Table 2 Standardized analysis criteria applied to the cognitive interviews of the MOHLAA study in Germany (12/2015–03/2016)
Cognitive processes by Tourangeau | Criterion | Corresponding research questions |
|---|---|---|
Comprehension of the item wording | C1 Sentence structure/grammar | Is the sentence syntax of the item clear? Is the wording of the item immediately/easily understood? |
Comprehension of the intention of the question | C2 Comprehensibility of item content | Is the item understood as intended? Was the item interpreted similarly by different respondents? |
Comprehension of the meaning of the terms | C3 Understanding of terms/hints | Could a proper definition of the term be given? Was a given definition unambiguous? Were hints in the item comprehensible and familiar? |
Retrieval of relevant information from memory | C4 Difficulty | Was the item assessed as “easy” or as “difficult” to answer? Why was it assessed as “difficult”? |
C5 Experience/knowledge | What type of knowledge and experience were recalled? Is the given answer based on any experience or related to an abstract idea/concept? | |
Decision process, Motivation, sensitivity, social desirability | C6 Reliability of the response | Does the reported justification of the given response suggest that the item evokes a tendency of social desirability? Which motivation might underlie the given answer? |
Response process | C7 Accordance of the formal response category with an internal ascertained response category. | Can respondent find his/her answer option on the response category scale? |