The Prevalence and Nature of Cognitive Interviewing as a Survey Questionnaire Evaluation Method in the United States.

This article examines the prevalence and practices of cognitive interviewing (CI)—a survey pretesting method used to evaluate questionnaire quality—in the United States, comparing data from a 2020 survey of academic organizations, federal statistical agencies, commercial, and nonprofit firms to a similar study conducted in 1993. The findings indicate that while CI use has increased substantially since 1993, with 73 percent of academic organizations having used it compared to about one-third previously, a significant minority still do not employ CI, and its application varies widely across and within organizations. Key aspects such as the number of interviews conducted, interviewer training, recording practices, and use of scripted probes show only modest convergence toward standardized best practices, reflecting a continuing lack of consensus in the field. The study highlights the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines and standardized reporting to improve the consistency and effectiveness of CI in survey questionnaire development.