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included in the Showcard Booklet for reference, explained the purpose of the data collection
effort, assured the respondent that all information gathered would be handled in the strictest
confidence, and estimated the time required to complete the interview. The Study Description
also stated that respondents were free to withdraw from the study at any time. Therefore, the
Study Description provided all required aspects of Informed Consent for both the screening and
interviewing portions of the study. 1
6.1.4 Callbacks
If no respondent was available or another situation was found at the unit so that screening
could not be completed during the first visit, a minimum of four callbacks was made to the unit
so that each SDU was visited at least five times in an effort to complete the screening. These
contacts were made at different hours on different days of the week to increase the likelihood of
completing the screening.
6.2 Dwelling Unit Screening
Screening was performed at each SDU by obtaining information about the residents of
the unit to determine whether or not any household member would be eligible for the NSDUH
interview based on the ages of the SDU members. The screening program guided the FIs through
the process of asking age, gender, race/ethnicity, and military status for all persons aged 12 and
older who lived at the unit for most of the calendar quarter, and the information was entered into
the Newton.
6.3 Within-Dwelling Unit Selection
Once the roster information was entered and verified, the FI started the within-dwellingunit
selection algorithm on the Newton by tapping the "Make Selection" button. The Newton
automatically determined, based on the composition of the household roster, whether or not
anyone in the unit was selected for the interview.
The system allowed for the selection of none, one, or two members of a household for an
interview. Dwelling units with 12- to 17-year-olds on the roster were more likely to have persons
selected for an interview. It was possible that if two household members were chosen, they could
be within the same age group.
In order to identify each selected individual, the Newton displayed the person's roster
number (based on the order in which household members were listed), the age, gender, and either
the relationship to the householder (for housing units) or a first name (for group quarters units).
Also listed on the Newton was a QuestID number, which was required to start the computerized
interview on the laptop. FIs transmitted all the completed screening data contained on the
Newton to RTI each evening.
1 Since RTI began conducting this survey, there have been no reported incidents involving a breach in
confidentiality or any problems as a result of respondents' participation in the survey. Based on that information,
RTI's Institutional Review Board (IRB) determined that participation in the NSDUH does not pose any known risk
to its participants. Therefore, the standard "no known risks or benefits" phrase is not required as part of the informed
consent process.
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