FMCS OMB A1 SNAP Participant Study Introductory Letter English

Appendix A1. SNAP Participant Study Introductory Letter: English

OMB Number: 0584-0564

Expiration Date: 11/30/2014

7.5 Grade level

FNS/USDA Letterhead

{Date}

Dear {NAME}:

We are all interested in our family’s health and what we eat. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S Department of Agriculture needs your help by joining an important research project. We are trying to understand where people buy certain foods and the reasons for those decisions. As someone who receives SNAP benefits you have been selected at random to participate in this study.

Participation is easy. We are asking you to complete the survey in this package and mail it back in the enclosed envelope. The survey asks questions about the shopping you do for fresh fruits and vegetables and some of the reasons you shop at particular types of stores or markets. Your answers will be combined with answers from others. For completing this survey we will send you a ($10/$20)¹ gift card for your cooperation in helping us learn more about shopping preferences.

We hope you decide to join the study. Participation in this study is strictly voluntary. If you decide not to participate, there will be no penalty or loss of benefits.

Westat, a research organization working for USDA, is conducting the survey. Your answers will be kept private. They won’t be seen by anyone other than the research team. Your answers will be put together with answers from others taking the survey. The results will be reported as totals so that no one person can be identified.

Thank you in advance for your help. If you have any questions, please call Westat toll-free at 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Sincerely,

FNS signatory

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this collection is 0584-0564. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 3 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, searching existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collected.

1 Whether the amount is $10 or $20 will depend upon condition of the incentive experiment into which the participant has been selected.