Choice Survey
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
HOW LONG WILL THE SURVEY TAKE?
The survey should take about 35 minutes to answer all of the questions.
WHAT IS THE STUDY ABOUT?
The study is about understanding the impact of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative on current and former residents of neighborhoods the initiative was designed to help transform and improve.
HOW DID YOU GET MY NAME?
We got your name because:
You provided your name to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when you lived in a Choice neighborhood in 2010. Residents from that neighborhood were randomly selected for this study, or...
Your name is associated with a specific address in a Choice neighborhood that was provided to us by the Choice neighborhood grantee and randomly selected for this study.
HOW DID YOU GET MY PHONE NUMBER?
We got your phone number because:
You provided a phone number for yourself to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when you lived in a Choice neighborhood in 2010. If that phone number changed, we requested a number for you through directory assistance, or...
Your phone number is associated with a specific address in a Choice Neighborhood that was provided to us by the Choice neighborhood grantee and randomly selected for this study.
WHO IS SPONSORING THIS STUDY?
This study is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?
I work for Decision Information Resources, Inc. (DIR) of Houston, Texas, which is an independent research company conducting this survey for The Urban Institute on behalf of The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. We collect information for use in research and program evaluation projects. We are not selling anything and all of the information you provide will only be used for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative to help evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY?
This study will allow the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to better understand what the Choice Neighborhood Initiative has done and how it can improve.
WHAT SORTS OF QUESTIONS WILL YOU ASK ME?
We will ask questions about housing and neighborhood conditions, household composition, health and health care, education, and employment.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS?
You do not have to answer any question, or explain why. You can just respond to any question by saying “decline to answer” or you can skip the question and move on to the next. This is completely voluntary. However, in order to receive the gift card, you must verify your name and the postal or email address to which you want the gift card sent, which you can do at the end of the survey.
WHAT WILL I GET FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SURVEY?
You will receive a $50 gift card, which can be delivered electronically by email right after your interview or by mail about 3 weeks after completion.
WHO DO I CALL IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SURVEY OR THE STUDY?
If you have any questions about this study or about your rights as a research subject you may contact David Getman, the Data Collection Manager at DIR, the company in charge of conducting this survey. His toll-free number is 1-888-864-1425, ext 163.
IS THE INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL? HOW IS THE INFORMATION GETTING USED?
The answers you give during the interview will be private and will be seen only by the research staff involved in the study or as required by law. Your name will never appear in any publication, and your specific answers will only be reported grouped with others in the aggregate. The results of the study will be reported only as percentages, such as "65% of the people in the study reported that their neighborhood is a good place to raise children."
WILL MY BENEFITS BE AFFECTED BY PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY?
No. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and will not affect any benefits that you receive now or apply for in the future. Your participation in the survey will not affect your participation in a housing program in any way.