Proposed Data Collection: Comment Request; Title of Proposed Collection: Survey of Doctorate Recipients

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Proposed Data Collection: Comment Request; Title of Proposed

Collection: Survey of Doctorate Recipients

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on

proposed data collection projects, the National Science Foundation

(NSF) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request

more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the

data collection plans and instruments, call the NSF Clearance Officer

on (703) 306-1243.

Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of

information is 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: The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been

conducted biennially since 1973. For the 1997 cycle, a sample of

individuals under the age of 76 who have earned doctoral degrees in

science and engineering from U.S. institutions will be surveyed. The

purpose of the study is to provide national estimates describing the

relationship between education and employment for Ph.D. recipients in

science and engineering. The study is one of three components of the

Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), formerly

called the Scientific and Technical Personnel Data System (STPDS).

The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently

amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central

clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data

on scientific and engineering

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resources, and to provide a source of information for policy

formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government.'' The Survey

of Doctorate Recipients is designed to comply with these mandates by

providing information on the supply and utilization of doctorate level

scientists and engineers. Collected data will be used to produce

estimates of the characteristics of these individuals. They will also

provide necessary input into the SESTAT labor force model, which

produces estimates of the size and characteristics of the country's

science and engineering population. The Foundation uses this

information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women

and Minorities in Science and Engineering and Science and Engineering

Indicators. A public release file of collected data, designed to

protect respondent confidentiality, is expected to be made available to

researchers on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.

The survey sample design includes oversampling of recent Ph.D.

recipients and minority recipients and varying sampling rates to

represent specific fields of science and engineering. A total of

approximately 58,000 individuals is expected to be sampled for the

survey. Sample members will be requested to complete a 30 minute

interview conducted by computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)

or mail. An unweighted response rate of 85 percent is anticipated. The

survey will be collected in conformance with the Privacy Act of 1974.

Each sample member's participation will be entirely voluntary. NSF will

insure that all information collected will be kept strictly

confidential and will be used only for research or statistical

purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and

articles.

Send comments to Herman Fleming, National Science Foundation

Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,

Suite 485, Arlington, VA 22230.

Written comments should be received by December 1, 1996.

Dated: September 30, 1996.

Herman G. Fleming,

NSF Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-25348 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]

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