[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51723-51724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25348]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Proposed Data Collection: Comment Request; Title of Proposed 
Collection: Survey of Doctorate Recipients

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request 
more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the 
data collection plans and instruments, call the NSF Clearance Officer 
on (703) 306-1243.
    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 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.
    Proposed Project: The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been 
conducted biennially since 1973. For the 1997 cycle, a sample of 
individuals under the age of 76 who have earned doctoral degrees in 
science and engineering from U.S. institutions will be surveyed. The 
purpose of the study is to provide national estimates describing the 
relationship between education and employment for Ph.D. recipients in 
science and engineering. The study is one of three components of the 
Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), formerly 
called the Scientific and Technical Personnel Data System (STPDS).
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering

[[Page 51724]]

resources, and to provide a source of information for policy 
formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government.'' The Survey 
of Doctorate Recipients is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of doctorate level 
scientists and engineers. Collected data will be used to produce 
estimates of the characteristics of these individuals. They will also 
provide necessary input into the SESTAT labor force model, which 
produces estimates of the size and characteristics of the country's 
science and engineering population. The Foundation uses this 
information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women 
and Minorities in Science and Engineering and Science and Engineering 
Indicators. A public release file of collected data, designed to 
protect respondent confidentiality, is expected to be made available to 
researchers on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    The survey sample design includes oversampling of recent Ph.D. 
recipients and minority recipients and varying sampling rates to 
represent specific fields of science and engineering. A total of 
approximately 58,000 individuals is expected to be sampled for the 
survey. Sample members will be requested to complete a 30 minute 
interview conducted by computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) 
or mail. An unweighted response rate of 85 percent is anticipated. The 
survey will be collected in conformance with the Privacy Act of 1974. 
Each sample member's participation will be entirely voluntary. NSF will 
insure that all information collected will be kept strictly 
confidential and will be used only for research or statistical 
purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and 
articles.
    Send comments to Herman Fleming, National Science Foundation 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 485, Arlington, VA 22230.
    Written comments should be received by December 1, 1996.

    Dated: September 30, 1996.
Herman G. Fleming,
NSF Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-25348 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M