Codes and Frequencies
Description
SUNLTM reports what would happen to respondents' skin if they were out in the sun repeatedly for a long time.
In 1992, 2000, 2005 and 2015, this question was asked of sample adults. In 2010, this question was asked of sample children between the ages of 14 and 17 as well as sample adults.
In 1992, 2000, 2005, but not 2010 and forward, respondents were shown a flashcard listing the response categories. In 2010 and forward, respondents were read the response categories but not shown a flashcard. The question text from 2000 forward gave a time span example of, "such as every day for two weeks." Apart from this change, the question remained essentially the same although there were minor changes in the wording of the questions and the response categories. See the survey text tab.
In 1992, the survey form directed interviewers to state, "Please give me a number from the card." and to mark only one choice. In 2000, further clarification is given in the survey form:
By "sunburn", we mean your skin turns pink or red or hurts for 12 hours or more.
If asked how much skin needs to be burned, include: "a burn on even a small part of your body".
Supplemental instructions given in the survey form from 2005 and forward were similar.
In 2010 and forward, the survey form directed interviewers not to read the response category, "do not go out in the sun." This direction was not given in the survey from 2000 or 2005, however there was instruction given to interviewers in the Manuals for these years, "...You might want to use summer or warmer weather as a reference. Then if respondent still can't answer, you might want to suggest using childhood experience as a reference. Do NOT read the answer, "do not go out in the sun." The instruction was also given in years 2010 and forward. This response category was not a choice in 1992.
The 2000 Manual also provides, "By 'sunburn' we mean your skin turns pink or red or hurts for 12 hours or more," and "If asked how much skin needs to be burned, include: 'a burn on even a small part of your body.'" The 2005 and forward Manuals consolidates this to, "By 'sunburn' we mean even a small part of your skin turns red or hurts for 12 hours or more."
For more information, please see SUN1HR.
Comparability
While the substantive meaning of the question for SUN1HR was largely consistent across time, the question wording, number of response categories, and the supplemental comments made by interviewers differed across years. Given these issues, responses from 2000, 2005 and forward are generally comparable. However, because the 1992 survey form did not include the response category, "do not go out in the sun," researchers are cautioned against comparing 1992 to later years.
There are also some differences in the meaning in the meaning of "refused," "not ascertained," and "don't know" as used in 2000 and 2005. Both the 2000 and 2005 Survey Descriptions cautioned that while "all sample adults were to be asked the questions in the Cancer Control Module, some persons did not complete the supplement." However, whereas in 2000, persons who answered less than 50 percent of the questions in the supplement had a value of "not ascertained" automatically inserted in the appropriate fields of the Cancer Control Module file, in 2005 and forward , persons who answered none of the questions in the supplement had a value of "not ascertained" automatically inserted in the appropriate fields of the Cancer Control Module file.
Universe
- 1992: Half of sample persons age 18+ in quarters 1 and 2, and in 2 weeks of quarter 3 (excluded from CACT supplement).
- 2000; 2005; 2015: Sample adults age 18+.
- 2010: Sample children age 14-17 and sample adults 18+.
Availability
- 1992, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015
Weights
- 1992, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 : SAMPWEIGHT
