Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment Cognitive Interviewing Plan

The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will be conducting cognitive interviews for the Survey of New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States (BE-13), which will be conducted by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The survey form will be mailed out on a rolling basis as new investments by foreign owners of U.S. companies are identified.

The BE-13 was conducted through year-end 2008, at which time it was suspended due to budget constraints. The survey is being reinstated beginning mid-2010 or early 2011 and will collect data on the expansion of existing U.S. affiliates of foreign companies as well as data on the acquisitions and establishments of U.S. affiliates. Pretesting will focus primarily on Parts I (Type of Transaction) and V (Expansion of Existing U.S. Affiliate) of the questionnaire.

From January through March, 2010, staff from the Response Improvement Research Staff within the Census Bureau’s Office of Economic Planning and Innovation plans to conduct unstructured interviews with approximately 45 foreign-owned U.S. companies. The cognitive interviews will focus on the respondents’ ability to provide the requested data, their understanding of the wording and terminology used on the form, and the performance of a screener question and skip pattern. Draft copies of the survey questions and interview protocol are enclosed. The results of the interviews will be used to revise and finalize the questionnaire.

Companies will be recruited in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as well as other areas nationwide that are yet to be determined. Sample cases will include a mix of large and small companies with different organizational structures and in different industries. Interviews will take place at the respondents’ sites. Subject area specialists from BEA will accompany the researcher on most, if not all, of the interviews. They will assist with respondent debriefing, especially in cases where additional clarification of the subject matter is required.

After participants are recruited, they will receive follow-up reminders about their appointments. Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen only by employees involved in the research project. Interviews will be audio-recorded, with the participants’ permission, to aid researchers in accurately reporting findings and recommendations. We will not be providing monetary incentives to participants in the study.

We estimate that it will be necessary to interview only one respondent at each company. We estimate the length of the interview will average 1 hour. Thus, the maximum estimated burden for this research is 45 hours.

The contact person for questions regarding data collection and statistical aspects of the design of the research is:

Rebecca L. Morrison

Response Improvement Research Staff

U.S. Census Bureau

4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 7K130B

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-7595

[email protected]