[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2216-2217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00556]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Cognitive and Psychological Research

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) 
titled, ``Cognitive and Psychological Research,'' to the Office of 
Management

[[Page 2217]]

and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without 
change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). 
Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before February 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201708-112201-004 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) or by email at [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-BLS, 
Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance 
Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Cognitive and Psychological Research information collection. The 
BLS Behavioral Science Research Center (BSRC) conducts psychological 
research focusing on the design and execution of the data collection 
process in order to improve the quality of data collected by the 
Bureau. The research is aimed at improving data collection quality by 
assessing questionnaire/form management and administration, as well as 
issues that relate to interviewer training and interaction with 
respondents during the interview process. BSRC staff work closely with 
economists and/or program specialists responsible for defining the 
concepts to be measured by BLS collection programs. This laboratory 
research enhances BLS survey data quality. Improvements are made by 
examining psychological and cognitive aspects of BLS data collection 
procedures, including questionnaire design, interviewing procedures, 
collection modalities, and administrative technology. The BLS 
Authorizing Statute authorizes this information collection. See 29 
U.S.C. 1, 2.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1220-0141.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on April 30, 2018. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that 
existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2017 (82 FR 
35826).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1220-0141. 
The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-BLS.
    Title of Collection: Cognitive and Psychological Research.
    OMB Control Number: 1220-0141.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits 
and Individuals and Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,300.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 18,300.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 6,300 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

    Dated: January 8, 2018.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-00556 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-24-P