[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39377-39378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16850]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2012 Survey of 
Income and Program Participation Event History Calendar (SIPP-EHC) 
Instrument--Computer Audio Recorded Interviewing (CARI) Field Test

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 39378]]

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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Patrick J. Benton, Census Bureau, Room HQ-6H045, 
Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 763-4618.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct a CARI technology field test 
using the 2012 SIPP-EHC platform from March to May of 2012. The SIPP-
EHC is an experimental household-based survey designed as a continuous 
series of national panels molded around an annual interview structured 
with an event history calendar and collecting detailed monthly data for 
a central ``core'' of labor force and income questions. CARI is a data 
collection method that captures audio along with response data during 
computer-assisted personal and telephone interviews (CAPI & CATI). A 
portion of each interview is recorded unobtrusively, with the 
respondent's consent, and the sound file and screen images are returned 
with the response data to a central location for coding.
    By reviewing the recorded portions of the interview, quality 
assurance analysts can evaluate the likelihood that the exchange 
between the field representative and respondent is authentic and 
follows critical survey protocol as defined by the sponsor and based on 
best practices. The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI test instrument will utilize the 
CARI Interactive Data Access System (CARI System), an innovative, 
integrated, multifaceted monitoring system that features a configurable 
Web-based interface for behavior coding, quality assurance and 
coaching. This system assists in coding interviews for measuring 
question and interviewer performance and the interaction between 
interviewers and respondents.
    The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test will visit survey respondents 
never before interviewed in SIPP. The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI test will 
interview respondents using the previous calendar year, 2011, as the 
reference period. The content of the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI test will match 
that of the 2012 SIPP-EHC test conducted as a wave 2 reinterview from 
January to March of 2012 with the addition of the recording consent 
question. In addition to the activation of the recording capabilities 
of the 2012 SIPP-EHC instrument, the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI test adds the 
consent question to the questionnaire which will record the 
respondent's permission to audio record responses. Additionally, 
approximately 20 specific questions are programmed to be recorded 
during each person's interview. Based on sponsor requirements related 
to interviewer critical performance behaviors, the CARI technology 
would be used in addition to other measures of interviewer performance.
    This is the second CARI field test conducted by the Census Bureau. 
The first CARI field test was used to conduct behavior-coding for the 
2010 American Community Survey Content Test in early 2011. The Census 
Bureau is conducting this test to determine if the deployment of CARI 
will have any significant impact on response rates and item level 
responses. The primary focus will be to examine the impact that 
recording has on the quality of data. Approximately 1,300 addresses 
will be selected for the 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test, yielding about 
900 interviewed households. We estimate that each household contains 
2.1 people aged 15 and above, yielding approximately 1,890 person-level 
interviews in this field test. Interviews take 60 minutes on average. 
The total annual burden hours for 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test 
interviews will be 1,890 hours in FY 2012.

II. Method of Collection

    The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI Field Test instrument will reference 
calendar year 2011. The interview is conducted in person with all 
household members 15 years old or over using regular proxy-respondent 
rules. The 2012 SIPP-EHC CARI test will record the respondent's consent 
to audio record their responses, and will record approximately 20 
predetermined questions during each person's interview.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: none.
    Form Number: SIPP/CAPI Automated Instrument.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,890 people.
    Estimated Time per Response: 60 minutes per person on average.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,890.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is their 
time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.

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: June 30, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-16850 Filed 7-5-11; 8:45 am]
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