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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
0607-0969
ICR Reference No:
201603-0607-005
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
201508-0607-005
Agency/Subagency:
DOC/CENSUS
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Federal Statistical System Public Opinion Survey
Type of Information Collection:
No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
04/15/2016
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
03/29/2016
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
10/31/2018
10/31/2018
10/31/2018
Responses
44,200
0
44,200
Time Burden (Hours)
7,367
0
7,367
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
From December 2009 through April 2010, the Census Bureau contracted the Gallup Organization to conduct a nightly poll of the public's opinion toward the 2010 Census, public awareness of Census promotional efforts, and intent to mail back their Census forms. This nationally representative, probability-based, sample of 200 respondents per night was sampled from random digit dialing (RDD) and cell frames, The estimates which were based on aggregating these data over week-long time periods, provided nearly immediate feedback on public reaction to national events that could possibly influence response to the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau used this feedback to make communication campaign decisions during data collection that contributed to achieving a mail-back participation rate of 74%, despite increased vacancy rates due to the economic downturn, increased public skepticism about the role of the Federal Government, and a general decline in survey response rates during the decade that crossed both public and private sector surveys. From February 2012 through March 2014, the Gallup Organization incorporated the Federal Statistical System (FSS) Public Opinion questions into an ongoing Gallup Daily Tracking Survey, under a contract with the U.S. Census Bureau. The mission critical objective was to track public opinion toward statistics produced by the Federal Government. During this time, we saw a relatively stable level of trust in Federal statistics until several events became headlines in the news, including scandals involving the IRS and NSA and then the Government shutdown of 2013. As these events progressed, we saw a downturn in trust in Federal statistics, which also happened to correlate with a decrease in response rates to several Census Bureau surveys. It would be useful to collect additional data to further explore these relationships. To date, the data have been gathered nightly from small (n=200) independent cross-sectional samples of individuals participating in a general multi-topic Random Digit Dial (RDD) telephone survey. We collected 200 cases per night, leading up to 1,400 cases per week and 6,000 cases per month, etc. The nightly sample data was aggregated over weeks or months to examine trends in attitudes towards the FSS. The cross-sectional design offered the opportunity to examine large marginal shifts in attitudes on a daily basis. The cross-sectional design precluded examination of small daily marginal changes in attitudes, as well as any change at the individual level. Because we did not specifically ask about potentially-influential events, the design also limited our ability to relate very specific events in the news, such as the IRS and NSA stories, to shifts in opinion toward Federal statistics. The objective of the planned study is to conduct a nationally representative sample survey of public opinion, primarily on attitudes toward the FSS and the use of Federal statistics. The collected data will be used to track changes in attitudes towards the FSS and in data use. The data will also enable the Census Bureau to assess how news events related to the statistical system or government and public perceptions of these events affects usage of and attitudes towards Federal statistics. The methodology for the planned survey is very similar to the recently-conducted FSS Public Opinion Survey (described above), however with a smaller weekly sample with additional questions that will allow us to examine possible predictors of change over time. The smaller sample size makes this data collection cheaper, and thus possible to continue this survey for a longer period of time.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
13 USC Chapter 5 Sections 141 and 193
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
79 FR 51302
08/28/2015
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
80 FR 52735
09/01/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
1
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Federal Statistical System Public Opinion Survey
FSS POS
FSS POS
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
44,200
44,200
0
0
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
7,367
7,367
0
0
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
Burden hours shown as increase due to the previous years' reported hours not shown.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$750,000
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
Yes
Part B of Supporting Statement
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Jennifer Childs 301 763-4927
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
03/29/2016
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