NHES 2017 Web Test Update Memo

MEMORANDUM OMB # 1850-0803 v. 182

DATE: December 2, 2016

TO: Kashka Kubzdela

National Center for Education Statistics

FROM: Sarah Grady

National Center for Education Statistics

SUBJECT: National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) Web Data Collection Test [Revision to a previously approved package (1850-0803 v.163)]

The NHES Web Data Collection Test package was approved in August 2016 (OMB# 1850-0803 v.163). In November 2016 we learned that previous cost estimates from the data collector had not been accurate and a budget shortfall necessitated cutbacks in the scale of the NHES Web Test.

As a result, this request is to make the following changes to the approved collection plans:

• Reduce the study sample from 100,000 starting addresses to 97,500 starting addresses.

• Redesign the incentive experiment so that it now comprises only a 14,625 random subsample of addresses receiving $2 instead of $5 with the initial mailing.

• Eliminate the advance letter experiment.

• Eliminate the automated phone reminder experiment.

• At the screener level, send half of all third mailing packages by first class USPS mail instead of the costlier FedEx.

• At the topical level, eliminate two mailings and two email reminders and send the one remaining topical mailing by FedEx.

In addition to these changes, we have revised some of the web-based data collection screens in order to make the instrument more respondent-friendly.

Volume I and Appendixes B and D-F have been revised to reflect these changes. An additional Appendix G has been added to show the results of the usability testing that was conducted for NCES by the U.S. Census Bureau in October 2016 (OMB# 1850-0803 v.157).

Following are the original and the revised burden tables from Volume I.

Original Estimates of Hourly Burden for 2017 NHES Web Test (from August 2016, approved ICR package submission)

Table 1. Estimated response burden for NHES:2017 Web Data Collection Test

Interview forms	Number sampled	Anticipated Response Rate	Estimated Number of Respondents	Estimated Number of Responses	Burden per Respondent (minutes)	Total Burden (hours)
Screener1	90,000	40%	36,000	36,000	4	2,400
ECPP questionnaire	1,825	90%	1,643	1,643	20	548
PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	4,062	90%	3,656	3,656	20	1,219
PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	94	90%	85	85	20	28
ATES questionnaire	20,175	80%	16,140	16,140	11	2,959
ECPP plus PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	526	90%	473	473	36	284
ECPP plus PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	12	90%	11	11	36	7
ATES plus ECPP questionnaire	750	90%	675	675	31	349
ATES plus PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	2324	90%	2,092	2,092	31	1,081
ATES plus PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	54	90%	48	48	31	25
Study Total			60,823	60,823		8,900

¹Approximately 10% of addresses will be returned by USPS as invalid, reducing the final sample size to 90,000 addresses. Calculations of number of screener respondents are based on 90,000 addresses rather than 100,000.

NOTE: Eligibility and response rates for the national sample are estimated based on NHES:2016.

Revised Estimates of Hourly Burden for Updated 2017 NHES Web Test

Table 2. Revised estimated response burden for NHES:2017 Web Data Collection Test

Interview forms	Number sampled	Anticipated Response Rate	Estimated Number of Respondents	Estimated Number of Responses	Burden per Respondent (minutes)	Total Burden (hours)
Screener1	87,750	40%	35,100	35,100	4	2,340
ECPP questionnaire	1,779	90%	1,601	1,601	20	534
PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	3,960	90%	3,564	3,564	20	1,188
PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	92	90%	83	83	20	28
ATES questionnaire	19,671	80%	15,737	15,737	11	2,885
ECPP plus PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	513	90%	462	462	36	277
ECPP plus PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	12	90%	11	11	36	7
ATES plus ECPP questionnaire	731	90%	658	658	31	340
ATES plus PFI-Enrolled questionnaire	2,266	90%	2,039	2,039	31	1,053
ATES plus PFI-Homeschooled questionnaire	53	90%	48	48	31	25
Study Total			59,303	59,303		8,677

¹Approximately 10% of addresses will be returned by USPS as invalid, reducing the final sample size to 87,750 addresses. Calculations of number of screener respondents are based on 87,750 addresses rather than 97,500.

NOTE: Eligibility and response rates for the national sample are estimated based on NHES:2016.

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