Data.gov Usability Testing (Req-14)

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 3090-0297)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: Data.gov Usability Testing (Req-14)

PURPOSE: The purpose of the information collection is to conduct usability testing of the Data.gov website, the federal government’s open data portal. Data.gov will ask questions about the effectiveness of the website, navigation, search, layout and other characteristics of the website to determine areas where the website can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS: The respondents will include open data experts, representatives of civil society organizations, researchers, data journalists, and developers.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form [ ] Customer Satisfaction Survey

[X] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software) [ ] Small Discussion Group

[ ] Focus Group [ ] Other: ______________________

CERTIFICATION:

I certify the following to be true:

1. The collection is voluntary.

2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.

3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal agencies.

4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.

5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions.

6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.

Name: Hyon Kim

To assist review, please provide answers to the following question:

Personally Identifiable Information:

1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [ ] Yes [X] No

2. If Yes, will any information that is collected be included in records that are subject to the Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [X] No

3. If Yes, has an up-to-date System of Records Notice (SORN) been published? [ ] Yes [X] No

Gifts or Payments:

Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to participants? [ ] Yes [X] No

BURDEN HOURS

Category of Respondent	No. of Respondents	Participation Time	Burden
Individuals	5	.5 hours	2.5
Private Sector	30	.5 hours	15
State/local/tribal government	5	.5 hours	2.5
Totals	40	.5 hours	20 hours

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $0.

If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please provide answers to the following questions:

The selection of your targeted respondents

1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe? [X ] Yes [ ] No

If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)?

The list of testers was compiled through our routine contacts with employees at federal agencies working on open data, representatives of civil society organizations interested in open data and Data.gov, journalists working on open data issues, and developers who work with open government data.

If the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of respondents and how you will select them?

Administration of the Instrument

1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)

[ X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media

[ ] Telephone

[ X] In-person

[ ] Mail

[ ] Other, Explain

2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [X] Yes [ ] No

A team member from the Data.gov Program Management Office will facilitate in-person testing.

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