0704-0653_ssb_rcss2601

SUPPORTING STATEMENT – PART B

B.  COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

If the collection of information employs statistical methods, it should be indicated in Item 17 of OMB Form 83-I, and the following information should be provided in this Supporting Statement:

1.  Description of the Activity

Describe the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other method used to select respondents.  Data on the number of entities covered in the collection should be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample.  Indicate the expected response rates for the collection as a whole, as well as the actual response rates achieved during the last collection, if previously conducted.

The population of interest for the 2026 Reserve Component Spouse Survey (RCSS) consists of spouses of DoD Reserve and National Guard members from the Army National Guard (ARNG), U.S. Army Reserve (USAR), U.S. Navy Reserve (USNR), U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR), Air National Guard (ANG), U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR) and from the DHS, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve spouses who are below flag rank. In addition, for the spouse to remain eligible for the survey, they must indicate they are currently married to a Reserve component member at the time of the survey. OPA uses a sampling tool developed by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to determine the sample size needed to achieve 95% confidence and an associated precision of 5% or less on each reporting domain. We select a single-stage, non-proportional stratified random sample to ensure statistically adequate expected number of responses for the reporting categories (i.e., domains). For the Reserve component spouse survey, OPA will use Service, paygrade, sex, and family status to define the initial strata. We collapse these strata when there are fewer than 300 individuals in the stratum. As an illustration, Attachment A contains a table with the number of individuals in the 2023 Reserve Component Spouse Survey (RCSS) population and sample by strata. The expected weighted response rate for this survey is 16% based on the range (14% to 18%) from the past 3 administrations (2017 to 2023) the weighted response rate for this survey in 2023 was 14.2%. The increase in response rates is anticipated due to the shorter survey format, use of QR Codes, and communications to encourage participation.

2.  Procedures for the Collection of Information

Describe any of the following if they are used in the collection of information:

a. Statistical methodologies for stratification and sample selection;

As described above, OPA uses a sampling tool developed by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to determine the sample size needed to achieve 95% confidence and an associated precision of 5% or less on each reporting category domain. We select a single-stage, non-proportional stratified random sample to ensure statistically adequate expected number of responses for the reporting domains. For the Reserve component spouse survey, OPA will use Service, paygrade, sex, and family status to define the initial strata. We collapse these strata when there are fewer than 300 individuals in the stratum. Once OPA determines the stratum-level sample sizes, a random number is assigned to every member of the population and the population is sorted by stratum and random number prior to sampling, which results in a randomly-ordered population within each stratum. We then select the appropriate number of spouses from each stratum. The one exception to these methods is the US Coast Guard Reserve strata. Due to the small population size, a census of US Coast Guard Reserves is selected to achieve the desired precision for the reporting domains.

b. Estimation procedures;

OPA weights the eligible respondents in order to make inferences about the entire population of Reserve component spouses. The weighting methodology utilizes standard weighting processes. First, we assign a base weight to the sampled member based on the reciprocal of the selection probability. Second, OPA uses 10-30 administrative variables in the XGBoost application of Generalized Boosted Model (GBM) to predict survey eligibility and completion. OPA’s accurate and detailed administrative data on both survey respondents and nonrespondents provides confidence in our survey estimates. We adjust the sampling weights and then all prior-stage weights by the inverse of these model-predicted probabilities to adjust for nonresponse. Finally, we rake these adjusted weights to known population totals to further reduce the variance and bias of the estimates.

c. Degree of accuracy needed for the Purpose discussed in the justification;

OPA creates variance strata so precision measures can be associated with each estimate. We produce precision measures for reporting categories using 95% confidence intervals with the goal of achieving a precision of 5% or less (e.g., 80% (+/- 5%) of spouses of Army E1-E4 are satisfied with their job).

d. Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; and

OPA recognizes the response rates vary for certain domains of interest such as Service and paygrade. To account for this, we typically average the response rates for the previous three surveys at the stratum level and these response rates are utilized by the sampling tool to adjust the sample and compute expected sample sizes.

e. Use of periodic or cyclical data collections to reduce respondent burden.

OPA conducts the RCSS survey every 2-3 years to reduce respondent burden. The last RCSS was administered in 2023 and the current one is scheduled to launch in winter of 2025-2026.

3.  Maximization of Response Rates, Non-response, and Reliability

Discuss methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with instances of non-response.  Describe any techniques used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of responses is adequate for intended purposes.  Additionally, if the collection is based on sampling, ensure that the data can be generalized to the universe under study.  If not, provide special justification.

To maximize response rates, OPA offers the survey via the Web as well as a paper survey option. Reminder letters and emails, to nonrespondents are used to maximize response rates. To reduce respondent burden, web-based surveys use “smart skip” technology to ensure respondents only answer questions that are applicable to them. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of responses, OPA conducted nonresponse adjustments as part of the weighting process.

OPA conducted a Nonresponse Bias (NRB) analyses for the 2023 RCSS and these results are contained in the methodology report, The next NRB will be performed in 2026.

To increase response rates and enhance access to the survey, individual QR codes will again be included on the postal letters, offering a quick mechanism for respondents to access and complete the survey via their mobile device. The use of QR codes on Spouse Surveys has contributed to a rise in the use of mobile cell phones to complete web surveys, therefore, similar increase in mobile phone use is expected for the next RCSS.

OPA uses complex probability sampling and post-stratification weighting to ensure the survey data can be generalized to the universe under study.

The results for the 2023 RCSS NRB analysis, nonresponse adjustments, and details on response rates and post-stratification weighting are contained in the 2023 RCSS Statistical Methodology Report, Statistical Methodology Report. (OPA Report No. 2023-292) available upon request.

4.  Tests of Procedures

Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken.  Testing of potential respondents (9 or fewer) is encouraged as a means of refining proposed collections to reduce respondent burden, as well as to improve the collection instrument utility.  These tests check for internal consistency and the effectiveness of previous similar collection activities.

Not applicable.

5.  Statistical Consultation and Information Analysis

a. Provide names and telephone number of individual(s) consulted on statistical aspects of the design.

Mr. Geoff Jackson, Team Lead; Statistical Methods Team, Data Science · Statistics · Survey Support , Office of People Analytics (OPA); (571) 372-1115.

Dr. Matt Scheidt, Statistical Methods Team, Data Science · Statistics · Survey Support , Office of People Analytics (OPA); (571) 372-0983.

b. Provide name and organization of person(s) who will actually collect and analyze the collected information.

The data will be collected by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), which is OPA’s operations contractor. Ms. Valerie Waller is the Senior Managing Director at DRC.

The data will be analyzed by OPA analyst Robin Myers with Nadia Nikolova and Amy Campbell as the lead operations analysts.

Attachment A. 2023 RCSS – Estimated Population and Sample Size by Strata

Stratum	Stratum Definitions	Population Size	Sample Size
All	Total	334,082	77,597
1	001 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	6,549	1,195
2	002 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	4,520	852
3	003 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	964	276
4	004 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,240	284
5	005 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	5,597	1,138
6	006 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	4,354	906
7	007 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,592	418
8	008 ACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,777	445
9	009 ACT24_E1-E4_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	634	156
10	010 ACT24_E1-E4_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	764	186
11	011 ACT24_E1-E4_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARRIED	628	174
12	012 ACT24_E1-E4_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	511	511
13	013 ACT24_E1-E4_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,003	1,003
14	014 ACT24_E1-E4_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,861	250
15	015 ACT24_E1-E4_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,536	203
16	016 ACT24_E1-E4_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	482	95
17	017 ACT24_E1-E4_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	724	111
18	018 ACT24_E1-E4_AFR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,299	383
19	019 ACT24_E1-E4_AFR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,078	311
20	020 ACT24_E1-E4_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	500	165
21	021 ACT24_E1-E4_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	702	206
22	022 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	31,362	3,746
23	023 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	8,057	983
24	024 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	3,481	596
25	025 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,735	274
26	026 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	24,058	4,910
27	027 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	6,932	1,352
28	028 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	4,252	1,131
29	029 ACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	2,160	524
30	030 ACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	9,532	1,584
31	031 ACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	2,963	449
32	032 ACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	2,151	486
33	033 ACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,116	216
34	034 ACT24_E5-E9_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	2,605	2,605
35	035 ACT24_E5-E9_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,011	1,011
36	036 ACT24_E5-E9_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	25,875	2,596
37	037 ACT24_E5-E9_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	8,154	804
38	038 ACT24_E5-E9_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	4,529	558
39	039 ACT24_E5-E9_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,988	249
40	040 ACT24_E5-E9_AFR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	13,383	5,307
41	041 ACT24_E5-E9_AFR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	4,386	1,552
42	042 ACT24_E5-E9_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	3,054	1,763
43	043 ACT24_E5-E9_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,498	842
44	044 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	3,480	300
45	045 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	912	75
46	046 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARRIED	403	56
47	047 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,783	575
48	048 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	522	164
49	049 ACT24_W1-W5_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARRIED	324	115
50	050 ACT24_W1-W5_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	286	242
51	051 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	4,842	485
52	052 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	2,003	190
53	053 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	569	77
54	054 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	487	61
55	055 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	3,973	860
56	056 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	2,050	378
57	057 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,079	300
58	058 ACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	993	201
59	059 ACT24_O1-O3_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,250	233
60	060 ACT24_O1-O3_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	417	81
61	061 ACT24_O1-O3_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARRIED	459	100
62	062 ACT24_O1-O3_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	596	593
63	063 ACT24_O1-O3_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	2,653	457
64	064 ACT24_O1-O3_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	846	138
65	065 ACT24_O1-O3_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	560	112
66	066 ACT24_O1-O3_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	331	64
67	067 ACT24_O1-O3_AFR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,309	766
68	068 ACT24_O1-O3_AFR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	561	321
69	069 ACT24_O1-O3_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	425	300
70	070 ACT24_O1-O3_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	315	223
71	071 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	5,109	418
72	072 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	846	75
73	073 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARRIED	695	93
74	074 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	8,679	3,456
75	075 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,848	672
76	076 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,610	776
77	077 ACT24_O4-O6_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	691	321
78	078 ACT24_O4-O6_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	5,282	1,218
79	079 ACT24_O4-O6_NAVYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	1,082	248
80	080 ACT24_O4-O6_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	776	174
81	081 ACT24_O4-O6_NAVYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	310	78
82	082 ACT24_O4-O6_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,818	1,818
83	083 ACT24_O4-O6_USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	330	330
84	084 ACT24_O4-O6_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	5,876	974
85	085 ACT24_O4-O6_AIRNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	986	158
86	086 ACT24_O4-O6_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	987	180
87	087 ACT24_O4-O6_AIRNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	294	55
88	088 ACT24_O4-O6_AFR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	5,636	3,817
89	089 ACT24_O4-O6_AFR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	975	646
90	090 ACT24_O4-O6_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,484	1,087
91	091 ACT24_O4-O6_AFR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	435	336
92	092 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	4,510	766
93	093 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	2,736	464
94	094 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	757	189
95	095 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	700	177
96	096 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	856	208
97	097 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	855	195
98	098 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	333	98
99	099 NOTACT24_E1-E4_ARMYR_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	339	127
100	100 NOTACT24_E1-E4_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	838	658
101	101 NOTACT24_E1-E4_AIRNG_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	626	107
102	102 NOTACT24_E1-E4_AFR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	595	387
103	103 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	14,915	1,597
104	104 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	4,356	489
105	105 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,466	249
106	106 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	704	117
107	107 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	1,023	304
108	108 NOTACT24_E5-E9_ARMYR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	474	151
109	109 NOTACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE_MARR_CHILD	1,200	555
110	110 NOTACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	567	318
111	111 NOTACT24_E5-E9_NAVYR+USMCR_FEMALE_MARRIED	403	189
112	112 NOTACT24_E5-E9_AIRNG_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	907	81
113	113 NOTACT24_E5-E9_AFR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	807	566
114	114 NOTACT24_W1-W5_ARMYNG+ARMYR+NAVYR+USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	2,006	271
115	115 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	2,510	223
116	116 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	994	73
117	117 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	340	45
118	118 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	337	34
119	119 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_CHILD	446	109
120	120 NOTACT24_O1-O3_ARMYR_MALE+FEMALE_MARR_NOCHILD	303	94
121	121 NOTACT24_O1-O3_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	367	235
122	122 NOTACT24_O1-O3_AIRNG+AFR__MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	268	181
123	123 NOTACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_CHILD	2,518	173
124	124 NOTACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_MALE_MARR_NOCHILD	465	32
125	125 NOTACT24_O4-O6_ARMYNG_FEMALE_MARRIED	372	37
126	126 NOTACT24_O4-O6_ARMYR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	578	351
127	127 NOTACT24_O4-O6_NAVYR+USMCR_MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	330	228
128	128 NOTACT24_O4-O6_AIRNG+AFR__MALE+FEMALE_MARRIED	507	316

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