Note to Reviewer - Enhanced push incentive and burden update

January 2, 2018

MEMORANDUM FOR Reviewer of 1220-0109

FROM Alison Aughinbaugh

Division of National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS)

Bureau of Labor Statistics

SUBJECT Enhanced push incentive and increased burden for Round 28 NLSY79

BLS requests OMB approval to implement an enhanced push incentive for Round 28 of the NLSY79. We propose to evaluate sub-group-specific response rates when the response rate to the survey reaches 60 percent. Any subgroup having a response rate at least 8 percent below the sample average would be offered an enhanced $40 final push amount instead of the $20 final push amount that is approved for all remaining cases. Once this offer is extended it will remain in place for the remainder of the field period, as does the final push incentive. Attachment A provides more information and provides a list of the subgroups to be considered.

In addition, BLS requests to update the respondent burden for the main questionnaire of the Round 28, NLSY79, as interview length has been running longer than originally estimated. As of January 2, 2019, with 4735 cases collected, the main questionnaire is running 80 minutes on average, as opposed to the 70 minutes approved by OMB. This increases the total respondent burden of Round 28 of the NLSY79 from 14349 hours to 15515 hours, an increase of 1166 hours. The total cost of respondent burden rises from $104,030.25 to $112,483.75.

If you have any questions about this request, please contact Alison Aughinbaugh by telephone at 202-691-7520 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Attachment

Attachment A

NLS Request for additional incentive to NLSY79 Round 28: Enhanced Final Push

We request OMB permission to implement an enhanced final push incentive. In order to support sample representativeness, we introduced the concept of an enhanced final push value in the original OMB submission for NLSY79 Round 28. At the time of initial review, OMB expressed concern that there were too many subgroups and that they lack adequate justification for being included in the enhanced push.  In response, we have reduced the subgroups to those that directly concern labor market activity: educational attainment, AFQT score, weeks worked (defined in 4 categories), presence or absence of a health condition that limits work activity, and each of these stratified by gender or race/ethnicity. The domains that we propose to target to concern labor market activity. As the oldest members of the NLSY79 cohort are now in their 60s, it is vital to collect an accurate picture of this cohort’s employment over the lifecycle so that retirement decisions can then be studied. The other variables we propose to include in this enhanced push are highly correlated with labor market activity over the lifecycle and retirement decisions: educational attainment, AFQT score, and health limitations.

We propose to evaluate sub-group-specific response rates after the completion of the first two phases of interviewing, early bird and outbound calling. We expect that the full sample will be at 60 percent completion at this point. We would then enter the case-managed phase with the enhanced final push incentive in place. Any subgroup having a response rate at least 8 percent below the sample average would be offered an enhanced $40 final push amount instead of the $20 final push amount that is approved for all remaining cases. The enhanced final push incentive would be offered only during the case-managed phase of fielding. Once this offer is extended it will remain in place for the remainder of the field period, as does the final push incentive. Once the enhanced push amount has been provided in a letter, email or voicemail, it would be challenging to retract it over something the respondent has no control over, that is the uptake by others.