[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 59860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29963]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The 1997 Study of Public Attitudes Toward Administrative Records
Use (SPARU)
ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment
request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 24,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) should be directed
to Randall Neugebauer, Bureau of the Census, Room 3587-3, Washington,
DC 20233-7100, (301) 457-3952.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
In the design for the 2000 census, the Census Bureau plans to
expand the use of administrative records. Administrative records may be
used to estimate characteristics of non-responding households,
supplement missing data for respondents that return incomplete forms,
and to help improve estimation of the number of persons missed within
households. Collection of Social Security numbers would assist efforts
to accurately match administrative records information. The purpose of
the 1997 SPARU is to study the public's attitudes regarding the Census
Bureau's planned use of administrative records in the 2000 Census and a
proposal to collect the Social Security number of each household member
in the decennial census. The 1997 SPARU will be a repeat of a survey
conducted during the summer of 1996, known as the 1996 SPARU (0607-
0822). This research, in conjunction with results from the 1996 SPARU
and the first attitudinal survey conducted in 1995, will enable the
Census Bureau to assess change in the public's attitudes.
Results of the 1996 SPARU will be released in December 1996. The
estimated final response rate is 65 percent with 1,210 completed
interviews. Midway through the interviewing period, it was reported
that completed interviews averaged less than 15 minutes. The size of
the questionnaire is expected to be about the same for the 1997 SPARU.
To maintain continuity, the content of the questionnaire will be mostly
the same. Two developments, however, will cause some change to the
content. As determined by Census Bureau experts, the contractor, and
outside expert consultation, the questions yielding insignificant or
meaningless results will be dropped. The Census Bureau also will for
the first time gauge the public's understanding of and opinion on
``within household privacy.'' The Census Bureau strictly abides by its
confidentiality laws at the household level. However, when the Census
Bureau must re-contact a household to get more complete responses, the
census taker may provide information to a member of the household other
than the initial respondent. The 1997 SPARU will probe the public's
attitude regarding this aspect of ``privacy principles'' and the Census
Bureau's past practices.
II. Method of Collection
A contractor will conduct the survey with telephone interviewing
using an automated survey instrument and a random digit dialing
sampling design.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0822.
Form Numbers: The automated survey instrument will not have a form
number.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $140,099.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Section 193.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: November 18, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-29963 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-M
