[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55299-55300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21916]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 78 FR 38410, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice. The full submission (including 
comments) may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
National Science Foundation, 725--17th Street NW., Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 
1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send email to [email protected]. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 
which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year 
(including federal holidays).

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the

[[Page 55300]]

collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number 
and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the 
collection of information that such persons are not required to respond 
to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid 
OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Experimentation with Factual Knowledge of Science Survey 
Items.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
    Overview of this information collection: The National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 as amended (42 U.S.C. 1862) authorizes the 
National Science foundation to ``initiate and support basic scientific 
research and programs to strengthen scientific research potential and 
science education programs in the mathematical, physical, medical, 
biological, social, and other sciences.'' The America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  505, codified in the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, established the National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science 
Foundation. NCSES supports surveys that measure the level of basic 
factual knowledge of science among the American public and prepares 
information on this topic for dissemination in Science and Engineering 
Indicators, a biennial publication of the National Science Board (NSB), 
NSF's governing body. Survey questions cover topics in biology, 
chemistry, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. NCSES is proposing 
to conduct a series of survey-based experiments in which question 
wording and content are systematically varied in order to test the 
sensitivity of survey measures of factual knowledge of biological 
evolution and the origins of the universe to variations in question 
design. These experiments will be conducted via an Internet survey. 
Data from these experiments may be used in Science and Engineering 
Indicators to address the effects of question design on survey 
estimates of public science knowledge and the relationship between 
understanding and acceptance of scientific conclusions. Results from 
this research may also be reported in scholarly research publications.
    Expected Respondents: Approximately 3,500 U.S. adults (persons aged 
18+) will be responding to the survey.
    Estimate of Burden: The Foundation estimates that, on average, 15 
minutes per respondent will be required to complete the survey. The 
annual respondent burden for completing the survey is therefore 
estimated at 875 hours, based on 3,500 respondents.

    Dated: September 4, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-21916 Filed 9-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P