Note: This version contains all changes agreed to by BTS and MDAC from the in-house testing, field pre-testing, and interviewer training. This paper version should exactly match what is fielded for data collection in July 2001, and serves as the "template" questionnaire for future months.
Professional interviewers administer this questionnaire using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). In addition to the answer categories displayed for each question, the interviewer has the option to enter "dont know" or "refused" but these categories are not displayed on-screen.
The questionnaire consists of eight sections: an introduction section, followed by six "subject matter" sections and an interviewer close-out section:
| Section | Topics | Periodicity |
|---|---|---|
| F | Introduction and Respondent Selection Questions | Identical series each month |
| G | General Transportation Core Questions | Identical series each month |
| B | BTS Topical Transportation Questions | Change each month to address topical issues. This month: commuting, gas prices |
| SS | Strategic Goal Questions | Rotate three times per year by goal area. Bold type denotes area addressed this month:Month 1 - Safety (SS)Month 2 - Mobility (SM)Month 3 - Environment (SE)Month 4 - National Security (SN) |
| T | USDOT Services Satisfaction Questions | Identical series each month |
| M | Operating Administration Modal Questions | Change each month |
| D | Demographic Questions | Identical series each month |
| I | Interviewer Close Out Questions | Identical series each month |
Formatting conventions for this document:
CATI system will generate and dial telephone number. When someone answers, interviewer begins.
F0050. Hello, my name is _______ and Im calling on behalf of the United States Department of Transportation about an important national study on transportation issues. (This is not a sales call.)
I have a few questions to ask you. Have I reached [telephone number]?
TERMINATE CALL
F0100. Is this phone for a home, a business, or both?
F0150. Sorry, Im trying to reach a residence. Goodbye.
TERMINATE CALL
F0200. Are you a household member who is at least 18 years old?
F0250. May I please speak to a household member who is at least 18 years old?
F0300. When would be a good time to call back to speak with someone who is at least 18 years old?
SCHEDULE CALL BACK
F0350.REPEAT F0050 (OMITTING "HAVE I REACHED [TELEPHONE NUMBER]?) IF NECESSARY (e.g., INTERVIEWER IS SPEAKING WITH A NEW PERSON AT THIS POINT). THEN SAY...
I need to talk with the person living there now, aged 18 years or older, who had a birthday most recently. What is the first name of that person?
Name ___________ TYPE IN PERSONS FIRST NAME.
F0400. May I please speak with [insert name]?
F0450.REPEAT F0050 IF NECESSARY. THEN SAY...
This voluntary study will take about 15 minutes and is authorized by Title 49, Section 111c2 of the United States Code. I will ask about types of transportation used and your opinions about issues such as transportation safety. Your answers will be kept completely confidential. There are no penalties for refusing to answer any question, so if we come to one that you dont want to answer, I will skip it. Do you have any questions before we begin?
F0500. When would be a good time to call back to speak to [insert name]?
SCHEDULE CALL BACK
F0550. ADDRESS QUESTIONS OR USE REFUSAL CONVERSION TECHNIQUES
IS RESPONDENT WILLING TO CONTINUE?
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE
F0600. Fine, then lets get started. For quality purposes, my supervisor may monitor this call.
ENTER "1" TO PROCEED, OR ENTER "2" TO SCHEDULE CALL BACK
G0050. First I need to identify all the kinds of transportation you used either for personal or for business travel last month.
REPEAT AS NECESSARY:
During [last month], did you:
G0100. Drive a personal vehicle? (such as a car, van, SUV, pickup truck, RV)
G0150. Drive or ride in an organized carpool or vanpool?
G0200. Ride on a city-to-city bus? (such as Greyhound)
G0250. Ride a city-to-city train? (such as AMTRAK)
G0300. Ride on any public transit within city or metropolitan area? (such as a bus, train, subway, light rail, commuter bus or rail from suburb to city)
G0350. Fly on a commercial airplane?
G0400. Fly on a charter, private, or corporate airplane?
G0450. Drive a motorcycle, including a motorized scooter or motorized bicycle?
G0500. Ride a bicycle?
G0550. Walk, run, or jog at least one time outside for 10 minutes or more? (such as to a store or park)
G0600. Ride on a commercial boat, ship, or ferry? (Please exclude cruise ships)
G0650. Drive a personal watercraft such as a jetski or skidoo?
G0700. Drive a recreational boat such as a sailboat, motorboat, or yacht?
G0750. Use any other means of transportation? (for example a taxi, limousine, charter or tour bus, hotel or airport shuttle) BEFORE CODING, ENSURE THAT ANSWER CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN ONE OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES)
Ask question G0800 if G0300 = 2. Otherwise, go to next skip instruction.
G0800. You said you did not use public transit last month. Please tell me the main reason you did not use it. (CODE THE FIRST REASON GIVEN. IF RESPONSE IS "I DONT KNOW", "I DONT LIKE IT," OR "I DONT NEED IT" PROBE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON)(DO NOT READ LIST)
Ask all applicable questions between G0850-G1255 for each type of transportation used before proceeding to next type used. The sequence of questions to be asked follows:
Ask G0850 for each type of transportation G0100-G0750=1.
For G0200, G0250, G0300, G0350, or G0400 = 1, proceed to ask G0900 for each.
For G0500=1, proceed to ask G0950, G1000 and G1050.
For G0550=1, proceed to ask G1100, G1150, and G1200.
For G0650=1, proceed to ask G1250.
For G0700=1, proceed to ask G1255.
G0850. You said you used a [transportation type] last month. Altogether, would you say that you did this on approximately: (READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
Ask G0900 only for each type of transportation where G0200-G0400=1.
G0900. And of these days, on how many were you away from home on travel for your business or your job? RECORD NUMBER
_____ days
If G0500 (bicycle) = 1, ask G0950-G1050. Otherwise, go to next transportation type used.
G0950. Primarily for what purpose did you use it? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
G1000. And on a typical day, about how much time did you spend bicycling?
CATI system must ensure an entry for both hours and minutes.
G1050. Did you bicycle mostly on: (READ LIST) (RECORD ONLY ONE)
If G0550 (walk...) = 1, ask G1100-G1200. Otherwise, go to next transportation type used.
G1100. Primarily for what purpose did you walk, run, or jog? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
G1150. And on a typical day, about how much time did you spend walking, running, or jogging?
CATI system must ensure entry for both hours and minutes
G1200. Did you walk, run, or jog mostly on: (READ LIST) (RECORD ONLY ONE)
If G0650 (personal watercraft)=1, ask G1250. Otherwise, go to next transportation type used.
G1250. Altogether, about how much time did you spend using personal watercraft last month?
If G0700 (recreational boat) = 1, ask G1255.
Otherwise, go to G1300.
G1255. Altogether, about how much time did you spend boating last month?
G1300. Now I need to ask about transportation-related crashes you may have experienced over the past year.
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE
G1350. Have you been in any kind of transportation-related crashes since [month, 13 months ago]?
G1400. How many crashes? (RECORD NUMBER)
G1450. Thinking about [this / the most recent] crash, what kind of transportation were you using? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
G1500. In [this / the most recent] crash, what injuries did you sustain?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
B0050. The next questions are about commuting.
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE
B0100. Do you currently commute, that is, travel routinely from home to work or to school? (EXCLUDE TELECOMMUTING)
B0150. Altogether, about how many days do you commute in a month? (DO NOT READ LIST)
B0200. Do you commute from home to work, to school, or both?
B0250. Which statement best describes your most frequent commuting route: (READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
B0300. To get to work, what are all the types of transportation you use?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
B0350. How much time does the door-to-door trip to work usually take, one way?
IF RESPONDENT USED MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION, OBTAIN THE TIME FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. IF TRANSPORTATION TYPE DIFFERS BY DAY, RECORD THE USUAL TRIP TIME FOR THE TRIP TYPE THAT OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY.
CATI system must ensure entry for both hours and minutes
If B0200=1, skip to B0600.
B0450. To get to school, what are all the types of transportation you use?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
B0500. How much time does the door-to-door trip to school usually take, one way?
IF RESPONDENT USED MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION, OBTAIN THE TIME FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP.
CATI system must ensure entry for both hours and minutes
B0600. Now I have a couple of questions about how gasoline prices may have affected you during the past few months.
PRESS "ENTER" TO PROCEED.
B0650. Have you made any changes in your transportation use since [month, 6 months ago] because of gas prices?
B0700. What changes have you made?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
SS0050. Now I want to ask your opinion on some safety-related transportation issues.
PRESS "ENTER" TO PROCEED.
SS0100. Using a scale from 1 to 5 where "1" means to no extent, "2" means to a little, "3" means to some, "4" means to a great extent, and "5" means to a very great extent, please tell me to what extent you are concerned about your personal safety while traveling due to... (READ LIST) (IF NECESSARY, SAY "YOU CAN USE ANY NUMBER FROM 1 TO 5)
SS0150. Drivers, pilots, or train operators who might be impaired by alcohol or drugs
SS0200. Aggressive behavior by others, such as road rage or air rage
SS0250. The possible failure of mechanical equipment on cars, buses, trains, or airplanes
SS0300. The transport of hazardous materials on trucks, trains, or airplanes
SS0350. Crime at rest stops, rail stations, bus terminals, or airports
T0050. The next questions are about contacts you may have had with government agencies over the past year.
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE
T0100. Have you contacted the government about any subject related to transportation since [month, 13 months ago]?
T0150. Thinking back to your most recent contact, primarily why did you contact the government? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
T0200. How did you contact the agency? Anything else? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
T0250. What was the name of the agency you contacted? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
Federal Agency:
INCLUDE IN THIS CATEGORY RESPONSES OF NORMAN MINETA, AVIATION CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION, OR SIMILAR RESPONSES FOR OST DIVISIONS
State or Local Agency:
If T0250=14-21, skip to next section.
T0300. Using the same scale from 1-5 as before, where "1" means to no extent and "5" means to a very great extent, in thinking about your contact with [agency from T0250] please tell me... (IF NECESSARY, SAY "YOU CAN USE ANY NUMBER FROM 1 TO 5) No A Little Some Great Very Great Dont
Extent Remember
T0350. To what extent was it easy for you to locate the right source for the information or services you needed?
T0400. To what extent were the service providers courteous and professional?
T0450. To what extent was the response timely?
T0500. Overall, to what extent were you satisfied with the service you received?
M0050. The next questions are of interest to specific agencies within the United States Department of Transportation.
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE
MCG0100. Are you aware of the kinds of services the Coast Guard provides?
MCG0150. What kinds of services are you aware of?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST) (RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
MNH0200. Now I want to ask your opinion about safety equipment in vehicles. Using the same scale as before, where "1" means to no extent and "5" means to a very great extent, to what extent do you agree that...
MNH0250. In order to increase seat belt usage, vehicles should be equipped with reminder lights or audible signals, that periodically display or sound while the vehicle is in motion, to remind occupants that they are not wearing their seat belts.
MNH0300. An indicator light in your vehicle that warns the driver about under-inflation in any of the vehicles tires would allow you to be less concerned with routinely maintaining the recommended tire pressure.
D0050. This final section asks questions which will be used only for statistical summary purposes. No identifying information about you or your household will ever be released or published.
PRESS "ENTER" TO CONTINUE.
D0100. Do you currently have a disability or health condition that limits your use of transportation?
D0150. What kinds of transportation cause problems for you?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST) (RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
If D0150=3,4,5, or 6, ask D0200. Otherwise, skip to D0250.
D0200. What problems do you experience?
PROBE: Anything else?
(DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
D0250. Including yourself, how many people aged 18 or older live in your household? RECORD NUMBER
D0300. Please stop me when I reach the category that includes your age: (READ LIST UNTIL RESPONDENT STOPS YOU TO SELECT A CATEGORY)
D0350.(RECORD GENDER; ASK ONLY IF NECESSARY). Are you male or female?
D0400. Is the group that best describes you... (READ ENTIRE LIST. READ PARENTHETICALS ONLY IF RESPONDENT ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION.) (RECORD ALL THAT APPLY)
D0450. What is the highest level of education youve completed? (DO NOT READ LIST)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
D0500. Please stop me when I reach the category that includes your households total annual income for last calendar year (that is, 2000): (READ LIST UNTIL RESPONDENT STOPS YOU TO SELECT A CATEGORY. READ PARENTHETICALS ONLY IF RESPONDENT HAS QUESTIONS ON UPPER CATEGORY)(RECORD ONLY ONE)
D0550. Not including the telephone line youre using right now, are there any other lines in your household? Please do not count cellular phones, or phone lines that are only for computer or fax use.
D0700. How many additional lines do you have? (DO NOT READ LIST)
D0750. Is the primary use of the additional line(s) for household use, business use, or both?
D0800. Finally, in order to classify your household for statistical purposes, what is your ZIP code? RECORD NUMBER
D0850. This concludes the study questions. Thank you for your time. Goodbye.
PRESS "ENTER" TO END INTERVIEW.
I0050.THESE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED BY THE INTERVIEWER AFTER THE RESPONDENT HANGS UP.
HOW WELL DID THE RESPONDENT UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS?
I0100.HOW COOPERATIVE WAS THE RESPONDENT IN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS?
I0150.IN WHAT LANGUAGE WAS THE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED?
I0200.PLEASE NOTE ANYTHING ELSE YOU FEEL IS HELPFUL OR IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW.