[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 59860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29963]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

The 1997 Study of Public Attitudes Toward Administrative Records 
Use (SPARU)

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 January 24, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
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, Washington, 
DC 20233-7100, (301) 457-3952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    In the design for the 2000 census, the Census Bureau plans to 
expand the use of administrative records. Administrative records may be 
used to estimate characteristics of non-responding households, 
supplement missing data for respondents that return incomplete forms, 
and to help improve estimation of the number of persons missed within 
households. Collection of Social Security numbers would assist efforts 
to accurately match administrative records information. The purpose of 
the 1997 SPARU is to study the public's attitudes regarding the Census 
Bureau's planned use of administrative records in the 2000 Census and a 
proposal to collect the Social Security number of each household member 
in the decennial census. The 1997 SPARU will be a repeat of a survey 
conducted during the summer of 1996, known as the 1996 SPARU (0607-
0822). This research, in conjunction with results from the 1996 SPARU 
and the first attitudinal survey conducted in 1995, will enable the 
Census Bureau to assess change in the public's attitudes.
    Results of the 1996 SPARU will be released in December 1996. The 
estimated final response rate is 65 percent with 1,210 completed 
interviews. Midway through the interviewing period, it was reported 
that completed interviews averaged less than 15 minutes. The size of 
the questionnaire is expected to be about the same for the 1997 SPARU. 
To maintain continuity, the content of the questionnaire will be mostly 
the same. Two developments, however, will cause some change to the 
content. As determined by Census Bureau experts, the contractor, and 
outside expert consultation, the questions yielding insignificant or 
meaningless results will be dropped. The Census Bureau also will for 
the first time gauge the public's understanding of and opinion on 
``within household privacy.'' The Census Bureau strictly abides by its 
confidentiality laws at the household level. However, when the Census 
Bureau must re-contact a household to get more complete responses, the 
census taker may provide information to a member of the household other 
than the initial respondent. The 1997 SPARU will probe the public's 
attitude regarding this aspect of ``privacy principles'' and the Census 
Bureau's past practices.

II. Method of Collection

    A contractor will conduct the survey with telephone interviewing 
using an automated survey instrument and a random digit dialing 
sampling design.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0822.
    Form Numbers: The automated survey instrument will not have a form 
number.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $140,099.
    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; 
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: November 18, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-29963 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-M