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Revised
01/11/2007

The eRulemaking Research Group published
a Web survey between June 1 and October 7, 2004

Final Web Survey Results -- Round One (June 1-October 7, 2004)
{Please note: to print these pages you must first set your browser Page Set Up to "Landscape"}

Means

**Interview time (in minutes) by Survey Disposition Code**
*INTERVIEWTIME
*DISPOSITION	Mean	Median	Minimum	Maximum	N
Completed	10.53	7.00	2	60	165
Incomplete	3.57	2.00	0	25	94
Total	8.00	5.00	0	60	259

Frequencies

**Survey Disposition Code**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	0	1	.3	.3	.3
	Completed	165	42.3	42.3	42.6
	Read introduction but did not get started	130	33.3	33.3	75.9
	Incomplete	94	24.1	24.1	100.0
	Total	390	100.0	100.0

**Q1 - Have you ever submitted a formal comment to a federal agency during the public comment period of a regulatory rulemaking process?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	yes	120	30.8	45.8	45.8
	no	133	34.1	50.8	96.6
	don't know/NA	9	2.3	3.4	100.0
	Total	262	67.2	100.0
Missing	System	128	32.8
Total		390	100.0

**Q1A - How many times have you submitted formal comments during the official comment period?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1	30	7.7	12.0	12.0
	2-5	54	13.8	21.5	33.5
	6-10	15	3.8	6.0	39.4
	11-15	4	1.0	1.6	41.0
	more than 15	29	7.4	11.6	52.6
	don't know/NA	119	30.5	47.4	100.0
	Total	251	64.4	100.0
Missing	System	139	35.6
Total		390	100.0

**Q1B - Have you ever submitted a formal comment to a federal agency either before or after the official comment period?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	yes	71	18.2	29.3	29.3
	no	136	34.9	56.2	85.5
	don't know/NA	35	9.0	14.5	100.0
	Total	242	62.1	100.0
Missing	System	148	37.9
Total		390	100.0

**Q1C - How many times have you submitted formal comments before or after the official comment period?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1	9	2.3	12.9	12.9
	2-5	38	9.7	54.3	67.1
	6-10	6	1.5	8.6	75.7
	11-15	6	1.5	8.6	84.3
	more than 15	5	1.3	7.1	91.4
	don't know/NA	6	1.5	8.6	100.0
	Total	70	17.9	100.0
Missing	System	320	82.1
Total		390	100.0

**Q1D - How many times have you submitted formal comments on someone else's comments?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1	12	3.1	5.1	5.1
	2-5	27	6.9	11.5	16.7
	6-10	5	1.3	2.1	18.8
	11-15	1	.3	.4	19.2
	more than 15	5	1.3	2.1	21.4
	don't know/NA	184	47.2	78.6	100.0
	Total	234	60.0	100.0
Missing	System	156	40.0
Total		390	100.0

**Q1F - How often do you submit supporting documentation for your comments?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Never	36	9.2	16.5	16.5
	Sometimes	62	15.9	28.4	45.0
	Often	21	5.4	9.6	54.6
	Always	3	.8	1.4	56.0
	Don't know/NA	96	24.6	44.0	100.0
	Total	218	55.9	100.0
Missing	System	172	44.1
Total		390	100.0

**Q3 - Have you ever used an electronic commenting/docket system to submit a comment (as opposed to a comment submitted by email)?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	yes	54	13.8	26.2	26.2
	no	117	30.0	56.8	83.0
	don't know/NA	35	9.0	17.0	100.0
	Total	206	52.8	100.0
Missing	System	184	47.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q3A - How many times have you used an electronic commenting/docket system to submit a comment?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1	9	2.3	16.7	16.7
	2-5	28	7.2	51.9	68.5
	6-10	6	1.5	11.1	79.6
	11-15	4	1.0	7.4	87.0
	more than 15	4	1.0	7.4	94.4
	don't know/NA	3	.8	5.6	100.0
	Total	54	13.8	100.0
Missing	System	336	86.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q4 - Have you ever used an electronic commenting/docket system to read information in a docket?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	yes	119	30.5	58.6	58.6
	no	61	15.6	30.0	88.7
	don't know/NA	23	5.9	11.3	100.0
	Total	203	52.1	100.0
Missing	System	187	47.9
Total		390	100.0

**Q6_1 - What was the name of the agency or the electronic commenting/docket system that you used?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Docket Management System (DOT)	14	3.6	12.0	12.0
	E-Docket System (EPA)	45	11.5	38.5	50.4
	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)	4	1.0	3.4	53.8
	Regulations.gov	14	3.6	12.0	65.8
	Other (please specify below)	15	3.8	12.8	78.6
	Don't know/NA	25	6.4	21.4	100.0
	Total	117	30.0	100.0
Missing	System	273	70.0
Total		390	100.0

**Q6_2 - What was the name of the agency or the electronic commenting/docket system that you used?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Docket Management System (DOT)	4	1.0	10.5	10.5
	E-Docket System (EPA)	9	2.3	23.7	34.2
	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)	9	2.3	23.7	57.9
	Regulations.gov	11	2.8	28.9	86.8
	Other (please specify below)	4	1.0	10.5	97.4
	Don't know/NA	1	.3	2.6	100.0
	Total	38	9.7	100.0
Missing	System	352	90.3
Total		390	100.0

**Q6_3 - What was the name of the agency or the electronic commenting/docket system that you used?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Docket Management System (DOT)	2	.5	11.1	11.1
	E-Docket System (EPA)	2	.5	11.1	22.2
	United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)	2	.5	11.1	33.3
	Regulations.gov	10	2.6	55.6	88.9
	Other (please specify below)	2	.5	11.1	100.0
	Total	18	4.6	100.0
Missing	System	372	95.4
Total		390	100.0

**Q6_4 - What was the name of the agency or the electronic commenting/docket system that you used?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Docket Management System (DOT)	1	.3	25.0	25.0
	Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)	1	.3	25.0	50.0
	Regulations.gov	1	.3	25.0	75.0
	Other (please specify below)	1	.3	25.0	100.0
	Total	4	1.0	100.0
Missing	System	386	99.0
Total		390	100.0

**Q6_5 - What was the name of the agency or the electronic commenting/docket system that you used?**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)	1	.3	50.0	50.0
	Regulations.gov	1	.3	50.0	100.0
	Total	2	.5	100.0
Missing	System	388	99.5
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_1 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used improved my ability to review comments in the docket**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	44	11.3	32.8	32.8
	Agree	37	9.5	27.6	60.4
	Disagree	6	1.5	4.5	64.9
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.7	65.7
	No basis for response	46	11.8	34.3	100.0
	Total	134	34.4	100.0
Missing	System	256	65.6
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_2 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used improved my ability to respond to specific comments in my own comment**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	27	6.9	21.1	21.1
	Agree	35	9.0	27.3	48.4
	Disagree	4	1.0	3.1	51.6
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	52.3
	No basis for response	61	15.6	47.7	100.0
	Total	128	32.8	100.0
Missing	System	262	67.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_3 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used makes it easier for citizens to participate in the rulemaking process**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	41	10.5	31.3	31.3
	Agree	47	12.1	35.9	67.2
	Disagree	5	1.3	3.8	71.0
	No basis for response	38	9.7	29.0	100.0
	Total	131	33.6	100.0
Missing	System	259	66.4
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_4 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used makes it easier for citizens to understand what agencies do during rulemaking processes**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	19	4.9	14.4	14.4
	Agree	46	11.8	34.8	49.2
	Disagree	20	5.1	15.2	64.4
	Strongly Disagree	3	.8	2.3	66.7
	No basis for response	44	11.3	33.3	100.0
	Total	132	33.8	100.0
Missing	System	258	66.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_5 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used makes it easier for agency officials to review and consider public comments in the rulemaking process**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	25	6.4	19.1	19.1
	Agree	38	9.7	29.0	48.1
	Disagree	3	.8	2.3	50.4
	No basis for response	65	16.7	49.6	100.0
	Total	131	33.6	100.0
Missing	System	259	66.4
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_6 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used gives too much influence to certain groups or interests**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	4	1.0	3.1	3.1
	Agree	11	2.8	8.5	11.6
	Disagree	39	10.0	30.2	41.9
	Strongly Disagree	16	4.1	12.4	54.3
	No basis for response	59	15.1	45.7	100.0
	Total	129	33.1	100.0
Missing	System	261	66.9
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_7 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used is an improvement over the paper commenting and docket systems of the past**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	38	9.7	28.8	28.8
	Agree	50	12.8	37.9	66.7
	Disagree	4	1.0	3.0	69.7
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	70.5
	No basis for response	39	10.0	29.5	100.0
	Total	132	33.8	100.0
Missing	System	258	66.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_8 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has helped or will help improve the overall quality of rulemaking**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	25	6.4	19.5	19.5
	Agree	37	9.5	28.9	48.4
	Disagree	9	2.3	7.0	55.5
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	56.3
	No basis for response	56	14.4	43.8	100.0
	Total	128	32.8	100.0
Missing	System	262	67.2
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_9 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has resulted or will result in docket comments from a broader group of people**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	25	6.4	18.8	18.8
	Agree	46	11.8	34.6	53.4
	Disagree	6	1.5	4.5	57.9
	No basis for response	56	14.4	42.1	100.0
	Total	133	34.1	100.0
Missing	System	257	65.9
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_10 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has resulted or will result in docket comments that are of a higher substantive quality and value to the agency**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	10	2.6	7.7	7.7
	Agree	29	7.4	22.3	30.0
	Disagree	20	5.1	15.4	45.4
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	46.2
	No basis for response	70	17.9	53.8	100.0
	Total	130	33.3	100.0
Missing	System	260	66.7
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_11 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has resulted or will result in docket comments that include more references to background information and supporting analyses**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	10	2.6	7.7	7.7
	Agree	32	8.2	24.6	32.3
	Disagree	9	2.3	6.9	39.2
	Strongly Disagree	5	1.3	3.8	43.1
	No basis for response	74	19.0	56.9	100.0
	Total	130	33.3	100.0
Missing	System	260	66.7
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_12 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has resulted or will result in docket comments that include more referrals to comments previously submitted to the same docket**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	12	3.1	9.2	9.2
	Agree	48	12.3	36.9	46.2
	Disagree	2	.5	1.5	47.7
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	48.5
	No basis for response	67	17.2	51.5	100.0
	Total	130	33.3	100.0
Missing	System	260	66.7
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_13 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used has saved us from hiring someone to comment for us**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	1	.3	.8	.8
	Agree	6	1.5	4.6	5.3
	Disagree	23	5.9	17.6	22.9
	Strongly Disagree	12	3.1	9.2	32.1
	No basis for response	89	22.8	67.9	100.0
	Total	131	33.6	100.0
Missing	System	259	66.4
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_14 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used allowed having someone to comment from outside DC**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	14	3.6	10.7	10.7
	Agree	43	11.0	32.8	43.5
	Disagree	7	1.8	5.3	48.9
	Strongly Disagree	2	.5	1.5	50.4
	No basis for response	65	16.7	49.6	100.0
	Total	131	33.6	100.0
Missing	System	259	66.4
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_15 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used avoided having to come to DC to read the paper file**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	28	7.2	21.1	21.1
	Agree	39	10.0	29.3	50.4
	Disagree	5	1.3	3.8	54.1
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	54.9
	No basis for response	60	15.4	45.1	100.0
	Total	133	34.1	100.0
Missing	System	257	65.9
Total		390	100.0

**Q7_16 - The electronic commenting/docket system that I used made them aware they could comment at all, helped them understand the substantive point of the rulemaking**
		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	Strongly Agree	16	4.1	12.3	12.3
	Agree	39	10.0	30.0	42.3
	Disagree	10	2.6	7.7	50.0
	Strongly Disagree	1	.3	.8	50.8
	No basis for response	64	16.4	49.2	100.0