The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will be conducting exploratory interviews for the 2012 Economic Census of Manufactures, Wholesale Trades, and Enterprise Management (Sectors 54 and 55). The Economic Census is a self-administered, mail-out/mail-back survey that the Census Bureau fields every five years. It collects detailed information on companies and their revenue and expenditures.
The purpose of these interviews is to evaluate how respondents answer new questions about the purchase and sale of contract manufacturing services and the feasibility of collecting detailed information on manufactures from respondents.
In late August 2011, members of the Office of Economic Planning and Innovation and staff from the Manufacturing and Construction Division (MCD) will conduct 20 interviews with respondents selected from businesses that responded to the 2007 Economic Census. We will conduct the interviews by telephone and in person. In-person interviews will take place in regions where there are high concentrations of manufacturing and wholesale businesses. The exact regions have yet to be determined, but may include the Northeast, West and the Midwest. The telephone interviews will be selected to broaden industry and geographical representation.
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. Before the interviews begin, we will inform the participants that the information they provide is confidential and will not be shared with anyone not directly involved in this research project.
We will audio record the interviews, with the participants’ permission, to aid researchers in accurately reporting findings. We will not provide monetary incentives to participants in this study.
Enclosed are copies of the draft 2007 Economic Census of Manufactures and Wholesale Trades (the 2012 will not be substantially different), the two proposed contract manufacturing questions, and a draft cognitive interview protocol.
We expect that each interview will last no more than one hour. Thus, the total estimated reporting burden for this research is approximately 20 hours
The contact person for questions regarding these interviews is:
Peter Gibson
Business Accounting Practices
Office of Economic Planning and Innovation
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20233
301.763.2144
| File Type | application/msword |
| Author | pick0002 |
| Last Modified By | demai001 |
| File Modified | 2011-07-21 |
| File Created | 2011-07-21 |