Asking Questions - The Definitive Guide To Questionnaire Design ...

ASKING THREATENING QUESTIONS ABOUT BEHAVIOR 83
Figure 3.1. Questions on Cancer Screening.
1. a. A Pap smear is a routine test, often part of a pelvic examination,
where the doctor uses a swab to take a sample from the mouth of the
womb or cervix. Have you ever had a Pap smear test?
Yes
No
b. How many Pap smear tests have you had in the past five years, since
(Month) (Year)?
Pap smear tests
2. a. A mammogram is an x-ray taken only of the breasts by a machine that
presses the breast against a plate. Have you ever had a mammogram?
Yes
No
b. How many mammograms have you had in the past five years, since
(Month) (Year)?
mammograms
3. a. A breast examination is when the breast is felt for lumps by a doctor
or medical assistant. Have you ever had a breast examination by
a doctor or medical assistant?
Yes
No
b. How many breast examinations have you had in the past five years,
since (Month) (Year)?
breast examinations
Source: Survey Research Laboratory, cited in Sudman and others, 1997.
was no evidence that this version was effective. The same level of
overreporting (or possibly a little larger) was found in Chicago as
was found earlier in Denver.
Book Reading
Figure 3.3 shows various questions about book reading. As with
library card ownership, book reading is a socially desirable activity,
and the proportion of persons reading a book in the past six months