[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5738-5739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2952]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


1996 Test Census--Enumerator Questionnaire

ACTION: Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; 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)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Margaret L. Woody, 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Fred Borsa, Bureau of the Census, Room 1769, FOB #3, 
Washington, DC 20233, (301) 457-2050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The 1996 Test Census is designed to test new and improved 
methodologies for reducing the differential in the census results among 
the various components of the population, and for containing costs 
associated with conducting a census. The Census Bureau will use the 
results of this test, in combination with other research, to decide how 
to conduct the 2000 census. The test will be conducted in two rural 
sites and one urban site with a combined housing unit total of about 
10,000. The rural sites (roughly 2,000 housing units) will encompass 
two American Indian reservations. The urban site (roughly 8,000 housing 
units) will encompass six census tracts in Chicago, Illinois.
    A primary objective for both the rural and urban components of the 
test is to refine the Integrated Coverage Measurement (ICM) program. 
Other objectives are listed below.
    Major objectives for the rural component of the test:
     Use and evaluate tribal ``administrative records,'' such 
as tribal rolls, utility records, tribal school records, and tribal 
voter registration as coverage improvement tools.
     Use improved address list development and collection 
methodology.
     Implement and evaluate a ``partnership agreement'' with 
the tribes, and expand the Tribal Liaison's role to include involvement 
in census operational activities.
     Test the use of statistical estimation techniques to 
improve the enumeration of residents on American Indian reservations 
and trust lands.
    Major objectives for the urban component of the test:
     Test the ICM program in a reengineered census setting.
     Test techniques for measuring housing unit and 
noninstitutional group quarters coverage in a census setting.
     Test use of administrative records for coverage 
improvement.
     Test improved address listing techniques.
    The 1996 Test Census will include four questionnaires--two self-

[[Page 5739]]
    enumeration simple forms (consisting of basic population and housing 
questions), a self-enumeration individual Census Report (used to gather 
population information from residents of group quarters), and a self- 
enumeration Be Counted form (used only in the rural sites and made 
available at convenient locations for persons who did not receive a 
questionnaire or believe they were not counted).
    The two simple forms are identical in content, except for the 
household rostering questions.
    Another component of this test will be to evaluate two alternative 
approaches to household rostering. One roster design, called the 
``rosterless'' version, does not require the respondent to create a 
traditional roster list. It includes an abbreviated set of instructions 
on who should be included and not included, and ask the respondent to 
provide the number of persons in the household. The second roster 
design, called the ``extended'' roster, includes a sequential set of 
reminders about whom to include, such as non-relatives as well as 
related persons, mobile persons who may have more than one residence, 
and persons with no usual residence.
    Enumerator-administered questionnaires, identical in content to the 
two simple forms discussed above, also will be used in this test to 
conduct nonresponse followup operations for housing units that do not 
return their questionnaires by mail. This request only addresses the 
enumerator questionnaire.

II. Method of Collection

    We will conduct a complete census in the three test sites. In the 
rural sites, census enumerators will deliver the questionnaires to the 
households. Respondents will be asked to complete the questionnaires 
and return them by mail in the postage-paid envelopes. In the Urban 
site, census questionnaires will be mailed to the housing units and 
returned in postage-paid envelopes.
    Those housing units that do not return a census questionnaire by 
mail will be visited by enumerators who will conduct interviews using 
enumerator-administered questionnaires.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: DT-1E (Enumerator Questionnaire).
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,500 Housing units.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes (DT-1E).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Total-541.66 hours. The burden 
reflects time taken by field enumerators to complete the enumerator-
administered census questionnaires during nonresponse followup for the 
65 percent of household that we expect will not respond by mail. The 
burden for the enumerator forms, includes the portion of the form that 
is completed for vacant units.
    DT-1E=541.66 hours [5 minutes x 6500 housing units].
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: Same as costs identified in previous 
submission for this test.

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 estimates 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 records.
Margaret L. Woody,
Office of Management and Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-2952 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P