0704-xxxx_mrpf_ssb_10.14.2021

SUPPORTING STATEMENT – PART B

B.  COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

If the collection of information employs statistical methods, it should be indicated in Item 17 of OMB Form 83-I, and the following information should be provided in this Supporting Statement:

1.  Description of the Activity

The survey will be conducted online. The target population is adolescents (11-17 years old) and their parents, drawn from a sampling frame of approximately 60K participants enrolled in the Millennium Cohort (MilCo) Study with adolescent-age children according to DEERS. The original study included service members across all DoD components and service branches, which were originally drawn from a probability-based sampling frame obtained from DMDC. We estimate that the sampling frame for the current study will be composed of 40% veteran families and 60% active duty families. Based on the response rate of families in the RAND Deployment Life Study, we anticipate about 14% of eligible parents will participate in the study with their adolescent children, resulting in about 8,000 total parent-adolescent dyads participating in the study, with 40% (3,200 dyads) from veteran families and 60% (4,800 dyads) from active duty families. In addition, we anticipate at least 80% of adolescents will have another parental figure eligible to participate in the study, resulting in an additional 2,560 parents in veteran families enrolled in the study. This will result in a total sample of 8,960 (3,200 adolescents and 5,760 parents) participants from veteran families in the study. With sample sizes this large, we expect adequate power to detect differences with at least 80% power and alpha error level set at p < .05.

By collecting this information on military-connected adolescents, the study will assist DoD in outlining future strategic goals to address military-connected adolescents’ needs and assist in better understanding the needs of the next generation of potential service members.

2.  Procedures for the Collection of Information

Describe any of the following if they are used in the collection of information:

1. Statistical methodologies for stratification and sample selection;

The survey will be conducted online. The target population is adolescents (11-17 years old) and their parents, drawn from a sampling frame of approximately 60K participants enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study with adolescent-age children according to DEERS.

2. Estimation procedures;

Sampling weights have been developed for the Millennium Cohort Family Study by experts at Abt Associates. Dependent on sufficient funding, the current study will plan to develop weights to correct for survey nonresponse and to account for differences between the target population and the responding sample through post-stratification adjustment.

3. Degree of accuracy needed for the Purpose discussed in the justification;

Important subgroups, such as female service members, Reserve/National Guard, Marines, and married service members were originally oversampled to ensure appropriate representation in the Millennium Cohort Study. As such, there is adequate power to detect meaningful effects in these subgroups.

4. Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and

N/A

5. Use of periodic or cyclical data collections to reduce respondent burden.

The current study is planned for one data collection cycle; however, if additional funding is received, additional longitudinal follow-up data will be collected. In this event, an additional survey approval application will be submitted for the follow-on data collection instruments.

3.  Maximization of Response Rates, Non-response, and Reliability

The study will employ several approaches to maximize response rate and reliability.

• The Millennium Cohort Program has an extensive history in developing marketing materials and using validated techniques to maximize response rates using a modified Dillman method consisting of mailings, emails, postcards, and tokens of appreciation, which will be tailored to adolescent-age participants and their parents for the current study.

• Given these families are already familiar with the MilCo Study and the Millennium Cohort Program brand, we anticipate this familiarity will increase propensity to participate in the study.

• We will plan to conduct non-response analyses and analyze patterns of missing data to determine if and where bias may exist. Plans to correct bias include the development of sampling weights adjusted for nonresponse, but this is dependent upon funding.

• We will also offer incentives to participants in the form of $10 gift cards to Amazon, Target, or Starbucks for each family member who completes the survey, with the opportunity to earn a $10 bonus gift card in families where all invited family members (e.g., both parents, if applicable, and the adolescent) complete the survey.

4.  Tests of Procedures

The majority of measures used on the parent survey are taken from the MilCo and the Family Study surveys, of which we have data to confirm the scales are valid and reliable with the target sample. The measures selected for the adolescent survey largely come from national surveys that have been used for decades to produce valid and reliable data, including the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the National Survey of Children’s Health.

5.  Statistical Consultation and Information Analysis

a. Provide names and telephone number of individual(s) consulted on statistical aspects of the design.

Dr. Valerie Stander, Naval Health Research Center, valerie.a.stander.civ@mail.mil, 619-553-7174

Dr. Hope McMaster, Naval Health Research Center, hope.m.mcmaster.ctr@mail.mil, 314-458-5107

Dr. Jacqueline Pflieger, Naval Health Research Center, jacqueline.c.pflieger.ctr@mail.mil, 619-767-4612

Dr. Sabrina Richardson, Naval Health Research Center, sabrina.m.richardson.ctr@mail.mil, 619-553-7598

Dr. Xin Tu, University of California San Diego, x2tu@ucsd.edu, 858-822-7485

b. Provide name and organization of person(s) who will actually collect and analyze the collected information.

Dr. Valerie Stander, Naval Health Research Center

Dr. Hope McMaster, Naval Health Research Center

Dr. Jacqueline Pflieger, Naval Health Research Center

Dr. Sabrina Richardson, Naval Health Research Center

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