Question: We recommend simplifying and shortening the question by omitting the introductory words "Based on my personal values, I believe [...]".
Although the question functioned as intended in the cognitive interviews, we also recommend reconsidering the use of the term "blacks" as it assumes white respondents in the context of this question. A possible rephrasing would be:
"It is wrong to be prejudiced against people of a different skin color."
Response format: No changes recommended.
1. What do the respondents think about when answering these questions?
Most persons made two considerations when answering the question. The first was whether they themselves were biased against people with black or dark skin. The second consideration was whether such bias (in themselves or in other people) violated their personal value system.
With respect to the first consideration, two persons stated that they perceived bias in themselves and needed to correct it internally. One of these test persons agreed with the statement only "rather" because of this:
The other persons perceived themselves as free from prejudice: "Whether I have something against black people, and it's not like that at all, because I think everyone is the same, whether black, whether white, whether yellow, [...] everyone is just the same." (TP 02)
In relation to the second consideration, all ten persons agreed that being biased against people, regardless of skin color or other characteristics, was unacceptable:
Last, one subject reflected on the opening words "because of my personal values":
"For me it is clear that it is generally wrong to be prejudiced towards other groups of people [...]. I then thought about what this has to do with my personal values, whether it could be formulated differently. But it is clear that this has to do with the personal attitude, the value system. I just stumbled on it for a moment." (TP 03)
2. How do the respondents feel about the term "black people"?
Six respondents (TP 01, 03, 06, 07, 08, 10) found the term "blacks" okay, at least in the context of the question, or had not noticed the term when reading it. They saw the advantage of the term in the fact that exactly what was meant was named. However, individual respondents noted that the choice of term might no longer be up-to-date:
Four persons took offense to the term "blacks." Another one was bothered by the fact that the term was "very limiting" (TP 05), and one test person found the term racist:"Quite bad. Because that's already very racist." (TP 02).
As alternative phrases, persons suggested "black people" (TP 04), "people with black skin color" (TP T8), "other skin color" (TP 05), or "dark-skinned people" (TP 02). Two test persons used the English expression "people of color" in their explanations (TP 04, 06), but did not consider it familiar enough in German themselves.
