Supporting Statement

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 1615-0126)

TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: USCIS Naturalization Test Revision Pilot Test

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the USCIS Naturalization Test Revision Pilot Test is to collect data on the naturalization test revision pilot test items. Pilot testing of this nature is standard practice when developing standardized assessments in order to ensure the validity of the test. Furthermore, administering of a pilot test as part of the USCIS Naturalization Test Revision is consistent with past practices, as a similar pilot test was conducted during the redesign of the current test that was released in 2008.

The pilot test is necessary to ensure that revised naturalization test items be within the English language level target, introduce the new test items, identify pilot test items that need to be removed for the final draft of the revised naturalization test, and make determinations about revisions to the remaining test items. Participating lawful permanent residents (LPRs) will be asked 10 test items randomly selected from a test bank of revised naturalization test items. All 10 test items will be delivered regardless of whether the participating LPR provides a correct or incorrect response. Participating LPRs will also be asked demographic questions.

1. Age

2. Gender

3. Approximate English language level (according to the National Reporting System)

4. Approximate years of schooling

5. Approximate hours of classroom instruction on naturalization test revision pilot test items and the subsequently educational materials provided by USCIS

6. Country of origin

7. Native language

The purpose of these questions is exclusively for making a determination about removing and revising test items. No PII (names addresses, SSN, phone numbers, etc.) will be collected.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:

The respondents consist of LPRs who enrolled in citizenship education classes through local community-based organizations (CBOs). Participating LPRs will have been given an information sheet on the process and about the pilot explaining that participating is entirely voluntary, no PII will be collected, and that it has no effect on their status, eligibility, or application (if they have already submitted their Form N-400). If an LPR chooses to participate they will then sign a consent form.

The Office of Citizenship (OoC) reached out to CBOs from around the country and asked them to participate in the pilot test. The CBOs who volunteered to participate were asked to:

1. Provide an office or classroom space to conduct the pilot test.

2. Identify LPRs who are enrolled in citizenship education classes who would be interesting in volunteering to participate in the pilot test.

3. Incorporate the educational materials based on the naturalization test revision pilot test items in their regular instruction with citizenship education classes.

4. Ensure that the LPRs participating in the pilot understand the information on the consent form.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

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

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

[x] 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: Mary Flores

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

3. If Applicable, has a System or Records Notice been published? [ ] Yes [ ] 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	Total Annual Burden (in hours)	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate*	Total Annual Respondent Cost
Individuals (volunteer LPRs)	1,400	0.2 hour (17 questions = 7 demographic + 10 random test questions); conducted during regularly scheduled class time)	280 hours ( 1,400 respondents x 0.2 hour)	$36.47	$10,212
Totals			280 hours		$10,212

* The above Average Hourly Wage Rate is the May 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics average wage for All Occupations] of $24.98 times the wage rate benefit multiplier of 1.46 (to account for benefits provided) equaling $36.47. The selection of “All Occupations” was chosen because respondents to this collection could be expected from any occupation.

FEDERAL COST: The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is $147,000

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)? 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?

The sample population frame was defined by volunteer adult citizenship students who are both LPRs and currently enrolled in a citizenship class. In addition, the sample included geographic and ethnic diversity by including CBOs from across the country.

The universe of potential respondents is defined by the spreadsheet attached with this information that identifies the CBOs participating in the pilot test. All LPRs volunteering for this pilot test are enrolled in a citizenship education course in the fall of 2019 through one of these CBOs.

Administration of the Instrument

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

[ ] 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

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