The request for approval for this information collection request (ICR) has been disapproved. Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.9 OMB has determined that this ICR lacks practical utility in its current form. Further, it fails to conform with OMBÂs Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys. USDA has not provided the necessary research protocol to evaluate the proposed research and the corresponding interview script.Â
The ICR proposes to collect information from minority forest land owners in the southern United States. OMB recognizes the importance of USDA's policy initiatives regarding minority populations and encourages the agency to resubmit the ICR request once the agency has determined that it can provide the following information in the supporting statements and IC(s):
1) Research question(s) and the potential hypotheses the agency will test using the information;
2) Adequate literature review of the relevant literature including the network theory;
3) A discussion on how this research will advance the relevant literature and USDA policy goals;
4) An interviewer script or survey instrument that elicits the information;
5) Sampling methods;
6) If the results are to be generalizable to the population of interest, any non response bias analysis plan;
7) Analysis plan, including any model; and
8) Dissemination plans.
OMB recognizes the value of qualitative activities such as cognitive interviewing for developing and testing questionnaires and other formative activities that precede full studies. OMB encourages USDA to more clearly articulate how its qualitative efforts might inform and lead to the future work that would be described by addressing the eight items cited above.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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Non-industrial private forests constitute the majority of the forest in the South, and provide many important public and private benefits. These benefits are enhanced when landowners receive professional forestry assistance. Yet very few landowners seek out such assistance or have written management plans for their forests, a problem that is particularly acute for minority forest landowners. This study will use ethnographic methods to learn about social and cultural aspects of forest landowners decisions making, in particular, forest values and identities, social networks for information flows, and actual forest management practices. The results will be used for scientific presentations and papers and for outreach activities with professionals and landowners. The results will provide critical insights to support forest management and outreach, as well as develop a new set of techniques for understanding forest landowner behavior.
US Code:
16 USC 1645c
Name of Law: Forest and Rangeland resources Act (PL 95-307), as amended 2003
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:
(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;
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.
16USC1645c.txt
supporting_statement.doc
Interview Questions