IMLS Generic Clearance To Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
PRA Burden Estimate Pre-testing of Surveys.xlsx Supplementary Document	2021-02-17
IMLS Part B - Generic Clearance to Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys.docx Supporting Statement B	2021-02-17
IMLS Part A - Generic Clearance to Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-02-17

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
248214	Cognitive Testing for FY 2022 Public Libraries Survey Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202102-3137-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: IMLS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: IMLS Generic Clearance To Conduct Pre-Testing of Surveys
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 02/17/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	650	0
Time Burden (Hours)	650	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	18,915	0

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Abstract: This is a request for a new generic clearance for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that will allow IMLS to develop, test, and improve its surveys and methodologies. The procedures utilized to this effect include but are not limited to tests of various types of survey operations, focus groups, cognitive laboratory activities, pilot testing, exploratory interviews, experiments with questionnaire design, and usability testing of electronic data collection instruments. This generic testing clearance is a helpful vehicle for evaluating questionnaires and various data collection procedures. It will allow IMLS to take advantage of a variety of methods to identify questionnaire and procedural problems, suggest solutions, and measure the relative effectiveness of alternative solutions. Through the use of these techniques IMLS would strive to simplify questionnaires for respondents, reduce respondent burden, and increase the quality of the questionnaires used in continuing surveys. Thus, with the potential to increase respondent comprehension of questions and use of data collection tools, an increase in the quality of the data collected through these surveys would be achieved as well. During the three-year generic clearance and depending on the methodological need, IMLS may administer various methodological testing activities, which may include cognitive testing of new questionnaire items or instruments, field tests including split sample questionnaire experiments in multiple panels, and usability testing of electronic data collection instruments. The focus of these activities will include testing of items and research about one-off/topical surveys, as well as other methodologies of questionnaires. IMLS will rely on the following authorizing statute for data collections submitted under this generic clearance with each generic Information Collection (IC) submission to OMB: • Section 9108 of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018 provides general legislative authority for the planned data collection. This section authorizes policy research, data collection, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination of information. 20 U.S.C. § 9108. The specific methods proposed for coverage by this clearance are described in Part B.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

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:
	85 FR 41629	07/10/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 9956	02/17/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 0

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	650	0	0	650	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	650	0	0	650	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	18,915	0	0	18,915	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: No burden increase. New ICR.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $145,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

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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: 02/17/2021

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