[Federal Register: January 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 4755-4756]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja03-37]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
National Survey of Volunteering and Giving Among Youths and
Adults
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Ken Kaplan or Sue Montfort, U.S. Census Bureau,
FOB 3, Room 3351, Washington, DC 20233-8400 at (301) 763-3836.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The purpose of this voluntary survey is to provide trend data on
the volunteering and giving behavior of youths and adults; to chart the
impact of major institutions, such as schools and religious
institutions on encouraging such behavior; to highlight people's
attitudes on a variety of issues relating to their volunteering
behavior; and to explore behavioral and motivational factors that
influence volunteering and giving.
Independent Sector, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of more than
700 national organizations, foundations, and corporate philanthropy
programs, began to study volunteerism in the United States in the early
1990s. Original survey content was developed by a national advisory
group of scholars and practitioners and addressed the following issues:
[sbull] Who volunteers? Who gives? To whom? How much?
[sbull] What are determinants of giving and volunteering behavior?
[sbull] What is the motivation for giving and volunteering to
various types of charitable causes?
[sbull] When do youths begin to volunteer and give?
[sbull] What skills have young people learned from their community
service?
[sbull] To what degree do schools encourage volunteering? Do they
offer courses requiring community service or require community service
for graduation?
[sbull] What level of confidence do young people have in the
institutions of our society?
This survey is unique because it contains information about both
adults and youths who give or volunteer and those that do neither. The
findings have been of interest to policymakers, the media, researchers,
and school principals and teachers, as well as leaders of voluntary
organizations.
As part of the emerging literature on ``social capital,'' or social
attachments, one important correlation of interest is that of religious
practice and volunteering. This survey seeks to confirm and understand
better that correlation by asking questions such as attendance at
religious services and whether a volunteer organization is religiously-
affiliated. The Census Bureau considers the religiously-oriented
questions appropriate in the context of the survey's objective. We will
not ask respondents to identify any particular religion.
For the national sample, we will select a sample of households from
[[Page 4756]]
expired Current Population Survey rotations. We will obtain parental
consent prior to interviewing the youths.
II. Method of Collection
The information will be collected by telephone-only interviews in
one of the Census Bureau's telephone centers. The data methodology will
utilize computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
III. Data
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Number: Not available.
Form Number: There will be no form number because it will be
conducted by CATI.
Type of Review: New collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000 respondents.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,500 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents other
than their time.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, section 182.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
(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 respondents, including through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology and; (e) whether questions about religion, when contextually
relevant and in a voluntary survey, are an appropriate area of inquiry
to the Census Bureau.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or
included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 24, 2003.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-2090 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P