[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 23743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09370]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Generic 
Clearance for Questionnaire Pretesting Research

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 June 21, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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 Theresa J. DeMaio, U.S. Census Bureau, Room 5K-
319, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-9150, (301) 763-4894 
(or via the Internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request an extension of the current OMB 
approval to conduct a variety of small-scale questionnaire pretesting 
activities under this generic clearance. A block of hours will be 
dedicated to these activities for each of the next three years. OMB 
will be informed in writing of the purpose and scope of each of these 
activities, as well as the time frame and number of burden hours used. 
The number of hours used will not exceed the number set aside for this 
purpose.
    This research program will be used by the Census Bureau and survey 
sponsors to improve questionnaires and procedures, reduce respondent 
burden, and ultimately increase the quality of data collected in the 
Census Bureau censuses and surveys. The clearance will be used to 
conduct pretesting of decennial, demographic, and economic census and 
survey questionnaires prior to fielding them. Pretesting activities 
will involve one of the following methods of identifying measurement 
problems with the questionnaire or survey procedure: Cognitive 
interviews, focus groups, respondent debriefing, behavior coding of 
respondent/interviewer interaction, and split panel tests.

II. Method of Collection

    Any of the following methods may be used: Mail, telephone, face-to-
face, paper-and-pencil, CATI, CAPI, Internet, or IVR.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0725.
    Form Number: Various.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Farms, Business or 
other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondent, except 
for their time to complete the questionnaire.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 131, 141, 142, 161, 181, 182, 193, 
and 301.

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 house 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: April 17, 2013.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-09370 Filed 4-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P