Survey Methodology #2012-02 - New Relationship And Marital Questions: A Reflection Of Changes To The Social And Legal Recognition Of Same-Sex Couples In The U.s. - U.s. Census Bureau Page 18

“[that version] tries too hard…it’s making a point. [that version means] “we’re gonna put it out

there…that we’re including everybody (emphasis added). But I get that..it’s fine…we’re in

America.”

However, when pressed directly, neither indicated this opinion would lead them to discard the survey or

otherwise not participate. Or, as one put it “I wouldn’t write my Congressman. I wouldn’t go on

Facebook about it…it’s not that deep.” Of course, this is a hypothetical judgment given in the context of

a cognitive interview, so we can only surmise their actual behavior.

When asked if respondents had a preference for one version over another, we found that 25 preferred

the break‐out version, 11 preferred the version that did not differentiate, and 3 had no preference (see

Table 3). Of the 11 who did not prefer the delineated categories, the gay/straight split was close with 5

and 6, respectively.

Reasons against included: would single‐out/offend gays, too pushy, not necessary,

too wordy/too many categories. Reasons for included: more inclusive, more accurate/defined, easier for

gays to place themselves.

5. Findings: New Marital Status / Marital History Series

Revisions to the marital history question included the addition of an “in a registered domestic

partnership or civil union” category in one version and, in the other version, adding a separate question

to obtain this information while keeping the marital status question categories the same as they are

currently.

For the most part, respondents’ reports of marital status were consistent with their true legal status.

There were four cases in which inconsistencies occurred across both forms that were completed by the

Readers are reminded we conducted 25 interviews with gay participants and 15 with straight.

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Parent category: Legal