[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7833-7834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03029]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request renewal of the Generic Clearance of the National Center for 
Science & Engineering Statistics Survey Improvement Projects (3145-
0174). In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing 
opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and 
considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting 
that OMB approve clearance of this collection for three years.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the NSF, including whether the information shall 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, use, and clarity of the information on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by April 18, 
2016 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.
    For Additional Information or Comments: Contact Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (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). You also may obtain a copy of the data collection instrument 
and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Generic Clearance of the National Center for 
Science & Engineering Statistics Improvement Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0174.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: May 31, 2016.

[[Page 7834]]

    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend an information 
collection for three years.
    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 for Science & Engineering Statistics (NCSES) serves as a central 
Federal clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, analysis, and 
dissemination of objective data on science, engineering, technology, 
research and development for use by practitioners, researchers, 
policymakers, and the public. NCSES conducts about a dozen nationally 
representative surveys to obtain the data for these purposes. The 
Generic Clearance will be used to ensure that the highest quality data 
are obtained from these surveys. State of the art methodology will be 
used to develop, evaluate, and test questionnaires and survey concepts 
as well as to improve survey methodology. This may include field or 
pilot tests of questions for future large scale surveys, as needed. The 
Generic Clearance will also be used to test and evaluate data 
dissemination tools and methods, in an effort to improve access for 
data users.
    Use of the Information. The purpose of these studies is to use the 
latest and most appropriate methodology to improve NCSES surveys, 
evaluate new data collection efforts, and evaluate data dissemination 
tools and mechanisms. Methodological findings may be presented 
externally in technical papers at conferences, published in the 
proceedings of conferences, or in journals. Improved NCSES surveys, 
data collections, and data dissemination will help policymakers in 
decisions on research and development funding, graduate education, and 
the scientific and technical workforce, as well as contributing to 
reduced survey costs.
    Expected Respondents. The respondents will be from industry, 
academia, nonprofit organizations, members of the public, and State, 
local, and Federal governments. Respondents will be either individuals 
or institutions, depending on the topic under investigation. 
Qualitative procedures will generally be conducted in person, online 
(using Skype, Webex, or other conferencing tools), or over the phone. 
Quantitative procedures may be conducted using mail, Web, email, or 
phone modes, depending on the topic under investigation. Up to 8,680 
respondents will be contacted across all projects. No respondent will 
be contacted more than twice in one year under this generic clearance. 
Every effort will be made to use technology to limit the burden on 
respondents from small entities.
    Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to improve 
NCSES's current data collection instruments and processes and to reduce 
respondent burden, as well as to develop new surveys and new or 
improved data dissemination tools. Qualitative methods include, but are 
not limited to expert review; exploratory, cognitive, and usability 
interviews; focus groups; and respondent debriefings. Cognitive and 
usability interviews may include the use of scenarios, paraphrasing, 
card sorts, vignette classifications, and rating tasks. Quantitative 
methods include, but are not limited to, telephone surveys; behavior 
coding, split panel tests, and field tests.
    Estimate of Burden. NCSES estimates that a total reporting and 
recordkeeping burden of 11,180 hours will result from activities to 
improve its surveys. The calculation is shown in Table 1.

 Table 1--Potential Surveys for Improvement Projects, With the Number of
                      Respondents and Burden Hours
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                                             Number of       Number of
                                            respondents        hours
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Graduate Student Survey.................            2000            2500
SESTAT Surveys (National Survey of                  1000             500
 College Graduates; Survey of Doctorate
 Recipients)............................
Early Career Doctorate Survey...........             500            1000
Survey of Earned Doctorates.............             600             600
Higher Education Research & Development              300             540
 Survey.................................
State Government Research & Development              150             300
 Survey.................................
Survey of Nonprofit Research Activities.             230             415
Business Research & Development and                   50             150
 Innovation Survey......................
Microbusiness Survey....................             250             500
Survey of Scientific & Engineering                   400             400
 Facilities.............................
Innovation Survey.......................            1500            3000
Public Understanding of Science &                    550             125
 Engineering Survey.....................
Data dissemination tools and mechanisms.             150             150
Other surveys and projects not specified            1000            1000
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................           8,680          11,180
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    Dated: February 3, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-03029 Filed 2-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P