Supporting Statement Part B 2017

Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Generic Information Collection
Submissions for
“Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service
Delivery”
B. STATISTICAL METHODS
Data collection methods and procedures will vary. The primary purpose of these collections will
be for internal management purposes, and there are no plans to publish or otherwise release this
information.
1. Universe and Respondent Selection
The activities under this clearance may involve samples of self-selected respondents, as well
as convenience samples, and quota samples, with respondents selected either to include a
broad range of respondents or to include respondents with specific characteristics related to
certain products or services. Results will not be used to make statements generalizable to the
population of interest, to produce descriptive statistics (careful, repeatable measurements), or
to generalize the data beyond the scope of the sample. The specific sample planned for each
individual collection and the method for soliciting participation will be described fully in
each collection request.
Qualitative surveys are tools used by program managers to change or improve programs,
products, or services. The accuracy, reliability, and applicability of the results of these
surveys are adequate for their purposes. However, because the samples associated with this
collection are not selected based on statistical principles, the results cannot be used to
generalize from the samples to conclusions about the population of interest as a whole.
2. Procedures for Collecting Information
Data collection methods and procedures will vary and the specifics of these will be provided
with each collection request. PBGC expects to use a variety of methodologies for these
collections. For example, PBGC or its contractors may use commercial survey-specific
software to automate its collection and analysis of feedback. In addition to physical copies,
information collection instruments may be electronically disseminated and/or posted on
target pages of PBGC’s web site. Telephone scripts and personal interviews developed with
professional guidance and focus groups moderated by professionals may also be used.
3. Methods to Maximize Response
Information collected under this generic clearance will not yield quantitative findings that
can be generalized to the population of interest. It can, however, provide useful customer
input.

4. Testing of Procedures
Pretesting may be done with PBGC staff, external professionals, or respondents who are
familiar with PBGC’s programs and products. If the number of pretest respondents exceeds
nine members of the public, PBGC will submit the pretest instruments for review under this
generic clearance.
5. Guidance on Statistical and Data Collection Aspects of Each Program
Each program will use information from statisticians, researchers, and content specialists in
the development, design, conduct, and analysis of customer/partner service surveys, as
appropriate. This expertise will be obtained from PBGC staff or contractors, or from the
professional research literature on surveys. PBGC will include the names and contact
information of persons consulted in the specific information collection requests submitted
under this generic clearance.