Demogr Variable Memo

To:

Shelly Martinez, OMB

From:

Ted Socha

CC:

Kashka Kubzdela

Date:

May 30, 2012

Re:

Inclusion of add’l items for B&B:08/12 full-scale package

NCES would like to include the following additional items in the request for approval of
control number 1850-0729:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Gender (B12AGENDR)
Marital status (B12AMARR)
Prior to bachelor’s degree attainment (B12BPRDG , B12BOTDG )
Major field of study at NPSAS school (B12BMAJ1)
Additional instruction page (B12FINTRO)
Hispanic/Latino origin (B12FHISP)
Race (B12FRAC1)
Military service/Veteran status (B12FMILSERV , B12FMILIT )

(The verbatim item wording can be found on the subsequent pages.)

In an effort to reduce burden, it was originally determined that these questions did not
need to be asked again since prior response was high and that only a sample of the
remaining double-nonrespondents would be included in this second follow-up. For any
converted cases (prior nonrespondent to B&B:12 respondent), these items would then
be imputed post-data collection.
This decision has been reversed due to two main factors:
1. Previous double nonrespondents had a relatively high rate of response (35%) in
the field-test.
2. The need to include all double-nonrespondents, not a subsample, so that enough
cases exist to draw conclusions from the proposed responsive design experiment
that is outline in the already submitted package.
The potential effect from both of these is that the converted population will be larger
than originally expected. Assuming this is the case, more data will have to imputed,
which may reduce overall data quality. Additionally, these items will not be asked of
prior respondents, thus making any overall burden increase negligible; The already
submitted burden estimates remain unchanged.
Thank you for your continued flexibility as it is greatly appreciated.

Question Name

B12AGENDR

Wording

So [{if usermode = TIO} I {else} we] can customize this interview for you, [{if
COMPMODE = 1} I {else} we] need to ask a few questions about you and your
household.
Are you male or female?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12AGENDR
Wording
Code
Response
1
Option
2

Value

Label
Male
Female

Help Text

Please indicate your gender. This item is critical to
helping us better understand the experiences of individuals
who earned a bachelor’s degree.

Question Name

B12AMARR

Wording

[If Y_GENDER ne 1]
So [{if usermode = TIO} I {else} we] can customize this interview for you, [{if
COMPMODE = 1} I {else} we] need to ask a few questions about you and your
household. What is your current marital status?
[else]
What is your current marital status?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12AMARR
Wording
Code
1
2
Response
Option
4
5
6

Help Text

Value

Label
Single, never married
Married
Separated
Divorced
Widowed

Marital status is being asked to help determine the size of your current
household and whether a spouse or partner should be included in questions
about dependents, assets, and debts for the household.
Provide your current marital status. If you are currently unmarried, be sure to
indicate whether you are "single, never married" or "separated" or "divorced" or
"widowed."

Question Name

B12BPRDG

Wording

Have you earned any degrees or certificates between high school and earning
your bachelor’s degree in [BA completion date]?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12BPRDG
Wording
Code
Response
1
Option
0

Help Text

Value

Label
Yes
No

Tell us about any degrees or certificates that you've already earned from any
college, university, or trade school, between high school and earning your
bachelor’s degree in [BA completion date]?
Only include degrees or certificates earned through a college, university, or trade
school.

Question B12BOTDG
Name
Wording

What other degrees or certificates have you already earned between high school and
earning your bachelor’s degree in [BA completion date]?
(Only include degrees or certificates earned through a college, university, or trade school.)

Item

Spec
Value
Name
Item
B12BOTDG
Name
Wording
Spec Name
Value
Item Name B12BOTCE
Undergraduate certificate or diploma (usually less than 2 years),
Wording
including those leading to a license (example: cosmetology)
Item Name
Response Wording
Option
Item Name
Wording

B12BOTAS
Associate's degree (usually a 2-year degree)
B12BOTBA
Bachelor's degree (usually a 4-year degree)

Item Name B12BOTPB
Wording
Post-baccalaureate certificate

Item Name B12BOTMA
Wording
Master's degree
Item Name B12BOTPM
Wording
Post-master's certificate
Item Name B12BOTDRR
Wording
Doctoral degree--research/scholarship (includes PhD, Ed.D., etc.)
Item Name B12BOTDRPP
Doctoral degree--professional practice (including: chiropractic,
Wording
dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, or
veterinary medicine)
Item Name B12BOTDROT
Wording
Doctoral degree--other
Help Text An undergraduate certificate or diploma usually takes less than two years and is usually
designed to equip people with the skills needed for direct entry to employment or to earn
a license such as a cosmetology license. Other examples include certificates in
administrative support, computer programming, and medical records.
An associate's degree (AA, AS, AAS, AGE, etc.) normally requires at least 2, but less than 4
years, of full-time equivalent college work.
A bachelor's degree is usually awarded by a 4-year college or university and usually
requires at least 4 years of full-time, college-level work.
A post-baccalaureate certificate provides students who already hold a bachelor's degree
with new or additional training in an area of specialization. Certificates typically require
fewer course hours than do master's or doctoral degrees, and do not require a thesis or
dissertation. Examples of this include certificates in accounting, computer science, and
human resource management.
A master's degree (MA, MS, MBA, MFA, etc.) usually requires at least 2 years of full-time
graduate-level work and may require a thesis or a practicum.
A post-master's certificate usually requires completion of 24 semester credit hours
beyond the master's degree but does not meet the requirements of academic degrees at
the doctoral level.
A doctoral degree-research/scholarship is a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree that requires
advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation and defense of a
dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original
project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this
type of degree may include Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M., and others, as

designated by the awarding institution.
A doctoral degree-professional practice is a doctoral degree that is conferred upon
completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition,
credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a
period of study such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and
professional preparation, equals at least six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of
these degrees include: chiropractic (D.C., or D.C.M.); dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); law
(L.L.B. or J.D.); medicine (M.D.); optometry (O.D.), osteopathic medicine (D.O.); pharmacy
(Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or veterinary medicine (D.V.M.), and others, as
designated by the awarding institution.
A doctoral degree-other is a doctoral degree that does not meet the definition of a
doctoral degree-research/scholarship or a doctoral degree-professional practice.

Question Name

B12BMAJ1

Wording

What was your primary major or field of study for your bachelor’s degree at
[Y_NPSCHL]? [USERMODE = web gets the following instructions] Please type
your primary major or field of study in the box provided and then click the
"Enter" button. A list of categories that match your entry will be displayed.
[USERMODE = tio gets the following instructions] Please bear with me while I
code this.

Item

Spec Name
Value
Item Name B12BMAJ01
Wording
FIRST, type in your major or field of study:

Help Text

In the textbox provided, enter the name of your specific major or field of study at
[NPSAS] and then click the "Enter" button.
From the list provided, select the category that best describes your major or field
of study. If your major does not appear, select the "None of the Above" button
at the bottom of the list displayed, and then you will be asked to choose a
"General Area" and a "Specific Discipline" for your major or field of study.
If you completed a bachelor's degree with a double major, indicate what you
consider to be your primary major or field of study.

Question Name

B12FINTRO

Wording

Finally, [if TIO: I/else: we] have some additional questions that will help us better
understand the experiences of individuals from different backgrounds.

Item
Help Text

This is an introductory screen. Please select "next" to continue.

Question Name

B12FHISP

Wording

Are you of either Hispanic or Latino origin?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12FHISP
Wording
Code
Response
1
Option
0

Value

Label
Yes
No

Help Text

In compliance with federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity, Hispanic
or Latino refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Question Name

B12FRAC1

Wording

What is your race? Choose one or more.

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12FRACEA
Wording
White

Value

Item Name B12FRACEB
Wording
Black or African American
Item Name B12FRACEC
Wording
Asian
Item Name B12FRACED
Wording
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Item Name B12FRACEE
Wording
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Help Text

Please indicate all of the categories that best describe your race. In compliance
with federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity, the following are
descriptions of the race categories:
White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the
Middle East, or North Africa.
Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial
groups of Africa.

Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East,
Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia,
China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand,
and Vietnam.
American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original
peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who
maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the
original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
(Hispanic or Latino background is considered an ethnicity rather than a race.
People of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race.)

Question Name

B12FMILSERV

Wording

Are you a veteran of, or currently serving in, the U.S. Armed Forces (on active
duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard)?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name B12FMILSERV
Wording
Code
Response
1
Yes
Option
0
No

Help Text

Value

Label

Indicate if you have ever served, or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces, on active duty, or are in the Reserves or the National Guard.
The U.S. Armed Forces include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the
Coast Guard.
Active duty refers to full-time employment in the uniformed service as an officer
or enlisted person. Civilian employees of the military are not included.
If your service in the U.S. Armed Forced included the Reserves please indicated
“Yes”. The Reserves, refers to part-time employment in the Army Reserve, Navy
Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve.
These reserve components are administered and trained by the corresponding
service branch.
If your service in the U.S. Armed Forced included the National Guard please
indicated “Yes”. The National Guard refers to part-time employment in the Army
National Guard or Air National Guard. National Guard personnel operate under a

state governor, except when called into federal service.

Question Name

B12FMILIT

Wording

Which of the following best describes your current military status?

Item

Spec Name
Item Name
Wording
Item Name
Wording
Item Name
Wording
Item Name
Wording

Help Text

Value
B12FMILITB
On active duty
B12FMILITC
In the Reserves
B12FMILITD
In the National Guard
B12FMILITA
Veteran

Please select the status that best describes your current military status.
The Armed Forces include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the
Coast Guard.
A veteran is someone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the past.
Active duty means full-time employment in the uniformed service as an officer
or enlisted person. Civilian employees of the military are not included.
In this question, Reserves refers to part-time employment in the Army Reserve,
Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve.
These reserve components are administered and trained by the corresponding
service branch.
In this question, National Guard refers to part-time employment in the Army
National Guard or Air National Guard. National Guard personnel operate under a
state governor, except when called into federal service.