0308 ss_050709 Part B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
2009 NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CENTER COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CUSTOMER SURVEYOMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0308

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any
sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities
(e.g. establishments, State and local governmental units, households, or persons) in the
universe and the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form. The tabulation
must also include expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection has
been conducted before, provide the actual response rate achieved.
Businesses

Examples

25
Technological
consultants
Geospatial
technology
providers

Not-forprofit
75
The Nature
Conservancy

State, Local or Tribal
Government
350
State Coastal Zone
Management Agencies

Land Trust
Alliance

County and municipal
planners

Federal
Government
50
Other Ocean
Service offices

TOTAL
500

NatureServe
Chamber of
Commerce
Member

EBM Tools
Network

The universe of respondents for this information collection comprises the NOAA Coastal
Services Center’s core customer base involved in coastal natural resource and hazard
management. The 2006 CRM survey was sent to all Center customer audiences at the state
government level with an identified role in the management of coastal resources. Additionally,
the Center attempted to broaden its respondent universe with the inclusion of federal offices
within the US Department of the Interior, USDA Forest Service, and the US Army Corps of
Engineers. For the 2009 survey, the additional federal offices will be removed from the
respondent universe, scaling the survey back to only those audiences identified as core customers
to the Center. The total number of responses targeted will be 500.
The response rates for the 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2006 CRM Surveys were 54, 70, 74, and 65
percent, respectively. Administration plans for the 2009 CRM Survey will follow steps outlined
by Salant and Dillman (1994), including follow-up reminder communications to increase the
response rate. Based on past efforts and lessons learned, a response rate of greater than 70
percent is expected for the 2009 survey. Two factors that potentially led to a decreased response
rate for the 2006 survey have been remedied. First, the survey was emailed by the hired
subcontractor mail server, which subsequently led to all emails coming from an unknown
address. The survey will, this year, be administered via a NOAA email account, which will
increase recognition and will lessen the likelihood of the survey to be discarded, or perceived as
spam. Secondly, the 2006 survey attempted to reach out to a substantially broader audience
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base, with which the Center has little interaction. While the effort was in good faith to identify
areas of potential collaboration and means to prevent redundancies in effort, it was the new
“survey audiences” that substantially drove down the response rate. For this survey, we are
retuning to the core Center audiences. We anticipate that these two actions, as well as the shorter
survey, will increase the response rate substantially.
2. Describe the procedures for the collection, including: the statistical methodology for
stratification and sample selection; the estimation procedure; the degree of accuracy
needed for the purpose described in the justification; any unusual problems requiring
specialized sampling procedures; and any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data
collection cycles to reduce burden.
No statistical methodology has been applied to stratify the sample. The 2009 CRM Survey will
be sent to all existing Center Customer offices responsible for coastal resource management.
The CRM Survey is conducted on a triennial basis. Given the rapid progression and changes in
resource management-related technology tools, less frequent collection would not have adequate
utility for Center planning and product and service development.
3. Describe the methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with nonresponse.
The accuracy and reliability of the information collected must be shown to be adequate for
the intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be
provided if they will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe
studied.
Actions to maximize response rate:
•
•
•

The survey has been reduced and simplified from its predecessor in order to reduce time
to complete and improve response rate.
Prior to fielding of the survey, both Center publications will run an announcement,
announcing the survey—this is expected to have a positive effect on survey awareness
and response.
The initial (preliminary notification) contact will contain a personalized emailed cover
letter from the Center, cordially inviting participation and describing the purpose of the
survey along with the survey instrument and instructions.

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•
•
•
•
•

A series of two follow-up reminders will be sent to respondents at two-week intervals,
following the delivery of the survey instrument.
All letters, messages, and reminders will be personally addressed (i.e., with salutation).
If a paper copy is requested, postage-paid return envelopes will be enclosed.
Respondents will be given multiple ways to contact Center representatives with questions
regarding the survey (phone, fax, email).
For expediency, electronic mail will be used instead of postal mail to communicate with
customers, unless postal or private carrier services are requested.

Action to address nonresponse:
If response rates are below 80 percent, nonrespondents will be contacted to test for nonresponse
bias: fielded questions will include demographic elements, including years of experience in
coastal resource management, geographic area of professional activity, profession type, and
degree of familiarity and previous interaction with the Center.
4. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Tests are encouraged as
effective means to refine collections, but if ten or more test respondents are involved OMB
must give prior approval.
Pilot testing of the survey instrument was completed in April, 2009. Pilot test participants
included representative members from across the coastal management community—reflecting
respondent types. The goals of the pilot test were to gauge readability, ease of completion,
clarity of instructions, and estimated completion time. Pilot testing included timing of
respondents, identification and discussion of unclear instructions and question content, asking
respondents about the length of the survey instrument, and discussing suggestions for
improvements. Fewer than 10 non-federal employees participated in the pilot test and
subsequent discussions. Comments from the pilot test were highly beneficial and resulted in
design, content, and wording changes to clarify responses.
5. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical
aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other
person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.
MRAG Americas will conduct the survey and collect and analyze all responses. However, the
survey invitation will be sent on behalf of the NOAA Coastal Services Center.
MRAG Americas, Inc.,
65 Eastern Avenue, Unit B2C
Essex, MA 01928
Ph. 978-768-3880
Contact: Jill Swasey, jill.swasey@mragamericas.com

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