Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Generic Clearance of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics Improvement Projects
| Citation | 84 FR 8905 |
| Record Number | 2019-04478 |
| Published date | 12 March 2019 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Science Foundation |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)
[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
