[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research 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)). [[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