Table of Contents
ORIENTATION AND BACKGROUNDIntroduction to Cognitive InterviewingWhat is (and isn't) cognitive interviewing?A broader perspective: The cognitive testing processSetting the Stage: First Principles of Questionnaire DesignQuestionnaire-related (and other) sources of error in self-report surveysWhy do survey questions produce response error? A sociolinguistic perspectiveHow can we avoid problems in survey questions?If we are proficient designers, why do we need to test questions?Chapter summaryExercise: Question evaluationThe CASM Approach to Questionnaire DesignOrigins of CASMApplications of Basic CASM ResearchCognitive interviewing as Applied CASM ResearchChapter summaryCognitive Interviewing in Practice: Think-Aloud, Verbal Probing, and Other TechniquesThink-Aloud interviewingVerbal Probing TechniquesConcurrent versus retrospective interviewingChoosing between think-aloud and probing techniquesVignettes, card sorts, and field-based probesChapter summaryTHE INTRICACIES OF VERBAL PROBINGDeveloping Standard Cognitive ProbesExamples of cognitive probingLogical and structural problemsA systematic approach to probe development: The Question Pitfalls ModelChapter summaryExercise: Using the QAS to develop probe questionsBeyond the Standard Model of Verbal ProbingA classification of probe typesProactive versus Reactive probingStandardized versus free-form probesChapter summaryExercise: Emergent probingA Further Perspective: Probing as Expansive InterviewingA broad view of cognitive interviewingThe Ethnographic Interview as an alternative perspectiveMerging Cognitive and Expansive interviewingChapter summaryAvoiding Probing PitfallsAre we in danger of finding problems that don't exist?Practices that avoid artificial problemsChapter summaryTHE COGNITIVE TESTING PROCESSTraining of Cognitive InterviewersWho makes a good cognitive interviewer?Technical background of the cognitive interviewerHow should cognitive interviewer training be accomplished?Continuing education in cognitive interviewingChapter summaryPlanning and Conducting Cognitive InterviewsFitting cognitive testing into the overall design sequencePreparing for the interview: Subject recruitmentThe interviewing processLogistic issues in the cognitive interviewChapter summaryAnalyzing and Documenting Cognitive Interview ResultsCharacterizing cognitive interview outcomesThe analysis of think-aloud interview resultsAnalysis of the probed interviewPersistent analysis issuesChapter summaryExercise: Analyzing cognitive interviewsOTHER ISSUES AND TOPICSSpecial Applications of Cognitive InterviewingAdjusting to survey administration modeCognitive testing of sensitive questionsCognitive interviewing and establishment surveysTesting questions on attitudes and opinionsInterviewing across the age rangeTesting non-questionnaire materialsChapter summaryEvaluation of Cognitive Interviewing TechniquesTheoretical perspectivesEmpirical evaluation of cognitive interviewingAre we evaluating the right outcome?Limitations to cognitive interviewsChapter summaryBeyond Cognitive Testing: Affiliated Pretesting MethodsExpert ReviewFocus GroupsBehavior CodingReinterview surveysHow do pretesting methods compare?Chapter summaryRecommendations and Future DirectionsTwelve recommendations for cognitive interviewing practiceFuture directions for cognitive interviewingA final case studyIn conclusionReferencesAppendix 1. Sample cognitive testing protocolAppendix 2. Example