[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51302-51303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20418]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Federal 
Statistical System Public Opinion Survey

AGENCY: U.S. 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 October 27, 2014.

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 Jennifer Hunter Childs, 
[email protected] 202-603-4827, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Center for Survey Measurement, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 
20233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    From December 2009 through April 2010, the Census Bureau contracted 
the Gallup Organization to conduct a nightly poll of the public's 
opinion toward the 2010 Census, public awareness of Census promotional 
efforts, and intent to mail back their Census forms. The nationally 
representative, probability-based, sample of 200 respondents per night, 
sampled from RDD and cell frames, estimates, based on aggregating these 
data over week-long time periods provided nearly immediate feedback on 
public reaction to national events that could possibly influence 
response to the 2010 Census, and on the success or failure of our 
communications campaign messaging.
    The Census Bureau used this feedback to make communication campaign 
decisions during data collection that contributed to achieving a mail-
back participation rate of 74%, despite increased vacancy rates due to 
the economic downturn, increased public skepticism about the role of 
the Federal Government, and a general decline in survey response rates 
during the decade that crossed both public and private sector surveys.
    From February 2012 through March 2014, the Gallup Organization 
conducted the Federal Statistical System (FSS) Public Opinion Survey 
conducted under a contract with the U.S. Census Bureau. The mission 
critical objective was to track public opinion toward statistics 
produced by the Federal Government. During this time, we saw a 
relatively stable level of trust in Federal statistics until several 
events became headlines in the news, including scandals involving the 
IRS and NSA and then the Government shutdown of 2013. As these events 
progressed, we saw a downturn in trust in Federal statistics, which 
also happened to correlate with a decrease in response rates to several 
Census Bureau surveys. Without being able to determine causal factors, 
we are interested in pursuing further data collection to try to 
understand these possible causal relationships. To date, the data have 
been gathered nightly from small (n = 200) independent cross-

[[Page 51303]]

section samples of individuals participating in a general multi-topic 
Random Digit Dial (RDD) telephone survey. We collected 200 cases per 
night, leading up to 1,400 cases per week and 6,000 cases per month, 
etc. The nightly sample data was aggregated over weeks or months to 
examine trends in attitudes towards the FSS. The cross-sectional design 
offered the opportunity to examine large marginal shifts in attitudes 
on a daily basis. The cross-sectional design precluded examination of 
small daily marginal changes in attitudes, as well as any change at the 
individual level. The design also limited our ability to relate events 
in the news, such as the IRS and NSA stories, to shifts in opinion 
toward Federal statistics.
    The objective of the planned study is to conduct a nationally 
representative sample survey of public opinion, primarily on attitudes 
toward the FSS and the use of Federal statistics. The collected data 
will be used to track changes in attitudes towards the FSS and in data 
use. The data will also enable the Census Bureau to assess how news 
events related to the statistical system or government and public 
perceptions of these events affects usage of and attitudes towards 
Federal statistics. The methodology for the planned survey is very 
similar to the recently conducted FSS Public Opinion Survey, however 
with a smaller weekly sample with additional questions that will allow 
us to examine possible causal factors over time. The smaller sample 
size makes this data collection cheaper, and thus possible to continue 
this survey for a longer period of time.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau plans to add a minimum of 7 and up to 25 
questions at a time to a sample of cases in the Gallup Daily Tracking, 
which is an ongoing daily survey asking U.S. adults about various 
political, economic, and well-being topics. The initial 7 questions 
will allow us to continue the time series began under the previous 
study and to add open-ended questions which will allow us to measure 
change in the basis of attitudes. The additional questions will allow 
us to investigate other issues that could be related to trust and other 
perceptions of the FSS.
    The survey methodology for the planned collection is the same as 
the past collection. It includes sample coverage in Alaska and Hawaii, 
and relies on a three-call design to reach respondents not contacted on 
the initial attempt. The survey methods for the Gallup Daily Tracking 
rely on live interviews, dual-frame sampling (which includes listed 
landline interviewing as well as cell phone sampling to reach those in 
cell phone-only households, cell phone-mostly households, and unlisted 
landline-only households), and a random selection method for choosing 
respondents within the household. The Census Bureau will ask questions 
of 850 respondents a week who participate in the Gallup Daily Tracking 
from March 1, 2015 through October 31, 2019.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0969.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 44,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,367.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Chapter 5.

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: August 22, 2014.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-20418 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P