[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20352-20353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7770]


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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: Former Field Representative and Enumerator Exit 
Questionnaire.
    Form Number(s): BC-1294, BC-1294(D).
    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0404.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 84 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 645.
    Avg Hours Per Response: BC-1294--7 minutes, BC-1294(D)--10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: Field interviewers are the foundation of U.S. 
Census Bureau data collection programs. Retention of trained field 
interviewing staff is a major concern for the Census Bureau because of 
both the monetary costs associated with employee turnover, as well as 
the potential impact on data quality. High turnover among interviewers 
can result in a reduction in the quality of data collected, as well as 
increases in the cost of collecting data. In a continuous effort to 
devise policies and practices aimed at reducing turnover among 
interviewers, the Census Bureau collects data on the reasons 
interviewers leave the Census Bureau. The exit questionnaires (Forms 
BC-1294 and BC-1294(D)) are used to collect data from a sample of 
former survey interviewers (field representatives) and decennial census 
interviewers (listers and enumerators).
    The purpose of the exit questionnaires is to determine the reasons 
for interviewer turnover and what the Census Bureau might have done, or 
can do to influence interviewers not to leave. As the demographics of 
our labor force, the nature of the surveys conducted, and the 
environment in which surveys take place continue to change, it is 
important that we continue to examine the interviewers' concerns. 
Information provided by respondents to the exit questionnaire provides 
insight on the measures the Census Bureau might take to decrease 
turnover, and is useful in helping to determine if the reasons for 
interviewer turnover appear to be systemic or localized.
    The exit questionnaires seek reasons interviewers quit, inquire 
about motivational factors that would have kept the interviewers from 
leaving,

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identify training program strengths and weaknesses as they impact on 
the decision to quit, identify supervisory style strengths and 
weaknesses as they impact on the decision to leave, identify the impact 
of automation on the decision to leave, and identify the impact of pay 
and other working conditions on the interviewer's decision to leave the 
job. The exit questionnaires have been shown to be useful and we want 
to continue their use.
    The information collected via the Field Representative (BC-1294) 
and Enumerator (BC-1294D) Exit Questionnaires will help the Census 
Bureau develop plans to reduce turnover in its current survey and 
decennial interviewing staff. This, in turn, allows for better informed 
decisions regarding the field workforce and implementation of more 
effective pay plans, selection procedures, interviewer training, and 
retention strategies for both current and decennial interviewers.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 23; Title 5 U.S.C., 
Section 3101.

    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 
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: April 15, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-7770 Filed 4-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P