[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 226 (Monday, November 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65969-65970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22905]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Questionnaire Cognitive 
Interview and Pretesting (ARP/DCCPS/NCI)

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment 
on proposed data collection projects, the National Cancer Institute 
(NCI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic 
summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
    Proposed Collection: Title: Questionnaire Cognitive Interview and 
Pretesting. Type of Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and Use 
of Information Collection: The purpose of the data collection is to 
conduct cognitive interviews, focus groups, Pilot household interviews, 
and experimental research in laboratory and field settings, both for 
applied questionnaire evaluation and more basic research on response 
errors in surveys. The most common evaluation method is the cognitive 
interview, in which a questionnaire design specialist interviews a 
volunteer participant. The interviewer administers the draft survey 
questions as written, but also probes the participant in depth about 
interpretations of questions, recall processes used to answer them, and 
adequacy of response categories to express answers, while noting points 
of confusion and errors in responding. Interviews are generally 
conducted in small rounds of 10-15 interviews. When possible, cognitive 
interviews are conducted in the survey's intended mode of 
administration. Cognitive interviewing provides useful information on 
questionnaire performance at minimal cost and respondent burden. 
Similar methodology has been adopted by other federal agencies, as well 
as by academic and commercial survey organizations. There are no costs 
to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized 
burden hours are 600.

[[Page 65970]]

Frequency of Response: Once. Affected Public: Individuals or 
households.

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                                                                                                      Frequency of
              Type of respondents                           Projects                  Number of        responses/       Average hours    Response burden
                                                                                     respondents       participant      per response
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Questionnaire Development Volunteers..........  (1) Survey questionnaire                       200                 1              1.25             250.0
                                                 development.                                                             (75 minutes)
General Volunteers............................  (2) Research on the cognitive                  100                 1              1.25             125.0
                                                 aspects of survey methodology.                                           (75 minutes)
Computer User Volunteers......................  (3) Research on computer-user                  100                 1              1.25             125.0
                                                 interface design.                                                        (75 minutes)
Household Interview Volunteers................  (4) Pilot Household interviews..               200                 1               0.5             100.0
                                                                                                                          (30 minutes)
                                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................  ................................               600  ................  ................             600.0
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    The estimated total annual burden hours requested is 600. There are 
no annualized costs to respondents. The annualized costs to the Federal 
Government are estimated at $264,000 and include cost of NCI staff to 
plan, conduct, and analyze outcomes of questionnaire development, $50 
payment of pretest participants, contracting for pretesting activities 
and research, travel costs, and additional materials needed to conduct 
and recruit participants for the research.
    Request for Comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the 
following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 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; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact Dr. Gordon Willis, PhD., Cognitive Psychologist, 
Applied Research Program, DCCPS, NCI/NIH, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 
7344, EPN 4005, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call non-toll-free number 301-
594-6652 or e-mail your request, including your address to: 
[email protected].
    Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days 
of the date of this publication.

    Dated: November 13, 2007.
Vivian Horovitch-Kelley,
NCI Project Clearance Liaison, National Institutes of Health.
 [FR Doc. E7-22905 Filed 11-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P