[Federal Register: October 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 60628-60629]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc07-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Youth
Volunteering, Service, and Civic Engagement Survey
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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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: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on
or before December 24, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, 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 instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Richard A. Schwartz, U.S. Census Bureau, 7H0003N,
Washington, DC 20233-8400 at (301) 763-7491 (or via the Internet at
Richard.A.Schwartz@census.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau plans to request a reinstatement of the clearance
used to conduct the 2005 and 2007 rounds of the Youth Volunteering and
Civic Engagement Survey. The purpose of this voluntary survey is to
provide data on volunteer activities, participation in school-based
service-learning, and civic engagement among American teenagers.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal
agency that encourages Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage
in community-based service and volunteering to meet the nation's
educational, public safety, environmental, homeland security, and other
human needs. Conducting a study of a rarely evaluated segment of the
volunteering population will provide important data that will inform
the work that the Corporation is doing across the country. For example,
the Corporation's Learn and Serve American grant program provides
resources to schools, higher education institutions, and community-
based organizations to involve young people in meaningful service to
their community while improving academic, civic, social, and career-
related skills. In addition, the Corporation's AmeriCorps program
provides service opportunities for Americans, ages 17 and older, to
make an ongoing and intensive commitment to service to meet critical
community needs. Through these programs, the Corporation seeks to
promote a culture of service and civic responsibility.
Teenagers are an important, yet often overlooked, volunteering
population. Since volunteering during one's youth is an important
predictor of continued volunteer activities, by understanding the
unique needs and motivations of the teen population, we can better work
to engage them in service to this country now and in the future.
This survey is a continuation of the youth volunteering survey
first conducted in 2005. In the 2005 survey we included sample persons
12 to 18 years of age. We are considering limiting this age group to 15
to 18 year olds.
The 2008 round will again collect information on the attitudes and
behaviors of teenagers in America around volunteering, service
learning, and other forms of community involvement. For the proposed
survey we will use retired CPS sample. Specifically, we will select
teenagers under the age of 18 living in households that were eligible
to participate in prior rounds of the September CPS Volunteer
Supplement. Linking the survey sample to the September CPS Volunteer
Supplement will not only aid in the processing of the collected data,
but also in the subsequent analysis of the collected data. For example,
in prior rounds of the National Youth Volunteering and Civic Engagement
Survey, the levels of reported volunteering among teens was about 55%
which is higher than the levels of volunteering reported in the CPS
Volunteer Supplement (~29%). Survey design may account for some portion
of the difference, but we are concerned that nonresponse bias may enter
in as well. By selecting the sample from households that participated
in the CPS Volunteer Supplement we will have additional information on
volunteering rates that can be used to assess nonresponse bias in the
proposed survey.
The data collected in this survey will include information on youth
volunteering activities that have taken place during the year prior to
data collection. These activities will include both school-based
community service requirements as well as volunteering activities
conducted through religious and service groups. Basic demographic data
for the sample person will be available from the CPS. Specifically, we
will ask about the youth's current academic standing; their experiences
with school-based community service and volunteering activities in the
previous year; their motivations for volunteering; and the impact of
school-based service and volunteering on the youth. We will also
collect information on the volunteering activities of the youth's
family and their attitudes and behaviors in regard to other forms of
civic engagement, such as the likelihood of future volunteering, their
sense of personal efficacy, their participation in community
collaboration, and their political engagement.
[[Page 60629]]
II. Method of Collection
The information will be collected by the Census Bureau's Telephone
Centers. Advance letters will be sent out about two weeks prior to data
collection. These letters will include a letter to the parent as well
as a letter to the respondent informing them of the upcoming survey. We
will provide phone numbers and e-mail addresses for sample persons and
parents of sample persons to contact with questions regarding the
survey. We plan to offer a monetary incentive to youth who agree to
participate in the survey. All interviewing will be done using an
automated instrument designed for use in a centralized telephone-
interviewing site.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607-0913.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,200.
Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,600.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 182.
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 of information;
(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: October 19, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-20991 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P