Census Household Panel Non-Sub Change Request NSC #2

OMB Non-Substantive Change Request

Department: Commerce

Agency: U.S. Census Bureau

Title: Census Household Panel (CHP)

OMB Control Number: 0607-1025

The U.S. Census Bureau requests a non-substantive change to the currently approved CHP Information Collection Request. The Census Bureau originally received clearance on June 29, 2023 and received approval for Topicals 10, 11, and 12 on August 15, 2024. We request approval for this non-substantive change in time for the Topical 11 operation, which begins September 17, 2024 and ends October 1, 2024.

Background and Justification

The Census Household Panel is a probability-based nationwide nationally-representative survey panel designed to test the methods to collect data on a variety of topics of interest, and for conducting experimentation on alternative question wording and methodological approaches. The goal of the Census Household Panel is to ensure availability of frequent data collection for nationwide estimates on a variety of topics and a variety of subgroups of the population, meeting standards for transparent quality reporting of the Federal Statistical Agencies and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Panelists and households selected for the Panel were recruited from the Census Bureau’s gold standard Master Address File. This ensures the Panel is rooted in this rigorously developed and maintained frame and available for linkage to administrative records securely maintained and curated by the Census Bureau. Invitations to complete the monthly surveys are sent via email and SMS messages. Questionnaires are mainly internet self-response.

The Topical 11 (September) survey was updated to remove the Profits Section. The following fields have been deleted from the instrument:

PROFIT SECTION INTRO

PROFIT_TOTAL_[JOB]

PROFIT_AVG_[JOB]

PROFIT_LAST_[JOB]

PROFIT_MAX_[JOB]

PROFIT_MIN_[JOB]

In addition, the following non-substantive changes have been updated in the instrument:

1. A_a3 – Question text updated to “During the last six months, were you self-employed or work for a formal or informal business that you own?”

2. B_a1 - Question text updated to “During the last six months, have you been self-employed or done work for a formal or informal business that you own?”

Burden

There is no change in respondent burden hours associated with this request.