[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6610]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research

ACTION: Proposed Collection; 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 
Papework 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 May 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, Department 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6086, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Theresa J. DeMaio, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 3127, 
FOB 4, Washington, DC 20233-9150, (301) 457-4894.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request an extension of the current OMB 
approval to conduct a variety of small-scale questionnaire pretesting 
activities under this generic clearance. A block of hours will be 
dedicated to these activities for each of the next three years. OMB 
will be informed in writing of the purpose and scope of each of these 
activities, as well as the time frame and the number of burden hours 
used. The number of hours used will not exceed the number set aside for 
this purpose.
    This research program will be used by the Census Bureau and survey 
sponsors to improve questionnaires and procedures, reduce respondent 
burden, and ultimately increase the quality of data collected in the 
Census Bureau censuses and surveys. The clearance will be used to 
conduct pretesting of decennial, demographic, and economic census and 
survey questionnaires prior to fielding them. Pretesting activities 
will involve one of the following methods for identifying measurement 
problems with the questionnaire or survey procedure: cognitive 
interviews, focus groups, respondent debriefing, behavior coding of 
respondent/interviewer interaction, split panel tests.

II. Method of Collection

    Mail, telephone, face-to-face; paper-and-pencil, CATI, CAPI, 
Internet

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0725.
    Form Number: Various.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Farms, Business or 
other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents, 
except for their time to complete the questionnaire.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 131, 141, 142, 161, 181, 182, 193, and 
301.

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; 
(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 record.

    Dated: March 13, 2001
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 01-6610 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P