[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25360-25361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11840]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institute of Health
Propsoed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the NIDCD
Partnership Program
SUMMARY: 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 Institute on
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish periodic summaries of proposed
projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review and approval.
Proposed Collection:
Title: Evaluation of the NIDCD Partnership Program. Type of
Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and Use of Information
Collection: The NIDCD was established to support biomedical and
behavioral research and research training in hearing, smell, balance,
taste, voice, speech and language. Although minorities and women will
dominate the work force within the next decade, both groups are
underrepresented in the science and health professional field. Because
of this concern, the NIDCD, with assistance from the Office of Research
on Minority Health, established the Partnership Program in 1994 to
increase the number of minority scientists and health care
professionals doing research on communication and communication
disorders. The proposed survey will yield data about: (1) Reasons for
participation in the program; (2) satisfaction of participants with the
program and (3) how participation in the program has lead to the
pursuit of a career in the health field. The survey will track the
Partnership Program's success at increasing the number of women and
minorities who are scientists. Frequency of Response: One. Affected
Public: Individuals. Type of Respondent: Partnership Program
Participants. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated
Number of Respondents: 76; Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.5; and Estimated
Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 38. The annualized cost to
respondents is estimated at: $380. There are no Capital Costs to
report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.
(Note: The following table is acceptable for the Respondent and
Burden Estimate Information, if appropriate, instead of the text as
shown above.)
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Estimated
Estimated Average total
Estiamted number of burden annual
Type of respondents number of responses hours per burden
respondents per response hours
respondent requested
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Initial program participant survey.......................... 16 1 0.5 8
Follow up survey of participant............................. 60 1 0.5 30
Total................................................... 76 ........... ........... 38
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Request for Comments
Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected
agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1)
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether the information
will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the estimate of the
burden of the proposed data collection, including the validity of the
methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the data collection and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on the respondents, including appropriate use
of automated collection techniques and information technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and
instruments, contact Ms. Kay Johnson, EEO Officer, Office of Equal
Employment Opportunity, NIDCD, NIH, Building 31, Room 3C08, 31 Center
Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 402-6415
or E-mail your request, including your address to:
[email protected]
COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are
best assured of having their full effect if received on or before July
12, 1999.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that the public
submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party.
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to provide a
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning proposed collections
of information before submitting the collection of OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, NIDCD is publishing notice of the
proposed collection of information listed below.
With respect to the following collection of information, NIDCD
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
estimate of the burden of the proposed data collection, including the
validity of the methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the data collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on the respondents, including
appropriate use of automated collection techniques and information
technology.
The NIDCD Partnership Program was designed to maximize research and
research training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate and
professional students, and faculty from populations that are
underrepresented in the biomedical professions. Participants are
recruited from four academic institutions that developed partnerships
with the NIDCD: The University of Alaska System, The Atlanta University
Center, Gallaudent University, and the University of Puerto Rico.
Anecdotal feedback indicates that program participants, mentors,
and liaisons find the program to provide interesting and unique
opportunities. However, there is little systematic evidence evaluating
the level of the Program's success or failure. The proposed surveys
will attempt to assess
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how participants' experiences with the Partnership Program have
influenced career and educational choices; current activities of
participants (e.g., courses of study, jobs); benefits and costs of
program participation to the program participants, mentors, and
liaisons; and suggestions for improving the Program. This information
will provide concrete evidence for continued funding of the Program.
Two separate surveys are proposed. The first survey will collect
baseline information from participants as they enter the program. The
baseline survey will explore participants' expectations and goals on
entering the program, their current career and/or educational plans,
and reasons for choosing to participate. The second survey will gather
Follow up and tracking information of past participants and will be
administered annually. This survey will ask about current contact
information, current career and/or educational activities, satisfaction
with the program, and whether expectations were met.
Potential respondents of either survey will be asked to participate
in a telephone survey that should take less than 30 minutes to
complete. Respondents who cannot schedule 30 minutes of time or have
communications disorders which make telephone conversations difficult
will be given the opportunity to respond by alternate means such as fax
and e-mail. All participants from the inception of the program will be
included in this evaluation process. Participants for 1999 have not yet
been chosen, but it is anticipated that the total number of
participants since 1994 will not exceed 70.
Dated: May 4, 1999.
David Kerr,
Executive Officer, National Institutes on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders.
[FR Doc. 99-11840 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M