Memo

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 American Housing Survey, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The purpose of this cognitive research is to test concepts added to or revised in the American Housing Survey. The question changes were requested by the Department of Housing and Development to address known problems with the questions, to measure new concepts, and to update rotating modules that have not been in the survey in the last survey administration. Questions in the following modules of the American Housing Survey are being tested.

• Inventory is an existing core module that contains two new questions about the number of stories or floors in the respondent’s home.

• Equipment is an existing core module that contains some new and revised questions about equipment in homes (solar energy, heating equipment, and carbon monoxide detectors).

• Mortgage is an existing core module that contains revised questions about mortgage loans and payments.

• Recent Movers is an existing core module that contains modified questions about why people move from one housing unit to another.

• Commuting is an existing rotating module that contains new questions about how people get to work, how long it takes, and any associated costs.

• Emergency and Disaster Planning is an existing rotating module that contains questions about preparedness for emergency situations, such as a fire or terrorist hazard, or large-scale disaster situations, such as a flood or earthquake.

From June 2016 to August 2016, staff from the Center for Survey Measurement (CSM) will conduct approximately 35 cognitive interviews using a paper adaptation of the CAPI instrument. Two rounds of testing will be conducted, with 20 cognitive interviews in Round 1 and 15 interviews in Round 2. Cognitive testing will be conducted with adults who are 18 years or older and will utilize both concurrent and retrospective think-aloud methods. A copy of the combined questionnaire and protocol is enclosed. Some of the questions in the combined questionnaire and protocol are included only for context for the questions identified for testing.

Interviews will be audio-recorded to facilitate analysis and summary of the results. All participants will be informed that their responses are voluntary and that the information they provide is confidential. Participants will be asked to sign consent forms and give permission to be recorded.

Our recruiting efforts will target the following groups:

• respondents who have moved within the past 2 years

• respondents who own their homes and have adjustable rate mortgages

• respondents who commute to work in a variety of ways

• respondents who have flood insurance.

In addition to these characteristics, respondents will ideally represent a range of demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational background). Respondents will be recruited through CSM’s contact database, an internal Census Bureau broadcast, advertisements in local libraries, Craigslist.com, and via personal networks. Interviews will be conducted at the Census Bureau’s cognitive laboratory in Suitland, Maryland and at locations convenient to respondents. The recruiting screener is attached.

The interviews will be conducted in-person in the local metropolitan area (DC, Maryland, Virginia). All non-federal employee participants will receive $40 to offset the cost of their participation in this research.

We estimate that each interview will take approximately one hour (35 hours total). The screening questionnaire (also enclosed) will take approximately ten minutes per person. We estimate that we will screen 3 people for each successful recruit (17.5 hours). Thus, the total estimated burden for this research is 52.5 hours.

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

Matt Virgile

Center for Survey Measurement

U.S. Census Bureau

Room 5K028F

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-4745

Matthew.Virgile@census.gov

Page 2 of 2