[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1884-1885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00179]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Extend an Information Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. The 
National Science Foundation (NSF) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects.
    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 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.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 11, 
2013 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Suzanne Plimpton, the 
NSF Reports Clearance Officer, phone (703) 292-7556, or send email to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 
days a year (including federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Survey of Earned Doctorates.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend an information 
collection for three years.
    1. Abstract: Established within the National Science Foundation by 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  505, codified in 
the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, the National 
Center

[[Page 1885]]

for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) serves as a central 
Federal clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, analysis, and 
dissemination of objective data on science, engineering, technology, 
and research and development for use by practitioners, researchers, 
policymakers, and the public. The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is 
part of an integrated survey system that meets the human resources part 
of this mission.
    The SED has been conducted annually since 1958 and is jointly 
sponsored by six Federal agencies in order to avoid duplication. It is 
an accurate, timely source of information on one of our Nation's most 
important resources--highly educated individuals. Data are obtained via 
paper questionnaire or Web survey from each person earning a research 
doctorate at the time they receive the degree. Data are collected on 
their field of specialty, educational background, sources of support in 
graduate school, debt level, postgraduation plans for employment, and 
demographic characteristics.
    The Federal government, universities, researchers, and others use 
the information extensively. The National Science Foundation, as the 
lead agency, publishes statistics from the survey in several reports, 
but primarily in the annual publication series, ``Science and 
Engineering Doctorates'' and the Interagency Report, ``Doctorate 
Recipients from U.S. Universities.'' These reports are available in 
print and electronically on the World Wide Web.
    The survey will be collected in conformance with the Privacy Act of 
1974. Responses from individuals are voluntary. NSF will ensure that 
all individually identifiable information collected will be kept 
strictly confidential and will be used for research or statistical 
purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and 
articles.
    2. Expected Respondents: A total response rate of 92.8% of the 
49,010 persons who earned a research doctorate was obtained in academic 
year 2011. This level of response rate has been consistent for several 
years. The respondents will be individuals and the estimated number of 
respondents annually is around 48,000 (based on the 2011 response 
rate).
    3. Estimate of Burden: In 2014, approximately 52,000 individuals 
are expected to receive research doctorates from United States 
institutions. The Foundation estimates that, on average, 20 minutes per 
respondent will be required to complete the survey. The annual 
respondent burden for completing the SED is therefore estimated at 
17,333 hours, based on 52,000 respondents.
    Additional time is needed to complete the Missing Information 
Letter (MIL), which is sent to any survey respondent who did not 
provide data on any of eight ``critical items'' (year of Master's, year 
of Bachelor's, postgraduation location (state or country), birth date, 
citizenship status, race, ethnicity, and gender) on their original 
response. Most MILs address fewer than eight missing items. Based on 
past results, the average respondent is expected to spend two minutes 
completing the MIL. The SED receives an average of 2,000 completed MILs 
each survey round, for an annual MIL completion burden estimate of 67 
hours.
    In addition to the actual survey, the SED also requires the 
collection of administrative data from participating institutions. The 
Institutional Coordinator at the institution helps distribute the 
survey, track it, collect it and submit the completed questionnaires to 
the SED survey contractor. Based on focus groups conducted with 
Institutional Coordinators, it is estimated that the SED demands no 
more than 1% of the Institutional Coordinator's time over the course of 
a year, which computes to 20 hours per year per individual contact (40 
hours per week x 50 weeks per year x .01). With 530 programs 
participating in the SED, the estimated annual burden to Institutional 
Coordinators of administering the SED is 10,600 hours.
    Therefore, the total annual information burden for the SED is 
estimated to be 28,000 hours. This is higher than the last annual 
estimate approved by OMB due to the increased number of respondents 
(doctorate recipients).

    Dated: January 3, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-00179 Filed 1-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P