CIRCUMSTANCES MAKING COLLECTION OF INFORMATION NECESSARY
As users of the Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI) report increasingly rely on digital media to access the content of SEI, NCSES wishes to explore the possibilities of delivering the current content of SEI in ways that take fuller advantage of the capabilities of digital media. The goal of this exploration is to develop a new design for the digital presentation and dissemination of the SEI report that (a) promises to enable policy makers and the public to more readily access, understand, and use the data and analysis available in SEI while (2) maintaining or enhancing SEI’s national and international stature as a volume of record.
To facilitate this exploration, NCSES, through its contractor SRI International, plans to collect data from current and potential users of SEI about their patterns and preferences concerning interactions with digital statistical content about science and engineering. These data will support efforts to improve the design of the online SEI report, and guide future design efforts.
HOW, BY WHOM, AND PURPOSE FOR WHICH INFORMATION IS TO BE USED
This clearance request is directed at gathering information from SEI report users using personal and telephone interviews and an online survey instrument. The results of this small, qualitative study will help NCSES to understand:
Who is using the SEI report
How SEI readers use the SEI report
Features that could enhance the SEI report
Alternative models for digital presentation of the SEI report
The results will be used to inform direction of future changes to the SEI report.
USE OF AUTOMATION
To reach a broader population of respondents among key SEI audiences, a web-based survey application will be used in addition to personal and telephone interviewing.
EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY DUPLICATION
There are no other data collections focused on collecting usage information about the Science & Engineering Indicators report.
SMALL BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS
No small businesses will be contacted as part of this data collection.
CONSEQUENCES OF LESS FREQUENT COLLECTION
This is a one-time data collection. There are no plans for more rounds of data collection.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR COLLECTION
As this is a one-time data collection, no special circumstances are applicable.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE
The agency’s notice, as required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), was published in the Federal Register on January 12, 2011, at 76 FR 2151 and no substantive comments were received.
OUTSIDE CONSULTATION
SRI International will conduct the personal and telephone interviews and will administer the web-based survey.
GIFTS OR REMUNERATION
No gifts or compensation will be offered to respondents.
CONFIDENTIALITY PROVIDED TO RESPONDENTS
No personally-identifiable information will be recorded from the respondents, and none will be documented in any project deliverables. Information will be used for internal purposes only as inputs into a broader design process for the digital implementation of the SEI report. Respondents will be asked to sign a consent form indicting the information provided will be used for the stated purpose only.
QUESTIONS OF A SENSITIVE NATURE
No questions of a sensitive nature will be asked.
ESTIMATE OF BURDEN
Category of Respondent |
No. of Respondents |
Participation Time |
Burden |
Interview |
30 |
1 hour |
30 hours |
Survey |
40 |
10 minutes |
6.7 hours |
Recruitment |
100 |
20 minutes |
33.3 |
Totals |
|
|
70 hours |
COST TO RESPONDENTS
None.
CAPITAL/STARTUP COSTS
Startup costs include
design and development of protocol materials and web survey
instrument. Total startup costs are $ 2,500.
TOTAL COST TO
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The estimated one-time cost to the Federal government is $12,500.
CHANGES IN BURDEN
The burden associated with the proposed collection falls within the threshold of the generic clearance.
17. PUBLICATION OF COLLECTION
As this collection supports internal design decisions, the collection will not be publicly available.
18. SEEKING APPROVAL TO NOT DISPLAY OMB EXPIRATION DATE
The OMB number and expiration data will be displayed on the protocol and the web survey instrument.
19. EXCEPTION(S) TO THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENT (19) ON OMB 83-I
There are no exceptions.
STATISTICAL METHODS
B.1. Universe and Sampling Procedures
The data collection is qualitative in nature, intended to solicit input from representative users and not to make statistical inferences. NCSES plans to recruit volunteers for the interviews and survey from a variety of groups to include, but not be limited to, federal government employees involved in science and technology policy (e.g. Office of Science and Technology Policy), academic researchers (e.g. members of the Association for Institutional Research), and members of the press. Several NCSES and NSF staff will also be asked to participate in the survey.
Wherever possible, NCSES and its contractor, SRI International, will recruit appropriate individuals through their own professional contacts in the various sectors. NCSES will identify the NSF staff to participate.
B.2. Survey Methodology
SRI plans to conduct interviews with approximately 30 participants, either in person or by telephone. A separate group of up to 40 respondents will be targeted for participation in an online survey. No personal information will be collected from participants and none will be documented in any project deliverables. Information will be used for internal purposes only to develop prototypes for the SEI.
The personal and telephone interview participants will be asked a set of questions related to their experience using the SEI report. The interviews are planned to last about one hour and are guided by an interview protocol.
The online survey participants will be asked a similar set of questions using an online survey application. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The online survey is useful for soliciting input from a broader audience outside the immediate Washington, DC area.
B.3. Methods to Maximize Response
For the personal interviews, SRI will travel to the participant’s location, minimizing the effort required to participate. Respondents to the web-based survey will be asked to “opt-in” to receive the link to the survey site, ensuring that targeted respondents are inclined to complete the survey.
B.4. Testing of Procedures
This activity uses standard interview and web survey methods, so there will not be any testing of the procedures. These methods include content analysis of qualitative information collected via interviews and surveys, summary descriptive statistics of responses to the survey, and use of open-source web survey software for survey design and data management.
B.5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects of Data Collection
Jeri Mulrow, PStat®
Information and Technology Services, Program Director
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics
National Science Foundation
703-292-4784
Attachments
Interview protocol for data collection and consent form
Web survey instrument for data collection and consent wording
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | JFELDMAN |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-31 |