[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75522-75523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31015]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: 2012 Survey of Income and Program Participation Computer 
Audio Recorded Interviewing Field Test.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): SIPP-CARI 2012 DR 105(L)--Director's Letter 
English; SIPP-CARI 2012 DR 105(L)(SP) 2012--Director's Letter Spanish; 
SIPP-EHC 4006A Brochure ``SIPP You Represent Your Nation;'' SIPP/CARI 
Automated Instrument.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden Hours: 1,890.
    Number of Respondents: 1,890.
    Average Hours per Response: 1 hour.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct a Computer Audio 
Recorded Interviewing (CARI) technology field test using the 2012 
Survey of Income and Program Participation Event History Calendar 
(SIPP-EHC) Field Test questionnaire.
    Computer Audio Recorded Interviewing 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 is returned with the response data to a central 
location. By reviewing the recorded portions of the interview, quality 
assurance (QA) analysts can evaluate the likelihood that the exchange 
between the field representative (FR) and respondent is authentic and 
follows critical survey protocol as defined by the sponsor and based on 
best practices.
    The Census Bureau will conduct the SIPP CARI test using the 2012 
SIPP-EHC automated instrument and computer-assisted personal 
interviewing (CAPI) in 6 of the 12 Regional Offices. The SIPP CARI 
questionnaire will have the recording capability in use during the 
interview. The only content change to the instrument is the addition of 
a consent question which will record the respondent's permission to 
audio record responses. Additionally, approximately 25 specific 
questions are programmed for recording for each person's interview.
    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 late 2010. 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. Previous tests for CARI have proven the capability of the 
technology. Other tests have also been conducted on non-voluntary 
surveys and proved promising. However, it is important for the Census 
Bureau to obtain information on the impact of this technology on data 
quality indicators for voluntary demographic surveys. If the test 
proves successful, this technology would be a major asset for all 
programs using computer assisted personal and telephone modes of data 
collection to assist in meeting quality objectives.
    The 2012 SIPP CARI test will be conducted between May and June 
2012. We will implement the CARI technology on a portion of the 2012 
SIPP-EHC data collection instrument. This test will be conducted on a 
separate sample than that of the 2012 SIPP-EHC field test.
    In addition to the actual recording capability, the CARI 
Interactive Data Access System has been developed as a monitoring 
system that allows for the analysis of audio and image files to be 
conducted immediately after completion and transmission of the 
interview. The system is an innovative, integrated, multifaceted 
monitoring system that features a configurable web-based interface for 
behavior-coding, quality assurance and coaching. The system assists in 
coding interviews for measuring question and interviewer performance 
and the interaction between interviewers and respondents.
    The 2012 SIPP CARI field test instrument will be evaluated in 
several domains including field implementation issues and data quality 
vis-[agrave]-vis the SIPP 2011 and 2012 field test results.

[[Page 75523]]

Household non-response rates and item non-response rates will be 
compared to the 2011 and 2012 SIPP tests. The primary focus will be to 
examine the impact recording has on the quality of data. In general, we 
will use the following methodology to evaluate the impact on data 
quality:
    We will compare overall and item non response rates to parallel 
sample areas from the 2011 and 2012 SIPP evaluations. We will also 
recalculate and compare key estimates such as participation in Food 
Stamps, TANF, SSI, WIC, and Medicaid to parallel sample areas from the 
2011 and 2012 SIPP evaluations. Tests of significance will be conducted 
for the differences in response rates and estimates and patterns of 
significance will be identified and analyzed further. In addition, 
paradata related to interview performance (length and non-response) by 
region, interviewer and household characteristics, and training 
performance will be measured to assist in the interpretation of the 
impact on data quality.
    Results from the 2012 field test will be used to inform and make 
final decisions regarding the implementation of CARI as a part of the 
quality assurance strategy for the SIPP instrument for production 
beginning in 2014 as well as other reimbursable demographic surveys.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: One-time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax ((202) 395-
7245) or email ([email protected]).

    Dated: November 29, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-31015 Filed 12-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P