Census of Governments Survey of Public Pensions Pretesting Plan

The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will conduct usability testing for the electronic version of the 2012 Census of Governments Survey of Public Pensions (CoG-P) forms. The CoG-P is conducted annually providing revenue, expenditure, financial asset, and membership information for public employee retirement systems. The CoG-P collects data using three forms. Form F-11 collects data from locally-administered defined benefit plans, while forms F-12 and F-12(S) collect data from state-administered pension plans.

The interviews will focus on respondents’ reactions to the layout and navigation through the F-11, F-12, and F-12(S) forms in the web instrument. We will also observe reactions to the process of uploading data using the web instrument. Additionally, we will test how respondents react to having the F-12 and F-12(S) forms combined in a web instrument. Drafts of the current screen shots and interview protocol are enclosed.

During November 2012, the Response Improvement Research Staff (RIRS) will conduct one round of usability interviews with up to 15 respondents from government entities in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area and another location yet to be determined in either Louisiana or Georgia. Governments Division staff will provide us with a list of locally- and state-administered pension systems from which we will recruit. Sample cases will include a mix of large and small pension systems with different organizational structures. The interviews will take place at the government site. Findings will be used to revise the CoG-P instrument before it is released in December.

After government entities are recruited, participants will receive follow-up reminders about their appointments by phone or email. Participants will be informed that their response is voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential and will be seen only by Census Bureau or special sworn employees involved in the research project. We will not be providing monetary incentives to participants in this study.

Subject area specialists from Governments Division will accompany the researcher on most, if not all, of the interviews. They will assist with respondent debriefing, especially in cases where additional clarification of the subject matter is required. We will audio-record the interviews with the participants’ permission, to aid researchers in accurately reporting findings and recommendations.

We estimate that it will be necessary to interview only one respondent at each government entity. We estimate the length of the interviews will average 1 hour. Thus, the estimated burden for this project is 15 hours.

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

Heidi Butler

Response Improvement Research Staff

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-3322

Heidi.Butler@census.gov