Table 3 Examples of Cognitive Interview Responses
From: Psychometric assessment of the Post- Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI)
Item | Discussion |
|---|---|
Completing assignments | Interviewer: I noticed you paused … what were you thinking when you read that item? |
Respondent: Well […] “completing assignments” is stressful in the sense that you have to do it, but if the assignment is very clear, then it’s not as stressful. Having a bunch of assignments all piling up [at the same time] … now that is stressful. | |
Lack of guidance from professor | Interviewer: Can you tell me what you were thinking about when you responded to that item? |
Respondent: If I ask for clarification on something and they say “just do what’s in the syllabus” then it’s like… okay, why do I even bother? | |
Waiting to receive grades/marks | Interviewer: I see you went back and changed your answer on that item … can you tell me why? |
Respondent: At first I thought, yeah… pretty stressful, [but it’s] only stressful if the next assignment is due soon and I don’t have the [other] grade back yet … I need to know where I’m at, you know? | |
Pressure to succeed | Interview: [Participant scoffed while answering ‘extremely stressful’] What were you thinking when you responded to that item? |
Respondent: What if I can’t get a job after my PhD? Was it all a waste of time? A lot of my friends, my [significant other], think that I’m going to be successful just because I’m doing my PhD… but what if I fail? I’m letting so many people down. I think about that every day. | |
Feeling like my peers are smarter than I am | Interviewer: What made you answer that way? |
Respondent: […] when you hear someone contribute to conversation and you’re like… ‘Oh my God, how did they think of that? I don’t belong here.’ |