2009 BRDIS Cognitive Interviewing Plan

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will be conducting cognitive interviews for the 2009 Business Research and Development and Innovation Survey (BRDIS) form BRDI-1, co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The questionnaire has been revised based on findings from the respondent debriefings we conducted this spring/summer (under OMB generic clearance letter 0917 send approximately 3/25/2009), as well as based on data review and analyst conversations with respondents.

From August to September, 2009, staff from the Response Improvement Research Staff (RIRS), formerly Establishment Survey Methods Staff (ESMS), in the Economic Directorate of the Census Bureau plan to conduct cognitive interviews with respondents at approximately 30

BRDI-1 companies. Respondents will be recruited from a list provided by the Census Bureau’s Manufacturing and Construction Division. We will attempt to obtain interviews with companies throughout the U.S. that vary in size, complexity, and type of company. We will conduct most interviews in person but may also do some by telephone. The mix will be determined by respondent availability and preferences, as well as by travel logistics. Subject area specialists and/or NSF staff members will accompany the RIRS staff on most, if not all, of the interviews. They will observe and provide additional clarification of the subject matter if required.

The cognitive interviews will focus on the respondents’ ability to provide the requested data as well as their understanding of the wording and terminology used on the form. A draft of the revised survey questions and interview protocol is enclosed. (Please note the revised survey questions appear in multiple worksheets in the attached Excel workbook.) The results of the interviews will be used to finalize the questionnaire for next year’s collection of the 2009 BRDIS.

After they are recruited, participants will receive a follow-up reminder of their appointments by fax, telephone, or e-mail via Census Bureau’s Secure Messaging Center. All interviews will be audio-recorded with the participants' permission, to facilitate accurate summarization of the results. Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen only by employees involved in the research project. We will not be providing monetary incentives to participants in this study.

We estimate that it will be necessary to interview only one respondent at each company. We estimate the length of the interview will average 1 hour. Thus, the maximum estimated burden for this research is 30 hours.

The contact person for questions regarding data collection and statistical aspects of the design of this research is listed below:

Kristin Stettler

Response Improvement Research Staff

Room 7K132A

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-7596

kristin.j.stettler@census.gov