[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33441-33442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11374]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Collect Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this Notice invites the 
general public and other interested parties to comment on a proposed 
information collection by the Economic Research Service. This 
information collection will provide data needed to conduct research to 
develop questionnaires and related instruments capable of collecting 
reliable and valid information on topics including: food-related 
knowledge, attitudes, and behavior; food assistance program 
participation; and customer satisfaction. To do so, ERS plans to 
conduct data collections that involve formative research, including 
such methods as cognitive interviews (individual and/or small group), 
and pre-testing of survey items (mailed, in-person, telephone, or Web-
based pretests).

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received by August 12, 
2005 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Requests for additional information 
regarding this Notice should be directed to Eileen Stommes, Food 
Assistance Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, NW., Room N-
2148, Washington, DC 20036-5831. Submit electronic comments to 
[email protected] or fax to 202-694-5677.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Formative Research for Development of Food Behavior 
Questionnaires and Related Measures.
    Type of Request: Approval to collect information from civilian, 
non-institutionalized population, especially low-income individuals and 
households targeted by USDA food assistance programs.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.

[[Page 33442]]

    Expiration Date: Three years from date of issuance.
    Abstract: Nutrition has been shown to have important effects on 
obesity, child development, learning, lifelong health, and 
productivity. Poor food behaviors have been linked to four leading 
causes of death, reduced quality of life, increased cost of living, and 
premature death. While these food-related problems affect many 
Americans, there is a lack of reliable, valid questionnaires or other 
short, practical population measures to assess such important 
information as: nutrition- and food-related knowledge, attitudes, and 
behaviors; food assistance program participation and its determinants; 
and program satisfaction.
    Development of new questionnaires and related measures and 
assessment of their reliability and validity will require formative 
research. Formative research methods such as cognitive interviewing and 
pretesting will assist ERS to develop questionnaires and related 
measures that are understandable and yield reliable, valid information 
on food behavior and its social and economic determinants.
    Findings from all subsequent data collections will be included in 
summary reports submitted to OMB. The reports will describe the data 
collection methods used in the formative research, findings, 
conclusions, implications, and recommendations for the development of 
reliable, valid questionnaires and related measures. There will be no 
attempt to generalize the findings to be nationally representative.
    Methods of Collection: The data will be collected using a 
combination of methodologies appropriate to each formative research 
activity. These methodologies could include: Cognitive interviews, 
Pretest/Field test, and Focus groups.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Total Annual Burden on 
Respondents:

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                                                                                  Average burden
                     Type of data collection                         Number of       response     Total hours of
                                                                    respondents      (minutes)        burden
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Cognitive Interviews............................................             600             120           1,200
Pretesting/Field Test...........................................           2,000              30           1,000
Focus Groups....................................................             600             120           1,200
                                                                 -----------------
    Totals......................................................           3,200             N/A           3,400
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    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 will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    All comments on this Notice will become a matter of public record 
and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Dated: May 24, 2005.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11374 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
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