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Listening to Interviewers/Respondents

ver. 1.1 -- July 24, 2006 C. Comeau

This web page has recodings to familiarize interviewers/supervisors with situations that may come up during a BRFSS interview. Some examples are good others are not. It's a mixture of real life examples.

Thanks to all interviewers for their patience and kindness in the process of creating these scripts. Some interviewers may of been coached to create a particular good or bad situation. Some of the audio was edited to help with training. The respondents were not "real" but were employed to create the scripts. Thanks to StoneArc studio in Brownfield Maine for the recordings.

This web page uses a display item that looks like a CD/DVD (or VCR) player on the screen to play the recorded sounds. Make sure the sound on your computer is turned on. Also make sure it's not too loud. Press the button with the > arrow on the displayed panel to start listening to a sound. To test the speaker/volume on your computer. Click on the > arrow in the panel below and you should her speech. If not there may be something wrong with the way your sound/speaker/volume is set.

Go to Start - question #1.

#1.) Below an interviewer is asking the BRFSS Physical Health question. Listen to it (by pressing the > button) and think about how she does:

The respondent said "good most of them". What is the best answer below:

a.) The interviewer falsely assumed the respondents answer meant "no days at all".
b.) Saying "no days at all" leads the respondent to an answer.
c.) The interviewer should of used a neutral probe.
d.) All of the above.
e.) None of the above.

Go to next question #2.

#2.) Another interviewer asking the BRFSS Physical Health question. Listen to it and think about how she does:

How would you describe this exchange:

a.) A perfect probe.
b.) The interviewer should of repeated the question with a slight french or british accent.
c.) The interviewer repeating "How many days would you say is most" hurts the probe. The probe could of been more neurtal.
d.) Don't know/Not sure

Go to next question #3.

#3.) One more BRFSS Physical Health question. Listen to it and think about how she does:

How would you describe this exchange:

a.) A good probe.
b.) Interviewer used neutral probes "could you give me a number" and "just an estimate." also repeated question.
c.) The user said "Most days" so just code as 25 days.
d.) Both a and b above

Go to next question #4.

#4.) How long has it been since you had your teeth cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist ?

1. Within the past year (anytime less than 12 months ago)
2. Within the past 2 years (1 year but less than 2 years ago)
3. Within the past 5 years (2 years but less than 5 years ago)
4. 5 or more years ago
8. Never
7. Don't know/Not sure
9. Refused

Listen to the conversation. What is the best answer:

a.) The probe was needed.
b.) Not sure the probe was needed in this example. Respondent originally said "2 years ago".
c.) None of the above.

Go to next question #5.

#5.) About how long has it been since you last visited a doctor for a routine checkup? A routine checkup is a general physical exam, not an exam for a specific injury, illness or condition.

1. Within the past year (anytime less than 12 months ago)
2. Within the past 2 years (1 year but less than 2 years ago)
3. Within the past 5 years (2 years but less than 5 years ago)
4. 5 or more years ago
8. Never
7. Don't know/Not sure
9. Refused

Listen to the conversation. What is the best answer:

a.) The probe was helpful and needed to clarify "about a year ago".
b.) The interviewer didn't need to use a probe in this exchange.
c.) The interviewer should of used a neutral probe. The interviewer probing "Exactly a year or a little under a year" taints the probe.
d.) Both a and c.

Go to next question #6.

#6.) Here is an example of a respondent saying they are busy:

What is the best answer:

a.) The interviewer was a little pushy.
b.) The interviewer was really pushy.
c.) I know the respondent and he didn't really have anything better to do.
d.) The interviewer did a good job of trying to overcome what is probably a very soft refusal then trying to proceed with the survey.
e.) The interviewer was too wimpy.

Go to next question #7.

#7.) Listen to the following General Health question:

What is best answer:

a.) The probe was perfect.
b.) The probed helped but the interviewer should of repeated all the choices.
c.) No probe was needed. The interviewer should of picked "very good".
d.) Probe with "how many push-ups can you do?"

Go to next question #8.

#8.) The following is a Health Care Coverage question:

What is the best answer:

a.) The interviewer should of asked to speak to the respondent's wife.
b.) The probe repeating the question choices of "Yes" and "No" was good.
c.) None of the above.

Go to next question #9.

#9.) Now listen to the Personal Doctor or Health Care Provider question:

What is the best answer:

a.) The probe was needed
b.) The respondent sounds "strange".
c.) No probe was needed.

Go to next question #10.

#10.) How old were you when you were told you have diabetes ?

What is the best answer:

a.) A good part of the probe is "can you give me an estimate?"
b.) A good part of the probe is "it will take just one answer?"
c.) No part of the probe was good.
d.) Both a and b.
e.) Both g and h.

Go to next question #11.

#11.) Are you limited in any way in any activities because of physical, mental, or emotional problems ?:

What is the best answer:

a.) Interviewer should of only repeated choices.
b.) Good probe interviewer repeated choices then repeated question.

Go to next question #12.

#12.) During the past 30 days, what is the largest number of drinks you had on any occasion ?:

What is the best answer:

a.) Not a good probe. It is not neutral.
b.) Interviewer used a good probe "What number should I code it will just take one number".
c.) Ask the respondent how drunk they got after 12 drinks.

Go to next question #13.

#13.) Listen to this question about Mental Health:

What is the best answer:

a.) Probes should always be neutral.
b.) Saying "which one would you like to pick sir 2 or 3" is not neutral.
c.) Both a and b.
d.) None of the above.

Go to next question #14.

#14.) Do you have one person you think of as your personal doctor or health care provider ?

1. Yes, only one
2. More than one
3. No

What is the best answer:

a.) A probe is needed here to clarify what the respondent means.
b.) No probe was needed.
c.) Don't know/Not sure.

Go to next question #15.

#15.) Listen to the answer to "During the past 30 days, how many days per week or per month did you have at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage ?"

Pick the best answer:

a.) Saying "which one would you like me to put down 5, 8" is GOOD for the probe.
b.) Saying "which one would you like me to put down 5, 8" is BAD for the probe.

All Done. Thanks.

May all your probes be Neutral.