OMB appreciates that NCES and its contactor are experimenting with innovative ways to address declining survey response rates and, in particular, associated concerns about nonresponse bias. OMB looks forward to seeing the critically important analysis of the field test results prior to being asked to approve the full scale package. In particular, the analysis must include overall results of the incentive experiment, including the cost effectiveness of the tested approaches; a discussion of the effects on bias of any differential response patterns; a review of how well the variables in the model performed, and an assessment of how well new paradata items would have contributed to the model. In addition, the analysis should include a separate discussion of differences in both number of cases that would have switched conditions and the cost difference, if the design had included offering the same incentive to all participants within a single institution, and a report on the number of complaints or queries regarding different incentive levels within an institution. Any response propensity model proposed for the full scale NPSAS data collection must overcome the limitations of the field test model by being based explicitly on analysis of the relationship between model variables and both response propensity and substantive survey variables, rather than response propensity alone.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2013
4,093
0
712
4,256
0
458
0
0
0
NPSAS, a nationally representative study of how students and their families finance education beyond high school, was first implemented by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1987 and has been fielded every 3 to 4 years since. This submission is for collection of student data in the eighth cycle in the series, NPSAS:12, and supplements the recently obtained approval for NPSAS:12 collection of institutional data (OMB# 1850-0666 v.7). NPSAS:12 will also serve as the base year study for the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) of first-time postsecondary students that will focus on issues of persistence, degree attainment, and employment outcome. Following the field test study in 2011, NCES will submit an OMB clearance package for the full scale. The NPSAS:12 field test sample will include about 300 institutions (full-scale sample about 1,670) and about 4,500 students (120,000 full-scale). Institution contacting for the field test begun in September 2010 (for full scale in September 2011), list collection will be conducted January through May 2011 (full-scale January through June 2012), and student data collection will take place March through June 2011 (full scale January through September 2012). Changes since the last NPSAS collection in 2008 include a new cohort of the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) which will conduct follow-up studies in 2014 and 2017, and revised strata for institution sampling to reflect the recent growth in enrollment in for-profit 4-year institutions. This submission requests approval for conducting student interviews, collecting student records, and file matching for NPSAS:12 as part of the 2011 field test and a 60-day federal register public notice waver for the 2012 full-scale study.
This submission requests clearance for the remaining portion of the field test study  the student data collection, and hence the apparent burden increase in relation to current OMB inventory. The total burden for both components associated with the NPSAS field test to be conducted in 2011 consists of 4,093 total respondents and 4,256 burden hours, which includes the additional requested components to the already approved collection.
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.
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