[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51641-51642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7238]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on this information collection.

DATES: Written comments should be received by October 30, 2006 to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 201 Wilson Blvd., Rm 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, the NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer, phone (703) 292-7556, or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance of the Science Resources Statistics Survey 
Improvement Projects.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0174.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2009.
    Abstract: Generic Clearance of the Science Resources Statistics 
Survey Improvement Projects. The National Science Foundation's Division 
of Science Resources Statistics (NSF/SRS) needs to collect timely data 
on constant changes in the science and technology sector and to provide 
the most complete

[[Page 51642]]

and accurate information possible to policymakers in Congress and 
throughout government and academia, NSF/SRS conducts many surveys to 
obtain the data for these purposes. The Generic Clearance will be used 
to ensure that the highest quality data is obtained from these surveys. 
State-of-the-art methodology will be used to develop, evaluate, and 
test questionnaires and survey concepts as well as to improve survey 
methodology. This may include field or pilot tests of questions for 
future large-scale surveys, as needed.
    Expected Respondents: The respondents will be from industry, 
academia, nonprofit organizations, members of the public, and state, 
local, and federal governments. Respondents will be either individuals 
or institutions, depending upon the survey under investigation. 
Qualitative procedures will generally be conducted in person or over 
the phone, but quantitative procedures may be conducted using mail, 
web, e-mail, or phone modes, depending on the topic under 
investigation. Up to 19,150 respondents will be contacted across the 
survey improvement projects. No respondent will be contacted more than 
twice in one year under this generic clearance. Every effort will be 
made to use technology to limit the burden on respondents from small 
entities.
    Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to improve 
NSF's current data collection instruments and processes and to reduce 
respondent burden, as well as to develop new surveys. Qualitative 
methods include, but are not limited to, expert review; exploratory, 
cognitive, and usability interviews; focus groups; and respondent 
debriefings. Cognitive and usability interviews may include the use of 
scenarios, paraphrasing, card sorts, vignette classifications, and 
rating tasks. Quantitative methods include, but are not limited to, 
telephone surveys, behavior coding, split panel tests, and field tests.
    Information being collected is not considered sensitive. In 
general, assurances of data confidentiality will not be provided to 
respondents in the pretests. Instead, respondents have the option of 
requesting that any and all data they provide be kept confidential.
    Use of the Information: The purpose of these studies is to use the 
latest and most appropriate methodology to improve NSF surveys. The 
data will be used internally to improve NSF surveys. Methodological 
findings may be presented externally in technical papers at 
conferences, published in the proceedings of conferences, or in 
journals. Improved NSF surveys will help policy makers in decisions on 
research and development fundings, graduate education, scientific and 
technical workforce, regulations, and reporting guidelines, as well as 
contributing to reduced survey costs.
    Burden on the Public: NSF estimates that a total reporting and 
recordkeeping burden of 14,950 hours will result from activities to 
improve its surveys. The calculation is:

 Table 1.--Anticipated Surveys To Undertake Improvement Projects, Along
  With the Number of Respondents and Burden Hours per Survey for Three
                               Year Period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of
               Survey name                respondents\1\       Hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graduate Student Survey.................       \2\ 5,000           3,000
SESTAT Surveys..........................          10,000           5,000
Postdoc Project.........................             800           1,600
New and Redesigned R&D Surveys:
    Academic R&D........................             600           1,200
    Government R&D......................              50             100
    Nonprofit R&D.......................             200             100
    Industry R&D........................             500           2,000
Survey of Scientific & Engineering                   300             150
 Facilities.............................
Public Understanding of S&E Surveys.....             200              50
Survey of Earned Doctorates.............             300             550
Additional surveys not specified........           1,200           1,200
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................          19,150         14,950
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\1\ Number of respondents listed for any individual survey may represent
  several methodological improvement projects.
\2\ This number refers to the science, engineering, and health-related
  departments within the academic institutions of the United States (not
  the academic institutions themselves).

    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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or including in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 25, 2006.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-7238 Filed 8-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M