[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4664-4665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01791]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 
National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing 
plans to request renewal of the NCSES Generic Clearance for Improvement 
Projects (3145-0174). 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, NCSES will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve 
clearance of this collection for three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 29, 
2022 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to the 
address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18253, 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: NCSES Generic Clearance for Improvement 
Projects.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0174.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: July 31, 2022.
    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

[[Page 4665]]

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 Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other conferencing tools), or over the 
phone. Quantitative procedures may be conducted using mail, Web, email, 
smartphone app, or telephone modes, depending on the topic under 
investigation. Up to 28,515 respondents may 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 coding, split panel tests, experimental pilot studies, field 
tests, 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, rating tasks, or participatory design 
methods (e.g., collaborative digital whiteboards). 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 11,500 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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                                              2022-25
    Survey or information collection         number of        2022-25
                                            respondents      number of
---------------------------------------------------------------hours----
Survey of Doctorate Recipients..........           5,000           1,100
Survey of Earned Doctorates.............           2,500             945
National Training, Education, and                    660             400
 Workforce Survey.......................
Other surveys of the science and                   1,250             550
 engineering workforce..................
Higher Education Research & Development              450             350
 Survey.................................
Federally Funded Research & Development               80             100
 Centers (FFRDC) Survey.................
State Government Research & Development              150             225
 Survey.................................
Survey of Nonprofit Research Activities.             200             200
Business Enterprise Research &                        50             150
 Development Survey.....................
Survey of Scientific & Engineering                   300             200
 Facilities.............................
Public Perceptions of Science...........           1,100             180
Data dissemination tools and mechanisms.           3,100             800
Projects conducted under the NCSES Broad           3,675           3,300
 Agency Announcement (BAA)..............
Other surveys and projects not specified          10,000           3,000
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................          28,515          11,500
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    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of NCSES, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of NCSES'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.

    Dated: January 25, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-01791 Filed 1-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P