Generic Clearance for Internet Panel Pretesting and Qualitative Survey Methods Testing

The Census Bureau plans to request an extension of the current OMB approval to conduct a variety of medium-scale Internet-based tests under this generic clearance. A block of hours will be dedicated to these activities for each of the next three years. OMB will be informed in writing of the purpose and scope of each of these activities, as well as the time frame and the number of burden hours used. The number of hours used will not exceed the number set aside for this purpose. This research program will be used by the Census Bureau and survey sponsors to test alternative contact methods, including emails and text messages, improve online questionnaires and procedures, reduce respondent burden, and ultimately increase the quality of data collected in the censuses and surveys. The clearance will be used to conduct testing of decennial and demographic census and survey questionnaires as well as communications and/or marketing strategies and data dissemination tools for the Census Bureau prior to fielding them. Testing activities will primarily involve split panel experiment tests or remote usability testing but may also include other qualitative research conducted on the internet such as cognitive interviews, focus groups, and debriefings.