[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 51828-51829] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-26208] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census The 1998 Study of Privacy Attitudes (SPA) ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 December 2, 1997. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 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 (Room SFC-2 1001 after October 10, 1997), Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-3952. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Census Bureau is interested in privacy issues for several reasons. Most notable is the steady decline in response rates to the Census Bureau's mailed questionnaire in recent decennial censuses, which may reflect the growing apathy toward and mistrust of the Federal government. With the recent growth and popularity of the Internet and world wide web, the issues of access to individual data and lack of data security have come to the forefront, adding to the notion that individual privacy is eroding away. A clear understanding of the public's beliefs regarding the Census Bureau and its practices may help decennial census planners offset the trend in declining responses rates, address new methods to acquire data, improve our ability to communicate privacy and confidentiality messages, and improve our ability to predict and effectively respond to negative publicity. The purpose of the 1998 Study of Privacy Attitudes (SPA) is to assess the public's attitudes at two mutually exclusive levels--one being national in scope and the other, two Census 2000 Dress Rehearsal (C2DR) sites. The national study of privacy attitudes is a repeat of a survey conducted in 1995 by the Joint Program in Statistical Methods (JPSM) of the University of Maryland and the 1996 Study of Public Attitudes Toward Administrative Records Use (SPARU). The goals for conducting a national study of privacy attitudes in 1998 are: [[Page 51829]] --Determine the public's opinion of the Federal government and the Census Bureau in general, the Census Bureau's privacy and confidentiality policies, and the extent to which the Census Bureau adheres to its own privacy guidelines. --Assess change in the public's attitudes on privacy-related issues using results from the 1995 JPSM, 1996 SPARU, and the 1998 SPA. --Determine the public's opinion of the Census Bureau's expanded use of administrative records and possible interest in collecting SSNs in the future and the notion of an ``administrative records census.'' [As an alternative methodology for 2010, an administrative records census design will be experimented with during Census 2000.] --Determine the public's opinion of the Census Bureau adopting and communicating fair information use principles. The C2DR component of the 1998 SPA will compare privacy beliefs in areas prior to and after being ``sensitized'' to the census. The C2DR component will target a sample of households in the Sacramento, California and Columbia, South Carolina C2DR sites. Comparing results between the pre- and post-measurement samples will help determine if becoming sensitized to a census (through the paid advertizing campaign and other promotion and outreach programs) has a significant effect on privacy attitudes. The objectives of the C2DR component are noted above, but also includes: --Based on a pre- and post-measurement of sampled households in the dress rehearsal sites, assess variability in the public's attitudes on privacy-related issues. Understanding how the public defines privacy and how the public understands the Census Bureau's confidentiality language and practices is important information as privacy-related principles and policy are developed. Two broad observations stem from comparing the 1995 JPSM and 1996 SPARU: first, there was little change in attitudes towards data sharing and secondly, in 1996 there was less trust in government, greater concerns about privacy, and a greater feeling of helplessness in politically effecting change. The surveys of the 1998 SPA will add significant results to what we have already learned. II. Method of Collection A contractor will conduct the national survey with telephone interviewing using an automated survey instrument and a list-assisted random digit dialing (RDD) sampling design. The RDD methodology will incorporate a number of peripheral survey techniques that have shown to raise response rates. Given concerns of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with the trend of declining response rates with and bias in general of RDD surveys, the Census Bureau assessed (by contract) the effectiveness of response rate remedies, the appropriateness of applying RDD methodology in collecting privacy attitudinal data, and the nature and extent of bias from under coverage and nonresponse. By applying results and recommendations from the research to the 1998 SPA, the Census Bureau will collect good data with a maximal response rate and minimal bias that maintains comparability with the 1995 JPSM and 1996 SPARU. The pre-and post-surveys of the C2DR component will be administered by telephone to a random sample of households from the Census Bureau's master address file and will entail some degree of personal visit interviews as well. III. Data OMB Number: Not available. Form Numbers: The automated survey instrument will not have a form number. Type of Review: Emergency submission. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000. Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 750. Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to the respondents in participating is that of their time. 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; (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: September 29, 1997. Wilson D. Haigler, Jr., Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization. [FR Doc. 97-26208 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45am] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P