Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Office at (404) 639-7090.

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 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. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

Questionnaire Design Research Laboratory (QDRL) 2001-2003, (OMB No. 0920-0222)—Revision—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The QDRL conducts pretesting activities related to the development of NCHS and other Federal survey questionnaires, such as the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). These activities mainly involve use of the cognitive interview, in which volunteer respondents (“laboratory subjects”) are administered draft survey questions, and are asked to react to those questions. The cognitive interviewer notes sources of error in these questions, based on problems that subjects have in comprehending the questions and in attempting to recall the information requested. After several cycles of testing of small numbers of respondents (generally 10-12), and development of the questions between testing “rounds,” the questionnaires are improved to the point to which they are ready for field testing and household administration. QDRL staff are also engaged in the conduct of general questionnaire design research, in which survey questions are administered to laboratory subjects using different phrases, or under different administration modes (e.g., face-to-face versus telephone), in order to determine the optimal means for presenting the questions. These investigative pretesting activities are now routinely used by NCHS and by other survey organizations for testing and development purposes, and result in high data quality at a minimal cost, especially in terms of respondent burden. We also support field testing on occasion to assure adequate pretesting of health survey instruments. There are no net cost to respondents because they receive remuneration.