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6.4 Interview Administration
6.4.1 Informed Consent/Getting Started
Once the selected individual(s) were identified during screening, the FI asked to complete
the interview(s) during that visit. If unavailable, the FI entered information about possible times
for future contacts in the Newton Record of Calls. A minimum of four additional visits was made
at different times of day on different days of the week in an attempt to complete the interview.
For adults selected for the computer-assisted interviewing (CAI) interview, the FI used
introductory scripts from the Showcard Booklet to introduce the study and the interview process.
To meet the requirements of Informed Consent, the Study Description was provided as well.
After receiving consent, the FI began the interview in a private location.
If the selected individual was aged 12–17, the FI was responsible for obtaining verbal
consent from a parent or guardian before contacting the youth. The only exceptions to this rule
were in certain group quarters situations, like dormitories, where such consent was unobtainable,
or if the youth was an emancipated minor. A separate paragraph for parents/guardians was
included in the introductory script. Once parental permission was granted, the FI approached the
youth and introduced the study using the script to obtain the youth's agreement to participate.
Parents were then asked to leave the interview setting to ensure the confidentiality of the youth's
responses. When ready, the FI and the youth began the interview.
6.4.2 Computer-Assisted Interviews (CAI)
The CAI interview began in the computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) mode,
with the FI reading the questions from the computer screen and entering the respondent's replies
into the computer. After completing the Reference Date Calendar, the FI explained to the
respondent how to use the computer for the audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI)
sections. Utilizing ACASI methodology for the sensitive drug use/non-use questions enhanced
privacy since the respondent listened to the pre-recorded questions through the headphones and
entered the responses directly into the computer. Beginning with a practice session which
introduced the various computer keys used during the interview, the respondent then proceeded
through the interview. Four times during the ACASI portion of the interview, the respondent was
instructed to ask the interviewer for a specific picture pill card designed to aid respondent recall.
When the respondent was finished with the ACASI portion, the interviewer once again took
charge of the computer, asking additional demographic questions as well as health care,
insurance, and income questions. During both the beginning and ending CAPI portions,
showcards were utilized to assist respondents in answering the questions.
The average CAI administration times overall and for the various sections of the CAI
interview by respondent age (youth 12–17 or adult 18+) and survey year (2002 and 2003) are
given in Tables 6.1 through 6.31. These timing tables were calculated using audit trail data,
which records responses and the time spent on each item. All available data are included in these
tables: no ranges for appropriate lengths were established, so outliers are included. For example,
in one case, the interviewer completed the interview but did not completely exit the case until
more than two days later, causing an extremely high total time value. Extremely low values are
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