FTC request for usability testing re beta version of IdentityTheft.gov

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of
Routine Customer Feedback” (OMB Control Number: 3084-0159)
TITLE OF INFORMATION COLLECTION: Feedback Sessions for IdentityTheft.gov Beta
Web Application
PURPOSE:
The FTC is requesting feedback on the design of a new interactive website that will help identity
theft victims report and recover from identity theft. The website will collect information from
identity theft victims, and use that information to create personal recovery plans for them.
In this usability test, participants will be asked to interact with a beta version of the site. Their
feedback will be used to make improvements as we continue to develop the website. We plan to
launch the finished site in the second quarter of FY 2016.
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONDENTS:
We will conduct the test with up to 20 participants, who represent a diverse mix of
demographics.
TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)
[ ] Customer Comment Card/Complaint Form
[X] Usability Testing (e.g., Website or Software
[ ] Focus Group

[ ] Customer Satisfaction Survey
[ ] Small Discussion Group
[ ] Other: ______________________

CERTIFICATION:
I certify the following to be true:
1. The collection is voluntary.
2. The collection is low-burden for respondents and low-cost for the Federal Government.
3. The collection is non-controversial and does not raise issues of concern to other federal
agencies.
4. The results are not intended to be disseminated to the public.
5. Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential
policy decisions.
6. The collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have
experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the future.
Name: Nicole Fleming
To assist review, please provide answers to the following question:
Personally Identifiable Information:
1. Is personally identifiable information (PII) collected? [ ] Yes [X] No
2. If Yes, is the information that will be collected included in records that are subject to the
Privacy Act of 1974? [ ] Yes [ ] No
3. If Applicable, has a System or Records Notice been published? [ ] Yes [ ] No [X] N/A

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Gifts or Payments:
Is an incentive (e.g., money or reimbursement of expenses, token of appreciation) provided to
participants? [X] Yes [ ] No
There will be a $40 incentive. Participation will take approximately 70 minutes per person
(including a 10 minute phone screening).
BURDEN HOURS
Category of Respondent

Participation
Time
70 minutes

Burden

Individuals

No. of
Respondents
20

Totals

20

70 minutes

23 hours

23 hours

FEDERAL COST: The estimated cost to the Federal government is $21,000.
If you are conducting a focus group, survey, or plan to employ statistical methods, please
provide answers to the following questions:
The selection of your targeted respondents
1. Do you have a customer list or something similar that defines the universe of potential
respondents and do you have a sampling plan for selecting from this universe?
[] Yes [X] No
If the answer is yes, please provide a description of both below (or attach the sampling plan)? If
the answer is no, please provide a description of how you plan to identify your potential group of
respondents and how you will select them?
Anyone can become an identity theft victim so our potential target audience is very broad.
Potential candidates will be pulled from a database of willing participants who have opted to
participate in this type of study. Candidates will be screened by phone and asked if they are
willing to participate. We will recruit a diverse mix of respondents.
The sessions will not save personally identifiable information, and responses will be stored
anonymously. We will ask participants to use their phone number and email to test parts of the
system, but that information will be deleted immediately following the test.
Administration of the Instrument
1. How will you collect the information? (Check all that apply)
[X] Web-based or other forms of Social Media
[X] Telephone
[ ] In-person
[ ] Mail
[ ] Other, Explain
2. Will interviewers or facilitators be used? [X] Yes [ ] No

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