Results from Cognitive Interviews to Assess Items to Measure Gender and Sexual Identity Among English- and Spanish-Speaking Older Adults in Surveys

• Activity Number: 601
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Social Statistics Section
• Author(s): Stuart Michaels* and Michael Stern and Michael Kozloski and Samuel "Chris" Haffer and Paul Guerino and Debra Reed-Gillette
• Companies: NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago and NORC at the University of Chicago and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Keywords: sexual identity ; gender identity ; cognitive interviews ; older adults

Abstract

Items to accurately measure sexual orientation and gender identity in surveys are needed to assess disparities. Despite progress in the development and use of a measure of sexual orientation, our knowledge about response and comprehension issues is limited, especially among older adults in general and Spanish speaking older adults in particular. Currently no Federal survey includes questions to measure gender identity, in spite of developing consensus on a two-question approach: one to assess sex assigned at birth and a second to assess current gender. In order to address this research gap, NORC, in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), conducted cognitive interviews with Medicare beneficiaries of items to include in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). The cognitive research assessed comprehension and reactions to the sexual orientation measure and a two-step approach to measure gender identity. The presentation will present findings from over 50 cognitive interviews that were conducted with a diverse group of both LGBT and non-LGBT Medicare beneficiaries (most over 65 years old) with special attention paid to Spanish speakers.