The Grouped Answer Method for Estimating Immigration Status: Analysis of Data from the 2004 General Social Survey

Abstract

This paper analyzes foreign-born respondents’ acceptance and understanding of a question on their immigration status asked in a 2004 household survey of the general population aged 18 or older. The question uses an innovative “grouped answer” method that was devised earlier by the Government Accountability Office to reduce question threat. Questions aimed at estimating all immigration statuses—including foreign-born respondents who are illegally present in the United States; that is, undocumented—have, in general, been deemed too threatening to ask in a federal survey of the general population. The goal of devising, testing, and developing a method for collecting survey data on immigration status is to improve the federal government’s capacity to provide policy-makers with information on the foreign-born population, including those who are illegally present or undocumented. Five main sections of this paper cover (1) background, (2) determination of eligible respondents, (3) respondents’ answers to key questions, (4) interviewers’ judgments and written-in comments, and (5) discussion of results.

This paper reflects the views of the authors, and does not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Please address comments to Eric M. Larson, GAO, 441G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20548, telephone (202) 512–3599; e-mail larsone@gao.gov

Appendix I: 2004 GSS Immigration Module Questions and Flash Cards

GSS 2004 QUESTIONNAIRE – SECTION C – 3CARD (Version 1–6)

IF BORN  =  2, GO TO C1, ELSE GO TO SECTION D.

• C1. What country were you born in?

  NATBORN

  SHOWCARD C1

  Mexico..............................................................................1
  Canada..............................................................................2
  China................................................................................3
  Colombia..........................................................................4
  Cuba.................................................................................5
  Germany...........................................................................6
  Guatemala........................................................................7
  Haiti..................................................................................8
  Honduras..........................................................................9
  India...............................................................................10
  Jamaica...........................................................................11
  Korea..............................................................................12
  Philippines......................................................................13
  Poland.............................................................................14
  OTHER (SPECIFY) ___________________________15

  NATBRNSPC

  The next question refers to [COUNTRY NAMED IN C1]. In a moment, I will show you a card that has three boxes—A, B, and C. There’s something I want to explain before I show you the card. We just want you to choose one box. We do not need to know anything specific about what’s inside the boxes.

  SHOWCARD C2

  Box A and Box B show pictures of houses. Box C is for any kind of house not shown in the pictures.

• C2. Thinking back to the time when you were born, tell me which box shows the kind of house your family lived in at that time: A, B, or C? We just want you to choose one box.

  BORNHOME

  Box A....................................................................1

  Box B....................................................................2

  Box C (SPECIFY) _____________________3 BRNHOMEC

  Other answer (SPECIFY) _______________4 BRNHMSPC

  DON’T KNOW.....................................................DK

  REFUSED............................................................  RF

  IF RESPONDENT HESITATES OR CALLS OUT AN ITEM IN BOX B, SAY:

  If you’re in Box B, we do NOT need to know which specific type of house applies to you. The reason is that, right now, we’re focusing on Box A.

  IF RESPONDENT HAS TROUBLE READING, HELP HIM OR HER.

  INTERVIEWER: NOTE ANY COMMENTS RESPONDENT MADE ABOUT CARD C2, BOXES, OR ANSWER CATEGORIES OR INDICATE NO COMMENTS MADE CARDAVRB ___ No comments made

  The next question is about traveling to the United States. SHOWCARD C3

• C3. Thinking about the most recent time you traveled to the United States from another country—please tell me which box shows the kind of transportation you took: A, B, or C.

  TRAVELUS

  Box A....................................................................1

  Box B....................................................................2

  Box C (SPECIFY) ________________________3 TRAVLUSC

  Other answer (SPECIFY) __________________ 4 TRVUSSPC

  DON’T KNOW.....................................................DK

  REFUSED.............................................................RF

  IF RESPONDENT HESITATES OR CALLS OUT AN ITEM IN BOX B, SAY:

  If you’re in Box B, we do not need to know which specific type of transportation applies to you. The reason is that, right now, we’re focusing on Box A.

  INTERVIEWER: NOTE ANY COMMENTS RESPONDENT MADE ABOUT CARD C3, BOXES, OR ANSWER CATEGORIES OR INDICATE NO COMMENTS MADE CARDBVRB ___ No comments made

  In a moment, I am going to show you another card with three boxes. Again, you answer by just picking a box. The question is about immigration, but it does not “zero in” on anything that people might not want to tell us. Here’s the card—which I need to explain before you answer.

  SHOWCARD C4

  As you can see, Box A at the top shows the immigration card for permanent legal residence in the United States; it is also called a “green card.” It is an official valid card issued to you by the United States government. Box B shows some drawings for U.S. citizen and other immigration categories; I would be happy to explain these if you like. Box C is for categories not listed in A or B.

• C4. Thinking of your current immigration status right now, is that in Box A, B, or C? If it’s in Box B, we do not want to know which specific category applies to you, and there will be no more questions about Box B. (IF RESPONDENT ASKS WHY, SAY: Because right now we are focusing on Box A.)

  IMMSTATS

  Box A...................................................................................1

  Box B...................................................................................2

  Box C (SPECIFY) ______________________________3 IMMSTATC

  Other answer (SPECIFY) ________________________4 IMSTASPC

  DON’T KNOW....................................................................DK

  REFUSED............................................................................RF

C1

• 1. Mexico

• 2. Canada

• 3. China

• 4. Colombia

• 5. Cuba

• 6. Germany

• 7. Guatemala

• 8. Haiti

• 9. Honduras

• 10. India

• 11. Jamaica

• 12. Korea

• 13. Philippines

• 14. Poland

C2

C3

C4