FINANCIAL PROTECTION Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000
Research Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 Summary Report Data Collected by ICR Report Prepared by Rachelle Cummins Copyright AARP, 2000 AARP 601 E Street NW Washington DC http://research.aarp.org
AARP is the nation s leading organization for people age 50 and older. It serves their needs and interests through information and education, research, advocacy, and community services which are provided by a network of local chapters and experienced volunteers throughout the country. The organization also offers members a wide range of special benefits and services, including Modern Maturity magazine and the monthly Bulletin. Acknowledgments AARP Knowledge Management staff collaborated with Lee Norrgard of AARP Life Resources to conduct the 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey. Jane Takeuchi designed and managed the fielding of the survey. Rachelle Cummins analyzed the data and wrote this report. Other AARP staff included Sharon Hermanson, Public Policy Institute, DaCosta Mason, State Affairs, Jeff Kramer, Federal Affairs, Adrienne Oleck, Life Resources, and Katharyn Marks, Membership Development and Value Management. For more information about this survey, contact Rachelle Cummins at (202) 434-6297.
Survey Findings at a Glance 2000 AARP Burial Purchasers Survey!"From November 1998 through July 2000, one in ten (10) or 6.6 million Americans 50 years and older purchased burial plots or other burial products for themselves in advance of need or for someone who died.!"slightly more than half (54) of burial purchasers bought plots or other goods and services from a not-for-profit cemetery with a third purchasing from a for-profit (34).!"Almost eight out of ten (77) burial purchasers reported contacting one cemetery or no other cemetery when purchasing a burial plot or other burial products.!" Family reasons, heritage, or family history (54) was the most frequent reason given for selecting a cemetery followed by location (24).!"Almost two in five (39) burial purchasers did not receive a written price list for a burial plot. About ten percent less (28) did not receive a written or printed price list for burial goods or services.!"burial purchasers most often purchased burial plots (41) and markers (27).!"About a third (32) of purchasers reported that they were told the protective features of a grave liner or vault would preserve the body indefinitely.!"seventy-six percent of purchasers thought the federal government should require cemeteries to disclose prices of burial plots, goods, and services to the public.!"four in five (83) burial purchasers thought for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries should follow the same federal and state laws. One in four (24) purchasers did not believe that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries actually follow the same federal and state laws.
Summary Report Purpose In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented a sales rule called the Funeral Rule. 1 It requires funeral directors to disclose price information and prohibits certain practices. However, even though many consumers view funeral and burial purchases as part of the same procedure, the FTC s rule did not include cemetery sales. Currently, the Commission is reviewing the Funeral Rule and is considering an expansion to include cemetery products. This survey was commissioned to assess consumer experiences with the purchase of burial plots, goods and services in the last 18 months. Topics in the survey include the number of cemeteries contacted, the reason for selecting a cemetery, and receipt of a written or printed price list. The survey also measures attitudes toward government regulation or cemetery sales. One of the primary purposes of the survey is to compare for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries on these behavioral and attitudinal questions. Methodology Using Excel, an omnibus telephone survey, International Communications Research (ICR), conducted 6,027 (weighted n = 6,809) 2 interviews for AARP from May 5, 2000, through July 3, 2000. ICR screened for adult males and females age 50 and older. From this sample, 558 (weighted n = 661) purchased a burial plot or other burial products, such as a marker, vault, or opening and closing of a grave, from a cemetery for someone who died or for themselves in advance of need between November 1998 and July 2000. In this report, these respondents are called burial purchasers. We base data analysis and reporting on 6,809 respondents. 3 Based on this sample size, the survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 1.3 percent. 4 For the sub-sample of burial purchasers (n=661), the survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. In addition to the burial purchasing questions, this survey asked demographic questions. There are very few statistically significant demographic differences to report for any 1 16 CFR 453 2 Appendix B presents a detailed methodology for the 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey. In this appendix, there is a full description of the weighting procedure applied to this dataset. 3 Percentages throughout may not total to 100 percent due to rounding. 4 This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results obtained in the sample would fall in a range of + 1.3 percentage points of what would have been obtained if every adult male and female age 50 and older had been surveyed. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000
survey question. 5 Likewise, there are just a few statistically significant differences across other variables in the survey. Summary of Findings Burial Purchasers in 2000 During the past 18 months (November 1998 July 2000), 10 percent of those age 50 and older purchased a burial plot or other burial products, such as a marker, vault, opening and closing of a grave, from a cemetery for someone who died or for themselves in advance of need. This finding is similar to the 1999 AARP Funeral and Burial Planners Survey. However, the 1999 survey did not specify where respondents made their purchase. In 2000, there are no significant demographic differences among burial purchasers. Figure 1 Percentage of Burial Purchasers 1999 and 2000 Yes 10 14 2000 No/Don't Know/Refused 86 90 1999 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: AARP Funeral and Burial Purchasers Survey (1999, n=2,624); AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (2000, n=6,809) 5 We examine differences in percentages at the.05 level. When differences at this level are found, it means that 95 times out of 100 we would not expect the result to occur by chance. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 2
Cemetery Status: For-Profit or Not-for-Profit Over half of burial purchasers (54) reported that the cemetery where they made their burial purchase was a not-for-profit cemetery. One third (34) purchased burial plots, goods or services from a for-profit cemetery. Twelve percent did not know whether the cemetery was for or not-for-profit. Figure 2 Percentage of Burial Purchasers Buying from For-Profit or Not-for-Profit Cemeteries (Base = 661) Don't Know/ Refused 13 For-Profit 34 Not-for- Profit 54 Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 3
Character of Interactions with Cemeteries Number of Contacts When asked, How many different cemeteries did you contact?, 60 percent of burial purchasers indicated that they contacted one cemetery, and 17 percent reported contacting no other cemetery. Only 18 percent of burial purchasers contacted two or more different cemeteries. Reasons for Selecting Cemetery One out of two burial purchasers (53) selected a cemetery for family reasons, heritage, or family history. An additional 24 percent chose a cemetery based on location, and 26 percent selected a cemetery based on one of seven different reasons including religious tradition/affiliation, financial reasons/price, a well-kept facility, advertising, and being a veteran. 6 Figure 3 Percentage Giving Reasons for Selecting a Cemetery (Base = 661) 100 80 60 53 40 20 24 6 5 4 3 3 3 2 4 0 Family reasons Location Religious Fianacial Well-kept Advertising Veteran Other Prearrangement Don't know/refused Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Purchasers reporting contact with one or no other cemetery provided similar reasons for selecting a cemetery. They more often cited religious reasons (92), family reasons 6 See Appendix A, Page 16, Question BU-4 for complete list of reasons. Respondents could provide more than one answer to this question. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 4
(90), and veteran status (84). Persons contacting two or more cemeteries listed financial reasons (59), a well-kept cemetery (54), and location (35) as the main reasons for selecting a cemetery. There are no differences between for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries with respect to selection because of family or location. However, burial purchasers who bought from a not-for-profit cemetery (10) were more likely than purchasers who bought from a forprofit cemetery (1) to select the cemetery for religious tradition or affiliation. Financial reasons or price bears a relationship to the cemetery s for-profit or not-for- profit status. Respondents who made their purchase from a for-profit cemetery (10) were more likely than their not-for-profit counterparts (2) to identify price as a reason for cemetery selection. Price Lists for Burial Plots Although more burial purchasers received a price list (48) than not, nearly two in five (39) were not given a written or printed price list for the burial plot. Figure 4 Percentage of Purchasers Given a Written or Printed Price List for Burial Plots (Base=661) No 39 Yes Don't 48 Know/ Refused 13 Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Although this finding cannot be directly compared to the 1999 AARP Funeral and Burial Planners Survey because of differences in question administration, 7 the finding is consistent. The 1999 survey found that a little more than one-third of burial plot 7 The 1999 survey administration asked respondents separately about whether they purchased a burial plot. Then, it asked only those who purchased a burial plot whether they received a written or printed price list. In 2000, the survey screened for all of those who purchased either a plot or goods and services and asked all of them about whether they received a written or printed price list for burial plots. This may or may not be a contributing factor to the differences in frequency of written or printed price lists for burial plots from 1999 to 2000. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 5
purchasers (36) did not receive a written or printed price list for the burial plots they purchased. There is no statistically significant difference between not-for-profit and for-profit cemeteries in terms of providing a written price list for burial plots. Not-for-profit cemeteries (44) were just as likely as for-profit cemeteries (34) not to provide a written price list for plots. 8 Price Lists for Burial Goods and Services Twenty-eight percent of the burial purchasers did not receive a written price list for other goods and services they purchased. Figure 5 Percentage of Purchasers Given a Written or Printed Price List for Other Burial Goods and Services (Base=661) No 28 Yes 63 Don't Know/ Refused 9 Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Although similar, the percentage from the 2000 survey cannot be directly compared to the 1999 AARP Funeral and Burial Planners Survey due to differences in the administration of the questions. 9 In that survey, one in five burial goods and services purchasers (22) were not given a written or printed price list. 8 Although ten percentage points, this difference between not-for-profit and for-profit cemeteries is not statistically significant. The minimum difference in percentages required for statistical significance is 13 percent given the small sub-sample sizes. 9 The 1999 survey administration asked respondents separately about whether they purchased burial goods and services. Then, it asked only those who purchased burial goods and services whether they received a written or printed price list. In 2000, the survey screened for all of those who purchased either a plot or goods and services and asked all of them about whether they received a written or printed price list for goods and services. This may or may not be a contributing factor to the differences in frequency of written or printed price lists for burial plots from 1999 to 2000. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 6
Statistical differences between not-for-profit and for-profit cemeteries do not exist for receiving a price list for burial goods and services. While two-thirds of purchasers from not-for-profit (64) and for-profit (66) cemeteries were given written prices lists, comparable percentages of not-for-profit (30) and for-profit (27) cemeteries did not give written price lists for goods and services. Type of Purchase Two in five burial purchasers (41) bought a plot from a cemetery. One in four (27) purchased a marker or headstone. One in six (20) did not know or refused to answer what items they purchased from a cemetery as opposed to a funeral home. Figure 6 Percentage of Items Purchased from a Cemetery as Opposed to a Funeral Home (Base = 661) 100 80 60 40 20 41 27 15 15 11 6 3 20 0 Plot Marker Vault Open/Close Casket Other Cremation Don't Know/Refused Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Protective Features of Grave Liner or Burial Vault Nearly a third (32) said that someone from the cemetery told them that the protective features of a grave liner or burial vault would help preserve the body indefinitely. Burial purchasers (29) in 1999 similarly reported that they were told of the indefinite preservation of the body because of the protective features of the liner or vault. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 7
Figure 7 Percentage in 1999 and 2000 Told of Protective Features of Grave Liner or Burial Vault (1999 Base = 338; 2000 Base = 661) Yes 32 29 2000 No 58 60 1999 Don't Know/Refused 10 11 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: AARP Funeral and Burial Planners Survey (1999, n=2,624); AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (2000, n=6,809) No statistically significant difference exists between not-for-profit cemeteries (30) and for-profit cemeteries (39) telling burial purchasers that burial vaults or grave liners indefinitely preserve the body. Burial purchasers who received a printed price list for a burial plot (43) or burial goods and services (39) were more likely to be told about the protective feature to preserve the body than those who did not receive a printed price list (22 and 23 respectively). Attitudes about Regulating Cemeteries Disclosure of Prices Three-quarters of burial purchasers (76) believed the federal government should require cemeteries to disclose prices of their goods and services, including burial plots, to the public. Two-thirds (69) wanted disclosure in a face-to-face meeting, prior to the beginning of any discussion about the goods and services, while half (55) wanted disclosure over the telephone if asked. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 8
Figure 8 Percentage Reporting Federal Government Should Require Disclosure of Prices for Burial Goods and Services (Base = 661) Phone Disclosure If Asked Face-to-Face Disclosure Before Discussion Don't Know/ Refused 11 Don't Know/ Refused 7 No 33 Yes 55 No 24 Yes 69 Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Age is related to opinions about requiring cemeteries to disclose pricing in burial goods and services. Purchasers less than 75 years old (61) were more likely than those 75 or older (39) to support disclosure over the phone. Likewise, eight in ten purchasers age 50 to 59 (80) supported face-to-face disclosure prior to discussing goods and services, while fewer than half of purchasers 75 or older (54) supported requiring face-to-face disclosure. Burial purchasers age 60 to 74 (69) were not statistically different from either younger or older purchasers. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 9
Attitudes about Federal and State Laws One in four burial purchasers (24) did not think that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries followed the same federal and state laws. In contrast, a large majority of burial purchasers (83) thought that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries should follow the same federal and state laws. Figure 9 Percentage Reporting Whether For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Cemeteries Follow the Same Federal and State Laws (Base = 661) DO Follow 41 24 35 Yes No SHOULD Follow 83 10 8 Don't Know/Refused 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey (n=6,809) Burial purchasers with incomes less than $40,000 (49) were more likely than those earning more (30) to think that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries already follow the same federal and state laws. Whether a burial purchaser bought from a for-profit (82) or not-for-profit (84) cemetery is not statistically related to their belief that either type should follow the same federal and state laws. Likewise, there is no statistically significant relationship between where a burial purchase is made and a conviction that the two do not follow the same federal and state laws (28 for-profit and 23 not-for-profit). Burial purchasers who received a written or printed price list for a burial plot (48) were more likely than those who did not receive the price list (35) to think that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries do follow the same federal and state laws. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 10
Conclusions During the 18 months from November 1998 to July 2000, one-tenth of Americans age 50 and older purchased burial plots or other burial products from a cemetery for themselves in advance of need or for someone who died. These burial purchasers bought burial plots (41) and markers (27) more often than any other products or services. More burial purchasers made a purchase from a not-for-profit cemetery (54) than a for-profit cemetery (34). When asked, How many different cemeteries did you contact?, most burial purchasers reported contacting one (60) or no other cemetery (17). Only 18 percent reported contacting two or more cemeteries. Burial purchasers mentioned family reasons (54) more than any other reason for selecting a cemetery. Purchasers contacting two or more cemeteries listed financial reasons or a well-kept facility as reasons for their selection. On average, a third of burial purchasers did not receive a written price list for a burial plot (39) or goods and services (28). Cemeteries told a third (32) of burial purchasers of the protective features of a grave liner. Examination of these findings shows little difference between for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries. Reasons for selecting a cemetery relate to the nature of the cemetery. Burial purchasers buying from not-for-profit cemeteries (10) cited religious tradition more often than purchasers buying from for-profit cemeteries (1). Price is a reason among for-profit cemeteries (10) more often than not-for-profit cemeteries (2). The practice of providing written or printed price lists of burial plots or goods and services is comparable among for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries. For-profits and not-forprofits were just as likely not to give a written or printed price list for burial plots (34 and 44) or goods and services (27 and 30). Although not statistically different, forprofit cemeteries (39) were only slightly more likely than not-for-profit cemeteries (30) to tell purchasers of the protective features of grave liners. Although cemeteries, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, are not regulated on the federal level, opinion among burial purchasers suggests that the federal government should require cemeteries to disclose prices of burial plots, goods, and services to the public. Seven in ten (76) burial purchasers desired this requirement. There is a disconnect between believing that cemeteries should follow the same state and federal rules regardless of profit status and thinking that they actually do. Fewer than half of burial purchasers (41) thought that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries follow the same federal and state laws. Eight in ten (83) burial purchasers believed for-profit and notfor-profit cemeteries should follow the same federal and state laws. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 11
Demographic Profile of Respondents (Weighted n = 6,809) Demographic Characteristic Percent Gender Male 45 Female 55 Age 50-54 23 55-59 17 60-64 15 65-70 17 71-74 8 75-98 20 Mean = 64 years AARP Membership Member 58 Non-member 41 Don t know/refused 1 Employment Status Full-time 29 Part-time 10 Retired 47 Housewife 7 Unemployed 2 Disabled 4 Other 1 Refused 1 Marital Status Single 5 Married or living with partner 66 Separated 2 Widowed 16 Divorced 10 Refused 1 Education Less than high school 22 High school graduate 32 Some college 18 College graduate 15 Postgraduate or more 9 Technical school or other 2 Refused 2 Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 12
Demographic Profile of Respondents (Weighted n = 6,809) (continued) Demographic Characteristic Percent Household Income Under $15,000 15 $15,000 to under $30,000 19 $30,000 to under $50,000 17 $50,000 to under $75,000 12 $75,000 or more 12 Don t know/refused 20 Race/Ethnicity White 85 Black 9 Hispanic 4 Other 4 Refused 2 Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 13
Appendix A Annotated Questionnaire Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 14
605 West State Street Media, Pennsylvania 19063-2620 Job #P919 May 5, 2000 BURIAL2.QN I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M M U N I C A T I O N S R E S E A R C H (ASK OF RESPONDENTS 50+ FOR 17 WAVES) BURIAL ARRANGERS II (WEIGHTED n = 6,809) BU-1. During the past 18 months that is, since November, 1998 have you purchased a burial plot or other burial products, such as a marker, vault, opening and closing of a grave, from a cemetery for someone who died or for yourself in advance of need? 10 1 Yes CONTINUE 89 2 No SKIP TO NEXT INSERT <1 D Don t Know SKIP TO NEXT INSERT 1 R Refused SKIP TO NEXT INSERT BU-2. Is the cemetery a for-profit institution or a not-for-profit institution? By notfor-profit we mean a religious, veterans, or municipal cemetery? (NOTE: IF RESPONDENT HAS ARRANGED MORE THAN ONE BURIAL, THEN SAY JUST THINKING ABOUT THE MOST RECENT BURIAL) BASE = 661 34 1 For-profit 54 2 Not-for-profit 12 D Don t Know 1 R Refused BU-3. How many different cemeteries did you contact? BASE = 661 17 0 0 60 1 1 18 2 2 or more 4 D Don t Know/Can t remember <1 R Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 15
BU-4. Why did you select the cemetery that you did? (DO NOT READ LIST. ENTER ALL) BASE = 661 3 01 Advertising by the cemetery 53 02 Family reasons/heritage/family history 5 03 Financial reasons/price 24 04 Location 6 05 Religious tradition/religious affiliation 3 06 Veteran 4 07 Well-kept 3 99 Other (SPECIFY) 2 Prearrangement 3 DD Don t Know 1 RR Refused BU-5. Were you given a written or printed price list for the burial plot, or not? BASE = 661 48 1 Yes 39 2 No 12 D Don t Know 1 R Refused BU-6. Were you given a written price list for the goods and services, or not? BASE = 661 63 1 Yes 28 2 No 8 D Don t Know 1 R Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 16
BU-7. What items did you purchase from the cemetery as opposed to a funeral home? (DO NOT READ LIST. ENTER ALL) BASE = 661 15 1 Burial vault 11 2 Casket 41 3 Grave plot 27 4 Marker or Headstone 15 5 Opening and closing of the grave 6 7 Other (SPECIFY) 3 Cremation 16 D Don t Know 4 R Refused BU-8. Did anyone from the cemetery you spoke with about purchasing burial goods or services tell you that the protective features of a grave liner or burial vault would help preserve the body indefinitely? BASE = 661 32 1 Yes 58 2 No 9 D Don t Know/Can t remember 1 R Refused BU-9. Do you think that the federal government should or should not require cemeteries to disclose the prices of their goods and services, including burial plots, to the public (INSERT)? (ROTATE) a. over the telephone, if asked BASE = 661 55 Yes 33 No 11 Don t know 1 Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 17
b. in a face-to-face meeting, prior to beginning a discussion about those goods and services BASE = 661 69 Yes 24 No 6 Don't know 1 Refused BU-10. Do you think that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries should follow the same federal and state laws? BASE = 661 83 1 Yes 10 2 No 7 D Don t Know 1 R Refused BU-11. Do you think that for-profit and not-for-profit cemeteries do follow the same federal and state laws? BASE = 661 41 1 Yes 24 2 No 34 D Don t Know 1 R Refused AR-1. Are you, or is your spouse, a member of AARP? 58 1 Yes 41 2 No 1 D Don t Know <1 R Refused Demographic Attributes Own or rent home 84 Own 15 Rent <1 Don t know 1 Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 18
Marital status 5 Single 2 Single, living with partner 65 Married 2 Separated 16 Widowed 10 Divorced 1 Refused Are you the head of household? 91 Yes 8 No 1 Don t know 1 Refused Employment status 29 Full-time 10 Part-time 47 Retired 7 Housewife <1 Student 2 Temporarily unemployed 4 Disabled 1 Other <1 Refused Total number living in household 20 One 52 Two 16 Three 7 Four 3 Five 1 Six <1 Seven <1 Eight 1 Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 19
Number of adults 18 or older living in household 20 One 55 Two 17 Three 5 Four 1 Five <1 Six <1 Eight or more 1 Refused Ages of children in household 88 No children 3 Five or younger 4 6-11 6 12-17 1 Refused Age of respondent 23 50-54 17 55-59 15 60-64 17 65-70 8 71-74 20 75-98 Level of education 22 Less than high school 32 High school 18 Some college 15 Graduated college 9 Postgraduate 2 Technical 2 Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 20
Annual household income 8 Under $10,000 7 $10,000 - $14,999 7 $15,000 - $19,999 6 $20,000 - $24,999 3 Under $25,000 (unspecified) 4 Over $25,000 (unspecified) 7 $25,000 - $29,999 9 $30,000 - $39,999 8 $40,000 - $49,999 12 $50,000 - $74,999 6 $75,000 - $99,999 6 $100,000 or more 4 Don t know 16 Refused Race of respondent 82 White, Non-Hispanic 3 White, Hispanic 9 Black, Non-Hispanic <1 Black, Hispanic 4 Other 2 Refused Political party affiliation 27 Republican 36 Democrat 27 Independent 2 Other 3 Don t know 5 Refused Are you registered to vote at your present address? 86 Yes 12 No <1 Don t know 2 Refused Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 21
Number of other telephone numbers in household 87 No other 7 One 2 Two 1 Three <1 Four or more 2 Refused Sex of respondent 45 Male 55 Female Division 5 New England 15 Mid-Atlantic 19 East North Central 8 West North Central 18 South Atlantic 6 East South Central 10 West South Central 6 Mountain 14 Pacific Metro status 77 Metro 23 Non-metro Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 22
Appendix B Methodology Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 23
Methodology 2000 AARP Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey Using Excel, International Communications Research (ICR) conducted an omnibus telephone survey that uses a fully replicated, stratified, single-stage random-digit-dialing (RDD) sample of telephone households. ICR completes Excel twice a week. ICR interviewed 6,027 men and women age 50 or older from May 5, 2000, through July 3, 2000. Excel interviews consist of client-specific questions and a shared set of standard demographic questions. AARP drafted its own survey items to be included in the Excel survey. Typically, each Excel survey consists of a minimum of 1,000 interviews, half with men and half with women. However, for AARP, ICR screened respondents by age. Only those 50 and older could respond to AARP s burial planning questions. It took approximately 17 waves of Excel to arrive at a sample of burial purchasers large enough for representative data analysis. Out of 6,027 respondents age 50 and older, 558 purchased a burial plot or other burial products, such as a marker, vault, opening and closing of a grave, from a cemetery for someone who died or for themselves in advance of need. The survey asked these respondents eleven questions around several topics: #"Cemetery s for-profit or not-for-profit status #"Contact with different cemeteries #"Criteria for selecting a cemetery #"Receipt of a written or printed price list #"Items purchased #"Preservation of the body #"Disclosure of prices #"Cemetery practices under federal and state law The survey also asked demographic questions. We examined demographic differences by age, gender, education, income, race, and AARP membership status. There were only three statistically significant demographic differences across all survey questions. 10 A few of the core survey questions related to other survey questions. Excel s standard data are weighted. The weighting process takes into account the disproportionate probabilities of household selection due to the number of separate telephone lines and the probability associated with the random selection of an individual household member. Following the application of these weights, the sample is post- 10 We examine differences in percentages at the.05 level. When differences at this level are found, it means that 95 times out of 100 we would not expect the result to occur by chance. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 24
stratified and balanced by key demographics including age, gender, region, and education. The total weighted number of respondents is 6,809. The weighted number of burial purchasers is 661. Data analysis and reporting are based on 6,809 respondents. Based on this sample size, the survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 1.3 percent. This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results obtained in the sample would fall in a range of + 1.3 percentage points of what would have been obtained if every adult male and female age 50 and older had been surveyed. For the sub-sample of burial purchasers (n=661), the survey has a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Cemeteries Survey 2000 25
Membership Cluster 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 www.aarp.org AARP. 2000. D17304 IF5718(11-00)P