Current Industrial Reports Plan

The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will conduct respondent debriefings of the Internet reporting application for select 2011 annual and monthly Current Industrial Reports (CIR).

The Current Industrial Report program provides monthly, quarterly, and annual measures of product manufacturing activity. The primary objective of the CIR is to produce timely and accurate data on production and shipments of selected products. The data are used to satisfy economic policy needs and for market analysis, forecasting, and decision-making in the private sector. There are over forty versions of the monthly, quarterly, and annual CIR forms. In early 2011, one annual form and two monthly forms will be released to respondents as an electronic option prior to the remainder of the forms.

We plan to conduct respondent debriefings with respondents who have completed the initial annual and monthly forms being released electronically. The monthly forms that we will be testing are the M311C (Corn - Net and Dry Mill Producers of Ethanol) and M311J (Oilseeds, Beans, and Nuts). The annual form that we will be testing is the MA334A (Electromedical Equipment and Analytical Instruments). The annual form will be available to respondents at the end of December, and the monthly forms will be available at the end of January.

Respondent debriefings of the Internet application will focus on issues respondents may have had with areas such as the layout of questions and screens, the navigation within and between screens, and edits. Special attention will be paid to the design of the main menu and review / submission screen. Copies of the current screens, as well as a draft testing protocol are enclosed.

From February through early-March, 2011, we will conduct one round of respondent debriefings with respondents from up to 20 manufacturing companies within the forms selected for debriefing. These visits will take place in the Washington DC metropolitan area and two major metropolitan areas to be determined. Findings will be used to revise the additional CIR forms which will be released during 2011 and 2012.

Interviews will be conducted at the business site by staff from the Response Improvement Research Staff within the Economic Directorate of the Census Bureau. Subject area specialists responsible for the CIR will accompany the usability tester 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. Interviews will be audio recorded, with the participants’ permission, to aid researchers in accurately reporting findings and recommendations.

After businesses are recruited, participants will receive follow-up reminders about their appointments by fax, telephone, or e-mail via the Census Bureau’s Secure Messaging Center (SMC). Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen or heard only by Census Bureau or special sworn employees involved in the research project. We will not be providing monetary incentives to participants in this study.

We estimate that it will be necessary to interview only one respondent at each company. We estimate the length of the interviews will average one hour. Thus, the maximum estimated burden for this research is 20 hours.

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

Amy Anderson

Response Improvement Research Staff

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-7544

[email protected]