Use of open-text responses to recode categorical survey data on postpartum contraception use among women in the United States: A mixed-methods inquiry of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data

Background Postpartum contraception prevents unintended pregnancies and short interpregnancy intervals. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) collects population-based data on postpartum contraception nonuse and reasons for not using postpartum contraception. In addition to quantitative questions, PRAMS collects open-text responses that are typically left unused by secondary quantitative analyses. However, abundant preexisting open-text data can serve as a resource for improving quantitative measurement accuracy and qualitatively uncovering unexpected responses. We used PRAMS survey questions to explore unprompted reasons for not using postpartum contraception and offer insight into the validity of categorical responses. Methods and findings We used 31,208 categorical 2012 PRAMS survey responses from postpartum women in the US to calculate original prevalences of postpartum contraception use and nonuse and reasons for contraception nonuse. A content analysis of open-text responses systematically recoded data to mitigate survey bias and ensure consistency, resulting in adjusted prevalence calculations and identification of other nonuse themes. Recoded contraception nonuse slightly differed from original reports (21.5% versus 19.4%). Both calculations showed that many respondents reporting nonuse may be at a low risk for pregnancy due to factors like tubal ligation or abstinence. Most frequent nonuse reasons were not wanting to use birth control (27.1%) and side effect concerns (25.0%). Other open-text responses showed common themes of infertility, and breastfeeding as contraception. Comparing quantitative and qualitative responses revealed contradicting information, suggesting respondent misinterpretation and confusion surrounding the term “pregnancy prevention.” Though this analysis may be limited by manual coding error and researcher biases, we avoided coding exhaustion via 1-hour coding periods and validated reliability through intercoder kappa scores. Conclusions In this study, we observed that respondents reporting contraception nonuse often described other methods of pregnancy prevention and contraception barriers that were not included in categorical response options. Open-text responses shed light on a more comprehensive list of pregnancy prevention methods and nonuse options. Our findings contribute to survey questions that can lead to more accurate depiction of postpartum contraceptive behavior. Additionally, future use of these qualitative methods may be used to improve other health behavior survey development and resulting data.

The effectiveness of the metabolic map in promoting meaningful learning

Context Many medical students and practicing physicians view biochemistry, especially its metabolic pathways, as a challenging topic given the depth of material. Medical biochemistry educators aim to help prepare future physicians to apply knowledge of metabolism to disease processes. Research confirms that study tools promote critical thinking and help to connect biochemistry concepts to health and disease processes. Objectives To explore whether the Pathways of Human Metabolism Map as a study tool helps to connect basic metabolic pathways to clinical applications. Methods We provided the Pathways of Human Metabolism Map to our first-year osteopathic medical students and conducted a survey to assess their perceptions. Our survey questions aimed to explore the effectiveness of utilizing the metabolic map for connecting the basic metabolic pathways to clinical applications on their studies. Students were surveyed at the end of the course utilizing a Qualtrics survey encompassing Likert scale questions as well as open-ended responses. Results The results of our comprehensive survey questions revealed the unique perceptions of students. Analysis of our data implicates that study tools like the metabolic map inspire meaningful learning. Conclusions Our data show that students who utilized the metabolic map in their studies reported that utilizing the map improved their understanding of medical biochemistry. Our research results suggest that providing study aids like the metabolic map encourages students to minimize rote memorization and promotes integration with clinical context. Our results provide a support for study strategies that implement meaningful learning in medical education.

Reflections of Anxiety Narratives

This narrative discusses a research study using both qualitative and quantitative methods to illustrate the connections between writing and healing. College students who answered survey questions about their health reported anxiety as a concern. Writing in journals became a method of coping with anxiety, which led the research to evolve into a social action project of managing stress and eliminating the stigma surrounding anxiety. Resources to help anxiety include exercise, nutrition, and belonging to a supportive community.

Understanding Objectivity among Brazilian Journalists

ABSTRACT – This paper presents the results from an online survey of 234 journalists from all regions of Brazil and their perceptions of journalistic objectivity. The survey questions presented different theoretical possibilities concerning objectivity and were organized around three main ideas: 1) ontological, which measures how journalists understand what the facts are; 2) epistemological, which asks about how accessible these facts are; and 3) methodological, which characterizes the understanding of what would be the most appropriate method for describing the facts. The data were obtained using Google Forms and analyzed using the SPSS software. Our findings, based on non-probability sampling, showed that journalists understand that the facts have a determination prior to the report, the meaning of which can be defined by approximation through an intersubjective method of verification. RESUMO – O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar os resultados de um questionário online que contou com a participação de 234 jornalistas, de todas as regiões do Brasil, e que buscou identificar a percepção da objetividade jornalística por esses profissionais. As perguntas apresentavam possibilidades teóricas distintas frente ao problema da objetividade e foram organizadas em torno de três eixos: 1) ontológico, que procurou medir como os jornalistas entendem o que são os fatos; 2) eixo epistemológico, que perguntou sobre a possibilidade de acesso a esses fatos; e 3) metodológico, que buscou caracterizar o entendimento sobre qual seria o método mais adequado para descrever os fatos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de Google Forms, sendo sistematizados com o software SPSS. Conclui-se que, nessa amostra não probabilística, os jornalistas compreendem que os fatos possuem uma determinação anterior ao relato, cujo sentido pode ser definido por aproximação, por meio de um método intersubjetivo de verificação. RESUMEN – El propósito de este artículo es presentar los resultados de una encuesta que contó con la participación de 234 periodistas, de todas las regiones de Brasil, y que buscó identificar la percepción de la objetividad periodística por parte de estos profesionales. Las preguntas presentaban distintas posibilidades teóricas en relación al problema de la objetividad y se organizaban en torno a tres ejes: 1) ontológico, que buscaba medir cómo los periodistas entienden cuáles son los hechos; 2) eje epistemológico, que preguntó sobre la posibilidad de acceder a estos hechos; y 3) metodológico, que buscaba caracterizar la comprensión de cuál sería el método más adecuado para describir los hechos. Los datos se obtuvieron a través de un cuestionario en línea, siendo sistematizados con el software SPSS. Se concluye que, en esta muestra no probabilística, los periodistas entienden que los hechos tienen una determinación previa al informe, cuyo significado puede definirse por aproximación, mediante un método intersubjetivo de verificación.

Exploring Perceptions of Age Friendliness Across Different Campus Constituent Groups

College campuses are typically considered as environments for adults ages 18-24, even though campuses are comprised of faculty, staff, students, and lifelong learners of all ages. Each group may experience the campus environment differently due to their differing roles. Faculty, staff and students from 21 participating designated Age Friendly Universities across the country answered survey questions on age friendliness, AFU awareness, and on campus practice items. Crosstab analyses show that constituent groups are equally aware of their university as an AFU (6% of each group). Students perceived their university as more age friendly (M=3.47, SD=0.73) compared to faculty and staff, the latter having the lowest perceived friendliness (M=3.27, SD=0.63). Specific age friendly practices show that staff members had markedly different perceptions of the institution’s age friendly practices. AFUs need to consider higher education environments as workplaces as well as learning centers to make policies age friendly for all groups.

A Survey on Energy Use in Agricultural Irrigation and Determination of Saving Measures in Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir and Mardin Provinces in Turkey

The main objective of this study is to determine the necessary measures to reduce energy consumption and save energy in agricultural irrigation in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The primary data of the survey study consists of the primary data collected through face-to-face surveys with producers in Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces. In the survey, the number of questionnaires to be applied to the producers was determined as 300 in total and the farms to be surveyed were determined by using stratified random sampling method. Flood and furrow irrigation methods are commonly used (62%) in the region. About a quarter of the farmers apply sprinkler irrigation. Nearly four-fifths (78%) of the farmers in the region report that there is a loss-leakage in the irrigation system. A very high proportion (95%) of the farmers in the region apply non-pressure irrigation, and approximately three-quarters (76%) report that they do not know whether the pumps and irrigation systems used are working at the recommended flow and pressure. Almost all of the farmers in the region (98%) do not use solar energy systems. A very high proportion (94%) of regional farmers does not use engine drivers in pumps. The responses of the farmers to the survey questions were interpreted and discussed and suggestions were developed based on the responses of the farmers to the survey questions.

Using examples to increase recall in self-administered questionnaires

Self-administered questionnaires often use examples or lists of examples to aid respondent recall. We report on the results of a field experiment examining how such examples in survey questions affect the episodic recall of events. Building on part-set cuing theory, the authors propose that examples increase recall when they cue low-accessibility subcategories of events, but may decrease recall when they cue high-accessibility subcategories. Further, cuing with examples rather than subcategory names may in some situations clarify questions and reduce non-useable open-ended responses. Findings from a survey of 2137 adult Medicaid recipients are generally consistent with these predictions.