[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58414-58415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23257]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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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 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is the second notice for public comment; 
the first was published in the Federal Register at 77 FR 2012-32699, 
and no

[[Page 58415]]

comment was received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

DATES: 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. The full submission may be found 
at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Comments: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated or other forms of information technology should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and 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 email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: 2013 Survey of Doctorate Recipients.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0020.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    1. Abstract. The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been 
conducted biennially since 1973 and is a longitudinal survey. The 2013 
SDR will consist of a sample of individuals less than 76 years of age 
who have earned a research doctoral degree in a science, engineering or 
health field from a U.S. institution. The purpose of this longitudinal 
panel survey is to collect data that will be used to provide national 
estimates on the U.S.-educated doctoral science and engineering 
workforce and changes in their employment, education and demographic 
characteristics. The SDR is one of the 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 2013 SDR will provide necessary input into 
the SESTAT.
    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.
    The NSF uses the information from the SDR to prepare 
congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons 
with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. The NSF publishes statistics from the SDR in 
many reports, but primarily in the biennial series, Characteristics of 
Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United States. A public 
release file of collected data, designed to protect respondent 
confidentiality, also will be made available to researchers on the 
Internet.
    The survey data collection will begin in February 2013 by web 
survey, mail questionnaire, and computer-assisted telephone interview. 
The survey will be collected in conformance with the Confidential 
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, and the 
individual's response to the survey is voluntary. NSF will ensure that 
all information collected will be kept strictly confidential and will 
be used only for statistical purposes.
    2. Expected Respondents. A statistical sample of approximately 
47,000 individuals with U.S.-earned doctorates in science, engineering 
or health will be contacted in 2013. This sample will include 
approximately 40,000 individuals residing in the U.S. (national 
component) and 7,000 residing abroad (international component). NSF 
expects the response rate to be 70 to 80 percent for both the national 
and international components.
    3. Estimate of Burden. 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. NSF 
estimates that the annual burden will be 13,333 hours for the national 
component and 2,333 hours for the international component. Thus, NSF 
estimates that the total annual burden for both components will be 
15,667 hours.

    Dated: September 17, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-23257 Filed 9-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P