2024-2026 Supporting Statement - Part B

Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

OMB Information Collection Request

Business Enterprise Research and Development Survey

(Form BRD-1)

OMB Control Number: 0607-0912

Supporting Statement Part B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Description of the Universe and Respondent Selection

The sample frame consists of a list of about 1.1 million company records that are created by aggregating data from establishment records contained on the Census Bureau’s Business Register. The companies represented on the sample frame are located in the United States, are large enough to conduct research and development, are primarily composed of for-profit entities, are within the scope of the survey based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and are in business at the end of the year prior to the survey year. Each company record on the sample frame is assigned a 6-digit NAICS code, regardless of the number of business activities the company conducts.

A probability sample of approximately 47,500 companies will be selected annually during the clearance period to represent the approximately 1.1 million companies on the sample frame. For the five years from 2018-2022, the survey’s overall response rate averaged 69% and we expect it to remain consistent for the 2024-2026 Surveys.

2. Procedures for Collection of Information

Statistical Methodology for Stratification and Sample Selection

The sample design takes advantage of several pieces of information concerning the conduct of R&D. They are (1) reported and imputed R&D information in the Survey over the past 5 years, (2) R&D information from the Company Organization Survey (COS) and the Internal Revenue Service that is extracted from the Census Bureau’s Business Register, (3) R&D information from online financial databases, and (4) R&D information from various trade associations.

The sample frame of approximately 1.1 million companies is first partitioned into two groups. Group 1 consists of companies where the status of R&D is known to be positive from the pieces of R&D information given above. Group 2 consists of all other companies. Table 1 provides approximate sample frame counts by group based on information from the 2023 Survey.

Table 1 – Approximate Sample Frame Counts by Group

Group/Category	Number of Company Records
Group 1 – Known Positive R&D status	32,000
Group 2 – Unknown R&D status	1,125,000
TOTAL	1,157,000

After the two groups are formed, the sample frame is stratified and companies to be selected with certainty are identified. The two groups are stratified by industry category that reflects the detail expected for the published estimates. An independent probability sample is then selected within each group and industry stratum, using constraints on the coefficient of variation achieved on estimated totals to allocate the target sample size of about 47,500 companies to the strata. In addition, we incorporate constraints on the minimum probability of selection to limit the size of the sample weights.

Estimation Procedure

For a majority of the estimates, an adjusted Horvitz-Thompson (H-T) estimator and variance is computed. For the adjusted H-T estimator, an individual company’s data is weighted, and the weights are based on the product of two component weights. The first component weight is the sample weight, which is the reciprocal of the given company’s probability of being selected in the sample. The second component weight is the unit nonresponse adjustment factor, which is applied to reported or imputed data for the given company. Then, the weighted company data are aggregated to produce estimated totals.

3. Methods to Maximize Response and Account for Nonresponse

Mandatory Reporting Requirement – Title 13, USC, requires businesses and other organizations that receive the questionnaire to answer the questions and return the report to the Census Bureau, which protects the confidentiality of the survey responses.

Follow-up procedures – The due date for companies to report will be approximately 6 weeks from mail out. A due date reminder letter will be sent two weeks prior to the due date. Follow-up letters will be sent in April, May, July, and September. Periodically throughout the collection cycle, email reminders are sent to delinquent companies. In addition, Census Bureau staff communicate regularly with companies among the largest R&D performers to offer assistance and follow up. These companies account for approximately 85 percent of the value of the data and their responses are critical for the completeness of the estimates.

Estimating for missing data – Unit nonresponse is handled by adjusting weighted reported and imputed data. Item nonresponse for a given company is handled by imputation, which is primarily based on three different methods: (1) direct substitution of data from the company’s annual Form 10-K report, if the company is publicly traded, or administrative data for the company; (2) ratio imputation using the company’s survey data for both current and prior year; and (3) ratio imputation using current-year survey data from both the company and other companies, which reported both the survey item being imputed for the company, as well as the other survey item used in the ratio.

4. Tests of Procedures or Methods

The NCSES and the Census Bureau annually conduct debriefings with survey respondents to assess the effectiveness of current question wording, instructions, and tools. In the event that these debriefings or other respondent feedback suggest the need for substantive changes to survey questions, any such changes will be cognitively tested with respondents prior to implementation.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

Persons responsible for sample design and selection:

James W. Hunt, Methodology Director

Retail, Wholesale, and Services Programs

Economic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-6599

james.w.hunt@census.gov

Roberta Kurec, Mathematical Statistician

Economic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-4690

roberta.kurec@census.gov

Jock Black, Mathematical Statistician

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

National Science Foundation

(703) 292-7802

jblack@nsf.gov

Persons responsible for data collection:

Patrice N. Hall, Assistant Division Chief

R&D and Special Surveys

Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-7198

patrice.n.hall@census.gov

Michael Flaherty, Chief

Research, Development & Innovation Surveys Branch

Economic Reimbursable Surveys Division

U.S. Census Bureau

(301) 763-7699

michael.j.flaherty@census.gov

Persons responsible for analysis of the statistics and publication:

Arthur Hughes, Survey Manager

Science, Technology, and Innovation Survey Management

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

National Science Foundation

(703) 292-2639

arhughes@nsf.gov

Amber Levanon Seligson, Program Director

Science, Technology, and Innovation Survey Management

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics

National Science Foundation

(703) 292-7829

alevanon@nsf.gov

Attachments

1. BRD-1 Questionnaire

2. Legal Citations

3. BEA Letter of Support

4. Letters

   1. Initial Letter

   2. Non-Response Follow-up Letters

5. Selected Screenshots from Electronic Instrument