Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 29368-29369 [2010-12530]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29368-29369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12530]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 75 FR 8409, and no substantial comments were 
received. NSF is forwarding the proposed revised submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with 
the publication of this second notice. Comments regarding (a) whether 
the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (d) ways to 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 should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, 
Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 7th 
Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail 
to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days 
of this notification. Copies of the submission may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556. NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless the collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who 
are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are 
not required to respond to the collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: 2010 National Survey of Recent College 
Graduates.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0077.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to revise an information 
collection for three years.

1. Abstract

    The National Survey of Recent College Graduates (NSRCG) has been 
conducted biennially since 1974. The 2010 NSRCG will consist of a 
sample of individuals who have recently completed bachelor's and 
master's degrees in science, engineering and health from U.S. 
institutions. The purpose of this study is to provide national 
estimates of new entrants into the science and engineering workforce 
with recent bachelor's and master's degrees in science, engineering, 
and health fields from U.S. institutions, and estimates of their 
characteristics. The study is one of three components of the Scientists 
and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), which produces national 
estimates of the size and characteristics of the nation's science and 
engineering workforce.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to `` * * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The NSRCG is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of the nation's 
recent bachelor's and master's level scientists and engineers. 
Collected data will be used to produce estimates of the characteristics 
of these individuals. They will also provide necessary input

[[Page 29369]]

into the SESTAT labor force data system, which produces national 
estimates of the size and characteristics of the country's science and 
engineering personnel. The Foundation uses this information to prepare 
congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons 
with Disability in Science and Engineering and Science and Engineering 
Indicators. NSF publishes statistics from the survey in many reports, 
but primarily in the biennial series, Characteristics of Recent Science 
and Engineering Graduates in the United States. A public release file 
of collected data, designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will 
be made available to researchers on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    Mathematica Policy Research will conduct the study under contract 
for NSF. Data are obtained by mail questionnaire, computer assisted 
telephone interview and web survey beginning October 2010. The survey 
will be collected in conformance with the Confidential Information 
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 and Privacy Act of 
1974. The individual's response to the survey is voluntary. NSF will 
insure that all information collected will be kept strictly 
confidential and will be used only for research or statistical 
purposes.

2. Expected Respondents

    A sample of approximately 300 institutions in the U.S. that grant 
S&E degrees will be contacted in the first stage of the survey to 
provide a list of bachelor's and master's degree recipients in the most 
two recent academic years in order to construct the sampling frame of 
graduates. In the second stage, a sample of 18,000 bachelor's and 
master's degree recipients in science, engineering, and health will be 
contacted for the survey. The total response rate in 2008 for the first 
stage was 95 percent and second stage was 71 percent.

3. Burden on the Public

    The amount of time for the 300 sampled institutions to provide 
their graduate lists is estimated on average to be 3 hours. The amount 
of time for the sampled graduates to complete the NSRCG questionnaire 
may vary depending on an individual's circumstances; however, on 
average it will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the survey. 
Assuming 90% response rate from the sampled institutions, and 80% 
response rate from the sampled graduates, NSF estimates that the total 
burden for the 2010 NSRCG will be 6,815 hours.

    Dated: May 20, 2010.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-12530 Filed 5-24-10; 8:45 am]
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