Over the last decade, methodological research (Dillman, 2008) has indicated that survey data quality can be increased if screener/follow questions (e.g., Do you have a disability? If yes, what type?) are replaced with yes/no questions (e.g., Do you have any of the following disabilities?). In keeping with this notion and consistent with government survey question format guidelines, the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)— an annual census of research doctorates awarded by U.S. institutions—changed the format of two demographic items (ethnicity and disability) from screener/follow to yes/no format. This work will explore the impact of this change on the responses to these items. To examine this effect, we will analyze the four most recent rounds of SED data (2008-2011); two rounds with screener/follow format and two rounds with yes/no format. Considering the previous research on this effect, we anticipate seeing higher levels of endorsement for both the presence of disabilities and ethnicity and fewer “other specify” responses on surveys with the yes/no format. We will concurrently explore whether the mode of administration (paper versus Web) moderates the effect of the format change. The SED is selfadministered in paper and Web formats. When completed on the Web, the screener and follow-up items appear on different screens. While on paper they appear on the same page. Due to this difference, we anticipate that the effect of the format change will be greater for Web than for paper-and-pencil responses. The implications of these findings for survey design will be discussed.