Notice2024-24529
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests
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Published
October 23, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentCensus Bureau
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the proposed revision of the American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests, prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to OMB for approval.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84526-84529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24529]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests
AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the
proposed revision of the American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests,
prior to the submission of the information collection request (ICR) to
OMB for approval.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before December 23, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#315052425e1f4143507152545f4244421f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93f2f0e0fcbde3e1f2d3f0f6fde0e6e0bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference American Community Survey
Methods Panel Tests in the subject line of your comments. You may also
submit comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2024-0027, to the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments. All comments received are part of the public
record. No comments will be posted to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> for
public viewing until after the comment period has closed. Comments will
generally be posted without change. All Personally Identifiable
Information (for example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word,
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to G. Brian Wilson, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Office, 301-763-2819, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f082a203d282a610d3d262e21611826233c20210f2c2a213c3a3c61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2e5c7cdd0c5c78ce0d0cbc3cc8cf5cbced1cdcce2c1c7ccd1d7d18cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing monthly survey
that collects detailed social, economic, housing and demographic data
from about 3.5 million addresses in the United States and about 36,000
addresses in Puerto Rico each year (where it is called the Puerto Rico
Community Survey). The ACS also collects detailed data from about
150,000 residents living in group quarters (GQ) facilities in the
United States and Puerto Rico. Resulting tabulations from this data
collection are provided on a yearly basis. The ACS allows the Census
Bureau to provide timely and relevant social, economic, housing, and
demographic statistics, even for low levels of geography.
An ongoing data collection effort with an annual sample of this
magnitude requires that the Census Bureau continue research, tests, and
evaluations aimed at improving data quality, reducing data collection
costs, and improving the ACS questionnaire content and related data
collection materials. The ACS Methods Panel is a research program at
the Census Bureau designed to address and respond to survey issues and
needs of the ACS. As part of the Decennial Census Program, the ACS also
provides an opportunity to research and test elements of survey data
collection that relate to the decennial census. As such, the ACS
Methods Panel can serve as a testbed for the decennial census. From
2025 to 2028, the ACS Methods Panel may test ACS and decennial census
methods for reducing survey cost, addressing respondent burden, and
improving survey response, data quality, and survey efficiencies for
housing units and group quarters. The ACS Methods Panel may also
address other emerging needs of the program.
At this time, proposals are in place for several tests related to
self-response. Tests may also be conducted for nonresponse follow-up
data collection and other ACS operations. Because the ACS Methods Panel
is designed to address emerging issues, we may propose additional
testing as needed. Any testing would focus on methods for reducing data
collection costs, improving data quality, improving the respondent
experience, revising content, or testing new questions for the
Decennial Census Program. The proposed tests are outlined below.
Questionnaire Timing Test: In an effort to boost self-response
rates and decrease survey costs, the Questionnaire Timing Test will
test whether changing the timing of when the ACS paper questionnaire is
sent to sampled addresses can increase self-response (overall and by
data collection mode) and/or reduce data collection costs. The test
will also evaluate the impact of including a Quick Response (QR) code
directing respondents to the internet data collection instrument. If
successful, adopting these changes could decrease data collection costs
associated with the paper questionnaire and the Computer-
[[Page 84527]]
Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) nonresponse follow-up operation.
Internet Instrument Response Option and Error Message Design Test:
This test will provide information to aid the development of web design
standards for household and group quarters data collection instruments
used throughout the Census Bureau. This test will focus on design
standards related to response options and error messages to increase
data quality and the response experience. The test for the response
options will compare the use of standard radio buttons (the current
design) to the use of response buttons, which have a border around the
radio button and response option wording. The response buttons will
highlight when hovered over and change to green once selected. This
test will determine if these changes decrease response time, change
response distributions, or affect item nonresponse. An additional
change is a modification to error message design to explore how
respondents react to a different display. Current error messages
display at the top of the page within a box and use an exclamation mark
and color to draw attention. For missing write-in fields, an arrow
shows where the error occurred. This experiment will test a change in
colors used to draw attention to the error. Instead of an arrow showing
where there is a missing write-in, a change in the write-in border will
be used.
Additional Internet Instrument Testing: In 2013, the ACS
incorporated the use of an internet instrument to collect survey
responses. The design of the instrument reflected the research and
standards of survey data collection at that time. With a growing
population using the internet to respond to the ACS, as well as the
increased use of smartphones and other electronic devices with smaller
screens, an evaluation of the internet instrument is needed. Design
elements will be developed and tested based on input from experts in
survey methodology and web survey design. Testing may include revisions
focused on improving login procedures and screen navigation, improving
the user interface design, as well as methods to decrease respondent
burden. Multiple tests may be conducted.
Self-Response Mail Messaging and Contact Strategies Testing: In
response to declining ACS response rates and increasing data collection
costs, the Census Bureau plans to study methods to increase self-
response to the survey, as this mode of data collection is the least
expensive. The Census Bureau currently sends up to five mailings to a
sampled address to inform the occupants that their address has been
selected to participate in the ACS and to encourage them to self-
respond to the survey. The proposed tests would evaluate changes to the
mailings, including the use of additional plain language to improve
communication, redesigning the visual appearance of the mail materials,
improving messaging to motivate response, and adding or removing
materials included in the mailings. Changes to the contact method, the
number of contacts, and the timing of the contacts may also be tested.
Multiple tests may be conducted.
Content Testing: Working through the Office of Management and
Budget Interagency Committee for the ACS, the Census Bureau will
solicit proposals from other Federal agencies to change existing
questions or add new questions to the ACS. The objective of content
testing is to determine the impact of changing question wording and
response categories, as well as redefining underlying constructs, on
the quality of the data collected. The Census Bureau evaluates changes
to current questions by comparing the revised questions to the current
ACS questions. For new questions, the Census Bureau proposes comparing
the performance of two versions of any new questions and benchmark
results with other well-known sources of such information. The
questions would be tested using all modes of data collection. Response
bias or variance may also be measured to evaluate the questions by
conducting a follow-up interview with respondents. Multiple tests may
be conducted.
Nonresponse Follow-up Data Collection Testing: The Census Bureau is
proposing to test modifications to nonresponse follow-up data
collection operations to increase response to the survey. The proposed
tests would evaluate changes to the materials used by ACS field
representatives (FRs), including changes to the messaging to motivate
response or changes to the types of materials used. Testing may also
include evaluation of modifications to operational approaches and data
collection procedures, such as contact methods and timing. Multiple
tests may be conducted.
II. Method of Collection
The American Community Survey is collected via the following modes:
internet, paper questionnaire, telephone interview, and in-person
interview (CAPI). The Census Bureau sends up to five mailings to
eligible housings units to encourage self-response. Respondents may
receive help by utilizing an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system
(though survey response cannot be provided by IVR). Respondents can
also call our Telephone Questionnaire Assistance (TQA) help line for
help or to respond. FRs may visit a housing unit or sampled GQ facility
to conduct an interview in person or may conduct the interview by
phone. Administrative records are also used to replace, supplement, and
support data collection. The ACS Methods Panel Tests use all of these
modes of data collection or a subset of the modes, depending on the
purpose of the test. Specific modes for the tests are noted below.
Questionnaire Timing Test: This test will evaluate mailout
materials, number of mailings, and the timing of mailouts that solicit
self-response using paper questionnaire responses. The test will
include housing units only.
Internet Instrument Response Option and Error Message Design Test:
This test will assess modifications to the internet instrument
conducted via a split-sample experiment. Only the internet mode of the
self-response phase of data collection is included in the testing.
Additional internet Instrument Testing: This testing will assess
modifications to the internet instrument conducted via split-sample
experiments. Only the internet mode of the self-response phase of data
collection is included in the testing.
Self-Response Mail Messaging and Contact Strategies Testing: This
testing will evaluate mailout materials that solicit self-response
using internet, paper questionnaire, and telephone responses. Tests
will be done as a split sample and will include housing units only.
Content Testing: This testing is for item-level changes and will be
conducted as a split-sample experiment, with half of the sampled
addresses receiving one version of the questions and the other half
receiving a different version of the questions. All modes of ACS data
collection are included in the test. Additionally, a follow-up
reinterview may be conducted with all households that respond to
measure response bias or response variance.
Nonresponse Follow-up Data Collection Testing: This testing will be
done as a split sample focusing on in-person and telephone interviews
conducted by FRs. As part of their interaction with respondents, FRs
also encourage response online and provide materials to respondents.
Respondents may also mail back a paper questionnaire they received
during the self-response phase of the ACS.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0936.
[[Page 84528]]
Form Number(s): ACS-1, ACS-1(GQ), ACS-1(PR)SP, ACS CAPI(HU), and
ACS RI(HU).
Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for a Revision of a
Currently Approved Collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test Estimated number of respondents
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Questionnaire Timing Test.............. 288,000.
Response Option and Error Message 288000.
Design Test.
Additional Internet Instrument Testing. Test A--60,000, Test B--60,000.
Self-Response Mail Messaging and Test A--60,000, Test B--60,000,
Contact Strategies Testing. Test C--60,000.
Content Testing........................ Test A--40,000, Test B--40,000.
Content Testing Follow-up Interview.... Test A--40,000, Test B--40,000.
Nonresponse Follow-up Data Collection 100,000.
Testing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Time per Response:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated time per
Test response
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questionnaire Timing Test........................... 40
Response Option and Error Message Design Test....... 40
Additional Internet Instrument Testing.............. 40
Self-Response Mail Messaging and Contact Strategies 40
Testing............................................
Content Testing..................................... 40
Content Testing Follow-up Interview................. 20
Nonresponse Follow-up Data Collection Testing....... 40
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
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Estimated time
Test Estimated number of respondents per response Total burden
(in minutes) hours
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Questionnaire Timing Test................. 288,000........................... 40 192,000
Response Option and Error Message Design 288000............................ 40 192,000
Test.
Additional Internet Instrument Testing.... Test A--60,000.................... 40 40,000
Test B--60,000.................... 40,000
Self-Response Mail Messaging and Contact Test A--60,000.................... 40 40,000
Strategies Testing. Test B--60,000.................... 40,000
Test C--60,000.................... 40,000
Content Testing........................... Test A--40,000.................... 40 26,667
Test B--40,000.................... 26,667
Content Testing Follow-up Interview....... Test A--40,000.................... 20 13,333
Test B--40,000.................... 13,333
Nonresponse Follow-up Data Collection 100,000........................... 40 66,667
Testing.
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Total (over 3 years) *................ 1,136,000......................... ................ 730,667
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Annual Burden Hours................... 378,667........................... ................ 243,556
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* Note: This is the maximum burden requested for these tests. Every effort is taken to use existing production
sample for testing when the tests do not involve content changes.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (This is not the cost of
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services
required specifically by the collection.)
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 141, 193, and 221.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our
request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address,
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, we
[[Page 84529]]
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-24529 Filed 10-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
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