Justification for Submission

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

JUSTIFICATION FOR SUBMISSION UNDER THE
“DOI PROGRAMMATIC CLEARANCE FOR
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS”

See Page 5 for Instructions on Completing This Form
1. Bureau/Office

2. Date Submitted

US Fish and Wildlife Service

12/5/2019

3. Survey Title

Evaluation of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in the Southeast U.S.: Understanding landowner par
4. Abstract (Not to exceed 150 words)

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (Partners) Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
delivers fish and wildlife conservation by supporting voluntary habitat restoration through financial
and technical assistance to private landowners. This project will identify and provide new
understanding of factors that lead to landowner participation in the Partners Program and impact the
persistence of stewardship behavior. Furthermore, the evaluation will provide insight into landowner
engagement approaches that promote post-agreement persistence in stewardship behavior. This
project will build on, and provide comparison to, a Service and Colorado State University study on
understanding conservation behavior persistence of past participants in the Partners Program in
seven western states, and it will more broadly contribute to the body of knowledge on voluntary
conservation programs nation-wide. The results will improve the future implementation of the
Partners Program in the southeast, and ultimately support conservation efforts for listed and at-risk
species.

5. Bureau/Office Point-of-Contact Information
First Name
Nicole

Last Name
Adimey

Title

Bureau/Office

US Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Partners Regional Coordiantor

FWS/Ecological Services- Southeast Regional Office

Mailing Address

City

1875 Century Blvd

Atlanta

Phone
404-679-7138

■

Work
Cell

Fax

State
GA

Zip Code
30345

Email
[email protected]

6. Principal Investigation (PI) Point-of-Contact Information
First Name
Michael

Last Name
Sorice

Title
Associate Professor

Bureau/Office
Dept of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation /Virginia Tech

Mailing Address
103 Cheatham Hall, 310 West Campus Drive

City
Blacksburg

Phone
540-231-8303

Email
[email protected]

■ Work
Cell

Fax

State
VA

Zip Code
24061

Page 1 of 6

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

7. Name of Program or Office Conducting Survey

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
8. Description of Customers and Services Provided

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 1

9. Survey Dates
(mm/dd/yyyy)

02/01/2020

(mm/dd/yyyy)
02/01/2021

to

10. Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
Intercept

Web-based
Comment Cards
■ Mail
■ Other: (Explain) Site visits to a small subset of survey participants-for ground truthing
Telephone

Focus Groups
11. Survey Development (Who assisted in survey content development statistics? Was the survey pretested? How did you
integrate improvements? Which of the six topic areas did you address?)

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 1

12. Survey Methodology (Use as much space as needed; if necessary, include additional explanation on separate page.)
12A. Respondent Universe

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 1
12B. Sampling Plan/Procedure

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 1
12C. Instrument Administration

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 2
12D. Expected Response Rate and Confidence Levels

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 3
12E. Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 3
12F. Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument (recommended)

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 3
13. Burden Hours Calculations
Category of Respondent

Number of Annual
Respondents

Number of
Responses Each

Total Annual
Responses

Time per
Response

Total Burden
Hours

Initial Contact

1606

1

1606

2 minutes

54 hours

Completion of Survey Instrument

642

1

642

17 minutes

182 hours

Totals: 2248

2248

236 hours

Page 2 of 6

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

14. Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) Business Reference Model (Check only one “Line of Business” and one
“Subfunction.” Refer to OMB guidance “FEA Consolidated Reference Model Document Version 2.3”)
Line of Business
Subfunction
Line of Business
Subfunction

■

Community and
Social Services
Defense and
National Security
Economic
Development

(Select One)

Correctional
Activities
Disaster
Management

(Select One)

(Select One)

Education

(Select One)

Energy

(Select One)

Environmental
Management

(Select One)

General Science
and Innovation

(Select One)

Health

(Select One)

Homeland Security

(Select One)

(Select One)

(Select One)

Income Security

(Select One)

Intelligence
Operations

(Select One)

(Select One)

Law Enforcement

(Select One)

International Affairs
and Commerce
Litigation and
Judicial Activities

Natural Resources

Conservation, Marine and Land ManagementTransportation

Workforce
Management
15. Reporting Plan

(Select One)

(Select One)

(Select One)

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 3
16. Justification, Purpose, and Use
16A. Survey Justification and Purpose

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 4
16B. Survey Goals

The goal of this survey is to provide insight into landowner engagement approaches that promote
persistent land stewardship both during the life of a landowner agreement and post-agreement.
16C. Utility to Managers

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 4
16D. How will the results of the survey be analyzed and used?

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 4
16E. How will the data be tabulated? How What Statistical Techniques will be used to generalize the results to the entire
customer population? How will limitations on use of data be handled? If the survey results in a lower than anticipated
response rate, how will you address this when reporting the results? (Use as much space as needed; if necessary, include
additional explanation on separate page.)

Please see ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION page 4
16F. Is this survey intended to measure a Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measure? If
yes, please include an excerpt from the appropriate document. (Use as much space as needed; if necessary, include additional
explanation on separate page.)

Not applicable.

Page 3 of 6

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

17. Federal Cost: (Consult your Bureau/Office Information Collection Clearance Officer for assistance, if necessary)
The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $ 111450

, based on: (provide details below)

The contracted cost of this project estimated at $200,100 over a two year period.
The estimate also includes the annual work of Regional Partners Coordinator salary at 120 hrs @
Sample =
Response:
$51/hr
$6,120.00 and
“If we receive 20 submissions and it takes 30 minutes to process and implement each one, then the total burden is $322.40
the
Regional
for 120This
hours
@ form
$44/hr
= $5,280.00
assuming
a GS-7Social
step 5 isScientist
processingsalary
the submissions.
custom
is a tool
meant to accept submissions in a standard format
rather than through the freeform submissions that would otherwise come in by personal email. The existence of this form actually
saves the government money by standardizing submissions and decreasing the workload of processing each one.”
18. The survey methodology presented in form DI-4010 includes a specific description of:
■ The respondent universe,
■ The sampling plan and all sampling procedures, including how respondents will be selected,
■ How the instrument will be administered,
■ Expected response rate and confidence levels,
■ Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias,
■ A description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or the instrument is highly recommended,
■ The burden hours reported in the Justification include the number of burden hours associated with the initial contact of all
individuals in the sample (i.e., including refusals), if applicable, and the number of burden hours associated with individuals
expected to complete the survey instrument, and
■ The package is properly formatted (using MS Word) and submitted to the Office of Policy Analysis (through the Bureau/Office
Information Collection Clearance Officer).
19. The approval package includes:
■ A completed and signed Form DI-4010, Generic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys.
■ A copy of the survey instrument.
■ Other supporting materials, such as:
• Cover letters to accompany mail-back questionnaires,
• Introductory scripts for initial contact of respondents,
• Necessary Paperwork Reduction Act and Estimated Burden compliance language, and/or
• Follow-up letters/reminders sent to respondents.
20. Checklist for Submitting a Request to Use DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys
All questions in the survey instrument are within the scope of one of the DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer
Satisfaction Surveys topic areas.
A qualified statistician has reviewed and approved your request (see question 21A).
Your Bureau/Office Information Collection Clearance Officer receives your package for review/approval at least 75 days
prior to the first day the PI wishes to administer the survey to the public.
21. Required Certifications for Submission Under OMB Control Number 1040-0001
Certification is required to submit a collection of information for approval under the DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer
Satisfaction Surveys. If the collection does not satisfy the requirements of the Programmatic Clearance, you should follow the
regular PRA clearance procedures described in 5 CFR 1320.
21A. Bureau/Office Statistician
Signature
Date

■

Recommend

Not Recommended

21B. Bureau/Office Program or Subgroup

NATALIE SEXTON

Digitally signed by NATALIE SEXTON
Date: 2020.01.29 17:04:25 -07'00'

Bureau/Office Point-of-Contact

DOI/Ecological Services- Southeast Nicole
Regional
Adimey
Office
Title (Please be specific)

Signature

Partners Regional Coordiantor, Southeast NICOLE
Region ADIMEY

Digitally signed by NICOLE ADIMEY
Date: 2020.01.29 10:28:13 -05'00'

Date

1/29/2020

FOR PROGRAM USE ONLY
Required certifications: The information collection requested by this submission meets the requirements of OMB Control No. 1040-0001

Bureau/Office ICCO

■

Recommend

Signature
Not Recommended

DOI Office of Policy Analysis

■

Recommend

■

Signature

Not Approved

DOI Tracking No.

01/30/2020
Date

01/30/2020

Not Recommended

DOI PRA Program Lead
Approved

MADONNA BAUCUM

Date
Digitally signed by MADONNA BAUCUM
Date: 2020.01.30 09:19:46 -05'00'

Signature

2019-FWS-CS6 JEFFREY PARRILLO

Date
Digitally signed by JEFFREY PARRILLO
Date: 2020.01.30 14:28:53 -05'00'

01/30/2020
Page 4 of 6

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

Instructions for Completing Form DI-4010,
Justification for Submission Under the
“DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys”
OMB Control Number 1040-0001
1.

Bureau/Office: Insert the name of the bureau/office conducting the survey.

2.

Date Submitted: Date you submit the package to the Bureau/Office Information Collection Clearance Officer (ICCO) for review.

3.

Survey Title: Insert title for the proposed survey.

4.

Abstract: Summarize the proposed study with an abstract not to exceed 150 words.

5.

Bureau/Office Point of Contact Information: Complete the bureau/office contact information. PPA will communicate with the
point of contact listed here throughout the entire approval process.

6.

Principal Investigator (PI) Conducting the Survey: Complete information about the PI who will be conducting the survey, if
different from Point of Contact listed in #4. Otherwise note: Same as #4.

7.

Name of Program Office Conducting Survey: Provide the name of the bureau program, office, or organizational unit conducting
the survey.

8.

Description of Customers and Services Provided: Provide a brief description of the customers you will survey, the services
provided by the program conducting the survey, and customers receive these services.

9.

Survey Dates: List the time-period in which you will conduct the survey, including specific starting and ending dates. The starting
date should be at least 75 days after the date you submit the package to your bureau/office Information Collection Clearance
Officer (ICCO).

10. Type of Information Collection Instrument: Check the type(s) of information collection instrument(s) you will use. If other,
please explain.
11. Survey Development: Explain how the survey was developed. With whom did you consult during the development of the survey
on content? On statistics? Did you pretest the survey? What actions did you take to improve the survey? What suggestions did
you receive for improving the survey? Which of the six topic areas will the collection address? (Note: A description of any pretesting and peer review of the methods and/or instrument is highly recommended.)
12. Survey Methodology: Explain how you will conduct the survey. Provide a description of the survey methodology including:
•
Question 12A – The respondent universe,
•
Question 12B – The sampling plan and all sampling procedures;
•
Question 12C – How the instrument will be administered;
•
Question 12D – Expected response rate and confidence levels;
•
Question 12E – Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias; and,
•
Question 12A – Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument (recommended, but not
required).
Note: Web-based surveys are not an acceptable method of sampling a broad population. Web-based surveys must be limited to
services provided by the web site.
13. Burden Hours Calculations: Provide an estimated total of the following for each category – initial contact and completion of
survey instrument:
•
Number of annual respondents – Enter the number of unique respondents who will complete the information collection;
•
Number of responses per respondent – Enter the total number of responses per unique respondent;
•
Total annual responses – Enter the number of unique respondents multiplied by the total number of responses each;
•
Time per response – Estimate the time to complete the initial contact and the time to complete the survey instrument (in
minutes), and
•
Total burden hours –The total burden hours should account for the amount of time required to instruct the respondents in
completing the survey, and the amount of time required for the respondent to complete the survey.
14. Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA) Business Reference Model: Using the drop-down menus provided, select ONE “Line of
Business” and ONE corresponding Subfunction that most accurately describes your information collection.
15. Reporting Plan: Provide a brief description of the reporting plan for the data you will collect.
Page 5 of 6

DI-4010 (Rev. 07/2018)
U.S. Department of the Interior

OMB Control. No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

16. Justification, Purpose and Use: For questions 16A through 16F, provide a brief justification for the survey, its purpose, goals,
and utility to managers. Specifically, describe how you will tabulate the data and what the statistical techniques you will use to
generalize the results to the entire customer population. Describe how you will use the data from the survey. Describe how you
will acknowledge any limitations related to the data, particularly in cases where we obtain a lower than anticipated response rate.
Note whether you intend the survey to measure a Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measure.
17. Federal Cost: Provide the cost estimate for the Federal government to administer the information collection, along with a
description of how you calculated the cost estimate (sample response provided). Contact your bureau/office ICCO for more
information or for assistance.
18. Survey Methodology Checklist: Carefully review each item and check each box to indicate your submission provides
the required description of each item.
19. Checklist for Submitting a Request to Use DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys: Carefully
review each item and check each box to indicate your understanding and concurrence of each requirement.
20. Approval Package Content: Carefully review each item and check each box to indicate your package contains each of the
requirement elements listed.
NOTE: Your survey instrument document must show the OMB Control Number 1040-0001 and Expiration Date ##/##/###, and it
MUST include the following Statements somewhere on the instrument document (preferably at the bottom of page 1 or at the end
of the document):
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
(44 U.S.C. 3501) to [insert brief justification for collection of information]. Your response is voluntary and results we
will not share them publicly. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. OMB has reviewed and approved this survey
and assigned OMB Control Number 1040-0001, which expires ##/##/####.
Estimated Burden Statement: We estimate the [insert type of instrument] will take you ## minutes to complete,
including time to read instructions, gather information, and complete and submit your response. You may submit
comments on any aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, [Insert
Bureau/Office], [Insert mailing address].
21. Required Certifications: Completion of all information in this section is required before forwarding your approval
package to your bureau/office ICCO for review and processing.
Question 21A – Ensure the bureau/office statistician reviewing your information collection certifies the request satisfies
the requirements of the DOI Programmatic Clearance for Customer Satisfaction Surveys under OMB Control No. 10400001.
Question 21B – Ensure the requestor provides the requested contact information needed by the bureau/office and/or
Departmental ICCO to resolve questions or concerns.

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OMB Control No. 1040-0001
Expiration Date 10/31/2021

JUSTIFICATION FOR SUBMISSION UNDER THE
“DOI PROGRAMMATIC CLEARANCE FOR
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS”
ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION
8. Description of customers and services provided
The Partners Program delivers fish and wildlife conservation by supporting voluntary habitat restoration
through financial and technical assistance to private landowners.
The survey population for this project includes private landowners who have participated in the Partners
Program since January 2000 with Partners projects occurring in one of the 10 states in the southeast
region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Tennessee). To be eligible, individuals must own property where a Partners project was
completed in one of the 10 states identified above, but the individual may reside in any other U.S. state.

11. Survey development (Who assisted in survey content development statistics? Was the
survey pretested? How did you integrate improvements? Which of the six topic areas did
you address?)
Survey development included individuals from Virginia Tech and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The survey will be pretested with nine individuals from within the survey population to establish the
reliability of the survey instrument. Based on the pilot testing data, we will make needed changes to
establish the reliability of the questionnaire.
Topic areas addressed in the survey are: Delivery, quality, and value of products, information, and
services; and General demographics.

12A. Survey methodology: Respondent universe
The potential respondent universe for this survey includes private landowners or managers who have
participated in the Partners Program since January 2000 with Partners projects occurring in one of the 10
states in the southeast region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Private landowners are considered in this study to be
individuals, and do not include non-profit organizations, local governments, or other public-serving
entities (e.g. The Nature Conservancy, Montgomery County, Woodford County Elementary School, Boy
Scouts of America).
To be eligible, individuals must be the obligated party to fulfil the Partners Program landowner agreement
where a Partners project was completed in one of the 10 states identified above, but the individual may
reside in any other U.S. state. All participants will be over the age of 18, and there are no exclusion
criteria with regard to race, gender, ethnicity, or health status.

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12B. Survey methodology: Sampling plan/procedure
The survey will be distributed to the total sample of eligible participants in the survey population,
excluding those who participated in pretesting. To determine eligibility, landowner agreement
information will be provided by Partners Program field offices within the 10 states in the survey region.
These offices will also provide the mailing address information of the survey population.

12C. Survey methodology: Instrument administration
Survey distribution will follow an adapted Tailored Design Method (Dillman, Smyth, & Christian, 2014)
for mailed surveys, which includes multiple reminders to best consider the wellbeing of respondents and
ensure favorable response rates. These data (the questionnaire responses) will be collected one time and
will not be periodic.
All eligible participants will first be contacted using an introductory letter describing the purpose of the
study, that future contact will be made, and inviting their voluntary participation.
One to two weeks following the introductory letter, all potential subjects will receive a research packet
containing a cover letter including information about informed consent and how to opt out of participation
or future contact regarding the study, the questionnaire, and a pre-paid return envelope to return the
questionnaire.
Approximately two weeks after the research packet is mailed, a reminder postcard will be sent to all
potential subjects.
Approximately two weeks after the reminder postcard, a final reminder and a replacement survey will be
distributed to those who have not yet returned a completed questionnaire or indicated they would like to
opt out of participation and further contact.
Following survey data collection, ground truthing will occur to assess participants’ continuing
stewardship behaviors to maintain or further project outcomes. These assessments will be conducted by
Partners Program biologists at a small sample of the Partners project sites in each of the 10 states included
in the study region, and does not include the involvement of survey participants.
For a number of reasons, we intend to focus on distribution via mail rather than online for this study.
First, according to Dillman et al., (2014) mail surveys garner a higher response rate compared to online
surveys. Further, Dillman et al. not that it is preferable to reduce variation in distribution methods if
possible (Dillman et al., 2014). More specific to our population of interest, the average age of landowner
participants in the Partners Program is 60, and this demographic of relatively older rural landowners does
not tend to respond to web-based surveys (Dillman et al., 2014). Supporting this assertion, the USFWS
Partners Program revised their efforts to enroll landowners from a focus on online enrollment to the use
of third parties. These third parties manage the electronic submission of paperwork while interacting with
landowners using only hardcopies of the agreement materials. A final consideration of not including a
web-based version of the survey at this point is to allow for a distribution schedule to take advantage of a
short window of opportunity to reach landowners during a time when they would not be busy operating
their land.
Dillman, D.A., Smyth, J.D., and Christian, L.M. (2014). Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. Wiley:
Hoboken, NJ.

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12D. Survey methodology: Expected response rate and confidence levels
Our respondent universe is private landowners and managers who have participated in the Partners
Program since January 2000, with Partners projects occurring in one of the 10 states in the southeast
region, and for whom we have mailing addresses. This respondent universe provides a study sample size
of 1,606. Based on previous research by Milley et al. and Sorice and colleagues, we expect a response rate
of about 40%. Given this, the expected sample will be 642 landowners. This sample size will provide a
95% confidence level with 3% margin of error for true population values of closed ended survey
questions, assuming maximum heterogeneity in response. This is not ideal, but still considered acceptable
in survey research (Dillman et al., 2014).
Dillman, D.A., Smyth, J.D., and Christian, L.M. (2014). Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. Wiley:
Hoboken, NJ.

12E. Survey methodology: Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias
To reduce non-response bias, survey distribution will follow an adapted Tailored Design Method
(Dillman et al., 2014) for mailed surveys, which includes multiple reminders to best consider the
wellbeing of respondents and ensure favorable response rates. Reminders included in this survey are one
postcard and one replacement cover letter and questionnaire.
The most significant factors contributing to the response rate is length of the questionnaire and the
salience of the questions. The questionnaire was limited to 35 questions. Nearly all questions are close
ended with response options customized to the specific population for this study. The survey was
formatted for clarity and designed to improve the applicability of each question to the range of potential
respondents.
Given that our response rate is expected to be less than 80%, we will conduct an analysis of nonresponse
bias as described in Section 3.2 (Nonresponse Analysis and Response Rate Calculation) of the OMB
Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys (2006).
Dillman, D.A., Smyth, J.D., and Christian, L.M. (2014). Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. Wiley:
Hoboken, NJ.

12F. Survey methodology: Description of any pretesting and peer review of the methods
and/or instrument
The survey will be pretested with nine participants from within the survey population to establish the
reliability of the survey instrument. Pretesting respondents will be contacted by phone or email to give
consent to completing the pretest. The questionnaire will then be mailed to the participant for them to
complete and return by pre-paid envelope. A follow-up interview will then take place to review the
participants’ experiences with completing the questionnaire. Based on the pilot testing of data, we will
make needed changes to establish the reliability of the questionnaire.

15. Reporting plan
Aggregated results of the survey will be provided to the core team of the study via a peer reviewed project
report. Subsequent publications will include peer reviewed journal articles and presentations. A copy of
all survey reports will be provided to the Regional Director in the southeast region.

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16A. Justification, purpose, and use: Survey justification and purpose
The purpose of this project is to identify attitudinal and situational factors that lead to private landowner
participation in the Partners Program, as well as those factors impacting private landowner stewardship
behavior during and after the landowner agreement term.

16C. Justification, purpose, and use: Utility to managers
Findings from this study will improve managers’ understanding of why wildlife stewardship behaviors
cease or continue. Understanding these stewardship behaviors is essential in evaluating the outcomes of
the Program’s work, as these landowner behaviors promote the habitat conservation contribution of the
Partners Program. The results will inform managers of the effectiveness of the Partners Program, allow
for comparisons across states and across habitat improvement project types, and help managers make
strategic decisions regarding habitat improvement in the southeast region.

16D. Justification, purpose, and use: How will the results of the survey be analyzed and
used?
Results of the survey will be used to determine where greater efforts should be given to increase
effectiveness of the program, and what land stewardship practices are most likely to be sustained long
term. These results will ultimately improve the customer service provided by the Partners Program and
will also improve conservation efforts for listed and at-risk species.

16E. Justification, purpose, and use: How will the data be tabulated? What statistical
techniques will be used to generalize the results to the entire customer population? How
will limitations on use of data be handled? If the survey results in a lower than anticipated
response rate, how will you address this when reporting the results?
Questionnaire data will be tabulated and analyzed using Stata data analysis and statistical software. The
methods used to analyze the data include regression (logistic, ordinal, or OLS as appropriate) and
necessary conditions analysis (Dul, 2016).
Sections A & E (Your property and Demographics) will be used to characteristically identify landowner
characteristics to create a typology of landowners using cluster analysis. The items in Section B (Your
decision to participate) are informed by self-determination theory, specifically organismic integration
theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). We will use factor analysis to analyze the data and descriptively characterize
motivations and deterrents to participation. Additionally, we will use the motivations and deterrents as
independent variables, relating them to dependent variables such as: willingness to re-enroll (Section C,
Question 19), likelihood of continued conservation work on property (Section C, Question 22),
satisfaction with project outcomes (Section D, Question 24), reported stewardship behavior persistence
(Section D, Question 27), and intended length of time of continuing stewardship behavior persistence
(Section D, Question 30). Section C (Your overall experience with the Program) broadly addresses
satisfaction with project outcomes, and items will be used as dependent variables. Section D
(Management activities to support your project outcomes) also broadly addresses satisfaction with project
outcomes as well as items that represent factors related to stewardship behavior persistence. These items
include predictors (e.g. Q24-26) for our dependent variables of reported stewardship behavior persistence
and intended length of time of continuing stewardship behavior persistence.
This survey will be approved by Virginia Tech’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is an
administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to
participate in research activities. Researchers on this project will follow all IRB guidelines, including the
protection of respondent confidentiality. Identifiable information will be replaced with a numerical code

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OMB Control No. 1040-0001
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on the questionnaire and will not be associated with any responses. The file containing the key for names,
addresses, and numerical codes, will be encrypted, password protected, and stored on one computer in a
locked location that can only be accessed by authorized personnel. Once research is completed, the file
containing the names and addresses of the participants will be deleted in order to ensure future
confidentiality. Reports and publications that use findings from these data will be carefully reviewed
before dissemination to prevent potential release of identifiable information.
Given that our response rate is expected to be less than 80%, we will conduct an analysis of nonresponse
bias as described in Section 3.2 (Nonresponse Analysis and Response Rate Calculation) of the OMB
Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys (2006). Any limitations of survey findings resulting from
a lower than anticipated response rate will be appropriately identified in any reporting of the findings.
Dul, J. (2016). Necessary condition analysis (NCA): Logic and methodology of “necessary but not
sufficient causality. Organizational Research Methods, 19(1), 10-52.
Ryan, M.R. and Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation,
social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.

5