[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58180-58182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19894]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Decennial Short Form Experiment

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 
Paperwork 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 December 5, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 
Elizabeth Martin, Census Bureau, Building 3, Room Number 3715, 
Washington, DC 20333, 301-763-4905 ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Introduction

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct an experimental mailing for the 
Decennial Short Form. The goal of this experiment is to improve the 
quality of data collected in the 2010 Census and the response to the 
mailed Short Form.
    The experiment will include treatment groups that encompass three 
objectives. The first objective of the test is to evaluate the effects 
of the wording of the instruction about whom to list as Person 1. The 
instruction used in Census 2000 caused confusion and errors by 
respondents in cognitive interviews. Consequently, the instruction was 
revised to try to correct the problems identified in cognitive testing. 
The revised version has been through two additional rounds of cognitive 
testing, and it seems to promote more accurate responses. The field 
test will provide empirical evidence that we will use to evaluate the 
success of the revised instruction.
    The second goal of the field test is to evaluate an additional 
question series that is designed to alleviate respondent confusion 
about what constitutes a completed form. The additional question will 
provide respondents with a clear stopping point, which is currently 
lacking. (Respondents in previous cognitive interviews spent 
considerable time trying to figure out when and where they are supposed 
to stop.) The final question series will collect the respondent's name, 
phone number, and proxy status. (In some cases, someone outside the 
household completes the questionnaire--e.g., a child of an elderly 
individual. This type of respondent is a ``proxy'' respondent for the 
household.) This information will be used to evaluate the effect of the 
revised instruction on the frequency with which respondents erroneously 
leave themselves off the form. An experimental version will further ask 
respondents to make sure that the forms

[[Page 58181]]

are complete before they mail them back.
    The third goal of the field test is to evaluate how a compressed 
mailing schedule with a ``due date'' on the form impacts the rate and 
speed of response. By ``compressed'' we mean that the mailing schedule 
will differ from the standard 2000 Census approach, where the Short 
Form is mailed 2 weeks before ``Census Day.'' In the compressed 
approach, we will time the mailing so that households receive the 
questionnaire a few days before ``Census Day.'' ``Census Day'' for this 
test will be approximately one month after we receive OMB approval.

Background

    Research by Dillman, Parsons, and Mahon-Taft (2004) revealed that 
the instruction used in Census 2000 caused serious confusion and errors 
by respondents in cognitive interviews. Almost half (13 of 30) of the 
respondents expressed confusion about whom to list as Person 1, and 13 
percent left themselves or someone else off the form entirely. 
Misunderstanding this instruction may cause coverage errors since 
subsequent questions ask for each person's relationship to Person 1--
the householder. Respondents who list the wrong person as Person 1 will 
be reporting relationship incorrectly for the members of their 
households.
    Another challenge in the current questionnaire is that some 
respondents are unclear what constitutes a completed form. Respondents 
in recent cognitive interviews spent considerable time trying to figure 
out when and where they are supposed to stop. While this may not affect 
the quality of the data, it does increase respondent burden and may 
also delay return of the form.
    Finally, the mail back response rate and the speed with which 
households return their questionnaires is highly correlated with the 
cost of the Decennial Census. The current form does not provide 
households with any indication of the questionnaire due date. This fact 
may delay response, and therefore increase the number of contacts 
(followup mailings and in-person contacts) necessary to obtain a 
completed questionnaire.
    Based on these issues, we have designed a field test to evaluate 
new methods to address these concerns. There are three objectives of 
this special mailout test:
    1. Evaluate the effects of the wording of the instruction about who 
to list as Person 1.
    2. Evaluate the proportion of respondents who forget to enumerate 
themselves by asking them to provide their personal information at the 
end of the form.
    3. Evaluate how a compressed schedule with a fixed due date impacts 
unit response patterns.
    In order to assess these treatments, the Census Bureau has proposed 
the following design:
     Group 1. Housing units in this treatment group will 
receive questionnaires with the same wording for the Person 1 
instruction that we used in the Census 2000 questionnaire. In the Final 
Question, respondents will be asked to provide their name, telephone 
number and proxy information. The mail out schedule will be the 
conventional schedule. The questionnaire will be mailed two weeks 
before ``Census Day'', and there will be no explicit deadline.
     Group 2. Housing units in this treatment group will 
receive questionnaires with the revised wording for the Person 1 
instruction. In the Final Question, respondents will be asked to 
provide their name, telephone number and proxy information. The mailout 
schedule will be the conventional schedule. The questionnaire will be 
mailed two weeks before ``Census Day'' and there will be no explicit 
deadline.
     Group 3. Housing units in this treatment group will 
receive questionnaires with the revised wording for the Person 1 
instruction. In the Final Question, respondents will be asked to check 
over their answers before considering the survey complete. The mailout 
schedule will be the conventional schedule. The questionnaire will be 
mailed two weeks before ``Census Day'' and there will be no explicit 
deadline.
     Group 4. Housing units in this treatment group will 
receive questionnaires with the revised wording for the Person 1 
instruction. In the Final Question, respondents will be asked to check 
over their answers before considering the survey complete. The mailout 
schedule will be compressed, so that the survey is received closer to 
``Census Day'' and an explicit due date will be provided.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will select a national sample of households for 
the Short Form Mail Experiment. The sample will be drawn from the U.S. 
Postal Service (USPS) Delivery Sequence File (DSF), which contains all 
delivery point addresses serviced by the USPS. The USPS list sometimes 
misses new housing, includes vacant units, excludes addresses where the 
addressee has requested removal from the list, and may have limited 
information for individuals who live in apartments or who have post 
office boxes and rural route addresses. Even so, it is the most cost 
effective approach available for the test. We do not anticipate that 
the limitations of the address list will have a substantial impact on 
the results of the experiment.
    In order to obtain completed surveys from 10,000 households, we 
plan to draw an initial sample of 24,000 households. (Since previous 
Census Bureau mailout tests have obtained response rates of 40 to 50 
percent, we have assumed a response rate of 45 percent and an 
undeliverable rate of 7 percent.) The sample will be allocated 
proportionately across the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
    We will mail the following independent mailing pieces to households 
at all sampled addresses: An advance letter, an original questionnaire 
with postage-paid return envelope, and a reminder card. A replacement 
questionnaire with postage-paid return envelope will be mailed to those 
who request them. All mailing pieces will be delivered by the USPS via 
first class postage.
    The advance letter will be delivered approximately three weeks 
after we receive approval from OMB to conduct the test. This letter 
will inform respondents that they will soon receive a census form. 
About a week later, each sampled address will receive a mailing package 
that includes the questionnaire (English only) and a return envelope. 
Approximately one week after the initial questionnaires have been 
delivered, the USPS will deliver a reminder post card to each address. 
This postcard--which will be mailed seven days following the mailing of 
the questionnaire--will serve as a thank-you for respondents who have 
mailed back the questionnaire and will be a reminder for those who have 
not. A second postcard, which will be mailed approximately 10 days 
later, will be sent only to non-respondents.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: D-61A.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Maximum Number of Respondents: 24,000 housing units.
    Estimated Time Per Response: All questionnaires will require 
approximately 10 minutes for response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: A maximum burden of 4,000 
hours
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents except 
for their time to respond.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

[[Page 58182]]

    Legal Authority: Title 13 of the United States Code, sections 141 
and 193.

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: September 29, 2005.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-19894 Filed 10-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P