Table 1 Critical issues, potential options and decisions made in designing the cognitive debriefings

Sample

Participants

• One facility versus multiple facilities

• Sampling criteria for individuals

Items

• All questionnaire items versus selected items

• Item selection criteria

Data collection

Technique

• Think-aloud

• Verbal probing

• Vignettes, card sorts, field-based probes

Details

• Concurrent probing versus retrospective probing

• Standardized probes versus free-form probes (combination used in this study)

• Proactive probing versus reactive probing (combination used in this study)

• Individual interviews versus focus groups

• Face-to-face interviews versus telephone interviews

Documentation

• Tape recording versus field protocol (combination used in this study)

Analysis

Details

• Interview data versus field protocols (combination used in this study)

• Literal transcription versus condensed statements

• Deductive analysis using a predefined coding scheme versus inductive development of the codes (combination used in this study)

• Frequency of problems per question versus type and quality of problem(s) (combination used in this study)