Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 184 / Monday, September 22, 2008 / Notices 54623 

published at 73 FR 34041 on June 16, 

2008. 

Darrin A. King, 

Departmental Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. E8–22058 Filed 9–19–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–FW–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request 

ACTION: Notice. 

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 

(PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. 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. Currently, the Bureau 

of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting 

comments concerning the proposed 

extension of the ‘‘Cognitive and 

Psychological Research.’’ A copy of the 

proposed information collection request 

(ICR) 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 October 22, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Nora 

Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 

Division of Management Systems, 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., 

Washington, DC 20212, telephone 

number 202–691–7628. (This is not a 

toll free number.) 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nora Kincaid, BLS Clearance Officer, 

telephone number 202–691–7628. (See 

ADDRESSES section.) 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 

Behavioral Science Research Laboratory 

(BSRL) 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 BSRL 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 BSRL 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 better 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 BSRL 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 BSRL was 

created to aid in this effort and over the 

past 20 years it has demonstrated the 

effectiveness and value of its approach. 

Over the next few years, demand for 

BSRL consultation is expected to remain 

high as approaches are explored and 

tested for dealing with increasing 

nonresponse in key Bureau surveys. 

Moreover, as the use of Web-based 

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 BSRL 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 BSRL. This package 

reflects planned research and 

development activities for FY2009 

through FY2011, 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. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Title: Cognitive and Psychological 

Research. 

OMB Number: 1220–0141. 

Affected Public: Individuals and 

Households. 

Total Respondents: 1,200. 

Frequency: One time. 

Total Responses: 1,200. 

Average Time per Response: 60 

minutes. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 1,200 hours. 

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 

$0. 

Total Burden Cost (operating/ 

maintenance): $0. 

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 17th day of 

September 2008. 

Cathy Kazanowski, 

Chief, Division of Management Systems, 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

[FR Doc. E8–22084 Filed 9–19–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–24–P 


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