[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29366-29367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12531]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 75 FR 8408, and no substantial comments were 
received. NSF is forwarding the proposed revised submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether 
the 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 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (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 should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and

[[Page 29367]]

Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science 
Foundation, 725 7th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and 
to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 
or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission 
may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor 
a collection of information unless the collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs 
potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information 
that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: 2010 Survey of Doctorate Recipients.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0020.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to revise an information 
collection for three years.

1. Abstract

    The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been conducted 
biennially since the 1970s. The 2010 SDR will consist of a sample of 
individuals under age 76 who have earned a science, engineering or 
health doctorate from a U.S. university from the NSF's Survey of Earned 
Doctorate, which is an annual census of U.S. research doctorates. The 
purpose of this longitudinal study is to provide national estimates on 
the U.S. educated doctoral science, engineering and health workforce 
and changes in employment, education and demographic characteristics of 
that workforce. The study is one of three components of the Scientists 
and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), which produces national 
estimates of the size and characteristics of the nation's science and 
engineering workforce.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The SDR is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of the nation's 
doctoral scientists and engineers. Collected data will be used to 
produce estimates of the characteristics of these individuals. They 
will also provide necessary input into the SESTAT data system, which 
produces national estimates of the size and characteristics of the 
country's science and engineering personnel. The Foundation uses this 
information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women, 
Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and 
Science and Engineering Indicators. A public release file of collected 
data, designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made 
available to researchers on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of 
Chicago will conduct the study for NSF. Data collection will begin in 
October 2010 by mail, web survey and computer-assisted telephone 
interview. The survey will be collected in conformance with the 
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 
2002 and Privacy Act of 1974. The individual's response to the survey 
is voluntary. NSF will insure that all information collected will be 
kept strictly confidential and will be used only for research or 
statistical purposes.

2. Expected Respondents

    A statistical sample of approximately 43,500 persons, identified as 
having a doctorate in a science, engineering or health field from a 
U.S. university will be contacted. The total response rate in 2008 was 
80 percent.

3. Burden on the Public

    The amount of time to complete the questionnaire may vary depending 
on an individual's circumstances; however, on average it will take 
approximately 25 minutes to complete the survey. Assuming an 80% 
response rate, NSF estimates that the total burden for the 2010 SDR 
will be 14,500 hours.

    Dated: May 20, 2010.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-12531 Filed 5-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P