[Federal Register: July 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 41300-41301]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy03-28]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2004 Census
Test
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(C)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 9,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dhynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instruments and instructions
should be directed to Edison Gore, U.S. Census Bureau, Building 2, Room
2012, Washington, DC 20233-9200, 301-763-3998.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The 2004 Census Test is part of an extended test cycle leading up
to the next decennial census. This testing cycle is an opportunity to
evaluate new methods, procedures, systems, questions, and instructions
designed to improve coverage and data quality in order to select the
most promising ones for use in Census 2010.
The test will be conducted in two sites--Queens, NY, and three
rural counties in Georgia (Colquitt, Tift, and Thomas)--and will use
two modes for data collection (paper and a Mobile Computing Device
[MCD]). The 2004 Census Test will include an array of data collection,
data capture, and data processing operations along with the associated
support activities necessary for obtaining the data required for
evaluation. No prototype data products or counts will be published.
The Census Bureau also will conduct a two-part assessment (the Race
and Hispanic/Latino Response Evaluation) in conjunction with the 2004
Census Test. In the first part of the assessment, enumerator taping
assistants (ETAs) will accompany enumerators during Nonresponse
Followup ([NRFU]--See Definition of Terms) in order to record
enumerator behavior and respondent reaction to the race and Hispanic
questions. The second part will consist of telephone re-interviews. The
Race and Hispanic/Latino Response Evaluation is scheduled to begin
during the NRFU phase of the 2004 Census Test.
Our experience in Census 2000 taught us important lessons
emphasizing the need to begin planning and development early in the
decade. Consequently, the Census Bureau established a number of Census
2010 Planning Groups to investigate potential changes for the next
decennial census. As part of the development cycle, the 2004 Census
Test will evaluate the effectiveness of:
1. Methodological innovations (e.g., changes in the residence rule
instructions--See Definition of Terms),
2. Content modifications (e.g., changes in the race and Hispanic
origin questions and response categories, as well as dropping the
``Some other race'' option), and
3. Incorporation of evolving technologies (using an MCD for data
collection during NRFU).
The Race and Hispanic/Latino Response Evaluation is intended to
evaluate personal visit respondent reactions to removing the ``Some
other race'' category. The primary vehicle for this evaluation will
combine the ETA interviews taped as part of the personal visits during
2004 NRFU with the 2003 National Census Test results.
Approximately 175,000 housing units in the test sites will receive
a census form by mail. These housing units are expected to complete
these forms and mail them back (mailout/mailback universe, i.e. housing
units that have city-style addresses such as 806 Main Street).
Additionally, enumerators will deliver a form to approximately 25,000
housing units that have non city-style addresses such as Rt. 7, Box
433. These housing units are asked to complete the forms and mail them
back (update/leave universe).
Beginning in June 2004, a sample of approximately 2,800 households
in the Queens, NY site will be re-interviewed via telephone for the
Hispanic/Latino Response Evaluation. (Although the Behavior Coding
segment of the test will involve about 2,000 households, it will not
involve an increase in respondent burden, since the coding will be done
as the NRFU interview is conducted.)
[[Page 41301]]
II. Method of Collection
Prior to receiving the 2004 questionnaire, each housing unit
included in the test will be mailed an advance letter informing
respondents that they will soon receive a census form. A few days after
the questionnaire packages are delivered, each household will receive a
reminder postcard that asks respondents to fill out and return their
questionnaires, if they have not already done so. The postcard also
will thank respondents who have already returned their forms.
Census Day is scheduled for April 1, 2004. About 10 days after that
date, each household in the mailout/mailback universe that did not
return the initial form will receive a replacement questionnaire. After
respondents have had a chance to complete and return their forms,
enumerators will visit each housing unit that has not responded (NRFU).
NRFU is scheduled to begin approximately three weeks after Census Day.
Enumerators will use handheld MCDs rather than paper questionnaires for
data collection during NRFU.
Although the 2004 mailback form is similar to the Census 2000 short
form in both content and format, there are several significant
differences. These include revised wording for residence rules
instructions; the addition of two coverage questions; a revised race
question that eliminates the ``Some other race'' option; revisions in
wording in the Hispanic origin question; and a format that allows a
respondent to record information for up to 12 household members.
Completing the paper questionnaire and responding to the questions
again during the telephone section of the Race and Hispanic/Latino
Response Evaluation will take approximately 10 minutes. Preliminary
research indicates enumerator-filled forms (data collected using MCDs
during NRFU) also will take about 10 minutes. All data capture
operations will be conducted at the Census Bureau's National Processing
Center (NPC) located in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
In order to conduct the 2004 Census Test, we hope to create content
and wording that will allow data collection using the MCDs to be
comparable to other modes of response. The Census Bureau is designing
software for handheld devices that is intended to incorporate both
Spanish and English language capabilities and that will result in MCDs
that will be easy for enumerators to use.
The goal of the two-part Race and Hispanic/Latino Response
Evaluation is to understand how changes to the Race and Hispanic origin
questions affect response behavior. The evaluation will study missing
data rates, NRFU response distributions, and behavior coding data
gathered in the process of conducting some NRFU interviews.
The Behavior Coding section of the test will involve taping and
coding the behavior of about 2,000 enumerators and respondents during
the NRFU personal visit interviews in the Queens, NY site. An ETA who
accompanies each enumerator will record the selected interviews using a
handheld recorder. ETAs will be trained to use basic interviewing
techniques, operate the recorder, and take notes on respondent and
interviewer behavior during the interview. Behavior coding is intended
to provide data about respondents' verbal reaction to the race and
Hispanic origin question as well as information about interviewer
behavior while asking these questions. These interviews will be
conducted and voice-recorded with the respondent's permission.
The second section of the Race and Hispanic/Latino Response
Evaluation--Re-interview Follow-up--also is restricted to the Queens,
NY site. The 2004 Census Test questionnaire will be administered to
selected respondents after the NRFU visit. We will re-administer the
2004 Census Test questionnaire by telephone in order to evaluate the
response distribution of the race question. The resulting response
distribution is intended to provide information for evaluating the
effect of changes in the race and Hispanic origin questions and
response categories, as well as dropping the ``Some other race''
option.
Employees from the NPC will contact a sample of approximately 2,800
households to re-administer the 2004 questionnaire beginning in June
2004. Data gathered as a result of these interviews will be processed
at NPC. The goal for this segment of the Race and Hispanic/Latino
Response Evaluation is 2,000 completed interviews.
Definition of Terms
Residence Rules--Rules that respondents and the Census Bureau use
to determine where people should be counted. They are meant to insure
that everyone is counted once and in the right place for the primary
purposes of apportionment.
Nonresponse Followup (NRFU)--An operation developed to obtain
completed questionnaires from housing units for which the Census Bureau
did not receive a completed questionnaire in mail census areas
(mailout/mailback, update/leave, and urban update/leave). Enumerators
visit addresses to collect the information.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: None.
Form Number(s): DB-1 (2004 Census Test).
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals and households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 200,000 households
for the 2004 Census Test. Approximately 2,800 households for Race and
Hispanic/Latino Response Evaluation.
Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33,800.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents except
for their time to respond.
Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Title 13 of the United States Code, sections
141 and 193.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: July 7, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-17545 Filed 7-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P