Supporting Statement B
Landslide Report: Did You See it?
OMB Control Number 1028-NEW
Specific Instructions
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
The agency should be prepared to justify its decision not to use statistical methods in any case where such methods might reduce burden or improve accuracy of results. When the question “Does this ICR contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?” is checked "Yes," the following documentation should be included in Supporting Statement B to the extent that it applies to the methods proposed:
Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.
Statistical methods are not used in the selection of respondents. Qualified participants are individuals witnessing or experiencing a landslide and are willing to provide information via the USGS Did You See It?--Report a Landslide - website.
Individual Households |
Responses |
Those only reporting landslide location and time |
1000 |
Those reporting landslide location, time, damage and description |
600 |
Those reporting landslide location, time, damage and description and submitting photographs |
400 |
Estimated Annual Number of Responses |
2000 |
2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:
* Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,
* Estimation procedure,
* Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,
* Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and
* Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.
No specialized sampling procedures will be used. The on-line form is seldom completed by the same person for different landslides, since landslides do not occur in the same place each time. Each response is counted as an individual response and will be submitted based on the respondent’s ability/desire to provide as little or as much information about the effects of a landslide. There are typically three types of responses submitted: those reporting landslide location and time; those reporting landslide location, time, damage and providing a description; and those reporting landslide location, time, damage, description and submitting photographs.
The USGS will use qualitative (descriptive and quantitative) statistics combined with photographs to describe the nature of landslides. This information collection will not be used by the USGS to provide statistical inferences concerning landslides.
The information collected will be entered directly into a computerized database. Most of the statistics will consist of frequency distributions of responses to each question and each index created from combined questions. These will be reported as percentages. Cross tabulations may be used to investigate differences between landslide locations and damage assessments. Cross tabulations may be used to describe the differences between some of the independent and dependent variables whenever feasible.
3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.
Respondents voluntarily decide to report; non-response is not an issue. No estimates are made based on the population of respondents.
4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of information.
The website was reviewed by the four peer-reviewers listed in question 8 (Part A) to ensure clarity and comprehension prior to this submission. It was subsequently revised based on their comments
5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
Individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design:
Bill Burns, Engineering Geologist
(971) 673-1538
Agency contact:
Rex L. Baum
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, M.S. 966
Denver, CO 80225
Phone: 303-273-8610
FAX: 303-273-8600
E-mail: [email protected]
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Modified | 2014-12-01 |
| File Created | 2014-10-30 |