NCES is approved
to conduct its institutional data collections but is not authorized
to use any of its parent or student contact materials submitted
with this package, as the incentive amounts to be included in each
are not yet determined. In addition, previous Terms of Clearance
remain in effect: 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.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2014
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2014
4,665
0
4,093
4,128
0
4,256
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.
The apparent decrease in the
requested burden hours is due to the fact that the last approval
was for field test data collection from institutions and students.
This request for approval is for full scale data collection from
institutions only. Approval for full scale data collection from
students will be sought later this year. (The increase at the IC
level is due to a higher respondent number for each institution
activity).
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.
NPSAS 2012 Full Scale Institution Part D.docx
NPSAS 2012 Full Scale Institution Summary of Changes Memo.doc
Institution Registration Page