Survey Methodology #2003-17 - The American Community Survey (Acs) En Espanol: Using Cognitive Interviews To Test The Functional Equivalency Of Questionnaire Translations - U.s. Bureau Of The Census Page 20
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52seamstress. It is likely that in terms of formal schooling, she finished the sixth grade and perhaps
that would be the most accurate response in her case.
Another example related to specific levels of education may be illustrated by the use of
homonyms. The same word may be used in different countries, but not necessarily to refer to the
same grades or levels. Table 1 shows respondents’ understanding of the education system in
their home countries and the USA (for those who were schooled in the USA). Although the
labels and actual levels may not be accurate, what is significant about this table is a cautionary
note for education or literacy surveys, since levels of education and grade numbering systems in
the USA and other countries may not necessarily match, and respondents are unlikely to interpret
education levels consistently even among those educated in the USA. Perhaps the greatest
lesson in terms of this question is relying on a vague ordinal response is not always appropriate,
at least in the case of questions that ask about levels of education.
Table 1: Respondents’ understanding of education systems between elementary and high school
levels in country of origin
Country
Elementary
Middle School
High School
Ecuador
Primaria
Secundaria
st
th
st
th
1
– 6
1
– 6
El Salvador Primaria
Plan B<sico
Bachillerato
st
th
st
rd
st
rd
1
– 6
1
– 3
1
– 3
Mexico
Primaria
Secundaria
Preparatoria
st
th
st
rd
st
rd
1
– 6
1
– 3
1
– 3
USA
Elementary
Middle School
High School
st
th
th
th
th
th
1
– 6
7
– 8
9
– 12
OR
OR
th
th
Junior High School
10
– 12
th
th
7
– 9
The education question also served to illustrate other contrastive linguistic phenomena that can
result in measurement error. For example, colegio in Spanish is a synonym for “school,” but
14
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Survey Methodology #2006-02 - Use Of Dependent Interviewing Procedures To Improve Data Quality In The Measurement Of Change - U.s. Census Bureau
Legal
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
Legal
Related Categories
Parent category: Legal