Cognitive Interviewing Practice

Debbie Collins is Head of Questionnaire Development and Testing at NatCen Social Research. An experienced survey researcher, Debbie has specialised over the past decade in survey methodology, questionnaire development and testing. Debbie founded NatCen's Questionnaire Development and Testing Hub, with Michelle Gray in 2006 and has developed and tested survey questions and data collection tools for a wide range of clients. Debbie's research interests include novel uses of cognitive interviewing, effective combinations of pretesting methods, and the design of web and mixed mode questionnaires.

Background and Context Cognitive Interviewing: Origin, Purpose and Limitations Other Pretesting Methods How to Conduct a Cognitive Interiewing Project Planning a Cognitive Interviewing Project Sampling and Recruitment Developing Interview Protocols Conducting Cognitive Interviews Data Management Analysis and Interpretation Application of Findings Cognitive Interviewing in Practice Survey Mode and its Implications for Cognitive Interviewing Cross-national, Cross-cultural and Multilingual Cognitive Interviewing Wider Applications of Cognitive Interviewing

A goldmine of good advice for any researcher planning to use cognitive interviewing to test survey questions or other materials. The authors' vast experience shines through, as do common sense and clarity of thought. Highly recommended. -- Peter Lynn Full of practical real life examples and 'top tip' bullet points, the book reveals the wide remit in which cognitive interviewing can be used. -- Pamela Campanelli ...This is a highly valuable book for practitioners - whether new to the method or old hands. It equally serves those who need to have their questionnaires tested to understand the method and assess to what extent, how and when its application can be useful. -- Dorothee Behr, cross-cultural survey methodologist at GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany This book is necessary for all scientists who develop or translate questionnaires and use the methods of survey and interview. The book presents thoroughly the problems related to item generation, formulation of questions and decision-making regarding the final form of the questionnaire before the main study. It gives detailed guidelines how to conduct the pilot study and to use in the best way its findings for the goals of the main study. These topics are often underestimated in the process of practical work in the area of psychological measurements. Psychologists, as well as sociologists and all scientists who develop and use questionnaires in their work could profit from the recommendations given in this book. -- Stanislava Yordanova Stoyanova