The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56532

Barbara M. Altman, PhD¹, Barbara F. Wilson, MA², and Elizabeth K. Rasch, MS PT¹. (1) Office of Analysis, Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 778, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 3014584654, baltman@cdc.gov, (2) Office of Research and Methodology, Cognitive Methods Staff, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 915, Hyattsville, MD 20782

Definition and measurement of disability in a national survey context has continued to produce varying estimates of prevalence. Question wording, variety of response categories, placement of questions within the survey, and modes of data collection all contribute to differing results. In addition, test/retest results from the Census and other population surveys identify discrepancies in responses from the same individuals at different points in time. In an attempt to discover how question wording and sequencing contribute to different responses from the same individual, the Questionnaire Design Research Laboratory at the National Center for Health Statistics developed a testing protocol to compare four sets of questions on disability. Thirty respondents who self-identified as disabled participated in the cognitive testing. The test instrument was made up of four sets of disability questions including those from: the National Health Interview Survey; the Social Security Survey (screener); the World Health Organization; and newly designed questions from the Disability Statistics Center at University of California, San Francisco. Sequencing of the questions sets was varied and subjects were encouraged to indicate problems understanding wording or answer categories. Socio-demographic information was collected from all subjects. Preliminary analysis of two general health questions from the question sets shows individual differences in self-reported health status depending on the response categories. The proposed analysis will examine the disability questions for similar individual differences in response to question format, wording, and response categories. The information volunteered by the subjects will be used to help identify the factors influencing differences that are found.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to recognize the impact of question wording and sequence on individual responses to questions on disability and general health.

Keywords: Disability, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.