Participant – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this study about?

The Survey on Usage and Functionality of Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Households is sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). EurekaFacts, an independent research firm, is conducting the study on behalf of CPSC in conjunction with their local area partners. Our goal is to gather information about smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors nationwide.

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of this survey is to gather information on perceptions, usage, and functionality of smoke and CO detectors in homes within the United States. Findings from this survey will help establish a baseline for measuring future progress, and for providing vital information for public safety education, code enforcement, and improving the technology.

How will I be contacted?

Field interviewers will be knocking on doors in randomly selected neighborhoods of the metro area. You may receive a door hanger advertising the study prior to their arrival. When the field interviewers knock on your residence, you will be asked to participate and screened for eligibility.

When and where will the interview be held?

If you qualify for the in-home interview, a two-member survey team will interview you immediately inside your residence.

How long will the interview last?

The full-length in-home interview is expected to last up to 60 minutes. The shortened in-home interview is expected to last no more than 20 minutes.

What is involved in the in-home interview?

This study will require a qualified two-member survey team to visit your home to ask you a series of questions about household fire and carbon monoxide safety. Both members will present their official badges to confirm their identity and legitimacy. A trained member of the team will inspect and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to see if they are working properly. The in-home interview will last about 60 minutes.

I do not have a smoke or CO detector. Am I still eligible?

Yes. We are still interested in speaking with households that do not have a smoke alarm or CO detector. In this case, we will conduct a shorter interview with you, which will last about 20 minutes. It will consist of some survey questions only.

How was I selected for this study?

Your neighborhood was selected at random from a list of areas associated with one of the study’s 24 metropolitan areas. Ultimately, this study will represent different regions of the country and various types of homes. We hope you participate in this important study and contribute to fire safety.

Can I recommend a friend?

No. Households were specifically selected to participate in this study based on several factors. Unless their household was also chosen for the study, we are unable to interview them.

Will my information be kept confidential?

All responses are kept completely confidential. At no time will any identifiable information be linked to any of your answers. All information collected through our research process is grouped and reported anonymously.

What are the incentives for participating?

The participant will receive a gift card from a major credit card company as an incentive in appreciation at the completion of the survey. Participants completing the full in-home interview will receive a $50 gift card. Participants completing the shortened version will receive a $10 gift card. The different incentive amounts are due to the amount of time and effort involved in to complete each type of interview.

What precautions are you taking to protect people from COVID?

All sponsors and interviewers have implemented the CDC guidelines to safely conduct this home safety study while also promoting public health. Interviewers will be wearing masks at all times when interacting with the public and gloves when handling alarms. They will be practicing social distancing when interviewing participants and will use hand sanitizer after each interview. Participants are encouraged to also practice social distancing and wear a mask during the interview.

What is the duration of this study?

We will be conducting this survey between 2019 and 2022 in 24 randomly selected metropolitan areas across the country (plus the pilot in Washington DC).

Whom can I contact with additional questions?

If you have any questions about this study, contact EurekaFacts via email at CPSC-alarm-participants@eurekafacts.com. If you have any ethical concerns regarding this research, please contact Jorge Restrepo, Institutional Review Board, at 240-403-4800, or restrepoj@eurekafacts.com.