81 FR 93948 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 246 (December 22, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93948-93949]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30808]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects 
or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the 
SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: 2017-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 
Methodological Field Tests (OMB No. 0930-0290)--Extension

    The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is a survey of 
the U.S. civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 12 years old 
or older. The data are used to determine the prevalence of use of 
tobacco products, alcohol, illicit substances, and illicit use of 
prescription drugs. The results are used by SAMHSA, the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), federal government agencies, and 
other organizations and researchers to establish policy, direct program 
activities, and better allocate resources.
    Methodological tests will continue to be designed to examine the 
feasibility, quality, and efficiency of new procedures or revisions to 
existing survey protocol. Specifically, the tests will measure the 
reliability and validity of certain questionnaire sections and items 
through multiple measurements on a set of respondents; assess new 
methods for gaining cooperation and participation of respondents with 
the goal of increasing response and decreasing potential bias in the 
survey estimates; and assess the impact of new sampling techniques and 
technologies on respondent behavior and reporting. Research will 
involve focus groups, cognitive laboratory testing, customer 
satisfaction surveys, and field tests.
    These methodological tests will continue to examine ways to 
increase data quality, lower operating costs, and gain a better 
understanding of sources and effects of nonsampling error on NSDUH 
estimates. Particular attention will be given to minimizing the impact 
of design changes so survey data continue to remain comparable over 
time. If these tests provide successful results, current procedures or 
data collection instruments may be revised.
    The number of respondents to be included in each field test will 
vary,

[[Page 93949]]

depending on the nature of the subject being tested and the target 
population. However, the total estimated response burden is 8,225 
hours. The exact number of subjects and burden hours for each test are 
unknown at this time, but will be clearly outlined in each individual 
submission. These estimated burden hours are distributed over three 
years as follows:

     Table 1--Estimated Burden For NSDUH Methodological Field Tests
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Respondent
                       Time period                         burden hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 2017 to May 2018....................................           2,742
May 2018 to May 2019....................................           2,742
May 2019 to May 2020....................................           2,741
                                                         ---------------
    Total...............................................           8,225
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15E57-B, Rockville, Maryland 20857, OR email a 
copy to [email protected]. Written comments should be received 
by February 21, 2017.

Summer King,
Statistician.
[FR Doc. 2016-30808 Filed 12-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4162-20-P