[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8905-8906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04478]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
Generic Clearance of the National Center for Science and Engineering 
Statistics Improvement Projects

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for 
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public 
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer 
than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 13, 2019 
to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Generic Clearance of the National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics Improvement Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0174.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: July 31, 2019.
    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 and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)--one of 13 
principal federal statistical agencies--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 and statistical 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 engineering 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 7,595 
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 and quantitative methods 
that may be used include, but are not limited, to the following: 
Behavior

[[Page 8906]]

coding, split panel tests, field tests, expert reviews, focus groups, 
respondent debriefings, exploratory interviews, cognitive interviews, 
and usability tests. Cognitive interviews and usability tests may 
include the use of scenarios, paraphrasing, card sorts, vignette 
classifications, and rating tasks. NCSES may conduct these studies 
using interviewer-administered or self-administered methods, including 
online convenience samples.
    Estimate of Burden. NCSES estimates that a total reporting and 
recordkeeping burden of 15,610 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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Early Career Doctorate Survey...........             500             500
Survey of Earned Doctorates.............           1,200             600
Other surveys of the science and                   1,600             450
 engineering workforce..................
Higher Education Research & Development              300             500
 Survey.................................
Federally Funded Research & Development               60             120
 Centers (FFRDC) Survey.................
Federal Labs Survey (possible future                 275             525
 survey)................................
State Government Research & Development              150             225
 Survey.................................
Survey of Nonprofit Research Activities.             225             550
Business Research & Development Survey..              50             150
Annual Business Survey..................             300             450
Survey of Scientific & Engineering                   300             300
 Facilities.............................
Public Understanding of Science &                    550             125
 Engineering Survey.....................
Data dissemination tools and mechanisms.             100             100
Other surveys and projects not specified          10,000           3,000
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Total...............................          15,610           7,595
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    Dated: March 7, 2019.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2019-04478 Filed 3-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P