American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form ACS -1- (X)CTT The American Community Survey Content Test Test Questionnaire	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
Form ACS -1(X) CTC (06- The American Community Survey Content Test Control Questionnaire	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Form ACS-8(X) How Your Responses Help America	Form	Modified	Available
Form ACS-34RM (04/04/20 American Community Survey	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Form ACS-2 (2015) The American Community Survey	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
Attachment M - Secondary Metrics for the Analysis of the 2016 Content Test.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-08-04	Available
Attachment L3 -- Content Test Question Wording.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-08-04	Available
Attachment I -- Design Treatments Materials.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-08-04	Available
Attachment G -- Softened Mandatory Messaging Treatment.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-08-04	Available
2016 Methods Panel OMB Supporting Statement Ptb_FINAL 8-3-15.docx	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2015-08-03	Available
2016 Methods Panel OMB Supporting Statement Pta_FINAL 8-7-15.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2015-08-07	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Form and Instruction	Modified	The American Community Survey Content Test Test Questionnaire
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Form and Instruction	Modified	The American Community Survey Content Test Control Questionnaire
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Form	Modified	How Your Responses Help America
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Form and Instruction	Modified	American Community Survey
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Form and Instruction	Modified	The American Community Survey
190927	ACS Methods Panel	Other-Letter from the Director	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0607-0936	ICR Reference No: 201506-0607-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201504-0607-003
Agency/Subagency: DOC/CENSUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: American Community Survey Methods Panel Tests
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 08/07/2015
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 06/30/2015
Terms of Clearance: For future tests proposed under this clearance, OMB appreciates that the Census Bureau will provide complete information about research questions and how the the proposed experimental design and sample size supports those questions. In addition, when revisions to the content of the questionnaire are being tested, or when the messaging revisions being tested are likely to be of high level interest to the public, the Census Bureau will provide an opportunity for public comment via a 30-day Federal Register notice, and additional details will be provided. When later tests are not likely to be of high interest to the public, and are of a more operational nature, the Census Bureau may provide updated plans with additional details through a non-substantive change request.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2018	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2015
Responses	576,000	0	484,925
Time Burden (Hours)	348,167	0	276,645
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The U.S. Census Bureau requests authorization from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct the American Community Survey (ACS) Methods Panel tests. The ACS allows the Census Bureau to provide more timely and relevant housing and socio-economic data while also reducing operational risks in the census by eliminating the long-form historically given to one in every six addresses. An ongoing data collection effort such as the ACS requires that the Census Bureau continue research, testing and evaluations aimed at improving ACS questionnaires content and related data collection materials.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 13 USC 141, 193, and 221
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 3213	01/22/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 36316	06/24/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
ACS Methods Panel	ACS-2 (2015), ACS-8(X), ACS -1(X) CTC (06-09-2015), ACS -1- (X)CTT, ACS-34RM (04/04/2013), ACS-1 (2015) (06-17-2014)	The American Community Survey ,   American Community Survey ,   How Your Responses Help America ,   The American Community Survey Content Test Control Questionnaire ,   The American Community Survey Content Test Test Questionnaire

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	576,000	484,925	0	91,075	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	348,167	276,645	0	71,522	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Burden increase due to the Methods Panel implementing different tests to improved the ACS. The experimental designs and objectives for these tests require additional sample to measure the impact of the changes.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $9,045,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 06/30/2015

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