[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50543-50544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24291]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census


Notice of Proposal to Submit an Information Collection to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-submission 
consultation program to provide the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections before they are submitted to OMB for review. 
This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the 
desired format, reporting burden is minimized, reporting forms are 
clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on 
respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Census Bureau, 
within the Department of Commerce, is soliciting comments concerning 
its plans to submit a revised question series for educational 
attainment, which is part of the monthly Current Population Survey 
(CPS), to OMB for review.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 28, 
1995. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Gerald Tache, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5312, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information on 
these questions should be directed to Gregory Weyland, Bureau of the 
Census, FOB 3, Room 3340, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3806.

Proposed Educational Attainment Question Series

SEA1  What is the highest level of school you have completed or the 
highest degree you have received?
    31  Less than 1st grade
    32  1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade
    33  5th or 6th grade
    34  7th or 8th grade
    35  9th grade
    36  10th grade
    37  11th grade
    38  12th grade NO DIPLOMA
    39  HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE--high school DIPLOMA, or the equivalent 
(for example: GED)
    40  Some college but no degree
    41  Associate degree in college--Occupational/vocational program
    42  Associate degree in college--Academic program
    43  Bachelor's degree (For example: BA, AB, BS)
    44  Master's degree (For example: MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA)
    45  Professional School degree (For example: MD, DDS, DVM. LLB, JD)
    46  Doctorate degree (For example: PhD, EdD)

SEA1--CK. Check Item

SEA1 is 31-38  (Go to SEA2)
SEA1 is 39  (Go to SEA3A)
SEA1 is 40-42  (Go to SEA4)

[[Page 50544]]

SEA1 is 43  (Go to SEA5A)
SEA1 is 44  (Go to SEA6)
SEA1 is 45-46  (Exit)
SEA2  Did (name/you) ever get a High School diploma by completing High 
School OR through a GED or other equivalent?
    <1>  Yes, completed High School
    <2>  Yes, GED or other equivalent
    <3>  No
Exit
SEA3A  (People can get a High School diploma in a variety of ways, such 
as graduating from a High School or by getting a GED or other 
equivalent.) How did (name/you) get (his/her/your) High School diploma?
    <1>  Graduation from High School
    <2>  GED or other equivalent
(Exit)
(Ask SEA3B)
SEA3B What was the highest grade of regular school (name/you) completed 
before receiving (his/her/your) GED?
    <1>  Less than 1st grade
    <2>  1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade
    <3>  5th or 6th grade
    <4>  7th or 8th grade
    <5>  9th grade
    <6>  10th grade
    <7>  11th grade
    <8>  12th grade NO DIPLOMA
Exit
SEA4  (Including any time that may have been spent getting an 
Associate's Degree, how/How) many years of college CREDIT (has/
have)(name/you) completed? (Has/Have) (he/she/you) COMPLETED
    <1>  Less than 1 year?
    <2>  The first, or FRESHMAN year?
    <3>  The second, or SOPHOMORE year?
    <4>  The third, or JUNIOR year?
    <5>  Other (Ask SEA4S)
Exit
SEA4S  How many years is that?
    ===>________
Exit
SEA5A  Since completing (his/her/your) Bachelor's degree, (has/have) 
(name/you) ever taken any GRADUATE or PROFESSIONAL school courses for 
credit?
    <1>  Yes (Ask SEA5B)
    <2>  No (Exit)
SEA5B  Did (name/you) complete SIX or MORE graduate or professional 
school courses?
    <1>  Yes
    <2>  No
Exit
SEA6  Was (name's/you) Master's Degree program a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-
year program?
    <1>  1-year program
    <2>  2-year program
    <3>  3-year program
    <4>  Other (Ask SEA6S)
Exit
SEA6S  What is that?
    ===>________
Exit

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Bureau of the Census has conducted the CPS monthly for over 50 
years. Its primary purpose is to provide monthly statistics on the 
labor force status of the American population, including the official 
unemployment rate. It is authorized by Title 13, United States Code, 
Section 182; and Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1-9. The Bureau 
of the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsor this 
survey.
    Several years ago (1992), the CPS changed its methodology for 
collecting educational attainment from a ``years attended basis'' to a 
``degree received basis.'' While this change was embraced by most 
analysts as being a more accurate measure of this characteristic, it 
did disrupt a number of time series statistics using the ``years 
attended'' measure. Given this background, BLS and Census Bureau staff 
researched and tested a number of revised questionnaires in an attempt 
to devise a series of questions that would collect both measures of 
educational attainment, while maintaining consistency with the current 
``degree received measure.'' Note that question SEA1 above is the 
current ``degree received'' question and will retain its function as 
the primary measure of educational attainment.

II. Current Actions

    In July 1995, we collected data using the revised series of 
questions as a supplement in one-fourth of the CPS sample. The purpose 
of this test was to gauge how the new question series performed and, if 
necessary, to provide a set of bridge statistics on educational 
attainment that would allow a smooth transition to the new question 
series. Currently, staff at both the BLS and the Census Bureau are 
analyzing the results of this test. If the results are favorable, we 
plan to incorporate the new question series into the January 1996 CPS 
instrument. This submission to OMB is being made in anticipation of 
favorable test results and may be withdrawn if that does not occur.

III. Request for Comments

    After reviewing the information collection instrument (see above), 
prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment on 
the actions discussed in Item II. The following general guidelines are 
provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please include the 
name of this information collection, the CPS educational attainment 
revision, in your comments.
    As a potential data user:
    A. Did you use educational attainment data from the CPS prior to 
1992?
    B. If so, did the switch to ``highest degree received'' cause any 
problems with your time series or other analyses?
    C. The suggested item series is intended to continue the current 
``highest degree received'' concept while reinstituting the ``last year 
completed'' concept (used prior to 1992 in the CPS). Do you think this 
objective is served by these items?
    D. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated?
    E. For what purpose do you or would you use these data? Please be 
specific.
    F. As a user of these data, can you suggest modifications to the 
proposed items that if incorporated, would better serve your analytical 
needs? If so, please submit your suggested changes with a short 
statement describing the perceived benefits.
    As a potential respondent:
    A. We estimate that it will take the average respondent about 30 
seconds to answer the appropriate questions. Is this a reasonable 
burden?
    B. Are the questions sensitive in nature? If so, please be specific 
in describing why.
    C. Are the questions understandable and framed in a sensible 
manner? If not, what items are confusing and how should we clarify 
them?
    D. In your opinion, could a proxy respondent (i.e., one household 
member providing information for another household member) provide 
complete and accurate answers? If not, why?
    E. Do you have any suggestions on ways of reducing the burden 
associated with responding to this information collection?
    The Census Bureau also is interested in receiving comments from 
persons regarding their views on the need for this information 
collection.
    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 26, 1995.
Gerald Tache,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 95-24291 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-M