[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70192-70194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27552]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-20-19BND]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled Cognitive Testing and Pilot Testing for the 
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC 
previously published a ``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations'' notice on August 13, 2019 to obtain 
comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one 
comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an 
additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) 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;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) 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; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy

[[Page 70193]]

of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639-7570 
or send an email to [email protected]. Direct written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the 
Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide 
written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

    Cognitive Testing and Pilot Testing for the National Center for 
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)--New--
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 
(NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health 
Promotion (NCCDPHP) plans to establish a generic clearance to support 
information collection for cognitive testing and pilot testing 
activities. Information collections that support the Behavioral Risk 
Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and other NCCDPHP programs are 
expected to be the major focus of activity under this generic. 
Additional information collections may also be considered for 
submission through this generic clearance if they are relevant to BRFSS 
and NCCDPHP programs or collaborations.
    Cognitive testing and pilot testing are methodological procedures 
conducted to prepare for a large scale or key information collection. 
Cognitive and pilot testing activities are designed to improve 
information quality and the efficiency of information collection by 
addressing issues such as the use of new or existing survey questions, 
question formatting, survey protocols, data collection software systems 
and other related processes.
    Cognitive testing is a technique used to clarify the meaning of 
survey questions and/or the response options for questions. Cognitive 
testing contributes to the understanding of the validity and 
reliability of questions used for a variety of public health purposes. 
Cognitive testing is conducted early in the process of considering 
questions for use in a survey or other information collection activity. 
This type of testing is usually conducted in a controlled setting, such 
as an office setting. Respondents participate in a discussion or 
interview with a trained interviewer and may respond individually or as 
members of focus groups.
    Questions may undergo cognitive testing because they have not been 
used in previous surveys; for example, questions related to the 
emergence of a new public health concern (such as e-cigarettes). In 
addition, testing may be conducted on previously used questions to 
assess their use in a different information collection mode; for 
example, testing might be conducted to convert questions developed for 
a paper survey to an interview format or an electronic survey format; 
or testing might be conducted to identify issues specific to a 
subpopulation or language translation. Respondents are asked to review 
questions and/or surveys to discuss their impressions of the items 
under consideration, the questions, the response set, individual words 
within the question, or the focus of the questionnaire itself. 
Incentives may be offered to respondents who participate in the in-
person phase of cognitive testing since these activities involve 
additional burden and inconvenience.
    Pilot testing is used to determine whether methods or modes of data 
collection (such as phone or mail surveys, in-person interviews or 
online data collection) are appropriate and efficient ways of 
collecting data. Pilot testing may include testing of changes in 
sampling or contacting potential respondents.
    The majority of participants in cognitive and pilot testing 
activities are expected to be adults > 18 years of age. Information may 
be collected during the recruitment process to assist in the selection 
of respondents. Respondents may be recruited to take part in testing 
through online or newspaper advertisements. If the participants are not 
recruited to be present at a physical location, they may be called and 
recruited by telephone.
    Cognitive and pilot testing are efficient means of identifying 
problems with questions and procedures prior to implementation of data 
collection. Thus, they are cost effective approaches to providing 
evidence on survey questionnaire performance. A consequence of 
cognitive and pilot testing is to maintain high levels of participation 
in the information collection process itself.
    Initial response and burden estimates are based on anticipated 
information collection needs for the BRFSS, with an additional 
allocation for a variety of NCCDPHP programs and collaborators. Each 
information collection activity conducted through this generic will be 
submitted to OMB for approval in a project-specific information 
collection request that describes its purpose and methods.
    Participation in cognitive and pilot testing is voluntary, but 
respondents will be encouraged to participate by explanations of the 
need for their input in the introduction of each survey. There are no 
costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annual 
burden is 8,950 hours.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of    Average burden
          Type of respondent                    Form name            Number of     responses per   per response
                                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General U.S. Population or Selected     Screening for cognitive            2,500               1           15/60
 Subpopulation.                          testing.
                                        Screening for pilot                2,400               1           15/60
                                         testing.
                                        Cognitive testing in               1,500               1           60/60
                                         person.
                                        Cognitive testing by               1,500               1           45/60
                                         phone.
                                        Cognitive testing by ABS/            600               1           60/60
                                         mail/web.
                                        Pilot testing in person.           1,000               1           30/60
                                        Pilot testing by phone..           3,000               1           30/60
                                        Pilot testing by ABS/              5,000               1           30/60
                                         mail/web.
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[[Page 70194]]

Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2019-27552 Filed 12-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P