The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will conduct usability testing for the electronic version of the 2012 Census of Governments Finance Component (CoG-F) forms. The CoG-F is a quinquennial survey that collects revenue and expenditure data on four different types of local government entities: special districts (e.g., airports, libraries, or transit agencies), county governments, townships, and municipalities. The CoG-F uses three forms to survey these different government entities: the Annual Survey of County, Municipal, and Township Government Finances (F-28); the Annual Survey of Local Government Finances Multi-function Special Agencies (F-29); and the Annual Survey of Local Government Finances Special Agencies (F-32).
The interviews will focus on respondents’ reactions to the layout and navigation, as well as a screener question that was added to the F-28. Additionally, we will be testing the layout of the highlighted fields related to this screener and the use of a descriptive paragraph describing its purpose. Draft copies of the available screen shots and protocol for the F-28 form are enclosed.
From late-July through August 2012 the Response Improvement Research Staff will conduct one round of usability interviews with up to 20 respondents from government entities in the metropolitan areas surrounding Washington, D.C.; Boston, Massachusetts; Concord, New Hampshire; and Providence, Rhode Island. GOVS will provide us with a list of local governments from which we will recruit. We will attempt to obtain interviews with governments that vary in size and complexity. The interviews will take place at the government site by RIRS staff. Findings will be used to revise the CoG-F application before it is released in September.
After government entities are recruited, participants will receive follow-up reminders about their appointments by phone or email. Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen 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.
Subject area specialists from Governments Division 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. We will audio-record the interviews with the participants’ permission, to aid researchers in accurately reporting findings and recommendations.
We estimate that it will be necessary to interview only one respondent at each government entity. We estimate the length of the interviews will average 1 hour. Thus the estimated burden for this project is 20 hours.
The contact person for questions regarding data collection and statistical aspects of the design of this research is:
Heidi Butler
Response Improvement Research Staff
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20233
(301) 763-3322
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | ander043 |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-02-02 |