Methodology


The 1998/99 community testing program involved testing in twelve communities throughout the State over the course of a six months, from December 1998 through May 1999. Familial status (housing) phone tests were conducted in each community. An attempt was made to choose communities which had not been tested in the past year. The communities tested included: Algona, Burlington, Clear Lake, Coralville, Dubuque, Ft. Madison, Maquoketa, Manchester, Newton, Oskaloosa, Sioux City, and Storm Lake.

The testing coordinator conducted familial status phone tests of rental property owners/managers and Realtors in each of the communities. During these tests, testers inquired about the availability of rental property. The number of tests conducted in each community varied depending on the availability of rental property. A minimum of ten phone tests per community were attempted.

The testing coordinator summarized the test results for each community tested and presented the results to the Testing Team. Members of the Testing Team included the Testing Coordinator, the Manager of the Housing Investigations Unit, an Assistant Attorney General, an Investigator, and the Executive Director. The Testing Team determined whether the person tested "passed", whether a re-test was needed in order to draw any reasonable conclusions, or whether a commissioner complaint should be filed. If different treatment occurred, the Testing Team looked for possible explanations. If the Testing Team determined that different treatment occurred and the differences in treatment were serious and substantial and had no apparent logical explanation other than familial status, then the Team recommended to the Chair of the Commission that a commissioner complaint be filed. If the Testing Team determined that the different treatment was not serious and/or could be easily explained, the testing coordinator contacted the person tested, explained the law, and reviewed the testing results.