[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20321-20322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08385]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2026 Survey of Earned
Doctorates
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
following information collection requirements to OMB for review and
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal
Register, and two comments were received. NSF is forwarding the
proposed submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
E6400, 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).
Comments: Comments regarding (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; 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 should be addressed to the points
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number, and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such persons are not required to
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Survey of Earned Doctorates.
OMB Control Number: 3145-0019.
Summary of Collection: The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is
part of NCSES' survey system that collects data on individuals in an
effort to provide information on science and engineering education and
careers in the United States. The SED has been conducted annually since
1958 and is jointly sponsored by four Federal agencies (NSF/NCSES,
National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Education/National
Center for Education Statistics, and National Endowment for the
Humanities) to avoid duplication of
[[Page 20322]]
effort in collecting such data. The authority to collect information
for the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is established under the
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, Public Law 507 (42
U.S.C. 1862), Section 3(a) (6), which directs the NSF ``. . . to
provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and
analysis of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide
a source of information for policy formation by other agencies of the
federal government.''
This request to extend the information collection for three years
is to cover the 2026 and 2027 SED survey cycles. Data are obtained
primarily via Web survey from each person earning a research doctorate
at the time they receive the degree. Graduate schools help distribute
the SED to their graduating doctorate recipients. Nonrespondents to the
web survey are followed up by computer-assisted telephone interviewing.
The survey will be collected in conformance with the NSF Act of
1950, as amended, and the Privacy Act of 1974. Responses from
individuals are voluntary. Data are collected on their field of
specialty, educational background, sources of support in graduate
school, debt level, postgraduation plans, and demographic
characteristics. NCSES will ensure that all individually identifiable
information collected will be kept strictly confidential and will be
used for research or statistical purposes, analyzing data, and
preparing scientific reports and articles.
Use of the Information: NCSES, as the lead agency, publishes
statistics from the survey in several reports, but primarily in the
annual publication series reporting on all fields of study, titled
Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities. Information from the SED
is also used to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as
Science and Engineering Indicators.
Expected Respondents: The SED is a census of all individuals
receiving a research doctorate from an accredited U.S. academic
institution in an academic year (AY) beginning 1 July and ending 30
June of the following year. Based on the historical trend, NCSES
expects that approximately 58,000 individuals will receive a research
doctorate from U.S. institutions in AY2026, and approximately 58,500 in
AY2027. NCSES estimates the response rate will be 92 percent for both
the 2026 and 2027 SED survey cycles. In addition to the survey
completion of individuals receiving their research doctorates, the SED
requires the collection of administrative data such as graduation lists
from approximately 650 Institutional Coordinators at the participating
institutions who help to distribute the Web survey link, track survey
completions, and submit information to the SED survey contractor.
Estimate of Burden: Based on an average Web survey completion time
of 19.5 minutes, the respondent burden for completing the 2026 SED is
estimated at 17,342 hours (58,000 doctorate recipients x 92% response x
19.5 minutes) and the total respondent burden to be 17,492 hours in
2027 (58,500 doctorate recipients x 92% response x 19.5 minutes). With
about 650 Institutional Coordinators (ICs) expected to participate in
the 2026 and 2027 SED, the estimated burden to ICs is 13,000 hours for
each survey cycle. Therefore, the total burden for the SED is estimated
to be 30,342 (17,342 + 13,000) hours in the 2026 survey cycle and
30,492 (17,492 + 13,000) hours in the 2027 survey cycle. NCSES
estimates that the average annual burden for the 2026 and 2027 survey
cycles over the course of the three-year OMB clearance period will be
no more than 20,278 hours [(30,342 hours + 30,492 hours)/3 years].
Dated: May 8, 2025.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2025-08385 Filed 5-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P