PUBLICATION ADVISORY

BJS Releases NCVS Redesign – Comparison of Interviewer and Web Survey Modes

The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, today released NCVS Redesign – Comparison of Interviewer and Web Survey Modes. The third-party report describes efforts to develop, test and assess a new National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) instrument.

This report describes the methodology and findings from large-scale national testing efforts to explore the feasibility of two survey modes for the new NCVS instrument, including a self-administered, web-based instrument and an interviewer-administered version. The report examines the performance of the interviewer-administered version of the new NCVS instrument compared to a self-administered version. The testing was a part of the NCVS Instrument Redesign and Testing Project, a major multiyear effort to revamp the existing core survey instrument, which was last updated in 1992. The effort had three main goals: modernize the organization and content of the NCVS instrument, increase the quality of information collected and efficiency of the instrument flow and improve the measurement and classification of crime.

BJS funded this third-party report. It is not a BJS report and does not release official government statistics. The report is released to help inform interested parties of the research or analysis contained within and to encourage discussion. BJS has performed a limited review of the report to ensure the general accuracy of information and adherence to confidentiality and disclosure standards. Any statistics included in the report are not official BJS statistics unless they have been previously published in a BJS report. Any analysis, conclusions, or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions, or policies of the Bureau of Justice Statistics or the U.S. Department of Justice.

About the Bureau of Justice Statistics

The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating reliable statistics on crime and criminal justice in the United States. Alexis R. Piquero, PhD, is the director. More information about BJS and criminal justice statistics can be found at bjs.ojp.gov.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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