ACS Update and ACS 2006 Content Test

ACS Update and ACS 2006 Content Test

Susan Schechter Chief, American Community Survey Office

SDC/BIDC and FSCPE Joint SessionMarch 26, 2007

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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

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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

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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 (2005-2007) for all geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or greater

– 2008 Methods Panel Test

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2008 Methods Panel

• Focuses on tests to increase data collection efficiencies

– Testing to increase response from non-English-speaking households

– Testing to increase mail response rates in Puerto Rico

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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 re-interviews

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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

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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

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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

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Proposed 2008 Content Changes Housing Questions

• 8 topics were tested

• Proposed changes to 51) 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 71) Citizenship2) School Enrollment3) Educational Attainment4) Residence One Year Ago (Migration) 5) Disability6) Employment Status Series7) Weeks Worked

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Disability

2007 Content 2008 Content

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Proposed 2008 Content ChangesNew 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

[email protected]

U.S. Census Bureau

301-763-8950