CPS Computer & Internet Use Supplement Plan

The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will be conducting cognitive research on the CPS Computer and Internet Use Supplement, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

From December 2010 through February 2011, staff from the Center for Survey Measurement and the Demographic Surveys Division will conduct approximately 20 cognitive interviews in the Washington DC metropolitan area. In our recruiting efforts we will be targeting respondents with the following characteristics: respondents with multiple types of computers (laptop, desktop, netbook, notebook); respondents that access the internet from home (some using dial up service and others using broadband service); respondents who access the internet from places other than home; respondents who work at home, either because they working primarily from home or they bring work home); and respondents with children. Respondents will be recruited through advertisements in local newspapers, people who are currently in our respondent database, and personal networks. Interviews will be conducted at the Census Bureau’s Response Research Laboratory and at locations convenient to interviewees. The interviews will be conducted in the local metropolitan area (DC, Maryland, Virginia).

This current supplement being tested will be fielded in 2011. The Current Population Survey had a Computer and Internet Use Supplement in 2003, 2009 and 2010. For the 2011 supplement, there are some brand new questions proposed, but many of the questions are similar to those used in prior years. We will conduct a first round of 10 interviews and then meet with the sponsor to discuss any findings. If necessary, we will revise the questionnaire and conduct a second round of 10 interviews. A copy of the draft questionnaire with the protocol embedded is enclosed.

We will conduct our cognitive interviews using the concurrent think-aloud method. We will audio-tape the interviews to facilitate analysis of the results. We will inform participants 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. Participants will receive $40 for their participation in this research.

We estimate that these interviews will take approximately one hour. Thus, the total 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:

Elizabeth Nichols

Center for Survey Measurement

U.S. Census Bureau

Room 5K112A

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-1724

elizabeth.may.nichols@census.gov