Notice2021-19286
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 8, 2021
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request approval for the collection of research and development data through the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites and Supplements Evaluation. In accordance with the requirement 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 that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 171 (Wednesday, September 8, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50378-50380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19286]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information
Collection
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
request approval for the collection of research and development data
through the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and
Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites and
Supplements Evaluation. In accordance with the requirement 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 that OMB approve
clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by November 8,
2021 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
[[Page 50379]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue,
Alexandria, VA 22314; or send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2d1d2cecbcfd2d6cde2ccd1c48cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88fbf8e4e1e5f8fce7c8e6fbeea6efe7fe">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: Computer and Information Science and
Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites and
Supplements Evaluation.
OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not applicable.
Type of Request: Intent to establish an information collection.
Abstract: Every year the National Science Foundation (NSF) funds
hundreds of Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) activities
through its REU program. The Directorate of Computer and Information
Science and Engineering (CISE) is seeking to evaluate the effectiveness
of the CISE REU program.
The REU program provides undergraduate students at US higher
education institutions with opportunities to work with faculty on a
research project. They can take the form of REU Sites or REU
Supplements. REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate
and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU
Supplements are included as a component of proposals for new or renewal
NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing
NSF-funded research projects.
By offering this opportunity to undergraduate students, the REU
program seeks to expand student participation in all kinds of
research--both disciplinary and interdisciplinary--encompassing efforts
by individual investigators, groups, centers, national facilities, and
others. The REU experience integrates research and education to attract
a diverse pool of talented students into careers in science and
engineering, including teaching and education research related to
science and engineering.
The current data collection project intends to measure the impact
of the undergraduate REU Sites and REU Supplements programs sponsored
by NSF CISE. The project will conduct online surveys to track NSF CISE
REU participants over time--including pre-program, post-program and
one-year post-program measurement--alongside two comparison groups: (1)
Students participating in other undergraduate research, and (2)
students who do not participate in research. The researchers will
supplement REU participants' survey data with demographic and
background information collected via the NSF Education and Training
Application (ETAP). The evaluation and research questions guiding this
project include the following:
1. Who are the students reached through the NSF REU Program, and
how do they compare to students participating in other types of
research experiences and to students in the broader CISE community?
2. How do CISE REU Sites and REU Supplements differ from other
research experiences (e.g., other REUs, internships, and independent
research projects)?
3. To what extent are the goals of the NSF REU Program being met by
the individual projects within the program, including recruitment and
retention of students in science and engineering fields and increasing
diversity in these fields?
4. In what ways does participation in REU Sites, REU Supplements,
internships, and/or other independent research experiences impact
student attitudes and pathways to CISE careers and other research
experiences?
5. In what ways does participation in the REU Sites and REU
Supplements impact recruitment and retention of students who are
underrepresented in computing?
Ultimately, the findings from this data collection will be used to
understand and improve the impact of the CISE REU program, including
increasing recruitment and retention in science and engineering and
promoting a diverse group of computing/STEM careers.
Use of the information: The information collected through this
survey will be used to evaluate the NSF CISE REU Program.
Respondents: There will be three types of survey respondents: NSF
CISE REU Site and Supplement participants, a comparison group of
undergraduate students who participate in other, non-NSF REU research
experiences, and a comparison group of undergraduate students who do
not participate in research.
NSF CISE REU participants will include undergraduate students who
participate in REU projects in which the project's Principal
Investigator chooses to use NSF-sponsored program evaluation services.
Participants from the two comparison groups will be identified and
recruited from a pool of undergraduates in computing fields who have
participated in a prior survey of the Computing Research Association
and have agreed to be contacted for future data collection.
Estimated number of respondents: The study's data collection
activities will occur over a span of 2\1/3\ years. It is estimated that
during this time, there will be approximately 3,500 NSF CISE REU survey
respondents and 6,000 comparison group survey respondents, for a total
of 9,500 respondents.
Average time per reporting: Each online survey is designed to be
completed in 20 minutes or less.
Frequency: Each NSF CISE REU participant will be asked to complete
three surveys: (1) A pre-test before they begin their REU project; (2)
a post-test, after their REU ends; and (3) a one-year follow-up survey.
Within the data collection timeline for this project, this will allow
for two full data collection cycles, plus a third subset of Year 3
summer REU participants who will only complete a pre-test and a post-
test, but no follow-up survey. Each comparison group participant,
including both those with a different research experience and those
with no research experience, will be asked to complete a pre-test
survey and a follow-up survey occurring approximately one year later.
There will be two full data collection cycles for comparison group
participants.
Estimate burden on the public: For REU participants, there will be
two full cycles of data collection (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up)
and one partial cycle. It is expected that a total of 3,500 REU
respondents will complete a 20-minute pre-survey in the project. Of
these 3,500 REU participant respondents, we expect that approximately
70%, or 2,450, will complete a 20-minute post-survey. For the follow-up
survey, only the REU participants from the first two years of the data
collection would be able to complete the survey within the time range
of the study (N=3,000). It is expected that approximately 50% of these
respondents, or 1,500, will complete a 20-minute one-year follow-up
survey. This would result in a total of 7,450 20-minute surveys
completed by REU respondents, for a total of 2,483 burden hours for
this subset of respondents.
For comparison group participations, there will be two full cycles
of data collection. It is expected that a total of 6,000 respondents
will complete a 20-minute pre-survey in the project. Of these 6,000
comparison group respondents, approximately 50%, or
[[Page 50380]]
3,000, are expected to complete a 20-minute one-year follow-up survey.
The total estimate for this collection is 9,000 surveys completed
by comparison group respondents, for a total of 3,000 burden hours.
Together, the total estimated survey burden for the project is 5,483
hours. The calculations are shown in Table 1.
Table 1--Estimated Survey Burden
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Number of year 3 Participation
Category of respondent Number of year Number of year responses time (mins Burden (hours)
1 responses 2 responses (partial year) each)
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REU participant Pre-survey.... 1,500 1,500 500............. 20 1,166.67
REU participant Post-survey 1,050 1,050 350............. 20 816.67
(70% of original).
REU participant Follow-up 750 750 Not conducted... 20 500
survey (50% of original).
Comparison participant Pre- 3,000 3,000 Not conducted... 20 2,000
survey.
Comparison participant Post- 1,500 1,500 Not conducted... 20 1,000
survey (50% of original).
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Total surveys completed... 7,800 7,800 850............. 20 5,483
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Comments: Comments are invited on:
1. Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for
the evaluation of the CISE REU Sites and Supplements Program.
2. The accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information.
3. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Dated: September 1, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-19286 Filed 9-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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