[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42650-42651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16135]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    DOC has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance the following proposal for collection of information under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research.
    Form Number(s): Various.
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0725.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 5,500 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 5,500.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: 1 hour.
    Needs and Uses: In recent years, there has been an increased 
interest among Federal agencies and others in the importance of testing 
questionnaires. In response to this recognition, new methods have come 
into popular use, which are useful for identifying questionnaire and 
procedural problems, suggesting solutions, and measuring the relative 
effectiveness of alternative solutions.
    The Census Bureau received a generic clearance which enables the 
Census Bureau to quickly begin conducting extended cognitive and 
questionnaire design research as part of testing for its censuses and 
surveys. At this time, the Census Bureau is seeking another three-year 
renewal of the generic clearance for pretesting. This will enable the 
Census Bureau to continue providing support for pretesting activities, 
which is important given the length of time required to plan the 
activities.
    The methods proposed for use in questionnaire development are as 
follows: Field test, Respondent debriefing questionnaire, Split sample 
experiments, Cognitive interviews, and Focus groups.
    Since the types of surveys included under the umbrella of the 
clearance are so varied, it is impossible to specify at this point what 
kinds of activities would be involved in any particular test. But at a 
minimum, one of the types of testing described above or some other form 
of cognitive pretesting would be incorporated into the testing program 
for each survey.
    We will provide OMB with a copy of questionnaires and debriefing 
materials in advance of any testing activity. Depending on the stage of 
questionnaire development, this may be the printed questionnaire from 
the last round of a survey or a revised draft based on analysis of 
other evaluation data. When the time schedule for a single survey 
permits multiple rounds of testing, the questionnaire(s) for each round 
will be provided separately. When split sample experiments are 
conducted, either in small group sessions or as part of a field test, 
all the questionnaires to be used will be provided. For a test of 
alternative procedures, the description and rationale for the 
procedures would be submitted. A brief description of the planned field 
activity will also be provided. Requests for information or comments on 
substantive issues may be raised by OMB within 10 working days of 
receipt.
    The Census Bureau will send OMB an annual report at the end of each 
year summarizing the number of hours used, as well as the nature and 
results of the activities completed under this clearance.
    The information collected in this program of developing and testing 
questionnaires will be used by staff from the Census Bureau and 
sponsoring agencies to evaluate and improve the quality of the data in 
the surveys and censuses that are ultimately conducted. None of the 
data collected under this clearance will be published for its own sake.
    Because the questionnaires being tested under this clearance are 
still in the process of development, the data that result from these 
collections are not considered official statistics of the Census Bureau 
or other Federal agencies. Data will be included in research reports 
prepared for sponsors inside and outside of the Census Bureau. The 
results may also be prepared for presentations related to survey 
methodology at professional meetings or publications in professional 
journals.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, businesses or other 
for-profit, farms.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Data collection for this project is authorized 
under the authorizing legislation for the questionnaire being tested. 
This may be title 13, sections 131, 141, 161, 181, 182, 193, and 301, 
for Census-Bureau sponsored surveys, and title 13 and 15 for surveys 
sponsored by other Federal agencies.
    OMB Desk Officer: Susan Schechter, (202) 395-5103.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and

[[Page 42651]]

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Susan Schechter, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) or e-
mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: July 12, 2004.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-16135 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P