Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Survey of Children's Health
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Commerce wants to know what people think about a survey called the National Survey of Children's Health. This survey asks questions about how healthy kids are, especially those who need extra care. They're asking for public opinions to make the process better and easier.
Summary AI
The Department of Commerce is seeking comments from the public on the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), as they prepare to submit information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, gathers important data to estimate the health and wellbeing of children nationwide, focusing on those with special health care needs. There are two modes of data collection: an online survey and a mail-in paper survey. Public comments on this information collection are welcomed to help reduce paperwork burdens and improve the process before the final submission to OMB.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register announces that the Department of Commerce is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection for the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). This survey, managed by the U.S. Census Bureau, is designed to estimate the health and well-being of children across the United States, with particular attention to those with special healthcare needs. The agency aims to engage both the general public and other federal agencies in providing feedback as they prepare to submit the collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
General Summary
The National Survey of Children's Health is an annual survey that assesses the health status and characteristics of children in the U.S. The survey relies on both online and mail-in methods to gather data. The Department is currently revising an approved information collection and allows for an additional 30 days of public comment. The feedback will be used to evaluate the impact of the survey and to find ways to minimize the public's reporting burden.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One notable concern is the potential cost implications of conducting a survey involving up to 300,000 addresses. The associated expenditures may be substantial, and the document does not provide a detailed breakdown of these costs. Additionally, the use of monetary incentives to increase response rates, while considered practical, might raise questions about fiscal responsibility. The existing document lacks transparent financial details, which could affect public perception and trust.
The document also contains complex explanations regarding non-experimental design elements, which may be challenging for non-experts to understand. Simplifying this information could enhance clarity for a broader audience.
Moreover, although several legal authorities and references are cited, the document does not explicitly clarify how these underpin the survey's permissions or obligations, potentially leading to confusion for stakeholders.
Public Impact
The document may impact the public by enabling a more comprehensive understanding of children's health issues across various communities. It seeks to collect vital data that could inform public health policies and strategies, especially for children with special healthcare needs. However, without clear communication of costs and methodologies, the effort to involve the public might face scrutiny.
Stakeholder Impact
For policymakers, healthcare providers, and educators, the survey provides a valuable resource to understand and address the health-related needs of children. It is essential that they have confidence in the survey's methodology and cost efficacy. For households participating in the survey, ensuring that their time and responses are valued through well-explained and justified processes is crucial.
Overall, while the survey has the potential to serve as a significant tool for health policy and planning, addressing the transparency and clarity issues identified will be important to ensure stakeholder engagement and legitimacy.
Financial Assessment
The Federal Register document discusses the financial considerations related to the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), focusing on monetary incentives to boost survey participation. The document outlines the use of cash incentives as a strategy to increase survey response rates, highlighting both the historical context and future plans for these incentives.
Financial Incentives for Survey Participation
The document details the use of two different cash incentives. Historically, a $5 unconditional cash incentive has been included in initial mailings of the paper topical questionnaire. This incentive has been considered a cost-effective method to encourage higher survey participation and reduce nonresponse bias. For the 2021 NSCH, there is a plan to test a $10 cash incentive, particularly directed at households that typically have lower response rates. Additionally, a $5 screener cash incentive will be mailed to 90% of sampled addresses, while the remaining 10% will not receive an incentive, serving as a control group to evaluate the incentive's effectiveness.
Financial Implications and Considerations
Given the scale of the survey, which targets up to 300,000 addresses, the use of these financial incentives implies a significant spending effort. This raises questions about the cost implications, especially in terms of fiscal responsibility and the efficient use of resources. The document does not offer a detailed breakdown of the costs or expected total expenses, which might lead to concerns about transparency in financial allocations.
Relationship with Identified Issues
One major issue identified in the document is the overall financial impact of incentivizing such a large sample size. While the use of cash incentives is claimed to be cost-effective, there is a need for a careful assessment to ensure that these funds are used efficiently. The accompanying lack of detailed cost estimates might complicate budget evaluations and hinder transparent financial planning.
Furthermore, while the document explains the purpose of these incentives, it does not specify additional measures or criteria for evaluating their effectiveness beyond the response rate improvements. Such additional data could be crucial to comprehensively address and understand nonresponse bias, ensuring that the incentives are achieving their intended purpose without unintended financial consequences.
Overall, the document sheds light on the financial strategies used to increase participation in national surveys while also highlighting potential areas for further clarification and transparency regarding these financial practices.
Issues
• The document mentions a sample size of up to 300,000 addresses, which could imply significant spending. Potential cost implications should be evaluated to ensure efficient use of resources.
• The use of cash incentives ($5 and $10) to increase survey response rates, while considered cost-effective, could be scrutinized for fiscal responsibility given the large sample size.
• The document does not provide detailed cost estimates or a breakdown of the total expected expenses, which might raise concerns about transparency in financial allocation.
• The explanation of non-experimental design elements could be perceived as complex and might benefit from clearer, more simplified language for better understanding by non-experts.
• Several legal authorities and regulatory references are listed, but it is not clear how they confer specific permissions or obligations related to the survey, which might cause ambiguity for stakeholders.
• The document does not specify measures or criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the cash incentive program beyond response rate improvements, which could be important for ensuring nonresponse bias is adequately addressed.