03/01/13 Page 1

**PART B: COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS**  Part B applies to four WaterSense data collection efforts: a census survey of all organizational partners , a census survey of all licensed certification providers, and two consumer survey s, one of which uses sampling techniques. Section I describes the required elements for the annual reporting process for all organizational partners and quarterl y reporting for all licensed certification providers , Section II discusses these elements for the consumer awareness phone survey , and Section III discusses these elements for the Internet
- based consumer survey
. **SECTION I : ANNUAL REPORTING CENSUS**  **AND QUARTERLY LICENSED CERTIFICATION PROVIDER CENSUS**  **B1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potent** **ial respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used.**  **Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, state and local government units, households, persons)**  **in the universe covered by the collection and in the corr esponding sample are to be**  **provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample.**  **Indicate expected response rate for the collection as a whole. If the**  **collection has been conducted previously, include the a ctual response rate achieved**  **during the last collection.** WaterSense will collect data from promotional partners, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, and builders via annual reporting each ye ar from 201 3 to 201 6
. WaterSense plans to collect data from professional certifying organizations from 2014 to 2016. WaterSense will collect data from all providers on a quarterl y basis. As of February

2013, WaterSense has 1,372 reporting partners. This is a census survey , and no sampling methods will be used for either the annual or quarterl y survey s . Table B
- 1 summarizes the number of partners b y typ e . **B -**  **1: WaterSense Reporting**  **Partners by Partner Type ,**  **February 2013 Partner Type**  **Number** Promotional 829 Manufacturer 239 Retailers/Distributor 206 Builder 66 Professional Certifying Organization 14 Licensed Certification Providers 18 **Total 1,**  **372**03/01/13 Page 2

Table B
- 2 summarizes the actual response rate received for the annual census during previous data collections. **B -**  **2 : WaterSense**  **Annual Reporting**  **by Partner Type, 2009**  **- 2011**  ***** **Partner Type Reporting Year**  **Response Rate** Promotional 20 1 1 30 % 2010 33 % 2009 52 % Manufacturer 2011 36 % 2010 44 % 2009 41% Retailer/Distributor 2011 10 % 2010 12 % 2009 20% Builder 2011 7 % 2010 28 % 2009 N/A

– reporting not required Professional Certifying Organization 20 09
- 2011 N/A

– reporting not required *Response rates for previous years available upon request. **B -**  **3 : WaterSense**  **Quarterly Reporting for Licensed Certification Providers, 2010 -**  **2011 Partner Type**  **Reporting Quarter**  **Response Rate** Licensed Certification Providers Q3 201 2 53 % Q2 2012 47 % Q1 2012 40 % Q4 2011 53 % Q3 2011 40 % Q2 2011 31 % Q1 2011 55 % Q4 2010 64 % **B2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including: (a) statistical**  **methodology for stratification and sample selection ;**  **(b) estimation procedures ;**  **(c) degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification**  **; (d) unusual**  **problems requiring specialized sampling procedures ;**  **and (e) any use of periodic (**  **e.g., less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.**  Annual Reporting All WaterSense partners except for irrigation partners and licensed certification providers (who submit quarterl y reports as discussed below) submit an annual reporting form electronicall y via an online form. In addition, manufacturer and retailer/distributor partners are also required to submit shipment and sales data to a WaterSense contractor. The data will be recorded on annual03/01/13 Page 3

reporting forms and received via the U.S. mail or private delivery service. EPA anticipates that most, if not all, partners will request that shipment and sales data be handled as CBI. WaterSens e procedures assume that all shipment and sales data will be handled as CBI. Upon receipt of an annual reporting form with shipment data, the WaterSense data manager provide s a listing of reporting partner s to the WaterSense H elpline staff. Helpline staff verify eligibility

of the partner to report b y checking the listing of partners in the manufacturer category. If the partner is not eligible to report, H elpline staff contact the partner to discuss their partnership category and revise the partn er’s design ation in Salesforce, if necessary , or inform the data manager and the H elpline manager that the partner incorrectl y submitted data. If the partner is not eligible to report, the data manager will not include the partner’s data in subsequent analyses and no te the decision on the partner’s reporting form. After confirming eligibility to submit data, the data manager or her designee, will review each submission to determine:  Does the manufacturer own the original certification file? This step reduces the chanc es of double counting shipment data submitted by the original manufacturer and others who rebrand and resell the products
.  Are there internal inconsistencies in the report (e.g., number of WaterSense products shipped exceeds the total number of products shipped)?  Are the data unrealistic for the given partner (e.g., shipments are excessive for what might be expected for a company of size reporting)?  Is there evidence that the partner has provided estimated data rather than actual?  Is there evidence that the partner has included international shipments or sales? If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, ERG will contact the partner to clarify . I f the partner cannot sufficiently explain the data, they will not be included in subsequent data anal yses. Provider Reporting L icensed certification provider partners submit quarterl y reporting forms electronically via an online form. WaterSense receives these online forms from partners four times a year, in earl y February, May, August, and November. The reporting form asks for contact information as well as information about the WaterSense labeled new homes that the provider organization inspected during the previous calendar quarter. Upon receipt of a quarterly reporting form , Helpline staff verifies that the partner is a bona fide “provider” partner and that contact information for the primary contact at the organization has not changed, and, if it has, updates the WaterSense database accordingly
. After confirming eligibility , Helpline staff marks th e ye ar and quarter (i.e. , Q1 2012) that the information should be associated with in the database. The Helpline manager reviews each submission for reasonableness (e.g., has there been a large increase or decrease in figures reported in previous reports; does the reported figure seem reasonable given the size of the organization and timeframe of the report), and follows up with the partner to clarify any questions about the data submitted. The Helpline manager then sends an email to any builder partners wh o are referenced in the quarterly reports to verify

that the new homes information submitted was accurate.03/01/13 Page 4

**B3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non**  **** **response. The accuracy and reliability of information must be shown to be**  **adequate for intended use.**  **For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield “reliable” data that can be generalized**  **to the universe studied.** Upon joining WaterSense, EPA requires organizational partners to commit to submitting annual reports and requires provider partners to submit quarterly reports . The importance of both annual reporting process es is stressed to partners upon joining. To maximize response EPA conducts the following activities:  Require the submission of an annual reporting form for those partners wishing to be considered for a WaterSense award
.  Host a partner conference call to answer partner questions about the form
.  Send emails to remind partners of upcoming due dates
.  Remind partners about reporting in quarterl y newsletter
.  Follow
- up phone calls to non
- reporting partners
.  Send 1
- 2 reporting reminder emails to provider partners each quarter
. **B4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.**  **Testing is**  **encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility.**  **Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents.**  **A proposed test or set of tests may be su**  **bmitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of data.**  EPA provided draft versions of the annual reporting form and quarterl y reporting form to several partners (fewer than 10) for comment and revised the form accordingl y. Upo n the completion of each data collection cycle, EPA examines the responses, form, and procedures and identifies potential changes for the following ye ar based on common questions or issues that arise. **B5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals c**  **onsulted on statistical aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or**  **other person(s) who will collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.** Laura Harwood of Eastern Research Group , Inc. ( ERG) is the task m anager for both the census survey s and can be reached at (703) 841
- 0589 . Roy Sieber serves as ERG’s program manager and can be reached at ( 703 ) 633
- 1614. Dr. L ou Nadeau is an ERG senior economist and can be reached at ( 781 ) 674
- 7316.03/01/13 Page 5

**SECTION II: CONSUMER**  **AWARENESS PHONE**  **SURVEY B.1.**  **Describe, including a numerical estimate**  **, the potential respondent universe and any**  **sampling or other respondent selection methods to be used.**  **Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments,**  **s tate and**  **local government units, households, p**  **ersons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the**  **corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the**  **strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected respo**  **nse rates for the collection as a whole. If**  **the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate**  **achieved during the last collection.** The target population for these two surveys will be households in the United States. This corresponds to the target population of the WaterSense program. The sampling population will be adults living in households that are surveyed. There are 115 million households in the United States according to the most recentl y available Census Bureau numbers. 1 From this, EPA will select a sample of 400 respondents for each survey . The justification for this sample size appears in response to Question B.2 below. The sampling frame will be a list provided by a telephone survey contractor. Lists of U.S. household s are readily available for this ty

pe of survey
. EPA has not previously

conducted the s e surveys , thus it cannot estimate the expected response based on past experience. Evaluation practitioners have documented that survey response rates have been declining worldwide in recent ye ars. 2 Ina recent study 3 of response rates for 205 telephone surveys conducted in the same survey lab over a three
- ye ar period, study authors found that response rates varied from fewer than 10 percent to greater than 90 percent response, with the largest number of survey s falling in the 25 to 45 percent range. Further, the study authors found that response rates are affected by contextual variables including:  Salience of the survey to the population  Survey

length  Ty pe of sample ( e.g., listed v ersu s random
- digit dialing)  Minutes p er piece of sample ( i.e., effort)  Amount of time the survey was in the field A 10
- minute increase in survey length results in a 7 percent decrease in the response rate. Since the proposed WaterSense customer awareness survey is short, EPA anticipates a r elatively high response rate. In addition, EPA will take actions to maximize response rate (see discussion in Section B.3 below). Given these factors, EPA estimates a response rate of approximately 40 percent for the consumer awareness survey
.

1 http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_1YR/DP02
. 2 See de Leeuw, Edith, and Wim de Heer. 2002. “Trends in Household Survey Nonresponse: A Longitudinal and International Comparison.” In Survey Nonresponse, ed. Robert M. Groves, Don A. Dillm an, John L. Eltinge, and Roderick J. A. Little, pp. 41

– 54. New York: Wiley; Singer, Eleanor. 2006. “Introduction

— Nonresponse bias in household surveys.” Public Opinion Quarterly , 70(5):637
- 645. DOI:10.1093/poq/nfl034. 3 McCarty, C., M. House, et al. (200 6). “Effort in Phone Survey Response Rates: The Effects of Vendor and Client
Controlled Factors.” Field Methods 18(2): 172
- 188.03/01/13 Page 6

**B.2. Desc**  **ribe the procedures for the collection of information including: •**  **Statistical methodology for stra tification and sample selection**  **• Estimation procedure**  **• Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose**  **described in the justification •**  **Unusual problems requirin g specialized sampling procedures**  **• Any use of periodic (**  **e.g., less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to**  **reduce burden. Statistical Method for Stratification and Sample Selection**  This section discusses the statistical methods for stratification and sample selection used in the survey . Before discussing those methods, the section begins b y explaining EPA’s approach to estimating the sample size for this collection. Sample Size Estimation This section provides estimates of sample size needed to meet a set of specific statistical criteria for the survey

data. Choosing a sample size is a three
- step process. First, statistical criteria are set; second, an initial sample size is chosen based on the criteria; and third, if necessary , th e initial sample size is adjusted based on the population size. The third step, however, is not needed for this survey due to the large universe size. The section begins with a discussion of the statistical criteria and then discusses the estimated initial and adjusted sample sizes. The statistical criteria used in choosing a sample size are:  Precision: The maximum difference in the parameter of interest between an estimate for that parameter obtained from the sample and the value of that parameter in the population.  Confidence : The probability of correctl y accepting a true hypothesis.  Power : The probability of correctl y rejecting a false hypothesis. Simultaneously

setting values for each criterion will generate a sample size estimate. In general, however, there are limited acceptable choices in terms of power and confidence and, therefore, most of the emphasis is in choosing a reasonable precision. To select sample size using these criteria, EPA has used statistical power analy sis techniques (Cohen, 1988). The use of each in choosing a sample size is discussed in what follows. Precision The precision of a sample is the maximum difference in units of the key question that one is willing be away

from the population parameter of interest. The parameter of interest for this survey is awareness of the WaterSense program. There are two key aspects of this parameter:  The level of awareness (i.e., what percentage of households are aware of the program?)
.  Whether or not awareness is increasing over time (i.e., is there a statistically significant increase in awareness between surveys?)
.03/01/13 Page 7

The first reflects estimation of a proportion ( e.g., percentage of households aware of the program) and the second reflects a change in a proportion over time. Thus, precision will need to be in terms of percentage points. EPA has determined that the sample size should provide valid data for the second aspect ( i.e., change in awareness over time), but should also provide reasonable reliable data to determine the level awareness also . EPA has determined that the sample should be able to detect three to five point change in awareness over time. 4 For example, if awareness is found to be 5 percent in this survey and a subsequent survey finds awareness to be 10 percent, the sample sizes f or each survey

should be large enough to find that change to be statistically

significant. Power The power of a statistical test is one minus the probability of a T yp e II error ( e.g., not rejecting a false hypothesis), or the probability of correctl y rej ecting a false hy pothesis. In this sense, power corresponds to finding the specified effect size (i.e., precision) when that effect in fact exists. Traditional hypothesis tests set, by default, power to 50 percent. Following Cohen’s (1988) suggestion, EPA will use 80 percent power. Thus, in terms of the second aspect identified above under precision (change in awareness over time), the sample size will have an 80 percent chance of detecting the specified change in awareness if that change actually occurred. Confidence Confidence is the probability of accepting a true hy

pothesis. For purposes of sampling, confidence defines the likelihood that the population mean will be contained in the interval around the sample mean defined b y the precision for the samp le. EPA will use 90 percent confidence in setting the sample size. Furthermore, since EPA is interested in increases in awareness, EPA will use a one
- sided confidence interval. Sample Size Estimates The initial sample size estimates are based on the methods of Cohen (1988), Chapter 6, which provides power analy tic methods for detecting differences between proportions over time. EPA combined these methods with the precision, power, and confidence setting discussed above and an assumption on the current level of awareness in the universe. Setting a sample size for proportions requires either having some knowledge of proportion for the population beforehand, or making an assumption on the proportion for the population. EPA expects that awareness of WaterS ense is fairl y low among the universe and has assumed it to be between two and ten percent. Thus, the sample size should be able to detect three to five percent increase in awareness (precision) between surveys from the assumed baseline levels of awareness at 90 percent confidence and 80 percent power. Table B
- 3 provides sample sizes needed to detect the increases in awareness for the assumed range of baseline awareness (for the set power and confidence). Based on this table, EPA has selected a sample size of 400 households. Sample sizes in the table that are less than 400 households are depicted in bold italics. As can be seen, a sample of 400

4 EPA has specified a range for precision due to uncertainty over the baseline level of awareness. This will be discussed in mor e detail below under sample size estimation.03/01/13 Page 8

households will allow for detection of a five point increase in awareness from all baseline levels, detection of a four point increase in awareness for baseline awareness in the two to five percent range of baseline awareness, and detection of a three point increase in awareness for very low baseline awareness (2 percent).

**Table B -**  **3 . Sample Sizes Needed to Detect the**  **Specified Precision Values for Assumed Values of Baseline Awareness**  **Between Two and Ten Percent at 90 Percent Confidence and 80 Percent Power**  **Assumed Baseline**  **Level of Awareness in**  **the Universe Precision: Increase in Awareness to be**  **Detected Three**  **Percentage Points**  **Four**

**Percentage Points**  **Five**

**Percentage Points**  2% **323 203**  **143** 3% 419 **257 178**  4% 512 **310 212**  5% 602 **360 244**  6% 689 409 **275** 7% 774 457 **306** 8% 857 503 **335** 9% 938 548 **364** 10% 1016 592 **391** Note: The values in Table B
- 3 are calculated using the following formula: 

#   n n

p r p    0 1 2 100 2 2 . arcsin arcsin where n 0.1 is equal to 902 (in this case) and is derived from Cohen, Chapter 6, table 6.4.1 (third panel) and reflects a base sample size for one
- sided 90 percent confidence and 80 percent power, p are the baseline awareness values, and r are the precision values. Sample Allocation EPA will allocate the sample across the United States in proportion to the distribution of households in the United States. **Estimation Procedure** Estimation of population parameters (means, totals, and variances) will be done by appropriatel y weighting the sample values. The weight for any responding sample unit can be calculated as:03/01/13 Page 9

weight = ( weight associated with sampling)  ( weight that adjusts for nonresponse) Estimation of these weights are discussed below, followed by calculation of weighted estimates for the population parameters. The weights associated with sampling can be estimated as the reciprocal of the selection probabilities. These can be estimated as:

w N n w hj h

h h   (6) where N

h is the population for stratum h and n h is the sample chosen from the stratum h . The second equality indicates that the weight for each sample unit from a specific stratum will be the same as all of sampled units from that stratum. 5 To account for nonresponse, EPA will use a weighting class adjustment procedure. Specificall y, EPA assumes that the probability that any population unit responds to the survey is the product of the selection probability (above) and a response probability . To estimate response probabilities, EPA will divide the respondents in each survey into a small number of classes (strata). The exact classes for each survey will depend on the nature of the data available for each group. The response probabilities are then:

 k sum of we ights for respondent s in k sum of we ights for selected sample in k  ( ) ( ) (7) where k indexes the nonresponse weighting classes. Thus, the weight for a respondent in class k and stratum h becomes:

~ w N n hk h

h k  1  (8)
The weighted total for any question in these surveys can be found using the follo wing formula: 6

 ~ Y w y

hj hj j J
h H h 

  

##   1 1 (9)
where  Y is the weighted estimate of the population total for variable/question y , h indexes strata, H is the total number of strata used in the survey , j indexes sample respondents within each

5 This will not be true once weighting for nonresponse is done. 6 A number of questions asked in the surveys can be thought of as yes/no questions (e.g., explicit yes/no questions as well as ‘check all that appl y’ questions). The ‘totals’ from these will be the number that respond ‘yes’ to the question.03/01/13 Page 10

stratum, J

h is the total number of respondents in stratum h , ~ whj is the nonresponse
- adjusted sampling weight for the jth unit in stratum h , 7 and yhj is the value for the variable/question y for the jth unit in stratum h . Estimates of the population means can then be found as:

 

~ Y Y
whj

j J
h H h 

  

##   1 1 (10)
Estimation of the variance for the expressions in equations (9) and (10) will require more complex methods. The variance of both expressions will need to account for (a) the fact that each represents a sample estimate of a population parameter and (b) the fact that the response weights defined in (7) are sample quantities (i.e., they are not fixed). To calculate these variances, EPA will use a bootstrap method. Bootstrap methods involve repeated sub
- sampling (with replacement) of the selected sample and cal culating the variance from the repeated samples. In theory , if the sample is reflective of the population distribution, then repeated sub
- sampling of the sample will result in an unbiased and reliable estimate of the variance. OLMS will use the Rao and Wu (1988) method for bootstrap estimation of a variance. This method is summarized in Lohr (1999, p. 307). 8 **Degree of Accuracy** See above. **Unusual Problems** None. **Use of Periodic Rate Less Than Annually** Data collected under these survey s are one - time and are thus less frequent than annual. **B.3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of**  **non -**  **response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be**  **adequate for intended uses. Fo**  **r collections based on sampling, a special justification must**  **be provided for any collection that will not yield “reliable” data that can be generalized to the universe studied.** 

7 Additionally, because equation (8) defines weights for each respondent, the class
- level indexing in equation (8) can be replaced by respondent
- level indexing. T hat is, equation (8) defines a value for each respondent ( ~ whj ). 8 The method of Rao and Wu (1988) has been coded into available software packages.03/01/13 Page 11

EPA will employ

a number of procedures to maximize response rates and to mitigate issues associa ted with non
- response. A number of nonresponse issues may arise during the data collection process. Table B
- 4 summarizes issues related to nonresponse and the approach to handling those issues. EPA will anal yz e the known data on non
-respondents (e.g., regi on, size, etc
. ) for patterns. This anal ys is will indicate whether the data collected through the survey will have any

potential biases. **Table B -**  **4. Non -**  **response Issues and Techniques Used to Minimize the Impact of Those Issues**  **Non -**  **response Issue Techniques to Be Used to Minimize Impact of Non**  **** **response** Refusals

—Observational unit refuses to take survey  EPA will be using a professional survey firm that is skilled in converting refusals.  EPA will replace refusals with similar households (e.g., within the same geographic region).  EPA will develop a questionnaire that limits the burden imposed on observational units. Not available

—Observational unit not available at the time the phone survey

firm calls  The survey firm will call the household back up to three times before considering them non
- respondents and excluding them from the sample.  EPA will replace refusals with similar households (e.g., within the same geographic region). Refusal to answer specific questions

—Observational unit refuses to answer specific questions  EPA will be using a professional survey firm that is skilled in converting refusals.  EPA will develop a questionnaire that limits the burden imposed on observational units.
**B.4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be**  **undertaken.** EPA will pre
- test the survey instruments using a small set of households. The purpose of the pre
- tests will be to assess the questionnaire validity in collecting the necessary data. No other tests of procedures or methods will be used for these survey s. EPA expects that the sampling scheme and the implementation process are relativel y straightforward and should be accomplished without need for testing the methods. **B5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical**  **aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.**  Dr. Lou Nadeau , ERG, ( 781 ) 674
- 7316
.03/01/13 Page 12

**SECTION III: C**  **ONSUMER SURVEY (INTERNET**  **- BASED)**  **B1. Describe,**  **including a numerical estimate ,**  **the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used.**  **Data on the number of entities**  **(e.g., establishments, state and local government units, households, persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample**  **are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the pro**  **posed sample. Indicate expected response rate for the collection as**  **a whole. If the collection has been conducted previously, include the actual response**  **rate achieved during the last collection.** The purpose of this survey is to increase EPA’s understanding of market barriers that exist with water
- efficient products and services, develop messages that will address these barriers, and test the results of the findings in key markets. EPA will invite participants to provide feedback on promotions and messaging. EPA will use the data gathered to develop messaging for public service announcements. Approximately

four hundred US adults will b e invited to participate in the research effort
. Only homeowners will be sampled, since renters are unlikel y to be resp onsible for purchasing low
- flow plumbing equipment. Data will be stratified by whether the individuals live in water rich or water poor areas of the nation. The goal of this research is to determine which methods of communicating water efficient
-product s are most effective (i.e., translate into the most positive attitudes toward and intentions to buy) to U.S. consumers. We are not trying to estimate a population parameter (e.g., such as general awareness of the WaterSense logo), rather we are comparing e fficacy of communication techniques. Rule of thumb in this case is that we will need to use 20
- 30 respondents in each communication condition. We will be drawing our sample using an electronic panel of homeowners and will not be using a random sample; thus, will not have information regarding nonresponse. N onresponse bias is of concern when attempting to generalize from the sample estimate to a population parameter, but becomes somewhat unimportant when the goal is to determine differences between treatment groups. **B2. Describe the procedures for the collection of i**  **nformation including: (a) statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection**  **; (b) estimation procedures; (c)**  **degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification ;**  **(d) unusual problems requiring specialized sampling proce**  **dures ;**  **and (e) any use of periodic (**  **e.g., less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.**  a) We will not be using a statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection since the goal of the research is to determine difference s between groups. b) We will use Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and Multivariate Anal ys is of Covariance (MANCOVA) to test for differences between groups and to control for covariates. c) A “b y- invitation
- only” only panel recruitment method is used by the on
- line panel provider that will be collecting the data for this study
. This means that only pre - validated individuals participate. Thus, a cross
- section of “real” consumers, as opposed to regular survey takers,03/01/13 Page 13

are included in the sample. The panel to be used does not employ an “open” online panel recruitment method which simply allows individuals to self
- select into the study
. d) There are no unusual problems that will require a specialized sample procedures. e) Data will not be collected periodicall y. This is a one
- time study
. **B3. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non**  **** **response. The accuracy and reliability of information must be shown to be adequate**  **for intended use. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be**  **provided for any collection that will not yield “reliable” data that can be generalized to the universe studied.**  S ince our purpose is to test for differences between groups, generalizability to the population at large (i.e., external validity) is less important than assurance that the experimental condition created the effect ( i.e., internal validity). In such situations as ours, nonresponse bias is not a major concern in the study design.
**B4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.**  **T esting is**  **encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility.**  **Tests must be approved if they call for answers to**  **identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may**  **be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of data.**  Pretesting of the questionnaire design and procedures will be conducted in two different ways. First, using the methods described in Dillman (2000), we will use a verbal protocol with less than ten home owners to gain a better understanding of how the target population is interpreting our questions and whether we have included the appropriate response categories. Second, we will pretest the on
- line survey to insure that it is working properly , is user
- friendly and that the data can be downloaded adequatel y . *Don A. Dillman (2000) Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design M ethod
. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., NY, NY. **B5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on statistical**  **aspects of the design and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will collect and/or analy** **ze the information for the agency** Dr. Lou Nadeau , ERG, ( 781 ) 674
- 7316
. **REFERENCES** Cohen, Jacob, 1988. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences , 2 nd Edition, Lawrence Earlbaum Associates Publishers, Hillsdale, N.J. Lohr, Sharon, 1999. Sampling: Design and Analysis , Duxbury Press, Pacific Grove, CA.03/01/13 Page 14

Rao, J.N.K., and C.F.J. Wu, 1988. “Resampling Inference with Complex Survey Data,” Journal of the American Statistical Association , 83: 231
- 241.