Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2023 / Notices 86681 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Information Collection Activities; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

Department of Labor. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

conducts a pre-clearance consultation 

program to provide the general public 

and Federal agencies with an 

opportunity to comment on proposed 

and/or continuing collections of 

information in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 

program helps to ensure that requested 

data can be provided in the desired 

format, reporting burden (time and 

financial resources) is minimized, 

collection instruments are clearly 

understood, and the impact of collection 

requirements on respondents can be 

properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 

concerning the proposed extension of 

‘‘Cognitive and Psychological 

Research.’’ A copy of the proposed 

information collection request can be 

obtained by contacting the individual 

listed below in the ADDRESSES section of 

this notice. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted to the office listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice on or 

before February 12, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora 

Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 

Division of Management Systems, 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225, 

2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, 

Washington, DC 20212. Written 

comments also may be transmitted by 

email to BLS_PRA_Public@bls.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 

telephone number 202–691–7628 (this 

is not a toll free number). (See 

ADDRESSES section.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 

Behavioral Science Research Center 

(BSRC) conducts theoretical, applied, 

and evaluative research aimed at 

improving the quality of data collected 

and published by the Bureau. Since its 

creation in 1988, the BSRC has 

advanced the study of survey methods 

research, approaching issues of nonsampling error within a framework that 

draws heavily on the theories and 

methods of the cognitive, statistical, and 

social sciences. The BSRC research 

focuses primarily on the assessment of 

survey instrument design and survey 

administration, as well as on issues 

related to interviewer training, the 

interaction between interviewer and 

respondent in the interview process, 

and the usability of data-collection 

instruments by both interviewers and 

respondents. Improvements in these 

areas result in greater accuracy and 

response rates of BLS surveys, 

frequently reduce costs in training and 

survey administration, and further 

ensure the effectiveness of the Bureau’s 

overall mission. 

II. Current Action 

Office of Management and Budget 

clearance is being sought for ‘‘Cognitive 

and Psychological Research.’’ The 

purpose of this request for clearance by 

the BSRC is to conduct cognitive and 

psychological research designed to 

enhance the quality of the Bureau’s data 

collection procedures and overall data 

management. The BLS is committed to 

producing the most accurate and 

complete data within the highest quality 

assurance guidelines. The BSRC was 

created to aid in this effort and it has 

demonstrated the effectiveness and 

value of its approach. Over the next few 

years, demand for BSRC consultation is 

expected to remain high as approaches 

are explored and tested to address 

increasing nonresponse in key Bureau 

surveys. Moreover, as the use of webbased surveys continues to grow, so too 

will the need for careful tests of 

instrument design and usability, 

human-computer interactions, and the 

impact of multiple modes on data 

quality. The BSRC is uniquely equipped 

with both the skills and facilities to 

accommodate these demands. 

The extension of the accompanying 

clearance package reflects an attempt to 

accommodate the increasing interest by 

BLS program offices and other agencies 

in the methods used, and the results 

obtained, by the BSRC. This package 

reflects planned research and 

development activities for FY2024 

through FY2026, and its approval will 

enable the continued productivity of a 

state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary 

program of behavioral science research 

to improve BLS survey methodology. 

III. Desired Focus of Comments 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is 

particularly interested in comments 

that: 

• Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility. 

• Evaluate 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. 

• Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected. 

• Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology, 

e.g., permitting electronic submissions 

of responses. 

Title of Collection: Cognitive and 

Psychological Research. 

OMB Number: 1220–0141. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Affected Public: Individuals and 

households, private sector. 

Total Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 10,450. 

Frequency: One time. 

Total Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses: 10,450. 

Average Time per Response: 21.72 

minutes. 

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 

3,783 hours. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and/or 

included in the request for Office of 

Management and Budget approval of the 

information collection request; they also 

will become a matter of public record. 

Signed at Washington, DC, this 8th day of 

December 2023. 

Eric Molina, 

Chief, Division of Management Systems, 

Branch of Policy Analysis. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27432 Filed 12–13–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–24–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Information Collection Activities; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

Department of Labor. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as 

part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

conducts a pre-clearance consultation 

program to provide the general public 

and Federal agencies with an 

opportunity to comment on proposed 


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