “OnSafety” Blog (Do not ask 

who issued recall)

o. On other Blog Sites

p. Through links from other websites

q. On Twitter

r. Other, specify____

7. Have you taken action on a product recall? (Yes, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

7.1 What did you do? If you have acted on more than one recall, please tell me what you did in 

each case. Please tell me about when each recall was issued. (Open Response)

Provide brief description of each recall mentioned (up to 5)

#1 description________ , date____ 
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#2 description________ , date____

#3 description________ , date____

#4 description________ , date____

#5 description________ , date____

Interviewer code for each event:

#1________ 

___ returned to manufacturer

___ returned to retailer

___ discarded the product

___ told friends and family

___told the person I had previously given the product to

___other (specify)

#2________ 

___ returned to manufacturer

___ returned to retailer

___ discarded the product

___ told friends and family

___told the person I had previously given the product to

___other (specify)

#3________ 

___ returned to manufacturer

___ returned to retailer

___ discarded the product

___ told friends and family

___told the person I had previously given the product to

___other (specify)

#4________ 

___ returned to manufacturer

___ returned to retailer

___ discarded the product

___ told friends and family

___told the person I had previously given the product to

___other (specify)

#5________ 
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___ returned to manufacturer

___ returned to retailer

___ discarded the product

___ told friends and family

___told the person I had previously given the product to

___other (specify)

7.2 Were any of the recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Yes All Were, 

Yes Some Were, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

7.3. (If Yes Some Were or No) Which other agencies issued each recall? (Open Response)

Interviewer code:

Recall #1

____Manufacturer

____Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

____United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

____ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

____U.S. Coast Guard

____ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

____ Other (specify)

Recall #2

____Manufacturer

____Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

____United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

____ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

____U.S. Coast Guard

____ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

____ Other (specify)

Recall #3

____Manufacturer

____Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

____United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

____ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

____U.S. Coast Guard

____ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

____ Other (specify)

Recall #4
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____Manufacturer

____Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

____United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

____ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

____U.S. Coast Guard

____ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

____ Other (specify)

Recall #5

____Manufacturer

____Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

____United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

____ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

____U.S. Coast Guard

____ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

____ Other (specify)

8. About how often do you hear or read about product safety? 

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ No Response

{If respondent answered “no” to Item 4 (heard of CPSC), skip to Question 10.}

9. About how often do you hear or read about the Consumer Product Safety Commission?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year
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___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ don’t know

___ No Response

10. How often have you checked a product you are considering buying or already own to see if 

safety information is available?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ No Response

10.1. {Only ask respondents who answered “yes” to Question 4 (heard of CPSC).} 

When you check for safety information about products you own or may buy, how often do you 

check to see if Consumer Product Safety Commission information is available? 

___always

___ not always, but more half the time

___ about half the time

___ less than half the time

___ never

___ No Response
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11. Have you ever heard of the SaferProducts.gov search engine (Yes, No, No Response)

11.1 Have you used the SaferProducts.gov search engine to research a purchase or find a safety 

recall? (Yes, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

11.2. (If Yes) How often have you used the SaferProducts.gov search engine to research a 

purchase or find a safety recall?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ don’t know

___ No Response

12. Have you watched a product safety video someplace on the internet, like YouTube, 

Facebook, or a blog? (Yes, No, No Response)

12.1 (If Yes) How many?

12.2. Do you remember who produced this video or videos? (Yes, No, No Response)

12.3. (If Yes) Please say who produced the video or videos. (Open Response, enter for each 

video(up to 5))

12.4. (If Yes) How often do you watch product safety videos?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year
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___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ don’t know

___ No Response

12.5. (If Yes) I’m going to read ways you might use the information in product safety videos. 

Please answer Yes or No to whether you have used information in product safety videos in the 

following ways: (Yes, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

___ Made a decision about a product purchase

___ Learned how to use a product safely

___ Gave others information about product safety

___ Looked up more information about a product

___ Other, specify

13. Have you ever watched or participated in a live product safety webcast or webinar? (Yes, 

No, No Response)

13.1 (If Yes) How many?

13.2. Do you remember which organizations or agencies produced the webcasts or webinars? 

(Yes, No, No Response)

13.3. (If Yes) Please say which organizations or agencies produced the webcasts or webinars. 

(Open Response, enter for each webcast or webinar)

13.4. (If Yes) How often have you participated in a live product safety webcast or webinar?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ No Response
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13.5. (If Yes) I’m going to read ways you might use the information in product safety webcasts 

or webinars. Please answer Yes or No to whether you have used information in product safety 

webcasts or webinars in the following ways: (Yes, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

___ Made a decision about a product purchase

___ Learned how to use a product safely

___ Gave others information about product safety

___ Looked up more information about a product

___ Other, specify

{If respondent answered “no” to Question 4 (heard of CPSC), skip to Question 19.}

The next few questions are about the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

14. In general, how often do you notice the safety information published by the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ don’t know

___ No Response

15. Have you visited the Consumer Product Safety Commission website? (Yes, No, No 

Response)

15.1. (If Yes) How often do you visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year
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___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never

___ don’t know

___ No Response

15.2. (If Yes) I’m going to read ways you might use the information from product safety 

websites. Please answer Yes or No to whether you have used information from the Consumer 

Product Safety Commission website in the following ways: (Yes, No, Don’t Know, No 

Response)

___ Made a decision about a product purchase

___ Learned how to use a product safely

___ Gave others information about product safety

___ Looked up more information about a product

___ Other, specify

16. Have you seen or heard about any of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 

international activities? (Yes, No, No Response)

16.1. (If Yes) Please give examples of international activities you have heard about (Open 

Response).

17. Are you aware that Consumer Product Safety Commission information is available in 

Spanish, in addition to English? (Yes, No, No Response)

18.How often do you read or hear about injury or death statistics related to product safety?

___ at least once a week 

___ two or three times a month

___ about once a month

___ less than once a month, more than once a year

___ about once a year

___ less than once a year

___ never
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___ No Response

19. Have you ever heard of the National Injury Information Clearinghouse? (Yes, No, Don’t 

Know, No Response

20. Have you ever reported a product safety issue? (Yes, No, No Response)

20.1. Please describe the safety issues you reported, whom you reported them to, and how you 

reported them (e.g., using telephone hotline, website, email, or regular mail). (Open Response, 

For each issue: Issue/organization reported to/ Method of reporting, up to 5)

Issue #1: Description______ Reported to_____ Reporting method______

Issue #2: Description______ Reported to_____ Reporting method______

Issue #3: Description______ Reported to_____ Reporting method______

Issue #4: Description______ Reported to_____ Reporting method______

Issue #5: Description______ Reported to_____ Reporting method______

21. Can you think of any products recalled within about the last year? (Yes, No, No Response)

21.1. (If Yes) Please say which product was recalled and who issued the recall, if you can 

remember.

(Product/Recall issuer, Don’t Know) for each recall (up to 5)

Product #1_______ Recall Issuer_____

Product #2_______ Recall Issuer_____

Product #3_______ Recall Issuer_____

Product #4_______ Recall Issuer_____

Product #5_______ Recall Issuer_____

{Interviewer: Note if responses here match prompts in Question 23. Record “yes” for 

applicable prompts in Question 23 and do not repeat these items later.}
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22. Do you remember any of the following product recalls announced in the past three months? 

Please respond “yes or “no” to each. Please say who issued each recall, if you remember.

(Products will be identified after survey is approved, to ensure they occurred within 3 

months prior to survey administration.)

(Yes, No/Issuer, Don’t Know)

a. (high saturation recall #1)

b. (high saturation recall #2)

c. (moderate saturation recall #1)

d. (moderate saturation recall #2)

e. (low saturation recall #1)

f. (low saturation recall #2)

g. (children’s product recall #1)

h. (children’s product recall #2)

i. (children’s product recall #3)

j. (other agency recall foil #1)

k. (other agency recall foil #2)

l. (other agency recall foil #3)

23. Do you remember seeing or hearing about any of the following five news releases during the 

past three months? Please respond “yes” or “no” to each.

List 5 recent CPSC news releases. {To be determined when survey is approved}

(Yes, No, Don’t Know, No Response)

Demographic Questions

D1. Besides yourself, how many people are living in your household? ________

D2. (If at least one) How many are minor children in each of the following age categories:

• 5 years or less: _________

• 6 to 12 years: _________

• 13 to 17 years: ________

D3. (If there are minor children in the household) For how many of these children are you 

the:

__ parent?

__ grandparent?

__other relative?

__non-relative?

___No Response
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D4. Are you a parent? No Yes 

{CATI will autocode this if mentioned previously}

D5. Are you a grandparent? No Yes

{CATI will autocode this if mentioned previously}

D6. Do you regularly care for minor children who don’t live in your home, in each of the 

following age categories:

• 5 years or less (Yes, No, No Response)

• 6 to 12 years (Yes, No, No Response)

• 13 to 17 years (Yes, No, No Response)

• D7. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? (Yes, No, No Response)

D7. Please say “yes” or “no” to whether each of the following ethnic heritages describes you. 

(Yes, No, No Response)

• Black or African American;

• White;

• American Indian or Alaska Native;

• Asian;

• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander;

• Don’t Know

D8. Please list any languages other than English typically spoken in your household. ________

D9. Which of the following best describes your age group? Please stop me when I read the 

correct age group.

• 18-24 years old

• 25-34 years old

• 35-44 years old

• 45-54 years old

• 55-64 years old

• 65 years or older

D10. Which of the following best describes the highest level of education you have completed?

• Less than high school

• High school diploma or GED

• Some college

• College graduate

• Some graduate education
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• Advanced degree

D11. Gender ________ (Interviewer: Code without asking. Follow procedures for making 

determination in ambiguous cases.)

D12. What is your zip code? ________

D13. Before taxes, in which of the following five ranges is your annual household income?

• Under $23,000

• $23,000 to $39,999

• $40,000 to $59,999

• $60,000 to $99,999

• $100,000 and above

Phone Questions

LandLine2 Is there at least one phone in your household that is currently working and is NOT a cell 

phone? (Yes, No DK, Refused) 

If cell phone only (If not cell phone only, go to NumPh: 

ShareCell Do you share the cell phone (phone #) with another adult for their personal use? (Yes,No)

Safety net pop-up will prompt interviewer to ask again and correct if LandLine2 and ShareCell

responses are logically inconsistent. 

PerBusPh Do you use (fill phone #) for: 1) Personal use, 2) For business use, or 3) For both personal 

and business use

NumPh How many different telephone lines, that is separate telephone numbers, can be used to call into 

your home? Please include cell phone numbers and home business phone lines as well as phone lines 

used ONLY for a Computer or FAX. 

VerCPO Perhaps I input something incorrectly, could you please clarify for me...

I have that (fill phone#) is a cell phone, but of the (fill NumPh@al) telephone lines 

NONE are cell phones. Is (fill phone #) a cell phone or not?

1) Yes 2) No – not a cell phone

Which is correct... 

1) one phone in home IS a cell phone 

2) one phone in home but (fill phone#) is NOT a cell phone

Interviewer: If multiple phones, backup and correct NumPh settings

 Based on responses to this survey, the sponsoring agency may want to ask some participants 

a few follow-up questions to get additional information about effectively sharing product 

safety information. If we have some follow-up questions in a few weeks, can we call you 

back?
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(Yes, No) {If yes, note in contact database, not with survey responses.}

 Thank you very much for participating. Do you have any questions for me before we end the 

call? (If “yes,” answer questions.)

 Thank you on behalf of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Your responses will help the 

Commission to provide consumers with important safety information. We appreciate your time 

and attention.