May 2 -- The Census Bureau invites public comments to OMB by June 1, 2023 on the proposed Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.9.
On February 14, 2023, the Department of Commerce received clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to conduct Phase 3.8 of the Household Pulse Survey (OMB No. 0607–1013, Exp. 10/31/23). The Household Pulse Survey was designed to meet a need for timely information associated with household experiences during the Covid–19 pandemic. The Department is committed to ensuring that the data collected by the Household Pulse Survey continue to meet information needs as they may evolve over the course of the pandemic. This notice serves to inform of the Department's intent to request clearance from OMB to make some revisions to the Household Pulse Survey questionnaire. To ensure that the data collected by the Household Pulse Survey continue to meet information needs as they evolve over the course of the pandemic, the Census Bureau submits this Request for Revision to an Existing Collection for a revised Phase 3.9 questionnaire.
Phase 3.9 includes an experiment involving new detailed race and ethnicity questions, as well as new questions on the use of antivirals to treat COVID, how households obtain COVID tests, the use of infant formula with babies, children's mental health treatment, and pressure to move from current residence. There are also modifications to existing children's vaccine booster, COVID testing, infant formula, reasons not working, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and inflation items. Several questions will be removed for Phase 3.9, including replacing the current race/ethnicity items, and questions about the receipt of updated COVID vaccines, intent to vaccinate children, childcare arrangements, children's mental health and behaviors, current rent amount, use of emergency rental assistance, and how children receive their education.
In Phase 3.9, the Census Bureau plans to test two methods of operationalizing OMB's Initial Proposals for Revising the Federal Race and Ethnicity Standards in a self-administered web format in Phase 3.9 of the Household Pulse. One version of the combined race and ethnicity question will present the minimum categories, with the detailed categories unfolding on the screen after a minimum category is selected. The second version will present the minimum categories on one screen and will present a follow-up screen with the detailed categories of the selected minimum categories. Analysis will compare distributions between panels, considering both minimum and detailed category selection. Analysis will also consider the distributions of these experimental panels as compared with data collected using the original race and ethnicity questions in prior phases of the HPS.
Household Pulse Survey website:
https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products/household-pulse-survey.html
Phase 3.9 submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202304-0607-003 Click on IC List for questionnaire, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this site.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-08953 Correction:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-09752
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806