Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program and the Companion Program, Brain Power! Challenge

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for the opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Proposed Collection: Title: Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program, for grades K-5, and the companion program for Middle School, the Brain Power! Challenge. Type of Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of Information Collection: This is a request is for a three-year clearance to evaluate the effectiveness of the Brain Power! Program's ability (1) increase children's knowledge about the biology of the brain and the neurobiology of drug addiction, (2) increase positive attitudes toward science, careers in science, science as an enjoyable endeavor, and the use of animals in research; and stimulate interest in scientific careers; and (3) engender more realistic perceptions of scientists as being from many races, ages, and genders. The secondary goals of the evaluation are to determine the Program's impact on attitudes and intentions toward drug use. The findings will provide valuable information concerning the goals of NIDA's Science Education Program of increasing scientific literacy and stimulating interest in scientific careers. In order to test the effectiveness of the evaluation, information will be collected from students before and after exposure to the curriculum with pre- and post-test self-report measures. Surveys will also be administered to teachers after the completion of the program to examine ease and fidelity of implementation, as well as impact in knowledge and understanding of the neurobiology of addiction. Surveys will be administered to parents to obtain parental reaction and opinion on the materials and the degree to which parents find the curriculum informative and appropriate.

Frequency of Response: On occasion. Affected Public: Elementary and middle school students, teachers, and parents. Type of Respondents: Students, teachers, and parents. The reporting burden is as follows: Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,337; Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2; Average Burden Hours Per Response: .5; Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 1,254.5. There are no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report. The estimated annualized burden is summarized below.

Request for Comments

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact Dr. Cathrine Sasek, Coordinator, Science Education Program, Office of Science Policy and Communications, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Blvd, Room 5237, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 443-6071; fax (301) 443-6277; or by e-mail to csasek@nida.nih.gov.

Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60-days of the date of this publication.