Justification to use SPD 15 Figure 2

Justification to use Figure 2 – Race and Ethnicity Questions with Minimum Categories Only

The program office that developed this questionnaire referred to the updated Required Statistical Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity for Data Elements for the use of demographic questions. All approved formats for collecting demographic information were considered and the program office understands that “Figure 1” is the preferred method to collect this data. However, the target sample size of this information collection is small and more fine-grained demographic questions may lead to identification of respondents. NIST was clear in the supporting statement that feedback in this questionnaire would remain anonymous and therefore wish to utilize Figure 2 in order to limit data that may become identifiable to a person on the aggregate level.