SUPPORTING STATEMENT - PART A
Sexual Violence Support & Experience Study (SVSES) - 0704-SVSS
1. Need for the Information Collection
In March 2019, Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan requested the Department of Defense (DoD) to form a team of experts to “take a fresh look” at issues involving the sexual assault investigative and accountability process. The DoD established the Sexual Assault Accountability and Investigation Task Force (SAAITF) to identify, evaluate, and make recommendations to improve the investigation and accountability process. As part of this effort, the 2019 SAAITF report called for a “standardized survey of victim experiences, attitudes, and satisfaction.” The Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES) meets this requirement and will allow the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), other DoD policy offices, and the military Services to use the input of military members to inform improvements to the response system and to address challenges military members face during the military investigation and accountability process. The need for this information collection is further supported by the findings of the recent (2021) Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military (IRC) which included as a recommendation the need for the DoD to “routinely and methodically” collect feedback from survivors to improve services. The SVSES supports the implementation of this IRC recommendation.
2. Use of the Information
Information from the SVSES will be used by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness (OUSD[P&R]) policy offices, and the Military Departments to improve personnel policies, programs, practices, and training related to sexual assault response and accountability systems in the military. It will provide the policy offices of the OUSDP&R with current data on 1) Service member satisfaction with sexual assault support resources; 2) the impact that the military support system and military justice process have on Services Members who experience sexual assault during military service (e.g., their psychological health and well-being); and 3) aspects of the military support system and the military justice process that relate to retention intention, career progression, and separation from military service. The SVSES is unique from other survivor experience surveys that were surveyed individuals at a single point in time. Instead, the SVSES is longitudinal and Service members remain in the study over time. Collecting data via multiple short surveys over time will provide the ability to understand how Service member’s perceptions, attitudes, and experiences change over time and in relation to particular events.
Any Service member (Active or Reserve component) who has experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault since joining the military will be eligible to participate in the study. Recruitment for the SVSES will include proactive outreach to Service members who previously filed an unrestricted report for sexual assault and Service members who requested to learn more about the study via a question included on the 2021 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Military Members (which closed in March of 2022). The DoD Office of People Analytics (OPA) will collaborate with the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DoD SAPRO) to send up to three emails informing these Service members about the SVSES and providing information about how to join. Additionally, OPA will provide training to Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) professionals within the DoD to inform them about the SVSES and to provide instructions regarding how they can support Service members with joining the study to include by informing survivors they interact with about their eligibility to join the study and posting a study flyer in their organizations.
OPA will administer the SVSES online via proprietary software developed by OPA’s operations contractor. Prior to beginning each survey, participants will be a shown a privacy advisory, consent statement, and additional information regarding the study. Participants must view the privacy advisory and informed consent web screen before proceeding with the survey. The page will include the instruction “Click Continue if you agree to take the survey” and informed consent is indicated by clicking the “Continue” button and answering the survey questions. The privacy advisory and informed consent statement will inform members that the survey is confidential, voluntary, that they may decline or skip over questions they do not wish to answer, and will identify any potential risks and benefits of participation.
Individuals who join the study will complete an initial survey that is approximately 30 minutes in length. To reduce respondent burden, these online surveys will use “smart skip” technology to ensure respondents only answer questions that are applicable to them. After the initial survey, study members will receive reminders (up to three) via email and/or text message (if they opt-in) on a quarterly basis, inviting them to complete a short follow-up survey that is approximately 10 minutes in length. Questions from the follow-up survey are derived from content on the initial survey and are intended to help understand how Service member health, well-being, and career status changes over time. The frequency of the follow-up surveys (quarterly) is intended to collect more “real-time” data and data that allows for better analysis of milestones within the reporting and accountability process (for example, before, during, and after the investigation). Service members will have the option to skip follow-up surveys they do not wish to take.
Information from the SVSES will be used by OUSD(P&R) policy offices, and the Military Departments for program evaluation and to assess and improve personnel policies, programs, practices, and training related to sexual assault in the military. The study will not produce generalizable statistics or findings; rather, it will inform policy and program offices within the DoD about Service member satisfaction with sexual assault response resources and processes and the sexual assault accountability system. OPA will provide interim reports regarding the findings of the study to OUSD(P&R) policy offices on a biannual basis and a full report on a biennial basis. Data from the SVSES will also be used in future analyses. For example, data from the SVSES could help to identify barriers in the process of seeking or using behavioral health resources; points in time during which interventions to better support Service members may be needed or more effective; or, promising elements of the military’s response system that might benefit Service members if expanded.
3. Use of Information Technology
This study will be conducted electronically. Surveys will be administered online, and survey-related communications will leverage email and text notifications and reminders (mode dependent on participant preferences). We use proprietary software developed by OPA’s operations contractor, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), to administer the survey. Digitally signed e-mails, electronic files, and web-based technology will be used for respondent communications and data collection. To reduce respondent burden, web-based surveys use “smart skip” technology to ensure respondents only answer questions that are applicable to them. Digitally signed e-mail and web-based technology will be used for respondent communications and recruitment.
4. Non-duplication
The information obtained through this collection is unique and is not already available for use or adaptation from another cleared source.
5. Burden on Small Businesses
This information collection does not impose a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small businesses or entities.
6. Less Frequent Collection
The study’s longitudinal design will allow Service members to share their experiences with support and justice processes over time and in relation to specific circumstances or events. This feedback, in turn, will allow SAPRO and other DoD offices to identify specific moments in the support or justice process that are challenging for Service members and to develop targeted solutions to those concerns.
7. Paperwork Reduction Act Guidelines
The SVSES will not produce statistically generalizable results as required by 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2); however, there is a substantial need for the collection (as noted by the 2019 Sexual Assault Accountability and Investigation Task Force and 2021 Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military) to provide Service members the ability to provide feedback on their experiences with the military sexual assault response and justice system and to inform action by the DoD to improve those systems.
8. Consultation and Public Comments
Part A: PUBLIC NOTICE
A 60-Day Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the collection published on Monday, April 11, 2022. The 60-Day FRN citation is (87) FRN (21105).
No comments were received during the 60-Day Comment Period.
A 30-Day Federal Register Notice for the collection published on Thursday, September 8, 2022. The 30-Day FRN citation is 87 FR 54983 FRN 84983-84984.
Part B: CONSULTATION
Subject matter experts within the DoD, the Defense Health Agency (DHA), and the military Departments consulted on the study design and survey content. DoD policy offices including the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), the Office for Diversity Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), the Office of Force Resiliency (OFR), and the Office of General Counsel (OGC) were also consulted in developing survey content for the SVSES. Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) professionals and Service members who are survivors of military sexual assault participated in interviews to provide feedback on draft versions of the questionnaire and outreach materials to improve the clarity and accuracy of materials.
9. Gifts or Payment
No payments or gifts are being offered to respondents as an incentive to participate in the collection.
10. Confidentiality
Prior to beginning each survey, participants will be a shown a privacy advisory, consent statement, and additional information regarding the study.
Respondent confidentiality will be further protected by a Certificate of Confidentiality (CoC) obtained from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is intended to protect against compelled disclosure of identifying information about research participants “in any Federal, State, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings.” CoCs protect the privacy of research subjects by prohibiting such disclosures to anyone not connected to the research except when the subject consents or in a few other specific situations regarding Federal, State, or local law.
The System of Record Notice (SORN) for this collection is DHRA 03 (Survey Data and Assessment [July 28, 2021, 86 FR 40498]), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/28/2021-16054/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records.
The data collection is covered by a PIA (Survey Database, [December 18, 2020], DHRA/OPA), available at https://www.dhra.mil/Portals/52/Documents/Privacy/PIA/OPA%20-%20Survey%20Database.pdf
DISPOSITION: Permanent. Retire to the WNRC when superseded or obsolete. Transfer to NARA 25 years after cutoff. AUTHORITY: N1-330-93-001, item 2 PRIVACY ACT: Not applicable
11. Sensitive Questions
The purpose of the SVSES is to learn about the experiences of Service members who experience unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault while in the military with the response system and military justice process. As such, some of the questions may be upsetting in nature because they ask participants about their experience with sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact. These questions are necessary given that the sole focus and purpose of the study is to inform and improve military policy, procedures, and practices related to the sexual assault response and accountability systems. Obtaining some level of detail regarding Service member’s experiences will be necessary to better inform improvements. Resources to obtain support, namely the DoD Safe HelpLine, will be presented at the start of the survey and in various locations within the survey.
12. Respondent Burden and its Labor Costs
Part A: ESTIMATION OF RESPONDENT BURDEN
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support & Experience Survey: Initial Survey
Number of Respondents: 300
Number of Responses Per Respondent: 1
Number of Total Annual Responses: 300
Response Time: 0.5 hours
Respondent Burden Hours: 150 hours
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support & Experience Survey: Follow Up Survey(s)
Number of Respondents: 300
Number of Responses Per Respondent: 3
Number of Total Annual Responses: 900
Response Time: 0.17 hours
Respondent Burden Hours: 153 hours
Total Submission Burden
Total Number of Respondents: 300
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1200
Total Respondent Burden Hours: 303 hours
Part B: LABOR COST OF RESPONDENT BURDEN
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support & Experience Survey Initial Survey
Number of Total Annual Responses: 300
Response Time: 0.5 hours
Respondent Hourly Wage: $53.33
Labor Burden per Response: $26.67
Total Labor Burden: $8,001.00
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support & Experience Survey Follow-up Survey
Number of Total Annual Responses: 900
Response Time: 0.17 hours
Respondent Hourly Wage: $53.33
Labor Burden per Response: $8.89
Total Labor Burden: $8001.00
Source for average military wage: The respondent hourly wage was determined by using the Department of Defense Cost Guidance Portal (https://www.cape.osd.mil/)
13. Respondent Costs Other Than Burden Hour Costs
There are no annualized costs to respondents other than the labor burden costs addressed in Section 12 of this document to complete this collection.
14. Cost to the Federal Government
Part A: LABOR COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support and Experience Study Initial Survey
Number of Total Annual Responses: 300
Processing Time per Response: .15 hours
Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Responses: $72.14
Cost to Process Each Response: $10.82
Total Cost to Process Responses: $3,246
Collection Instrument(s)
Sexual Violence Support and Experience Study Follow-up Survey
Number of Total Annual Responses: 900
Processing Time per Response: .15 hours
Hourly Wage of Worker(s) Processing Response: $72.14
Cost to Process Each Response: $10.82
Total Cost to Process Responses: $9,738
Overall Labor Burden to the Federal Government
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1200
Total Labor Burden: $12,984
Part B: OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS
Cost Categories
Equipment: $0
Printing: $0
Postage: $0
Software Purchases: $0
Licensing Costs: $0
Other: $394,000
Total Operational and Maintenance Cost: $394,000
Part C: TOTAL COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Total Labor Cost to the Federal Government: $12,984
Total Operational and Maintenance Costs: $394,000
Total Cost to the Federal Government: $406,984
15. Reasons for Change in Burden
This is a new collection with a new associated burden.
16. Publication of Results
Tabulations of responses will be provided to DoD SAPRO and other USD(P&R) policy offices on a quarterly basis. Quarterly results presentation is intended to provide DoD SAPRO and other DoD policy offices with information from the study in a timely fashion in order to assist in identifying pain points and challenges in sexual assault support and accountability services. Tabulations from the multiple quarters will be combined on at least a biennial basis to allow for more robust and detailed analyses and discussion of findings in a comprehensive report in order to further assist policy offices and decision makers.
17. Non-Display of OMB Expiration Date
We are not seeking approval to omit the display of the expiration date of the OMB approval on the collection instrument.
18. Exceptions to “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Submissions”
We are not requesting any exemptions to the provisions stated in 5 CFR 1320.9.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Kaitlin Chiarelli |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-09-14 |