Management and Budget Office May 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950 (31 U.S.C. 1104(d)) and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3504(e)), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issues for comment a proposed addendum to Statistical Policy Directive No. 2: Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys (71 FR 55522, September 22, 2006). This addendum reflects the ongoing commitment of the Federal statistical system to ensure robust application across the Government of advances in survey methods. In its role as coordinator of the Federal statistical system under the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB, among other responsibilities, is required to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the system as well as the relevance, accuracy, objectivity, and confidentiality of information collected for statistical purposes. OMB is also charged with developing and overseeing the implementation of Government-wide principles, policies, standards, and guidelines concerning the development, presentation, and dissemination of statistical information. Accordingly, OMB requests comments on the recommendations that it received from the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology (FCSM) Subcommittee on Question Evaluation Methodology for an addendum to OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 2, Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveys. The addendum, Standards and Guidelines for Cognitive Interviews is intended to ensure that the results of statistical surveys sponsored by the Federal Government are as reliable and useful as possible while minimizing respondent burden. The addendum may be accessed at www.omb.gov/inforeg/Directive_No. 2_Addendum. Comments are also requested regarding suggestions for other aspects of statistical methodology to be considered for inclusion in future addenda to this directive. Additional discussion of the proposed addendum may be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.