[Federal Register: June 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 109)]
[Notices]
[Page 33441-33442]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn05-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Economic Research Service
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Collect Information
AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5
CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this Notice invites the
general public and other interested parties to comment on a proposed
information collection by the Economic Research Service. This
information collection will provide data needed to conduct research to
develop questionnaires and related instruments capable of collecting
reliable and valid information on topics including: food-related
knowledge, attitudes, and behavior; food assistance program
participation; and customer satisfaction. To do so, ERS plans to
conduct data collections that involve formative research, including
such methods as cognitive interviews (individual and/or small group),
and pre-testing of survey items (mailed, in-person, telephone, or Web-
based pretests).
DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received by August 12,
2005 to be assured of consideration.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Requests for additional information
regarding this Notice should be directed to Eileen Stommes, Food
Assistance Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street, NW., Room N-
2148, Washington, DC 20036-5831. Submit electronic comments to
estommes@ers.usda.gov or fax to 202-694-5677.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Formative Research for Development of Food Behavior
Questionnaires and Related Measures.
Type of Request: Approval to collect information from civilian,
non-institutionalized population, especially low-income individuals and
households targeted by USDA food assistance programs.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
[[Page 33442]]
Expiration Date: Three years from date of issuance.
Abstract: Nutrition has been shown to have important effects on
obesity, child development, learning, lifelong health, and
productivity. Poor food behaviors have been linked to four leading
causes of death, reduced quality of life, increased cost of living, and
premature death. While these food-related problems affect many
Americans, there is a lack of reliable, valid questionnaires or other
short, practical population measures to assess such important
information as: nutrition- and food-related knowledge, attitudes, and
behaviors; food assistance program participation and its determinants;
and program satisfaction.
Development of new questionnaires and related measures and
assessment of their reliability and validity will require formative
research. Formative research methods such as cognitive interviewing and
pretesting will assist ERS to develop questionnaires and related
measures that are understandable and yield reliable, valid information
on food behavior and its social and economic determinants.
Findings from all subsequent data collections will be included in
summary reports submitted to OMB. The reports will describe the data
collection methods used in the formative research, findings,
conclusions, implications, and recommendations for the development of
reliable, valid questionnaires and related measures. There will be no
attempt to generalize the findings to be nationally representative.
Methods of Collection: The data will be collected using a
combination of methodologies appropriate to each formative research
activity. These methodologies could include: Cognitive interviews,
Pretest/Field test, and Focus groups.
Estimated Number of Respondents and Total Annual Burden on
Respondents:
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Average burden
Type of data collection Number of response Total hours of
respondents (minutes) burden
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Cognitive Interviews............................................ 600 120 1,200
Pretesting/Field Test........................................... 2,000 30 1,000
Focus Groups.................................................... 600 120 1,200
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Totals...................................................... 3,200 N/A 3,400
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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 will
have practical utility; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (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.
All comments on this Notice will become a matter of public record
and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.
Dated: May 24, 2005.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11374 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
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