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Telephone Nonresponse Script.pdf

Author: Abt Associates Inc.

Created: 12/5/2011

Purpose: This file includes the script for the telephone component of the nonresponse survey.
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Fish and Aquatic Habitat Telephone Screener

Hello, this is _________________calling from the Abt Associates. We are conducting an important 

survey of U.S. residents for the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. This is not a sales call. This is 

a follow-up to a survey that was mailed to your household last week along with a letter from the EPA and 

a small incentive. Your participation is extremely important to ensure that the survey results are complete 

and accurate.

SL1

In order to select just one person to interview, may I please speak to the person in your 

household, age 18 or older, who has had the most recent birthday?

1 Rspn on line SKIP TO SL2

2 Eligible rspn is not on phone SKIP TO SL1b

3 Rspn unavailable SCHEDULE CALLBACK

4 No respondent over 18 THANK AND SCREEN OUT

8 Don’t Know (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Soft Refusal

9 Refused (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Hard Refusal

SL1b

May I speak with that person? 

1 Rspn called to phone SKIP TO SL1c

2 Rspn unavailable SCHEDULE CALLBACK

8 Don’t Know (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Soft Refusal

9 Refused (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Hard Refusal

SL1c

Hello, this is _________________calling from the Abt Associates. We are conducting an 

important survey of U.S. residents for the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. 

This is a follow-up to a survey that was mailed to your household last week along with a 

letter from the EPA and a small incentive. Your participation is extremely important to 

ensure that the survey results are complete and accurate. Could we begin now?

IF ASKED: This is a short survey which should take no more than five minutes. 

1 Yes

2 No time SCHEDULE CALLBACK

8 Don’t Know (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Soft Refusal

9 Refused (VOL) THANK AND TERMINATE – Hard Refusal

SL2

Do you have a cell phone in addition to the line on which we’re speaking right now?

1 Yes, also have cell phone

2 No, this is only phone SKIP TO SA2

8 Don’t know (VOL) THANK AND END, screen out
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9 Refused (VOL) THANK AND END, soft refusal

SA1

Of all of the phone calls that you or your family receives, are...(Read List) 

1 all or almost all calls received on cell phones,

2 some received on cell phones and some received on land lines, or 

3 very few or none on cell phones.

8 Don’t know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

SA2

Record gender from observation. (Ask only if Necessary) (MATCHES QUESTION 13 IN MAIN 

SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 2 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Male

2 Female

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

Q1

First, compared to other issues that the government might address – such as public safety, education 

and health – how important is protecting aquatic ecosystem to you, on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is 

“not important” and 5 is “very important”? (MATCHES QUESTION 2 IN THE MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 10 IN NONRESPONSE SURVEY) 

1 2 3 4 5 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

Q2

People have ideas about the extent to which the government should be involved in protecting the 

environment. On a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is “not at all involved” and 5 is “highly involved,” how 

involved do you think the government should be in environmental protection? (MATCHES 

QUESTION 11 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 2 3 4 5 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

Q3a

Could you please tell me if you participated in each of following activities during the last year? 

(DO NOT ROTATE) (MATCHES QUESTION 10 IN THE MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES 

QUESTION 11 IN THE NON RESPONSE SURVEY) 

Boating, canoeing, or kayaking 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF

Swimming/going to the beach 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF

Fresh Water Recreational fishing 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF
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Salt Water Recreational fishing 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF 

Shell fishing or crabbing 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF

Scuba diving or snorkeling 1 Yes 2 No 8 DK 9 RF 

(IF THE RESPONDENT DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE ABOVE 

ACTIVITIES SKIP TO Q4)

Q3b

How many days did you participate in the following during the last year? For trips longer than one 

day, please count each day separately. (MATCHES QUESTION 10 IN THE MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 11 IN THE NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

Boating, canoeing, or kayaking 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+

Swimming/going to the beach 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+

Fresh Water Recreational fishing 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+

Salt Water Recreational fishing 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+

Shell fishing or crabbing 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+ Scuba diving 

or snorkeling 1-5 6-10 11-15 16+

(VOL) 1=0 days

2=1-5 days

3=6-10 days

4=11-15 days

5=16+ days

9=Don’t Know/Refused

Q4

Do you consume commercially caught fish or seafood? (MATCHES 

QUESTION 11 IN MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 13 IN NON 

RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Yes

2 No

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

Q5

Do you consume recreationally caught fish or seafood? (MATCHES 

QUESTION 11 IN MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 14 IN NON 

RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Yes

2 No

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)
5

Now, I have just a few questions for classification purposes. 

D1

NOTE: We should not accept any ages younger than 18 for this question

What is your age? (MATCHES QUESTION 12 IN MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 1 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

________ Years 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

D2

Could you please tell me how many people live in this household? (MATCHES QUESTION 15 IN 

MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 4 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

________ 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

D3

How many of these people are 16 years of age or older? (MATCHES 

QUESTION 16 IN THE MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 5 IN 

THE NON-RESPONSE SURVEY)

________ 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

D4

NOTE: IF number of people in household = 1, skip this question

How many of these people are 6 years of age or younger? (MATCHES QUESTION 17 IN MAIN 

SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 6 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

________ 8 Don’t Know (VOL) 9 Refused (VOL)

D5

What is the highest level of education that you have completed? Is it... (READ LIST) (MATCHES 

QUESTION 14 IN MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 3 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Less than high school

2 High school or equivalent

3 High school and technical school

4 One or more years of college

5 Bachelor’s degree

6 Graduate degree 

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D6
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Including everyone living in your household, which of the following categories best describes your 

total household income before taxes? Is it ... (READ LIST) (MATCHES QUESTION 23 IN 

MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 18 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Less than $10,000,

2 $10,000 to $19,999,

3 $20,000 to $39,999,

4 $40,000 to $59,999,

5 $60,000 to $79,999,

6 $80,000 to $99,999, 

7 $100,000 to $249,999

8 $250,000 or more

98 Don’t know (VOL)

99 Refused (VOL)

D7

Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin? (MATCHES QUESTION 21 IN MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 15 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Yes

2 No

8 Don’t know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D8

Which of the following racial categories describes you? You may select more than one. Would it 

be... (READ LIST – MULTIPLE RECORD) (MATCHES QUESTION 22 IN MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 16 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 American Indian or Alaskan Native,

2 Asian,

3 Black or African American,

4 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or

5 White

6 Hispanic / Latino (VOL)

7 Other, specify (VOL)

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D9

Do you... (READ LIST) (MATCHES QUESTION 17 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY; NO 

CORRESPONDING QUESTION IN MAIN SURVEY)

1 Rent your home or apartment

2 Own your own home

3 Live with family or friends and pay part of the rent or mortgage

4 Live with family or friends and do not pay rent

7 Other, Specify (VOL)
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8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D10

What is your zip code? ___________ (MATCHES QUESTION 18 IN MAIN SURVEY, 

MATCHES QUESTION 7 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D11

Are you currently employed? (MATCHES QUESTION 19 IN MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES 

QUESTION 8 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Yes

2 No SKIP TO CLOSING

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

D12

Are you currently employed in the commercial fish industry? (MATCHES QUESTION 20 IN 

MAIN SURVEY, MATCHES QUESTION 9 IN NON RESPONSE SURVEY)

1 Yes

2 No

8 Don’t Know (VOL)

9 Refused (VOL)

CLOSING:

Thank you very much for your time, and have a great evening/day