[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15380-15381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8438]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research
ACTION: Proposed collection; 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)).
[[Page 15381]]
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Department
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) and instruction
should be directed to Theresa J. DeMaio, U. S. Bureau of the Census,
Room 3127, FOB 4, Washington, DC 20233-9150, (301) 457-4894.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This research program is used by the Census Bureau and survey
sponsors to improve questionnaires and procedures, reduce respondent
burden, and ultimately increase the quality of data collected in the
Census Bureau censuses and surveys. The clearance is used to conduct
pretesting of decennial, demographic, and economic census and survey
questionnaires prior to fielding them. Pretesting activities are
generally small-scale and involve one of the following methods for
identifying measurement problems with the questionnaire or survey
procedure: cognitive interviews (that is, intensive, one-on-one
interviews in which the respondent is typically asked to think aloud as
he or she answers survey questions), focus groups (that is, group
sessions guided by a moderator that are focused on a particular issue),
respondent debriefing (that is, standardized debriefing questionnaires
administered to respondents who have participated in a field test),
behavior coding of respondent/interviewer interaction (that is,
systematic coding of of the question/answer exchange process to
identify situations that reflect problems with the questionnaire), and
split sample experiments (that is, testing alternative versions of
questionnaires).
This clearance has been in existence since 1991, and many valuable
pretesting activities have been conducted. For example, cognitive
interviews and respondent debriefing questionnaires have been vital
components of the development and pretesting of the Survey of Program
Dynamics; a split sample experiment was used to evaluate proposed
questionnaire revisions for the Survey of Minority Owned Business
Enterprises; focus groups have been used to gather important
information as input to the Census Bureau's plans for enumerating
American Indians and migrant workers in Census 2000; respondent
debriefings have provided valuable data for understanding how
respondents understand the concept of residence and interpret the
residence rules for the decennial census; behavior coding provided
useful information in revising the questionnaire for the Current
Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
The clearance operates in the following manner: A block of hours is
reserved at the beginning of each year, and the particular activities
that will be conducted under the clearance are not specified in
advance. The Census Bureau provides information to OMB about the
specific pretesting activities on a flow basis throughout the year. OMB
is notified of each pretesting activity in a letter that gives specific
details about the activity, rather than by means of individual
clearance packages. At the end of each year, a report is submitted to
OMB that summarizes the number of hours used as well as the nature and
results of the activities completed under the clearance.
Some modifications of the clearance from previous years are
planned. The number of hours is expanded from 4,500 per year to 10,000
per year to allow for larger-scale questionnaire experiments with
increased analytical power. In addition, incentives as a survey
procedure may also be the subject of research under the clearance.
II. Method of Collection
Mail, telephone, face-to-face; paper-and-pencil, CATI, CAPI
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0725.
Form Number: Various.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals or households, farms, business or
other for-profit.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,000.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents,
except for their time to complete the questionnaire.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 USC, Sections 131, 141, 142, 161, 181,
182, 193, and 301.
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;
(c) 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: March 25, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-8438 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
