This is a request for a generic clearance for the National Center for Education Statistics to conduct various procedures to test questionnaires and survey procedures. These procedures include but are not limited to experiments with levels of incentives for various types of survey operations, focus groups, cognitive laboratory activities, pilot testing, experiments with questionnaire design, and usability testing of electronic data collection instruments.
This change request is to increase the number of responses and burden hours allowed under the generic clearance for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to conduct various tests of questionnaires and survey procedures, especially to test new questions, forms, or other methodologies. These procedures include but are not limited to experiments with levels of incentives for various types of survey operations, focus groups, cognitive laboratory activities, pilot testing, experiments with questionnaire design, and usability testing of electronic data collection instruments. There are two primary reasons for the request to increase burden: (1) inclusion of screeners and other recruitment activities that were not before included in burden calculations (this increases the estimated number of respondents approximately 12 times and the estimated burden hours approximately 2 times per study), and (2) anticipated increase in the number of cognitive studies being submitted to OMB for clearance as a result of recent OMB guidance pertaining to testing new items and methodologies.
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.
NAEP Grade 8 Mathematics Block Difficulty Pilot Study
Cognitive Pilot and Field Studies System Change Memo.doc
Change memo to OMB 1850-0803 revised 2 surveys 12-17-08.rtf
The Adult Training and Education Survey (ATES) 2010 Pilot Test and the Spanish Cognitive Interviews for the 2010 National Household Education Survey (NHES) Study Draft Questionnaires