Proposed Collection: Comment Request

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Proposed Collection: Comment Request

Title of Collection: Public Understanding of and Attitudes Toward

Science and Technology.

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3508(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) publishes 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 Reports 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

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collected, and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of

information on respondents, including through the use of automated data

collection techniques and other forms of information.

Proposed Project: Study of the Public Understanding of and

Attitudes toward Science and Technology--New--A telephone survey of

approximately 2,000 adults aged 18 and over. The proposed survey

continues a series of national surveys of public understanding of and

attitudes toward science and technology that began in 1972 and is used

in the preparation of a chapter in the Science and Engineering

Indicators reports by the National Science Board, as mandated by

Section 4(j)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as

amended. The Science and Engineering Indicators report and the chapter

on public understanding and attitudes are widely used by planners and

program development staff in federal and state agencies, universities,

research centers, and similar institutions and by journalists and other

individuals seeking to communicate with the public concerning science

and technology.

The average burden per respondent is estimated to be 22 minutes,

producing a total burden of 733 hours for the complete study.

Send comments to Herman Fleming, Division of Contracts Policy and

Oversight, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,

Arlington, VA 22230. Written comments should be received by February

17, 1997.

Dated: December 17, 1996.

Herman G. Fleming,

Reports Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-32318 Filed 12-19-96; 8:45 am]

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