ACS Update and
ACS 2006 Content Test
Susan Schechter
Chief, American Community Survey Office
SDC/BIDC and FSCPE Joint Session
March 26, 2007
FY07 Budget Update
•
Budget includes full funding for conducting
the ACS in the U.S. and Puerto Rico
– Household data collection, processing, and data
products
– Group quarters data collection, processing, and
data products
– 2007 Methods Panel Test
2
2007 Methods Panel Test
• Evaluating questionnaire design (grid
vs. sequential)
• Testing to reduce data collection costs
• Testing two versions of a new field of
degree question
3
FY08 Budget Update
•
Includes funding to support all FY07
activities, and also:
– Training for field staff related to 2008 ACS
content changes (questionnaires, phone,
personal visit, and GQ instruments)
– Production of three-year data products (20052007) for all geographic areas with populations
of 20,000 or greater
– 2008 Methods Panel Test
4
2008 Methods Panel
• Focuses on tests to increase data
collection efficiencies
– Testing to increase response from nonEnglish-speaking households
– Testing to increase mail response rates in
Puerto Rico
5
2006 Methods Panel
• ACS test questionnaires were mailed to a
sample of approx. 62,000 households in
March 2006
• Split-ballot design
• CAPI non-response follow-up and content reinterviews
6
Quality Measures
• Quality measures for each tested question or
topic were determined in advance
– Did the test version exceed the topic-specific
selection criteria?
– If test version “did no harm”, does ACS gain any
operational benefits from using the test version?
– If the test version “did no harm”, and ACS can
realize only minimal operational benefits, does the
test version address data uses or provide more
detail not currently available?
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Federal Agency Participation
• Interagency Committee for the ACS
participated in the development of test
questions
• Subcommittees were formed to look
specifically at improving questions and
response categories
• Evaluation approach and quality measures
were described at various meetings and
input was received
8
Proposed 2008 ACS Content
Changes
• Short form items will be consistent with 2010
Census changes
• Other item changes will be based on the
results of the 2006 ACS Content Test
• Three new questions may be added
• Seasonal Residence topic and Veteran Years
of Service question will be deleted
9
2006 ACS Content Test
• 8 housing topics were tested
• 12 detailed person topics were tested
• 3 new questions were tested
– Health Insurance Coverage
– Marital History
– Veterans Service-connected Disability
10
Proposed 2008 Content Changes
Housing Questions
•
8 topics were tested
•
Proposed changes to 5
1) Year Built
2) Rooms and Bedrooms
3) Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities, Telephone
Service
4) Food Stamp Benefit
5) Property Value
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Plumbing and Kitchen Facilities,
Telephone Service
2007 Content
2008 Content
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Proposed 2008 Content Changes
Detailed Population Questions
•
12 topics were tested
•
Proposed changes to 7
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Citizenship
School Enrollment
Educational Attainment
Residence One Year Ago (Migration)
Disability
Employment Status Series
Weeks Worked
13
Disability
2007 Content
2008 Content
14
Proposed 2008 Content Changes
New Questions
• 3 topics were tested
1) Health Insurance Coverage
2) Veteran’s Service-connected Disability
3) Marital History
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Health Insurance Coverage
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Marital History
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Veteran’s Service-connected Disability
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2006 ACS Content Test Results
• 2006 Content Test Report Series
– Each report provides a full description of:
• The 2006 Content Test
• Topic-specific research objectives, methodology, and
empirical results
– Reports located at:
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/AdvMeth/content_test/content_test_06.htm
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Decision and Implementation Process
• Federal Register Notice has been submitted
• Census Bureau will submit proposed 2008 ACS
content to OMB by mid-May 2007
• Final OMB approval expected by mid-July 2007
• Implementation of changes: January 2008
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Contact Information
Susan.Schechter.Bortner@census.gov
U.S. Census Bureau
301-763-8950
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